House of Representatives - June 16, 2005

Floor statement during debate on H.R. 2745, the United Nations Reform Act of 2005

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, billions of dollars in coverups, fraud investigations, abuses of power, calls for resignation, shredded documents. 

I am not talking about the Nixon or the Clinton administrations, though both contained plenty of the above. I am talking about the U.N., that most sacred cow of international organizations.

It has been the subject of many scandals. Billions of dollars intended to help the Iraqi people were stolen from the Oil-for-Food program.

It appears that that happened because of conflicts of interest at the highest levels of the U.N. 

Countries like Syria, Sudan, Libya, North Korea, China and Cuba have had seats or still have seats on the Human Rights Commission, the U.N.'s body for addressing human rights issues. 

Those nations are all members of the U.N., and we should not kick them out, but they should not be setting policy on human rights. Members of this Commission can veto certain resolutions that come before the U.N.

Sudan, from its seats on the Commission, has vetoed efforts to condemn the genocide it is committing in Darfur. U.N. peacekeepers were recently found to be raping the children, the very people they were ordered to protect, in the Congo. We could go on and on.

The U.N. plays a vital role in mediating disputes, in caring for the poor, and facilitating dialogue. 

But the system seems to breed abuse and fraud and wasteful spending because of the U.N.'s huge bureaucracy. 

It is accountable to no one. 

Much of what happens happens behind closed doors.

Changes need to be made. 

They need to be made in the structure of the U.N. They need to be substantial, not cosmetic changes. 

The mess needs to be cleaned up.

I urge support for the Henry J. Hyde U.N. Reform plan, which will make changes of substance.