[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   LIMITATION ON PER COUNTRY SHARE OF ASSESSMENTS FOR UNITED NATIONS 
                        PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

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                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2001

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation.
  In May, the House passed legislation, the Foreign Relations 
Authorization Act that authorized both the release of the $582 million 
and a third installment of $244 million. However, two weeks before the 
House considered the bill, the United States was removed from the U.N. 
Commission on Human Rights. The House responded by adopting an 
amendment conditioning the third installment on the U.S. return to the 
commission. This legislation repeals that amendment and reschedules the 
untimely repayment of our U.N. dues.
  As a delegate of the United Nations and Chair of the Commission on 
Human Rights, Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ``Without the United Nations 
our country would walk alone, ruled by fear instead of confidence and 
hope.'' I believe that the American people want to walk in confidence 
with the U.N.
  The majority of Americans consistently show a readiness to pay U.N. 
dues in full. Most recently a Zogby poll found that 62 percent of 
Americans believe that we should pay our delinquent dues. Another poll 
showed that 53 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. should not 
hold back dues as a means of pressuring the U.N.
  It's regrettable that the U.S. lost its seat on the Human Rights 
Commission but I firmly believe there will never be an appropriate 
venue for this country to deny its responsibility. Instead of 
disengaging ourselves from the U.N., I believe that we should do just 
the opposite and support it with all our vigor.
  I'm proud to support this legislation and I will continue to do all 
that I can to support full payment of our Nation's U.N. dues.

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