H. CON. RES. 4 - REJOINING  UNESCO

Introduced January 7, 2003 into the House by Mr. Paul (R-TX).

Co-sponsors: Mr. Miller (R-FL) and Mr. Flake (R-AZ).

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should not re-join UNESCO for reasons cited in past resolutions as well as the restrictions that it would place on actions of the United States in both domestic and foreign affairs.

108th Congress
1st Session

H. CON. RES. 4

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should not rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

I\n the House of Representatives
January 7, 2003

Mr. PAUL (for himself, Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida, and Mr. FLAKE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Concurrent Resolution

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should not rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Whereas President Ronald Reagan withdrew the United States from membership in UNESCO in 1984, citing gross financial mismanagement, anti-American bias, and anti-freedom policies;

Whereas in 2001 President George Bush supported an amendment to H.R. 1646 that would have stricken language of congressional support for a renewal of United States membership in UNESCO;

Whereas the United States has a single vote in UNESCO despite being assessed 25 percent of the UNESCO budget and having promised to contribute $60,000,000 upon rejoining the organization;

Whereas the current UNESCO director's belated attempts at cost cutting were so resisted by the organization that his own staff went on a hunger strike;

Whereas UNESCO membership may force unconstitutional restraints on United States freedom of the press;

Whereas UNESCO, through a memorandum of agreement with the Department of State, has designated 47 United Nations biosphere reserves in the United States covering more than 70 million acres, without congressional consultation or approval;

Whereas UNESCO effectively bypasses congressional authority to manage Federal lands by establishing management policies without congressional consultation or approval;

Whereas UNESCO membership would undermine United States sovereignty by forcing United States adherence to the United Nations global policy on bioethics;

Whereas UNESCO seeks to levy an unconstitutional `global tax' on Internet use on United States citizens; and

Whereas UNESCO has a history of meddling in the education policies of its member-countries and has sought to dictate school curriculum for United States primary and secondary schools, thus undermining United States sovereignty: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should not rejoin the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
 

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