[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H11716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PAYMENT OF U.N. ARREARS

  (Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the United States has earned the reputation 
as the United Nations' number one deadbeat. If my colleagues want to 
help restore our good name and regain our influence in the U.N., they 
need to join me today in supporting immediate and full repayment of our 
U.N. arrears.
  This funding is critical to United States' foreign policy. It shows 
the international community that a commitment made by the United States 
means something. It gives the U.N. the resources it needs to carry on 
the important work it is doing around the globe.
  The United States has a tremendous amount of influence within the 
U.N., but that level of influence decreases with every day that we do 
not pay our arrears. In fact, at the end of this year, we face the 
prospect of losing our vote in the General Assembly.
  How can we expect the U.N. to continue to take our interests into 
account around the world? How can we expect them to fund the projects 
we support and to send peacekeeping troops to areas where we want to 
see more stability when we do not contribute? How do we expect to help 
to continue to reform the U.N. in a meaningful way if we do not pay our 
debt? Let us pay our dues now.

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