WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam H. Putnam (FL-12), a member of the Rules and Budget Committees, today voted in support of H.R. 2475, the United Nations Reform Act of 2005, which focuses on the need for streamlining and prioritizing programs and conducting oversight and accountability of the U.N. budget, peacekeeping, and human rights activities.

“For far too long, the United Nations has acted against American values and squandered billions of hard working American taxpayer dollars,” said Putnam. “Time and time again, the U.N. has failed to act on its own words and has proven its ineffectiveness in global security crises.”

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2475, the United Nations Reform Act of 2005, by a bi-partisan vote of 221 to 189.  It now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“From Rwanda and Kosovo, to genocide in the Sudan, to gross human rights offenders such as Syria, Libya, Iran, and Saudi Arabia being members of this U.N. human rights body, to kicking the U.S. off the U.N.’s Narcotic Trafficking Commission, to U.N. peacekeeping soldiers in the Congo soliciting sex from local girls in exchange for money and food, to the most recent Oil-for-Food scandal, the U.N. is in a downward spiral that can only end with these reforms,” Putnam stated. 

“This legislation is a comprehensive reform package that will address the inefficiencies, inadequacies, and abuses at the United Nations by inserting accountability and ethics,” said Putnam. “The U.N. Reform Act will ensure efficiency, accountability and effectiveness at the U.N. If the organization fails to enact these changes, the United States can withhold up to 50% of U.S. assessed dues, as well as withhold U.S. support for expanded and new peacekeeping missions.”

“Americans have lost faith and trust in the United Nations and its leadership. Once the symbol of diplomacy, the U. N. has become riddled with mismanagement and a long litany of scandals,” said Putnam. “It is my hope that these long overdue reforms can transform the U.N. into the organization it once was, one that facilitated diplomacy, mediated disputes, monitored the peace and fed the hungry without corruption and scandal.”

“I would like thank Chairman Hyde for all of his hard work, as well as commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing these far-reaching reforms,” concluded Putnam.

H.R. 2475, the United Nations Reform Act of 2005 would require the U.N. to reform by:

o Mandating cuts in specific programs;
o Redirecting funds to priority areas;
o Withholding 50% of U.S. assessed dues if certifications are not made in key areas; and
o Withholding U.S. support for new peacekeeping missions until certifications are made that reforms have been enacted.

- 30 -