[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1894-H1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FACTS THAT ARE MISUNDERSTOOD WITH REGARD TO H.R. 7

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, the people in my district in California do not 
have any luxury to subscribe to the Washington Post and the Washington 
times, which have extensive coverage of what is happening inside the 
Beltway.
  There is a lot of rhetoric, especially about the U.N. peacekeeping 
mission. This bill that we just passed, H.R. 7, which is named the 
National Security Revitalization Act, the people are saying if this is 
passed, that will be the end of the U.N. peacekeeping mission.
  [[Page H1895]] I would like to clarify this. I would like to urge all 
my people in my district, people in California, to contact Mr. Clinton 
not to veto this important bill.
  Let me tell you what this really truly says. In the last year, 1995, 
fiscal year, our administration came to Congress to ask for $533 
million for the U.N. peacekeeping mission, just peacekeeping. That is 
our assessment. At 6 months later, they come back asking an additional 
$672 million. Adding it together, our assessment was actually $1.2 
billion last year alone, cash assessment to the United Nations.
  This year our administration asked again for only $445 million.
  Now, who is trying to fool who this time? This is a very unrealistic 
request to try to trick the system by grossly underestimating our 
peacekeeping assessment numbers so that the overall budget looks 
smaller. I can bet you that they are going to come back halfway through 
this year asking another $1/2 billion.
  Anyway, in addition to $1.2 billion we paid to the United Nations, we 
also paid an additional $75 million last year as a gift, as a gift, 
voluntary gift. This year they are asking an additional $100 million as 
a voluntary gift.
  It is beyond my comprehension why we are paying gifts in addition to 
$1.2 billion.
  The U.S. Government gets no credit for these voluntary contributions.
  Let us talk about other countries. How much do they pay? Ninety 
countries How much do they pay? Ninety countries pay less than one-
hundredth of 1 percent, 0.01 percent, nothing; 90 countries pay less 
than that. Only 10 countries pay more than a lousy 1 percent. Let me 
repeat only 10 countries in the world pay more than 1 percent on this 
U.N. peacekeeping mission.
  How much do we pay? Thirty-two percent.
                              {time}  1500

  We used to pay only 25 percent. What happened? Because Russia 
dissolved and were unable to pay, we have to pick up the tab. Is that 
not ridiculous?
  We are paying 32 percent while only 10 countries pay more than 1 
percent. Now, that means we are paying more than 3\1/2\ times more than 
the second largest contributing nation, which is Japan. Japan pays 12.5 
percent. Not to mention the gifts and not to mention the in-kind 
contributions.
  Let me tell you what it is. We spent $1.7 billion in-kind 
contributions to support of this U.N. peacekeeping mission. What are 
they? Let me give an example: Sending military forces to Somalia, 
millions and millions of dollars is what it cost us. Also the airlift 
of supplies to Bosnia.
  We are now involved in 13 different places on peacekeeping and 
humanitarian support in this world.
  Altogether we spent $1.7 billion in addition to the $1.2 billion cash 
assessment, in addition to the gifts.
  Now, this $1.7 billion we spent as in-kind contributions was not 
credited to us. Added altogether we are about $30 billion a year that 
we are donating to the United Nations under the name of peacekeeping 
mission.
  Now, what this bill will do, let me explain: Under section 509 it 
says the United States shall not pay more than 25 percent. Is that not 
fair?
  Second, section 506 says that all the in-kind donations shall be 
credited, credited to the United States. That is exactly what it says.
  Section 507, no more voluntary gifts unless it is some kind of 
emergency or national security interest.
  Finally, section 511 says U.N. management must be reformed. You 
cannot just go around and asking us for money like we were a bottomless 
pit. They have to reform, they have to shape up. That is what this bill 
does, asking the U.N. to shape up. We are asking them to hire an 
inspector general so they can audit the books and find out exactly who 
pays what and how much.
  We are not against peacekeeping. I understand we all believe in human 
rights, but, by golly, it has to be fair. This bill provides for a more 
equivalent sharing of the real cost of such activities, something that 
all the American people deserve. That is what it is all about. We are 
not talking against peacekeeping. It is about time for us to get a fair 
share and a better accountability.

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