HOUSE PANEL PASSES SWEEPING U.N. REFORM BILL.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

The U.S. may withhold funds from the United Nations under a sweeping overhaul bill that passed this week after a fierce debate among Southern Californians who dominate the House of Representatives' international affairs panel.

The bill, approved Wednesday by the committee on a 25-22 vote largely along party lines, requires that the U.S. withhold up to half of its dues if the United Nations does not meet a series of 39 reforms like banning membership on the Human Rights Commission for any country under U.N. investigation for human rights violations, and creating an independent oversight board.

Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, called the measure Draconian. He proposed giving the secretary of state flexibility to withhold dues rather than mandating it. His amendment failed by one vote.

Lawmakers from both parties unanimously agreed upon the need for U.N. reforms. Rather, the debate centered upon how America should best encourage those changes. Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., maintained that demanding changes without withholding dues would be ``an empty gesture'' while Lantos and other Democrats said the move would undermine the agency and America's international role.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, said the U.S. ``should work within the United Nations to achieve reform, not without it,'' and said the secretary of state should be the one to decide when to punish the United Nations, not Congress.

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com