[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 78 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 78

Expressing the commitment of the Congress to continue the leadership of 
   the United States in the United Nations by honoring the financial 
        obligations of the United States to the United Nations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 1999

   Ms. Eshoo (for herself, Mrs. Morella, Mrs. Lowey, and Mr. Berman) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the commitment of the Congress to continue the leadership of 
   the United States in the United Nations by honoring the financial 
        obligations of the United States to the United Nations.

Whereas the United States has a long and distinguished history with respect to 
        the establishment of, and participation in, the United Nations;
Whereas Democratic and Republican Administrations in the United States have 
        supported the goals of the United Nations and have played a leading role 
        in setting the priorities of the United Nations;
Whereas the United Nations continues to promote important foreign policy 
        objectives of the United States in the protection of human rights, the 
        control of weapons of mass destruction, the building of democratic forms 
        of government in countries throughout the world, the promotion of 
        development initiatives, and the prevention of global conflict, the 
        spread of disease, and environmental degradation;
Whereas the United Nations is the only international organization that counts 
        among its Members all sovereign States dedicated, as stated in the 
        United Nations Charter, to saving ``succeeding generations from the 
        scourge of war'' and to promoting ``social progress and better standards 
        of life'';
Whereas the United States and other Members of the United Nations have 
        successfully worked to achieve reform and efficiency in the United 
        Nations and wish to see the trend toward further reform and efficiency 
        continue;
Whereas ongoing reform efforts in the United Nations are jeopardized by serious 
        financial crisis, caused in part by late dues payments by Member States;
Whereas as of December 31, 1998, the United States is the leading debtor to the 
        United Nations, owing over $1 billion for the regular budget and 
        peacekeeping operations of the United Nations;
Whereas the assessed share of the United States for the regular budget of the 
        United Nations in 1995 was just over $300 million, or slightly more than 
        $1 for each citizen of the United States;
Whereas Article 17 of the United Nations Charter states that ``[t]he expenses of 
        the Organization shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the 
        General Assembly'', of which the United States is a Member; and
Whereas countries other than the United States which are Members of the United 
        Nations, including important allies of the United States, look to 
        Congress for signs of willingness to fulfill commitments of the United 
        States to help achieve reform in the United Nations and move the United 
        Nations to more solid financial ground: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes that payment by the United States of its 
        assessment for the regular budget and the peacekeeping 
        operations of the United Nations is a solemn treaty obligation, 
        voluntarily undertaken through the ratification by the United 
        States of the United Nations Charter;
            (2) believes that resolution of financing and reform issues 
        in the United Nations can lead to the capability of the United 
        Nations to meet the challenges of the 21st century;
            (3) concludes that the leadership of the United States in 
        meeting financial obligations to, and working with other 
        countries to achieve reform in, the United Nations is 
        indispensable to the future viability of the United Nations;
            (4) commits to continuing United States leadership in the 
        United Nations by honoring the past and current legal financial 
        obligations of the United States to the United Nations; and
            (5) resolves to meet the financial obligations of the 
        United States to the United Nations in a full and timely manner 
        consistent with international law and the role of the United 
        States as a founder and responsible Member of the United 
        Nations.
                                 <all>