UPDATE: Each year, Congress is responsible for approving and allocating the payments requested by the President for U.S. assessed contributions to the United Nations regular and peacekeeping budgets. Currently, the U.S. is assessed 22% of the UN regular budget and 27% for UN peacekeeping operations.
For many years, due to Administration and Congressional underfunding, the U.S. fell well behind in its treaty-obligated payments to the UN. But in June 2009, Congress voted for and the President signed legislation that erases all the debts that had been building over the last decade.
To ensure that the U.S. remains in good financial standing and honors its obligations at the UN, the United States must continue to pay its dues to the UN in full and on time.
As it has in the past, the Better World Campaign will continue urging members of Congress to fully fund the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets, and further this Congress and this Administration’s desire to inaugurate a new era of American engagement through diplomacy and multilateral institutions.
The Better World Campaign will also urge Members of Congress to address the issues that caused the U.S. to go into debt by calling for:
- Ending the Peacekeeping Cap: Congress should permanently lift the 25% cap on peacekeeping contributions to the UN. This outdated legislative restriction only serves to increase our overall debt and compromise critical missions.
- Resynchronizing Our Payments to the UN: Congress and the Obama Administration should work together to lay the groundwork for having the United States once again pay its dues on time to the UN. Currently, the U.S. pays at least nine months late.
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