The United States has voted for each of the 18 United Nations peacekeeping missions currently deployed around the world. Yet, based on the administration's current budget request, the U.S. will be well over $1 billion behind in its payments to support these missions by the end of this fiscal year. We can do something to turn this around!

How did we get here?:
Part of the problem is that since 1994 Congress has capped U.S. payments to 25% of a mission’s cost, even though successive administrations have committed to paying more.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Joe Biden (D-DE) has introduced a bill (S. 392) to address this problem, but so far only 3 other Senators have joined him in supporting the legislation – Senators Lugar (R-IN), Durbin (D-IL), and Voinovich (R-OH)*.

We can't afford to ignore failed states or civil conflicts anymore. Helping people caught in war-torn regions is a moral imperative and a crucial pillar of our national security strategy. Peacekeepers reinforce fragile political settlements that bring an end to war.

An independent report by the RAND Corporation illustrates that the U.N. has by far the most successful peacekeeping force in the world. The U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed that peace operations in Haiti would have cost the U.S. eight times more than the U.N. has spent.

What can you do?:
We need to keep our promises and pay our bills. Not funding our part of U.N. peacekeeping makes it less likely for troop contributing nations to do their part. And that makes it harder for current missions to succeed and for new missions to get off the ground.

You can help by calling both of your senators’ foreign policy staff and request that your senator co-sponsors the legislation. USE THE SIMPLE LOOK-UP FORM BELOW THE SCRIP TO FIND THE RIGHT NUMBER AND THE RIGHT STAFFER TO ASK FOR.

Here’s a sample script of what to say to the staff or their voicemail: “Hi [Staff name] this is [your name] with Citizens for Global Solutions in [your town/city]." "I’m calling in regards to S. 392, a bill introduced by Senator Biden to remove the 25% cap on U.N. peacekeeping dues. I believe that the United States needs to keep our promises and pay our bills in full." "By not funding our part of U.N. peacekeeping it makes it harder for other nations to do their part. And that makes it harder for current missions to succeed and for new missions to get off the ground. As a constituent, I would like to request that Senator [Name] co-sponsors this legislation. Can you ask him/her to do so?”

NEED THE NUMBER? USE OUR FOREIGN POLICY STAFFER LOOKUP:

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Congressional District (Ex. 01)

*Not sure what Congressional District you live in? Click Here and type in your zip code to find out OR leave it blank to see all of your state's Representatives.*

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Have you made the call? Here are 3 optional tasks you can do to make your action even more powerful:

1. Email dkraus[at]globalsolutions.org and let Don Kraus know what they said. We will use your information as part of our “inside the beltway” lobbying.
   
   
2. Use the talking points above and send a fax to your senators, note that you had talked to or left a message for their staff person and wish to receive an answer on if they will cosponsor S. 392.
   
   
3. Call the staffer that you contacted back once a week until they give you a firm “yes” or “no” answer. They are hoping that you will go away and not bother them.
   

* If your Senator has already cosponsored S. 392, please call to thank them.