Our Analysis:

CBO reported that the Administration is not likely to request those funds from the UN and so would not be able to certify their return.

CBO estimates that amounts appropriated in 2011 for assessed contributions to the U.N. will be obligated and expended before this bill would be enacted; therefore, there would be no funds available this year to withhold pursuant to the bill’s requirement. Under current law, there are no appropriations authorized or provided for 2012 or future years for assessed contributions to the U.N.; therefore, CBO also would not attribute savings to H.R. 519 in future years.

CBO suggests that if future appropriations are reduced by $179 million, that discretionary outlays would be reduced by a corresponding amount.

Cost to the taxpayers: “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 519 would have no effect on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 519 would not affect direct spending or revenues.”

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable

Pay-as-you-go requirements: Do not apply. The bill does not impact direct spending or revenues.

Cut-as-you-go requirements:  Cannot be determined

Regulatory impact:   H.R. 519 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.

(Courtesy TheWeekInCongress.com)

Summary:

2/8/2011--Introduced.United Nations Tax Equalization Refund Act of 2011 - States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) direct the United Nations (U.N.) to return to the United States a specified amount overpaid into the United Nations Tax Equalization Fund (TEF) as of December 31, 2009; (2) use U.S. influence to press the U.N. to reform its TEF assessment procedures to reduce the discrepancies between TEF income and expenditures; and (3) annually instruct the U.N. to return to the United States any TEF surplus funds payable to the United States. Withholds such amount from the U.S. contribution to the regularly assessed biennial budget of the U.N. until the Secretary of State certifies to Congress that the U.N. has returned such amount to the United States.

Actions: