Washington, D.C. (Oct. 13, 2011) – In response to the passage of anti-UN legislation, H.R. 2829, in the House Foreign Affairs Committee today, UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth issued the following statement:
“The anti-UN legislation passed today is counterproductive to an effective relationship between the United States and the United Nations. This bill would degrade our leadership and end the decades-long work of Republican and Democratic administrations to successfully work within the UN system to advance American national security, political and economic interests.
“This committee voted against the will of the American people, as eight in ten voters believe that the U.S. should be engaged at the United Nations. In a political climate in which leaders rarely find agreement across the aisle, our involvement with the United Nations provides a rare issue on which Americans across the political spectrum — Democrats, Republicans and Independents — overwhelmingly see eye to eye. They want the U.S. to pay our dues to the UN and UN peacekeeping.
“This debate — which comes at a time when the U.S. is relying heavily on the United Nations to stop the repression of the Syrian people, stop the spread of diseases around the world, and stop Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons, all while addressing a famine and refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa and building new democracies in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia — is a unique opportunity to educate Members of Congress about all of the ways the United Nations serves U.S. interests and ensure that this misguided bill does not become law.”
About the Better World Campaign
The Better World Campaign, an initiative of the Better World Fund, works to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the United Nations. It encourages U.S. leadership to enhance the UN’s ability to carry out its invaluable international work on behalf of peace, progress, freedom, and justice. For more information, visit www.betterworldcampaign.org.
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