Barbara Lee: “I recently returned from representing the United States at the United Nations General Assembly, and I would be happy to…”

“I recently returned from representing the United States at the United Nations General Assembly, and I would be happy to talk to any of my colleagues about the value of our partnership with the United Nations system. It is not perfect--no large bureaucracy is--but our ability to improve its operations, make sure its stances reflect our values, and have the United Nations serve its mission for peace hinges on the United States being an active, participating member of the organization. Organizations like UNICEF deliver last-mile education and health services in over 120 countries. If you have ever seen kids in South Sudan--and I have many times--walking with their blue UNICEF backpacks to school or visited with 1 of the 365 million kids under the age of 5 who received malnutrition services last year, you would know that their presence is real and felt by millions of kids and their families around the world. This amendment would cut off contributions to UNICEF. What will these young people think about the United States, quite frankly, when they grow up? I don't think they would be very happy to know that we actually cut off humanitarian assistance, especially what UNICEF delivers on behalf of the United States. The United Nations Development Program worked with 26 countries in 2021 to implement national action plans to tackle radicalization and registered 38 million new voters. Eighty percent of these 38 million were women.…”