The US House of Representatives has unanimously approved a resolution calling on the British government "to fully and faithfully" implement the Patten Commission recommendations on the reform of the RUC.
The Democratic presidential candidate, Vice-President Al Gore, has also issued a statement urging the British government "to fully and expeditiously implement these recommendations". A similar resolution is before the US Senate, tabled by Senators Edward Kennedy and Christopher Dodd, but it may not be voted upon before the Senate rises next month.
There are fears the powerful chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jesse Helms, would attach conditions on IRA decommissioning to the resolution.
The vote in the House is the culmination of months of efforts by members of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs which has included a series of hearings on the Patten Commission report. Sir Christopher Patten testified to a committee a year ago and warned against "cherry-picking" the recommendations. Members of human rights bodies have told hearings of possible RUC links to the murders of Northern Ireland lawyers Mr Patrick Finucane and Ms Rosemary Nelson.
The chairman of the International Relations Committee, Mr Ben Gilman, has called the vote in the House an "important and unmistakable message to the British government that it needs to live up to the terms of the Good Friday accord".
He said: "The British government cannot put aside the promised change and terms of the Good Friday accord for any temporary or political gains, for whatever reason." Republican Congressman Chris Smith said: "This legislation will pressure the British government to give the people of Northern Ireland what they deserve - a police service that they can trust and that is accountable for its actions." Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley said the resolution "will send a message to our friends across the Atlantic that the United States supports their efforts and encourages the adherence of all aspects of the Good Friday agreement, without exception."