[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS VOTING ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 1999

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation which 
is long overdue, requiring real accountability of the U.S. foreign 
military assistance program. In these tight budgetary times we must not 
lose sight of eliminating wasteful spending and ensuring the usefulness 
of all federal programs. It is well known that U.S. foreign assistance 
initiatives have always been among the least popular federal programs. 
Primarily, this is because U.S. foreign aid programs seem ineffective 
and counterproductive. Members of Congress either oppose foreign 
assistance outright, or those who support it find themselves defending 
foreign aid as ``serving the interests of the United States.'' I 
believe Members subscribing to either position will be interested in 
the ``United Nations Accountability Act,'' which I introduced today.
  The Department of State is required by the law to submit a report to 
Congress each year outlining voting trends in the United Nations 
General Assembly (UNGA). The overall voting coincidence with the U.S. 
(the number of times that nations voted the same as the U.S. on all 
votes) is always appallingly low. In 1997, it was 46.7%--down from 
49.4% in 1996 and 50.6% in 1995. Despite that, a number of nations 
receive foreign aid from the U.S. that clearly do not see things the 
way we do. It is no coincidence the world's most brutal regimes vote 
with the U.S. such a low percentage of the time in the U.N. Americans 
would be surprised to hear the U.S. often provides military aid to the 
very regimes which are cited for human rights violations, disregard for 
democracy, and disdain of free market practices.
  Simply, this bill would prohibit military assistance to countries 
which failed to support the U.S. at least 25% of the time in the UNGA. 
Humanitarian aid and developmental assistance would be left intact. The 
House on previous occasions has approved this language as part of both 
authorization and appropriation bill.
  I believe our message to these nations is making an impact. In just 
the past four years, the number of nations voting with the U.S. less 
than 25% of the time in the U.N. and receiving U.S. military assistance 
has been reduced from 43 nations to 6 and from $187 million to $13.4 
million in military assistance. Our intent should be to encourage 
countries to adopt our domestic traditions and commitment to human 
rights.
  A 25% voting coincidental is not asking too much. We are not coercing 
states to vote our position. However, we have right to withhold aid if 
we believe that the states we are currently aiding do not share our 
ideals and values. We should not support military assistance to 
oppressive regimes which consistently oppose American efforts in the 
U.N. General Assembly. We must ensure the money we spend on foreign 
assistance best serve the interests of the American taxpayer. If we cut 
or reform domestic programs that are not working, why not require it of 
our foreign aid program? Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage Members 
interested in accountability, reform and fiscal responsibility to 
cosponsor this timely and imperative initiative.

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