House Passes Bill to Cut Dues to United Nations
By Melanie Hunter
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
June 20, 2005
(CNSNews.com) -- In a vote of 221-184, the House Friday approved a measure designed to withhold half of U.S. dues to the United Nations unless the world body changes the way it operates.
The bill, proposed by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), would allow the U.S. to pressure the U.N. to crack down on members that engage in acts like genocide or crimes against humanity, for example, by threatening that country's U.N. membership and impose arms and trade embargoes.
The world has entrusted the United Nations with the tremendous task of promoting peace and international cooperation across the globe, said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). Unfortunately, for years we have watched UN employees neglect their lofty goals and actually contribute to the demise of war-torn nations. 
From the jungles of the Congo to the swamps of Sierra Leone, UN employees have committed crimes involving money laundering, sexual exploitation, fraud, and human rights abuses. The litany of scandals involving UN employees and the apparent lack of leadership from UN officials is appalling added Wilson.
Prior to the vote on the measure, the House rejected an alternate bill by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the International Relations Committee, that would have laid out U.N. reforms, but left it up to the secretary of state as to whether to withhold payments.
Today, Congress took advantage of a rare opportunity to restore hope, order, and purpose to the UN. Decades of UN waste, fraud, and abuse prove that strong action is the only remedy for the problems plaguing the organization, said Wilson. 
'The UN Reform Act of 2005' requires the organization to drastically reform or risk losing 50 percent of America's contributions to the UN-assessed budget. By linking US support to UN reform, we will encourage the organization to fulfill its historic mission, Wilson added.
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