(Washington D.C.)- The twentieth century began with a conflict so devastating it was called "The war to end all wars." Everyone believed that they had seen the worst that man could offer, but twenty years later a conflict began that dwarfed the First World War. As a result, world leaders gathered in 1945 to implement a vision that began with President Woodrow Wilson, was formed by President Franklin Roosevelt and brought into existence by President Harry Truman. What the United Nations has become today would surely break the hearts of these great men.

This body was built for the purpose of diplomacy, a place where problems could be discussed and debated in an international forum. More than just a group of countries working towards peace, the United Nations represented the idea that each human being deserved a better existence.

Instead, in recent years the United Nations has become a place where dictators simply attack American ideals and the goals of freedom and democracy. Until the United Nations becomes a place where the good of mankind is truly advanced and not a place where the agendas of tyrants are protected, we should not continue to pay one quarter of the United Nations budget.

In recent times the organization has sunk to new lows of criminal activity, negligence and open belligerence to democratic values. The United Nations has come under fire because of its negligence in Iraq's Oil-for-Food program. More disturbingly, U.N. peacekeepers in the Congo stand accused of at least 150 allegations claiming they sexually abused women and children.

Additionally, the United Nations Human Rights Commission has become an impediment on the effort to spread human decency. While one would think that membership would be based on acceptable human rights practices, recent times have seen the UN seat nations such as Sudan, Libya and Cuba on the commission.

Due to these crimes, many Americans are calling for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations. This is a notion I am sympathetic to and tempted by, but do not yet agree with. We as your elected leaders are in position to demand drastic and immediate reforms, which if not complied with will result in the withholding of our dues. We as a nation must remain engaged as a player on the world stage to enact these reforms; we must not simply cut and run.

My colleagues and I in the House have offered a solution. Under our bill, the United Nations must initiate 39 reforms by 2008. These reforms have teeth. If they are not adopted, the U.S. will withhold 50% of our annual dues. We have a duty to the American taxpayer and we must hold the UN accountable.

Therefore, the bill I supported calls for a more disciplined U.N. It must eliminate programs which have become dated, shown little benefit or are duplicative. Under the new law, the U.N. would have to create an Independent Oversight Board responsible for overseeing the audit plans and appoint a special investigator to investigate matters involving senior United Nations officials. This oversight board would not answer to the Secretary General’s office, but rather to the entire UN body thus giving it more independence than it currently holds.

These mark the main points of the United Nations reform bill and they are not up for dispute or discussion. This legislation has offered important reforms which will return honor and integrity to what was once a distinguished body.

The United States must stay and fix this body and maintain a strong voice in the world, rather than cut and run.