United Nations Reform Act of 2005

Summary

United Nations Reform Act of 2005 - Declares that it is incumbent upon the United Nations (U.N.) to enact significant reform measures if it is to restore the public trust. Declares it to be U.S. policy to redirect: (1) U.S. contributions to the U.N. To achieve a shift in the funding mechanisms of 18 specified organizational programs of the U.N. from the regular assessed budget to voluntarily funded programs; and (2) a portion of funds from the Public Information and General Assembly affairs and conferences services organizational programs to pursue pursue a streamlined, efficient, and accountable regular assessed budget of the United Nations. Limits the U.S. contribution to the regularly assessed U.N. budget. Requires the redirection of the amount of funds assessed to the United States if, by 2008, the funding mechanisms of one or more of the 18 specified U.N. organizational programs have not been shifted from the regular assessed budget to voluntarily funded programs. States that it shall be U.S. policy to actively pursue weighted voting with respect to budgetary and financial matter in accordance with the level of financial contributions of member states to the regular assessed U.N. budget. Requires the Secretary of State to certify the U.N. budget at an approved level and the withholding of U.S. contributions if certifications cannot be made. Sets forth required U.N.-related certifications respecting: (1) an Independent Oversight Board; (2) the Office of Internal Oversight; (3) an Office of Ethics; (4) a position of Chief Operating Officer; (5) member access to Board of Internal Auditors reports; (6) waiver of immunity; and (7) the oil-for-food program. Directs that U.S. influence be used to: (1) provide for Israel's permanent inclusion in the U.N. Western European and Others Group; (2) provide a mechanism to suspend a member state engaged in genocide or crimes against humanity; (3) establish a human rights body in the U.N.; (4) establish in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) an Office of Compliance, and a Special Committee on Safeguards and Verification; and (4) reform U.N. peacekeeping operations, including opposing any new or expanded peacekeeping operations until appropriate certification. Directs the Secretary to recruit U.S. citizens for positions within international organizations.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 13 July 2005

   Introduced

   Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

   Source: Calendars

2. 13 July 2005

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 July 2005

   Calendars

   Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 165.

   Source: Calendars

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Placed on Calendar Senate · 14 July 2005 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 14 July 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 14 July 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 13 July 2005

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ-4] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK-1] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Bunning, Jim [R-KY-4] · R · Cosponsor

Related records

• related to → Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act of 2005