In the past few months, Congress has undertaken initiatives threatening United Nations peacekeeping operations that are vital to U.S. foreign policy.

Budget Cuts
In his FY2006 proposals, President Bush requested $1.03 billion for the Contributions to International Peacekeeping Account. Despite having yet to complete the appropriations process, Congress has already begun chopping down President Bush’s request, undermining peacekeeping operations to which the United States has already committed its resources and political support.

Un-Fulfilled Obligations
In May, legislators working on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (HR 1268) cut President Bush’s peacekeeping addendum for FY2005 by $100 million. This money had been earmarked to make up for shortfalls in U.S. financial support for last year’s UN Peacekeeping missions.

An Assault on Peacekeeping
Senator Jon Ensign (R-NV) launched an attack on UN peacekeeping when he pushed through the Senate an amendment to HR 1268 that slashed $147 million from international peacekeeping accounts. Ultimately, the conference committee removed Senator Ensign’s amendment.

Capping Contributions
Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced an amendment in April to cap U.S. contributions to UN Peacekeeping at 25 percent – a 2.1 percent reduction from current standards. The motion was defeated when the foreign affairs authorization bill, to which it was attached, was tabled.

Attacking the UN
In June, Republicans on the House of Representatives passed the United Nations Reform Act, which proposed 50 percent reductions in U.S. contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. In addition, the bill would make funding for future missions contingent upon approval that UN reform is occurring.
 

Updated July 12, 2005