Speaker. I am today introducing legislation directing that the amount of our annual contribution to the United Nations be reduced dollarfordollar by the amounts spent by the Federal Government to aid Vietnam evacuees. For three decades now. we have annually contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the United Nations for its various activities. including refugee assistance. Since 1970 alone. we have contributed $159.4 million to the United Nations Relief and Works AgencyUNRWAfor Palestinian refugees. The Congress has approved expenditures of $405 million over the next 14 months for Vietnam evacuee assistance. I feel that the United Nations refusal to become involved in the Vietnam evacuation. or care of the refugees. is yet another politically motivated slap at the United States. and an abdication of its responsibilities on the world scene. What makes the Vietnam refugees any less deserving of United Nations assistance than other refugees? If we cannot get the United Nations to face up to its responsibilities directly. then we must do it indirectly. by reducing our contribution to that body by the amount which we ourselves are spending on the refugees. The United States is the chief financial supporter of the United Nations. and yet we are also the chief target of U.N. discrimination and abuse. It is time for the Congress to take action and remind the U.N. that our resources are not infinite. and that if the U.N. wishes our support it must carry out its responsibilities in a more evenhanded manner.
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