Representative Mike Kelly Votes in Support of Legislation to Reform the United Nations

Representative Mike Kelly Votes in Support of Legislation to Reform the United Nations

Washington, D.C. —Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) voted today in support of The United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act (H.R. 2829), which passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by a vote of 23-15. Rep. Kelly issued the following statement:

“Our nation’s $14.7 trillion national debt presents a real threat to America’s economic and national security. During these challenging economic times, it is incumbent upon Congress to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars, making sure that their hard-earned money is spent as cost-effectively as possible, and in the best interest of the United States.

“The United States makes disproportionately high contributions to fund the U.N. relative to its voting power in the General Assembly.  In recent years, taxpayers have covered as much as 22 percent of the U.N.’s overall operating budget, and in 2010, the U.S. contributed a record $7.7 billion, an increase of more than 21 percent from 2009.

“In addition, reports of pervasive waste, fraud, and abuse within several U.N. programs have drawn attention to the need for comprehensive reform measures that will increase accountability and provide greater transparency.

“H.R. 2829 will provide that much needed reform and oversight, requiring the United Nations to switch its funding mechanism from an assessed basis to a voluntary basis and allowing the U.S. and other member-states the opportunity to determine which programs and initiatives merit their financial support and support their foreign policy goals.

“Programs that clearly undermine the interests of the United States and our allies, such as those that promote anti-Israeli propaganda, quite simply should not be funded by U.S. taxpayers.

“H.R. 2829 puts an end to the ‘pay first, ask questions later’ status quo that has compromised the integrity and mission of the U.N., preventing it from living up to the high ideals on which it was founded.”

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