SOME KIND OF CHISELER, AS IT WERE. MY MOM USED TO KEEP BORDERS
           BACK IN THE COAL MINING COMMUNITY, AND WE TOOK ON A BOARDER AND
           THEY CAME TO OUR HOUSE, AND I LISTENED TO HIM FOR A FEW
           MINUTES, I'D SAY, -- FROM TIME TO TIME, I'D SAY TO THE WOMAN
           WHO RAISED ME, HE'S GOING TO BEAT YOU OUT OF YOUR BOARD BILL.
           THAT MAN WON'T PAY YOU. AND I WAS AMAZED IN SO MANY INSTANCES

           TO FIND, TO MY CHAGRIN, THAT THAT MAN WOULD NOT PAY HIS BOARD
           BILL. HE WAS A CHISELER. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PORTRAYED TO BE,
           CHISELERS, DEADBEATS. WE WON'T PAY OUR DUES. WE WON'T PAY OUR
           ARREARAGES. THE U.S. HAS BEEN BAILING OUT THE REST OF THE U.N.
           FOR YEARS NOW. TAKE THE U.S. OUT OF THE U.N., WHAT DO YOU HAVE
           LEFT?
           WHAT IS THERE LEFT?

           THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE U.N. IN FACT OWE THE UNITED STATES.
           THEY OWE US A MASSIVE BACK BILL FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS AND
           FUNDING. AS I WAS SAYING ON THE FLOOR YESTERDAY, THE FIRST
           QUESTION THAT WAS EVER ASKED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, THE
           HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE, IN THE HISTORY OF ALL CREATION, THE
           QUESTION FIRST THAT WAS EVER ASKED -- THE FIRST QUESTION THAT

           WAS EVER ASKED WAS WHEN GOD WALKED THROUGH THE GARDEN OF EDEN
           IN THE COOL OF THE DAY SEARCHING FOR ADAM AND EVE. THEY HAD
           FORFEITED -- THEY HAD FORFEITED THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE EVERLASTING
           LIFE IN THAT GARDEN OF BLISS, A VIRTUAL PARADISE, BY EATING

           FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, SO GOD CAME LOOKING FOR THEM IN THE
           COOL OF THE DAY AND HE ASKED THAT
           
           FIRST QUESTION: "ADAM, WHERE ART THOU?" THEY HAD HIDDEN. "ADAM,
           WHERE ART THOU?" AND SO WE MIGHT WELL ASK THE OTHER MEMBERS OF

           THE U.N., WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE WERE IN THE HOT SANDS OF THE
           GULF, WHEN WE HAD SENT OUR MEN AND WOMEN AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES,
           AWAY FROM THEIR FIRESIDES, AWAY FROM THEIR CHILDREN, AWAY FROM
           THEIR LOVED ONES TO TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION TO PROTECT YOU AND
           YOURS?
           WHERE WERE YOU?
           WHERE WERE YOU?

           MR. PRESIDENT, THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO COOL
           DOWN, COOL DOWN ITS HOT RHETORIC ON THE MATTER OF THE SO-CALLED
           ARREARAGES BY THE UNITED STATES. AND THE TIME HAS COME TO SEE
           THE FOREST, NOT JUST THE TREES TREES, ON THE MATTER OF WHO IS
           FULFILLING THE RESPONSIBLE ROLE ROLE, THE RESPONSIBLE ROLE, OF
           INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AGAINST AGGRESSION. I COMMEND THE

           SENATOR FOR HIS AMENDMENT. I THANK HIM FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A
           COSPONSOR OF IT. I HOPE THAT IT WILL GET A BIG VOTE IN THIS
           CHAMBER, SO THAT A CLEAR MESSAGE IS SENT TO THE WHINERS -- TO
           THE WHINERS -- BOTH IN NEW YORK AND DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE ON
           THIS WHOLE ISSUE. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE DISTINGUISHED
           SENATOR FROM THE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA.
           

           MR. GRAMS: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. MR. PRESIDENT, I
           JUST WANT TO ALSO RISE TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. YOU
           KNOW, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN CALLED "THE DEAD DEADBEAT."
           IT'S BEEN CALLED "THE BULLY" AT THE UNITED NATIONS. THE U.S.
           HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING-I HAVE HANDED AND NOT DOING ITS FAIR
           SHARE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THE U.S. HAS BEEN
           BERATED AND BELILD AT EVERY TURN BY MANY OF THE COUNTRIES THAT
           HAVE BEEN BENEFITING MOST FROM THE U.S.' GENEROSITY BOTH IF
           TERMS OF SECURITY GUARANTEES AND ALSO IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC

           ASSISTANCE. MR. PRESIDENT, AMERICA-BASH SOMETHING A POPULAR
           PASTTIME AT THE U.N. AND THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DOING NOTHING
           TO STOP T IN FACT, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO
           THE FEEDING FRENZY BY TRYING TO UNDERCUT THE TERMS OF THE U.N.
           REFORM PLAN INSTEAD OF STANDING BY THE DEAL THAT IT HELPED
           NEGOTIATE. IF THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ENCOURAGING ANTI-AMERICAN
           SENTIMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN ORDER TO GAIN LEVERAGE WITH
           CONGRESS TO WATER DOWN THE REFORMS, WELL, IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE

           AND IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS ADMINISTRA
           ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SO WEAK IN DEFENDING THE HONOR AND
           REPUTATION OF THE U.S. AT THE UNITED NATIONS AND SO NEGLECT IN
           HIGHLIGHTING THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS -- AND SO NEGLIGENT IN
           HIGHLIGHTING THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AMERICA IS MAKING TO
           PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY THAT WE FEEL COMPELLED TO DIRECT
           THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO SO WITH THIS AMENDMENT. NOW, WHILE THE
           U.S. IS BEING CALLED "A DEADBEAT" REGARDING ITS INTERNATIONAL
           OBLIGATIONS, WELL, THE FACTS SAY SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT. THE
           U.S. MAY OWE ARREARS TO THE U.N., BUT THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE THE

           U.S. RECEIVED NO CREDIT AT THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE $2.97
           BILLION THAT U.S. TAXPAYERS SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 1997
           IMPLEMENTING U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. AGAIN, NEARLY
           $3 BILLION OF U.S. TAXPAYER MONEY TO HELP IMPLEMENT U.N.
           SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS LAST YEAR ALEON. WE RECEIVED NO
           CREDIT FOR THE MORE THAN $6.4 BILLION THAT THE U.S. TAXPAYERS
           HAVE SPENT TO DATE IN AND AROUND BOSNIA, AND WE WILL RECEIVE NO
           CREDIT FOR THE EMERGENCY FUNDING OF AN ADDITIONAL $487 MILLION

           FOR THE BOSNIAN MISSION AND THE $1.4 BILLION FOR U.S.
           DEPLOYMENTS IN THE PERSIAN GULF THAT THE PRESIDENT IS ASKING
           FOR IN THIS BILL. AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR TROOPS ARE IN THE GULF TO
           SUPPORT A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 687 ON IRAQ. THAT DOESN'T
           MEAN WE WILL GET CREDIT FOR OUR CONTRIBUTION AT THE UNITED
           NATIONS. AND WHILE WE DO NOT NEED TO -- WHILE WE DO NEED TO
           SETTLE OUR DISPUTES ARREARS AT THE U.N., MR. PRESIDENT, WE
           SHOULD NOT BE MYOPIC. THE U.S. TAXPAYER IS DOING FAR MORE THAN

           PULLING ITS WEIGHT IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THIS
           AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY TO ENSU THAT ALL U.N. MEMBER STATES ARE
           AWARE OF THE GREAT SACRIFICES THAT THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS ARE
           MAKING TO SUPPORT U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS SINCE U.N.
           BOOKKEEPING OBSCURES THE FACTS. FIRST, THIS AMENDMENT STATES
           THAT U.S. TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR GENERAL ROSS
           SUPPORT IN MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY. THE
           U.N. SHOULD PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT AND IMMEDIATELY
           REDUCE THE U.S. PEACEKEEPING ASSESSMENT TO 25% -- THAT IN
           ACCORDANCE WITH U.S. LAW. SECOND, IT CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT TO

           DIRECT THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. TO INTRODUCE A SECURITY
           COUNCIL RESOLUTION REQUIRING THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO REPORT TO
           ALL MEMBER STATES ON THE AMOUNT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS
           SPENT SUPPORTING U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS JUST SINCE
           JANUARY 1 OF 1990, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
           THIRD, IT REQUESTS THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO "NOTIFY" ALL
           MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE AMOUNTS BOTH CREDITS AND
           UNCREDITED THAT D.O.D. HAS SPENT SUPPORTING U.N. SECURITY
           COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS -- AGAIN, JUST SINCE JANUARY 1 OF 1990.

           AND, FOURTH, MR. PRESIDENT, IT REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO REPORT
           BACK TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES -- THE APPROPRIATE
           COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WITHIN 45 DAYS ON THE
           EFFORTS TO CARRY OUT THESE STEPS IN THIS AMENDMENT. NOW, I
           DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THIS AMENDMENT WILL GO FORWARD GETTING THE
           U.S. TAXPAYERS THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE FOR U.S.
           SUPPORT AT THE U.N., BUT I DO HOPE THAT IT WILL PUT THE U.S.
           ARREARS IN PERSPECTIVE. BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE
           CONGRESS AGREE THAT THE U.S. OWES ONLY $54 MILLION TO THE U.N.

           REGULAR BUDGET AND $658 MILLION FOR PEACEKEEPING EXPENSES. NOW,
           THAT IS $712 MILLION. AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE NEARLY $3
           BILLION THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 1997
           ALONE. WE SPENT MORE THAN FOUR TIMES THAT AMOUNT LAST YEAR
           ALONE IMPLEMENTING U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. MR.
           PRESIDENT, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE U.N., THE UNITED
           STATES HAS ALWAYS BEEN ITS MOST GENEROUS DONOR. AMERICAN
           TAXPAYERS CURRENTLY ARE BILLED AT 25% FOR THE ENTIRE U.N.

           OPERATING BUDGET AND 30.4% OF THE PEACEKEEPING BUDGET, ALTHOUGH
           THE U.S. NOW PAYS 25%, AS I MENTIONED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
           LAW PASSED BY, AGAIN, A DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS AND SIGNED
           INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT CLINTON. CURRENTLY, THOSE BILLS TOTAL
           MORE THAN $600 MILLION ANNUALLY. IN CONTRAST, SAUDI ARABIA,
           KUWAIT, AND CHINA, WHICH HAS A VETO IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL,
           ONLY PAY ABOUT 1% OF THE ENTIRE U.N. REGULAR BUDGET. THE FLOOR

           OF ASSESSMENT LEVELS WAS JUST LOWERED FROM .01% OF THE U.N.
           OPERATING BUDGET FROM ABOUT $106,000 A YEAR TO .001% OR UNDER
           $11,000 SO THAT EACH DEPRIKS THOSE NATIONS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH
           TO EVEN COVER ONE-TENTH OF THE SALARY OF ONE OF THEIR
           HIGHLY-PRICED BUREAUCRATS. IT WILL ONLY PAY ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF
           THE SALARY OF ONE OF THEIR BUREAUCRATS AT THE U.N. THAT'S ALL
           THEY PAY. AND DESPITE THIS FACT, EACH MEMBER AT THE U.N. HAS

           ONE VOTE ON BUDGET ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO THE ASSESSED PAYMENTS
           I JUST MENTIONED, THE U.S. VOLUNTARILY AND GENEROUSLY
           CONTRIBUTES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PROGRAMS LIKE
           UNILATERAL SERVINGS UNHRC AND THE VOLUNTARY FUNDS FOR VICTIMS
           OF TORTURE. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, THE UNITED STATES PAYS MORE THAN
           ITS FAIR SHARE FOR WORLD PEACE, STABILITY, AND HUMANITARIAN
           EFFORTS. AND THAT BEING SAID, WE DO NEED TO SETTLE OUR DISPUTES
           ARREARS TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND WE DID ENGAGE IN GOOD-FAITH
           NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AND WE MADE A DEAL ON THE
           U.N. REFORM PACKAGE. THE SENATE, WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE

           ADMINISTRATION, PASSED THIS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TWICE BY A
           90-5 ROLL CALL VOTE AND AGAIN BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. THE ONLY
           THING THAT PREVENTED THIS AGREEMENT FROM BECOMING LAW WAS A
           DISPUTE OVER AN UNRELATED ISSUE. THIS ADMINISTRATION THEN
           DECIDED TO FOREGO NEARLY $1 BILLION FOR THE UNITED NATIONS AND
           $3.5 BILLION FOR THE I.M.F. SO IT COULD PRESERVE THE ABILITY
           FOR U.S. GRANT RECIPIENTS TO LOBBY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO
           LIBELIZE THEIR ABORTION LAWS. WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, SECRETARY

           ALBRIGHT ALSO RECENTLY SAID THAT FAILURE TO PAY THE U.N.
           ARREARS WOULD RESULT IN A "SHUTDOWN OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
           POLICY." WELL, I MUST SAY THAT I WAS SOMEWHAT ATAKEN BACK BY
           THAT STATEMENT, AS I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAD
           OFFICIALLY SUBCONTRACTED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY TO THE
           U.N. INDEED, I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL NEVER
           HAPPEN, BUT IF THE U.S. TRULY IS SUFFERING A LOSS OF PRESTIGE
           AND EFFECTIVESS IN THE GLOBAL ARENA BECAUSE OF OUR U.N.
           ARREARS, AS THE ADMINISTRATION CONTENDS, THEN IT IS

           IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION TO JEOPARDIZE OUR
           SECURITY INTERESTS AND INTERESTS FOR DOMESTIC POLITICAL
           CONSIDERATIONS. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE THAT IN THE NEAR
           FUTURE, CONGRESS WILL PASS THE U.N. REFORM PACKAGES AND THE
           PRESIDENT WILL SIGNING IT INTO LAW SO THAT WE CAN PUT THIS
           SMALL MATTER OF THE DISPUTED ARREARS BEHIND US. REGARDLESS OF
           FATE OF THAT LEGISLATION, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
           THAT WE PASS THIS AMENDMENT SO THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD WILL
           BE AWARE OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW -- AND THAT IS THE HUGE SACRIFICE
           THAT THE UNITED STATES TAXPAYERS MAKE TO SUPPORT U.N. SECURITY

           COUNCIL ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD
           THE FLOOR.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE DISTINGUISHED
           SENIOR SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
           

           MR. HELMS: I THANK THE CHAIR. MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE
           SENATOR FOR HIS REMARKS, AS I DO SENATOR GREGG AND PARTICULARLY
           SENATOR BYRD, WHO IS ALWAYS ELOQUENT. NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I
           WANT TO BE SURE THAT ALL OF THE COSPONSORS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND
           I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER
           BE LISTED AS A COSPONSOR, SENATOR GREGG, SENATOR GRAMM, SENATOR
           HOLLINGS, SENATOR BYRD, SENATOR FAIRCLOTH, AND SENATOR
           ASHCROFT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
           

           MR. HELMS: AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL -- IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?

           THERE IS A SUFFICIENT SECOND. A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
           
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE YEAS AND NAYS HAVE BEEN ORDERED. THE

           CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL -- A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?

           MR. BIDEN: MR. PRESIDENT?
           PARLIMENTARY INQUIRY.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR DELAWARE.
           

           MR. BIDEN: IS THERE -- WAS UNANIMOUS CONSENT -- IS THERE TIME
           TO VOTE?
           IF NOT, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES ON THIS AMENDMENT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THERE'S NO AGREEMENT ON THIS AMENDMENT.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THERE IS A AGREEMENT. BUDE BIDE HE'D
           LIKE TO SPEAK.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE DISTINGUISHED
           SENATOR FROM DELAWARE.
           

           MR. BIDEN: LET ME THANK THE CHAIR FOR ACCOMMODATING ONE OF MY
           CONCERNS THAT I HAD, THAT HE CHANGE. I AGREE FULLY AS THE
           SENATOR KNOWS FROM OUR MANY
{END: 1998/03/25 TIME: 16-45 , Wed.  105TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}