[DOCID: f:sr130.110]
From the Senate Reports Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
From the Senate Reports Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
Calendar No. 271
110th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 110-130
======================================================================
ENSURING PAYMENT OF UNITED STATES ASSESSMENTS FOR UNITED NATIONS
PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS FOR THE 2005 THROUGH 2008 TIME PERIOD
_______
July 16, 2007.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Biden, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
submitted the following
REPORT
[To accompany S. 392]
The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under
consideration S. 392, a bill to ensure payment of United States
assessments for United Nations peacekeeping operations for the
2005 through 2008 time period, reports favorably thereon and
recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose..........................................................1
II. Legislative History and Committee Action.........................1
III. Discussion.......................................................2
IV. Cost Estimate....................................................2
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................3
I. Purpose
This legislation is designed to allow the United States to
fully pay its dues to U.N. peacekeeping operations, pay arrears
that have accumulated since January 2006, and ensure that no
additional arrears accrue in 2007 and 2008.
II. Legislative History and Committee Action
S. 392 was introduced by Senators Biden and Lugar on
January 25, 2007. It is cosponsored by Senators Durbin, Hagel,
and Voinovich. On June 27, 2007, the committee ordered the bill
reported favorably by voice vote.
III. Discussion
As of January 1, 2006, the United States payments to U.N.
peacekeeping operations may not be more than 25 percent of the
United Nations' peacekeeping budget, as mandated by a 1994 law
which ``capped'' U.S. payments at this level. However, the
United Nations assesses the United States at a rate of
approximately 27 percent.
In recent years, Congress has amended the 1994 law on a
temporary basis by raising the 25 percent limitation to
approximately 27 percent, to conform to a rate negotiated by
U.S. Ambassador Holbrooke in 2000. However, the most recent
temporary change in law expired on December 31, 2005 and the 25
percent cap was reinstated. Subsequently, as of June 2007, the
United States was $117 million in arrears due to the cap, and
the number grows every month as new bills are submitted to the
State Department by the United Nations.
S. 392 would enable the United States to pay U.N.
assessments at the rate assessed by the United Nations, for
calendar years 2005-2008. This would allow the United States to
pay future peacekeeping assessments in full, and to pay the
arrears that have accumulated since January 1, 2006.
The United Nations currently supports fifteen peacekeeping
missions worldwide in conflict areas such as Haiti, Lebanon,
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan.
The committee believes that, at a time when the United States
is seeking U.N. support for a robust mission in Darfur, and as
the United States regularly uses its vote in the U.N. Security
Council to support the continuation of these peacekeeping
missions, the U.S. peacekeeping assessment should be paid in
full. Through U.N. peacekeeping, the United States contributes
to international peace and stability while sharing the human,
political and financial costs with other nations. Accordingly,
the committee believes that the 25 percent limitation on our
contribution is an anachronism for which a resolution is timely
and appropriate.
IV. Cost Estimate
In accordance with rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this
estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the
Congressional Budget Office.
United States Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC.
July 3, 2007.
Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chairman,
Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed
cost estimate for S. 392, a bill to ensure payment of United
States assessments for United Nations peacekeeping operations
for the 2005 through 2008 time period.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita
D'Monte, who can be reached at 226-2840.
Sincerely,
Peter R. Orszag
Enclosure:
cc: Hon. Richard G. Lugar, Ranking Minority Member
------
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
July 3, 2007.
S. 392
A bill to ensure payment of United States assessments for United
Nations peacekeeping operations for the 2005 through 2008 time period
AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ON
JUNE 27, 2007
Under current law, the Department of State is prohibited
from paying more than 25 percent of the cost of United Nations
(U.N.) peacekeeping operations. Since the U.N. assesses the
United States at a rate of 27.1 percent of such costs, the
United States is currently in arrears on those payments. S. 392
would authorize the department to pay at the rate of 27.1
percent for assessments for 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Based on information from the State Department, CBO
estimates that by raising the cap, the bill would allow the
department to pay the U.N. an additional $157 million--$65
million for 2006 arrears, $48 million for the 2007 arrears, and
$44 million for 2008 (the department's request for 2008, based
on the statutory cap of 25 percent, has not yet been
appropriated.) CBO estimates that the department would pay the
U.N. $126 million in 2008 and $31 million in 2009 under the
bill, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts and that
outlays will follow historical spending patterns. Enacting the
bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.
S. 392 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D'Monte,
who can be reached at 226-2840. This estimate was approved by
Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget
Analysis.
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact
Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.
VI. Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in
italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman).
Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995
* * * * * * *
SEC. 404. ASSESSED CONTRIBUTIONS FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING
OPERATIONS.
(a) Reassessment of Contribution Percentages.-- * * *
(b) Limitation on United States Contributions.--
(1) Fiscal years 1994 and 1995.-- * * *
(2) Subsequent fiscal years.--(A) In general.-- * * *
(B) Reduction in united states share of assessed
contributions.--Notwithstanding the percentage
limitation contained in subparagraph (A), the United
States share of assessed contributions for each United
Nations peacekeeping operation during the following
periods is authorized to be as follows:
(i) For assessments made during calendar year
2001, 28.15 percent.
(ii) For assessments made during calendar
year 2002, 27.90 percent.
(iii) For assessments made during calendar
year 2003, 27.40 percent.
(iv) For assessments made during calendar
year 2004, 27.40 percent.
(v) For assessments made during calendar
years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, 27.1 percent.
* * * * * * *
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