[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 489 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 489

Commemorating the Work of United Nations Peacekeepers on International 
                  Day of United Nations Peacekeeping.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 15, 2007

Mr. Sarbanes submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the Work of United Nations Peacekeepers on International 
                  Day of United Nations Peacekeeping.

Whereas since 1945, the United Nations has undertaken 61 field missions and 
        helped implement 172 peaceful settlements;
Whereas United Nations peacekeeping missions have ended regional conflicts and 
        enabled people in more than 45 countries to take part in free and fair 
        elections;
Whereas the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations currently has 
        more than 100,000 troops and personnel deployed in 18 peacekeeping 
        missions and 13 political missions world-wide, all with an annual budget 
        of $6,000,000,000;
Whereas the size of the United Nations peacekeeping force has grown five-fold 
        over the last 10 years, reflecting international support for the work of 
        United Nations peacekeeping;
Whereas the United States has the right to authorize or suspend any peacekeeping 
        operation in the United Nations Security Council and has supported and 
        encouraged major increases in United Nations peacekeeping;
Whereas in the past 3 years, United Nations peacekeeping has started up missions 
        in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Haiti, Burundi, Sudan, and East Timor, and 
        expanded the missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 
        Lebanon;
Whereas United Nations peacekeepers have difficult and often complex missions 
        that include preventing the outbreak of conflict, containing conflict 
        and its spill-over across borders, and helping to implement peace 
        agreements;
Whereas in addition to maintaining peace and security, United Nations 
        peacekeepers are increasingly charged with assisting in national 
        political processes, reforming justice systems, training law-enforcement 
        forces, and disarming former combatants;
Whereas in 2005 alone United Nations peacekeepers supported elections in five 
        post-conflict countries, including: Afghanistan, Burundi, Iraq, Liberia, 
        and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allowing over 56,000,000 
        people to cast votes;
Whereas United Nations peacekeepers are deployed to some of the world's most 
        remote and hostile locations;
Whereas since 1948 more than 2,355 individuals from 113 nations including the 
        United States have given their lives to maintain peace and security 
        while participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions;
Whereas the United States does not generally contribute United States soldiers 
        to United Nations peacekeeping missions but instead provides the largest 
        percentage of financial support for United Nations peacekeeping 
        operations;
Whereas the White House Office of Management and Budget gave United States 
        contributions to United Nations peacekeeping its highest-possible rating 
        of three stars, judging the spending to be effective, achieving its 
        stated goals, and contributing to United States objectives;
Whereas the United States Government Accountability Office estimates that 
        investing in United Nations peacekeeping is at least eight times cheaper 
        than the cost of the United States undertaking its own peacekeeping 
        operations; and
Whereas in 2005, RAND Corporation reported that United Nations peacekeeping 
        missions have a high record of success, finding that of the eight United 
        Nations-led cases it examined seven were at peace: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commemorates the International Day of United Nations 
        Peacekeepers;
            (2) remembers the contributions of UN peacekeepers to 
        providing a safer, more secure world, particularly those who 
        have lost their lives; and
            (3) welcomes the efforts of United Nations Secretary-
        General Ban Ki-moon to strengthen and improve United Nations 
        peacekeeping operations and logistical support.
                                 <all>