Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, when we had a vote on the floor, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) offered the amendment to not join UNESCO. I supported the amendment. I did not believe that we should have joined UNESCO. The decision was made by the Bush administration. Also, on that vote, if my memory serves me, I was on the losing side. I think it may have been Lantos v. Hyde. I voted with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and we were on the losing side. History will have to check the exact timing of that vote. The bill includes $71.9 million for the U.S. share of funding for membership in UNESCO, and I have had serious questions about UNESCO. UNESCO was rife with corruption and problems. The Bush administration, who wanted to join, has a very good and a very tough ambassador, a kind of a no-nonsense person. I have met her and think highly of her. The President announced 2 years ago at the United Nations, and I remember seeing the speech, that the U.S. would rejoin UNESCO. The First Lady, Mrs. Bush, addressed the UNESCO plenary session in Paris, France, last year. The U.S. withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 when the organization was rife with corruption and anti-Western bias, and I think the current ambassador, I have spoken to her, is going to make sure they do not go back to the corruption and anti-Western bias.”