TJMC UUA Members Meet with Rep Hurt
Twenty-one UN supporters met with Representative Robert Hurt Monday to oppose H. R.2829, the House bill that proposes to cut U.S. funding for the UN in half. Thanks to all who turned out for the meeting – and on such short notice in the middle of a work day – and to all who have written Hurt to oppose cuts in UN funding.
Hurt accepted us graciously. He was unaware of the local UNA chapter so he now knows that we exist, and the fact that 21 people showed up will make him aware how important the UN is to us.
Chapter president David Poist opened the meeting by describing the UNA and our local chapter. We then presented our opposition to H.R. 2829. We also listed the primary functions of the UN – i.e., Security Council crisis intervention, UN agencies for development, and peacekeeping missions – and discussed the value of these functions for both the U.S. and the world community.
Hurt does not expect H.R. 2829 to come to the House floor for a vote this session. However, he agreed to notify our chapter if it does, and he will have our views on it. We asked him about his general view toward the UN. Consistent with House Republican strategy, his response began by emphasizing the U.S. debt and our need to reduce government spending, though he listened to our point that the amount we pay to the UN is small, i.e., less that 0.1% of the federal budget. He did not express any enthusiasm for the UN though he thinks we need to remain in the UN in order to be able to assert our veto power in the Security Council. He says that what he hears from his constituency is concern about the debt and government spending and little interest in the UN, so our group provided him with awareness of constituent support for the UN.
While our primary purpose was opposition to H.R. 2829, and this was addressed by a number of us, some raised the question of U.S. opposition to Palestinian statehood at the UN. Hurt agrees that we should veto Palestinian statehood. The question was raised of Senator Graham’s proposal as reported in Monday’s newspapers for military action against Pakistan for its role in the bombings in Kabul and whether military action should be proposed to the UN Security Council rather that taken unilaterally by the U.S. Hurt said he was unaware of Graham’s proposal but that he would never favor asking the UN for permission for actions relating to U.S. interests.
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