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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael McCaul, Republican Leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the United Nations Transparency and Accountability Act of 2020, legislation that will increase U.S. leadership and engagement at the United Nations through key reforms. 

“For years, the Chinese Communist Party and other malign actors have infiltrated the United Nations system in pursuit of their own goals. This legislation would enact key reforms to increase transparency and to ensure the U.S. Government has the resources and personnel to better ensure accountability in the UN system. It’s critical we have the right amount of U.S. engagement and leadership to counteract those who try to undermine the founding ideals of the United Nations so we can best solve international problems together.”

Background on the United Nations Transparency Accountability Act: 

Counters Malign Influence Operations within the United Nations System

  • Requires the Secretary of State to report on UN Member States determined to be engaged in malign influence operations within the UN system and actions inconsistent with the UN Charter.
  • Empowers the President to name countries found to be conducting malign influence operations within the UN system as “malign global actors.”

Supports United States Engagement in the United Nations System

  • Authorizes and expands the current American Citizens Unit into the Office of American Citizens.
  • The Office will advocate for employment of American citizens within all IOs of which the US is a member and coordinate interagency support for American and specific non-American candidates for leadership or oversight roles within IOs, among other things.
  • Directs the Secretary of State to increase the number of US sponsored Junior Professional Officer positions by 50%.

Requires Transparency and Accountability for United States Contributions to the United Nations

  • Codifies and expands current reporting practices regarding US contributions to the UN.
  • Requires that the reports be posted online and publicly accessible within 14 days of submission to Congress.

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