Washington, DC - The American Policy Center presented more
than 300,000 petitions to Congress in support of the American Sovereignty
Restoration Act (H.R. 1146) at a Capitol Hill press conference today. The
petitions call for U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations.
The American Policy Center’s President, Tom DeWeese also
unveiled the "National Sovereignty Vote Index" which rates
Congressmen according to their votes for bills involving national
sovereignty.
"We are putting a bright spotlight on those in
Congress who don’t support national sovereignty. And we’ve brought
more than 300,000 signed petitions to show Congress that the American
people want their sovereignty protected," said DeWeese.
The Vote Index rates members of the House of
Representatives according to their votes on five key pieces of
legislation. A review of the voting records reveals that almost half of
435 representatives failed to support legislation to protect America’s
national sovereignty.
The conference and the delivery of petitions coincide with
the U.N.’s Millennium Summit in New York this week. Some U.N. critics
are concerned with the direction the Summit has taken.
According to DeWeese, the U.N. is considering the creation
of a "Rapid Reaction Force", a standing U.N. military force with
authority to intervene in the internal affairs of any nation.
Another topic of debate at the U.N.’s Millennium Summit
is the creation of the International Criminal Court. Concerned observers
note that the proposed court will have authority to try American citizens
before foreign judges without Constitutional Page Two guarantees of due
process of law.
One proposal of great concern before the Millennium
Assembly is the elimination of the United States’ veto power and
permanent membership on the U.N.’s Security Council.
"Even if you don’t think these other proposals are
risky, this proposal should frighten you," DeWeese said.
"Official reports, including Secretary-General Kofi
Annan’s own report to the Millennium Summit call for eliminating
permanent membership and veto power on the Security Council. This poses a
serious threat to U.S. security," DeWeese said.
"Obviously its focus is changing from its original
purpose to be a place where nations can come together to discuss their
differences. Instead the U.N. is seeking global armies, global taxes and
global courts. These are the reasons we see it as a threat to U.S.
national sovereignty." DeWeese said. "Clearly the United Nations
is on a different track."
"It is for these reasons we believe it is time for
the U.S. to get out of the U.N."
DeWeese concluded, "The United Nations today is not
your father’s U.N."