House Votes Down Cuts to UN Funding!

Congratulations and thank you!  Today Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and other UN opponents in the House made their first attempt to cut UN funding – and failed.  The House voted down a bill that would have tried to force the return of payments the US paid to the UN which will help increase security around UN Headquarters and help pay future dues for UN peacekeeping.  The bill was the introduced as part of Rep. Cantor’s online “You Cut”  campaign, which lets internet voters choose from proposals to cut spending, and was the first in what we expect will be a year-long campaign to cut UN funding in the House.  Its defeat marks an important victory in protecting UN funding and sets a precedent we hope will continue.

The bill and scheduled vote became public only this Monday, and FCNL joined with the Better World Campaign, Citizens for Global Solutions, and others in quickly mobilizing calls and letters to congressional offices urging members to vote no and to speak out against the bill on the floor.  The bill was originally expected to pass with an overwhelming majority, but a strong line up of members speaking out against it and, ultimately, a procedure in the House that required a 2/3 majority rather than a simple majority, ensured its defeat instead.

Thank you to everyone who wrote in to your representatives urging them to vote no on the bill!  You contributed to our first successful vote to protect UN funding in 2011!  Now, let’s get ready for the next one…