A Letter from the United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
December 10, 2020
Dear Henry:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the United Nations (UN). I appreciate the time you took to write, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, the UN is an international, intergovernmental organization that was founded in 1945. It funds and implements programs that promote peace, public health, education, infrastructure, and development all over the world. UN Peacekeepers protect at-risk populations in war zones, UN doctors administer healthcare in underserved areas, and UN workers organize and run refugee programs wherever there is need. The United Nations also serves as a forum where nations can communicate, negotiate, and build alliances.
The United States serves as host for the United Nations General Assembly and offices, contributes a large portion of its funding, and has a seat on the Security Council, which entitles it to veto any UN Security Council Resolution. Our relationship with and membership in the United Nations is crucial to its continued success.
While the United Nations can also work better, I firmly believe that the United States should maintain our membership. We must not hesitate to wield our veto or the weight of our diplomacy to oppose efforts contrary to our national efforts, and we should be eager to use our voice to contribute to UN reforms.
As a United States Senator, I have long supported the UN as an organization that works to promote peace, protect human rights and the environment, provide life-saving assistance such as vaccines and food assistance to the world’s most vulnerable, and improve economic and social development throughout the world. Rest assured that as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which has a large say over how federal dollars are spent, I will continue to defend robust funding for the United Nations.
Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington, D.C., office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at feinstein.senate.gov. You can also follow me online at YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at feinstein.senate.gov/newsletter.
Best regards.
Sincerely yours
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator