Political Quotes

“I also rise to voice support for S. 248, a bill to release $582 million in U.S. dues to the United Nations. Payment of our dues is long overdue, and I am glad to see this bipartisan bill come before the Senate. We know the United Nations is not a perfect organization. No organization made up of 189 countries could possibly satisfy everyone. In that sense, it is sort of like a country composed of 50 States. But just as the States rely on the Federal Government to address problems that affect each of us collectively, the United States relies on the collective diplomacy and security that only the United Nations can provide. Every day the U.N. is fighting critical battles to resolve conflicts, contain the spread of infectious diseases, stop environmental pollution, protect human rights, strengthen democracy, and prevent starvation, to mention just some of its roles. U.N. peacekeepers are deployed around the world--from East Timor to Cyprus to the Sinai--to help prevent violence and restore stability where it is badly needed. Of the tens of thousands of U.N. peacekeepers deployed, only a tiny fraction are Americans. These missions help to avoid U.S. military intervention and far more costly humanitarian relief operations. We are the world's only superpower, and we have a wide range of interests on every continent. We need to send a strong message that the United States supports the United Nations but that other nations need to contribute their share as well.”