The United States owes about $1 billion in dues to the United Nations. Because we have not met our obligations, the UN is approaching bankruptcy. The only reason that its doors remain open is through interest-free loans by other countries covering U.S. obligations.
Last year, the president and Congress had agreed to pay a significant portion of this UN debt, but the effort was killed when House Republican leaders tied it to an unrelated family planning issue called the “Mexico City” policy. The House Republican leaders claim they will not consider any UN dues legislation that does not contain this unrelated issue.
Our UN dues are a legal obligation. Our credibility as a nation is at stake. It is time for Congress to act and pay what this nation owes the UN.
