On the recordFebruary 18, 2011
I rise against the Stearns amendment because it would exacerbate security vulnerabilities at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The United Nations Capital Master Plan addresses a number of serious life safety and security concerns to staff, diplomats, and visitors. The U.N. receives approximately 5,000 accredited delegates annually from around the world and 300,000 tourists, about 40 percent of whom are Americans. Almost 4,300 people work at the U.N. headquarters complex, including 1,280 Americans. The U.N. headquarters complex, the majority of which is 55 years old, is not compliant with New York City building and life safety codes or modern security requirements. The major building systems are inefficient, beyond their useful life, increasingly difficult to maintain and repair. For example, the life safety systems are a great concern, including inadequate sprinkler and alarm systems and the lack of an automatic shutdown of ventilation systems in the event of a fire. Hazardous materials, such as asbestos, are still present in the facilities. Providing the U.N. with safe and functional headquarter facilities will enable the organization to operate more effectively is what we all want.
