Originally published on the CGS blog on October 13, 2011.
The House of Representatives took yet another regrettable step today to disengage the U.S. from the United Nations, as the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) voted to approve the “United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act” by a 23 to 15 margin. The vote was along party lines, with Republicans on the committee supporting the bill and Democrats opposing it.
The United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act, introduced in August by HFAC Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), is bad legislation in many ways. It would cut U.S. funding for the U.N.’s general budget in half if the United Nations does not enact a long series of reforms within a two-year time period. It would prohibit the U.S. from holding a seat on, or providing funding for, the Human Rights Council, where the U.S. has been using its influence to keep human rights violators such as Syria and Iran from obtaining seats. And it would establish a moratorium on new or expanded peacekeeping missions, at a time where instability around the globe means that the U.N. needs the flexibility to react to events and adjust its missions to protect civilians accordingly.
In the words of Citizens for Global Solutions’ CEO Don Kraus, “Chairman Ros-Lehtinen has shown, yet again, that she is more interested in bashing the U.N. than improving it. She wants to hold U.N. funds hostage if her demands aren’t met. This bill will not lead to constructive improvements at the U.N. What will be held hostage is our leadership, credibility, and influence on the world stage.”
Despite the disappointing outcome of today’s vote, there were some positive sentiments expressed by committee members about the importance of U.S. engagement at the United Nations. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) pointed out that the U.N. is meant to be a place where the world comes together to discuss grievances, rather than going to war over them. Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY) acknowledged frustration with the U.N. but asserted that there’s a good case to be made that it’s better for the U.S. to be part of the world body and work to influence its decisions rather than “take our marbles and go home.” Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) said that many people want reform at the U.N., but “not retreat,” and that responsible U.S. engagement and meeting of financial obligations is the best way to achieve our foreign policy goals.
The full House of Representatives has yet to vote on the bill. It has not been introduced in the Senate, and even if passed by the House, would not be expected to advance in the other chamber. We will continue to keep you posted as and if the bill moves forward.
