IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 40

Expressing the commitment of the Congress to continue the leadership of

the United States in the United Nations by honoring the financial obligations of the United States to the United Nations.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 6, 1997

Ms. ESHOO (for herself, Mrs. MORELLA, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. ALLEN, and Mr.

BERMAN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the commitment of the Congress to continue the

leadership of the United States in the United Nations

by honoring the financial obligations of the United States

to the United Nations.

Whereas the United States has a long and distinguished history with respect to the establishment of, and participation in, the United Nations;

Whereas Democratic and Republican Administrations in the

United States have supported the goals of the United Nations and have played a leading role in setting the priorities of the United Nations;
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Whereas the United Nations continues to promote important

foreign policy objectives of the United States in the protection of human rights, the control of weapons of mass

destruction, the building of democratic forms of government in countries throughout the world, the promotion of

development initiatives, and the prevention of global conflict, the spread of disease, and environmental degradation;

Whereas the United Nations is the only international organization that counts among its Members all sovereign

States dedicated, as stated in the United Nations Charter, to saving ‘‘succeeding generations from the scourge

of war’’ and to promoting ‘‘social progress and better

standards of life’’;

Whereas the United States and other Members of the United

Nations have successfully worked to achieve reform and

efficiency in the United Nations and wish to see the

trend toward further reform and efficiency continue;

Whereas ongoing reform efforts in the United Nations are

jeopardized by serious financial crisis, caused in part by

late dues payments by Member States;

Whereas the United States is the leading debtor of the United Nations, owing more than $1 billion for the regular

budget and peacekeeping operations of the United Nations;

Whereas the assessed share of the United States for the regular budget of the United Nations in 1995 was just over

$300 million, or slightly more than $1 for each citizen of

the United States;

Whereas Article 17 of the United Nations Charter states that

‘‘[t]he expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the
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Members as apportioned by the General Assembly’’, of

which the United States is a Member; and

Whereas countries other than the United States which are

Members of the United Nations, including important allies of the United States, look to Congress for signs of

willingness to fulfill commitments of the United States to

help achieve reform in the United Nations and move the

United Nations to more solid financial ground: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) recognizes that payment by the United

4 States of its assessment for the regular budget and

5 the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations is

6 a solemn treaty obligation, voluntarily undertaken

7 through the ratification by the United States of the

8 United Nations Charter;

9 (2) believes that resolution of financing and re10 form issues in the United Nations can lead to the

11 capability of the United Nations to meet the chal12 lenges of the 21st century;

13 (3) concludes that the leadership of the United

14 States in meeting financial obligations to, and work15 ing with other countries to achieve reform in, the

16 United Nations is indispensable to the future viabil17 ity of the United Nations;
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1 (4) commits to continuing United States leader2 ship in the United Nations by honoring the past and

3 current legal financial obligations of the United

4 States to the United Nations; and

5 (5) resolves to meet the financial obligations of

6 the United States to the United Nations in a full

7 and timely manner consistent with international law

8 and the role of the United States as a founder and

9 responsible Member of the United Nations.

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