Representative Eliot Engel, Democrat of New York. The decision to put conditions on the third and final payment of back dues, approved 252 to 165 against the wishes of the White House, came as lawmakers of both parties expressed anger over the recent tally leaving the United States without a seat on the human rights commission for the first time since it was created in 1947.
Actions have consequences.
If they would like to get this payment, they will vote the United States back on the commission. The Senate has put forward no similar measure to withhold the final dues payment, aides said, and administration officials remain optimistic that the United States will be restored to the human rights body next year, even without the threat of withholding funds. The White House and State Department had opposed the House action. But conservative lawmakers who are critical of the United Nations altogether joined to pass the measure with U.N. backers who sought to prevent an even tougher congressional response the withholding of this year's funding, as well. During the floor debate today, lawmakers railed against many of the nations of the world from allies who did not back the United States to nations like China, Cuba and Sudan who were elected to the commission despite much-criticized human rights records.