Don't believe reports that Trump is pulling the U.S. out of the United Nations
A bill proposing that the U.S. leaves the United Nations has caused some panicked reactions on social media.
But it isn't the first time we've seen a bill like this, and isn't connected to the new Donald Trump administration.
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The "American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2017", sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), is indeed about ending U.S. membership, participation and funding in the UN:
This bill repeals the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 and other specified related laws.
The bill requires: (1) the President to terminate U.S. membership in the United Nations (U.N.), including any organ, specialized agency, commission, or other formally affiliated body; and (2) closure of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.The bill prohibits: (1) the authorization of funds for the U.S. assessed or voluntary contribution to the U.N., (2) the authorization of funds for any U.S. contribution to any U.N. military or peacekeeping operation, (3) the expenditure of funds to support the participation of U.S. Armed Forces as part of any U.N. military or peacekeeping operation, (4) U.S. Armed Forces from serving under U.N. command, and (5) diplomatic immunity for U.N. officers or employees.
But this bill was introduced Jan. 3, before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
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It's also not the first time Congress has seen a bill like this.
An identical "American Sovereignty Restoration Act" has been put before the House of Representatives at the beginning of each Congress for the last twenty years since 1997.
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Politicians from Ron Paul -- who sponsored the bill from 1997 to 2011 -- to Paul Broun and Rogers himself, who sponsored the law in 2013 and 2015, all sought U.S. withdrawal from the global organisation, as reported by Snopes.
In all those occasions, the bill was referred to the Committee and there it remained. It was never brought to a vote.
It's true that Trump has, in the past, been very critical of the UN over its stance on Israel.
Trump was furious when the U.S. abstained from a vote condemning the Israeli construction of settlements, which led to a resolution being approved for the first time in over 35 years.
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He's also called the UN a "club" for people to have a good time.
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But there have been calls for him to withdraw the U.S. from the UN.
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