The House of Representatives today voted to freeze the final payment of US arrears to the UN until it regains its lost seat on the UN Human Rights Commission.
Brushing aside objections from the White House, the chamber voted 252-165 to make the third and last arrears payment - of $244 million due next year - conditional on Washington's return to the Geneva-based commission.
The measure does not affect this year's $582 million arrears payment, protecting it from a wave of outrage in Congress over last week's vote to remove the United States from the 53-member UN Human Rights Commission.
Supporters said the measure was a modest compromise that allowed Congress to register its anger over the UN snub without unraveling a long-sought 1999 deal that allows payment of the US arrears in exchange for a lowering of US dues and peacekeeping contributions.
The measure, attached to a bill that authorises fiscal 2002 and 2003 spending for the State Department and related agencies, gives UN members time to return the United States to the commission next year, they said.
"Actions have consequences. Our UN friends have an option - if they would like to get the payment, they will vote the United States back on the commission, said Democrat Representative Mr Tom Lantos of California.
But opponents said Washington should not use its debts as bargaining chips and should not punish the United Nations for the UN Economic and Social Council's vote elevating France, Austria and Sweden to the commission's three open slots for Western nations.