[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 443 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 443

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
 formally withdraw its membership from the United Nations Educational, 
            Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 3, 2004

Mr. Paul (for himself, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Manzullo, and 
Mr. King of Iowa) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
        was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should 
 formally withdraw its membership from the United Nations Educational, 
            Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Whereas President Ronald Reagan, citing gross financial mismanagement, anti-
        American bias, and anti-freedom policies, withdrew the United States 
        from membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and 
        Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1984;
Whereas after an absence of nearly two decades, the United States rejoined 
        UNESCO in 2003;
Whereas the United States has only a single vote in UNESCO despite being 
        assessed 25 percent of the UNESCO budget and having promised to 
        contribute $60,000,000 upon rejoining the organization;
Whereas UNESCO membership may force unconstitutional restraints on United States 
        freedom of the press;
Whereas UNESCO, through a memorandum of agreement with the Department of State 
        but without congressional consultation or approval, has designated 47 
        United Nations biosphere preserves in the United States covering more 
        than 70,000,000 acres;
Whereas UNESCO effectively bypasses congressional authority to manage Federal 
        lands by establishing management policies;
Whereas UNESCO membership would undermine United States sovereignty by forcing 
        United States adherence to the United Nations global policy on 
        bioethics;
Whereas UNESCO is providing support for a global ``cultural diversity'' 
        convention, which would severely impede the ability of the United States 
        entertainment industry to sell its products overseas;
Whereas UNESCO seeks to levy an unconstitutional ``global tax'' on Internet use 
        on United States citizens; and
Whereas UNESCO has a history of interference in the education policies of its 
        member-countries and has sought to control school curriculum for United 
        States primary and secondary schools, thus further undermining United 
        States sovereignty: Now, therefore, be it:
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should formally withdraw from the 
        United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural 
        Organization (UNESCO); and
            (2) any funds appropriated as of the date of the adoption 
        of this resolution for use towards the contribution of the 
        United States to UNESCO, but not yet transferred to UNESCO, 
        should be returned to the Treasury of the United States.
                                 <all>