Federal

House Allocates Money For Rejoining UNESCO

By Joetta L. Sack — May 23, 2001 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A spending bill passed by the House this month provides funding for U.S. membership in UNESCO, the often-controversial United Nations education group that this country withdrew from 17 years ago.

The action by the House came at the urging of a number of education groups, which say the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization can make a large contribution to furthering education and literacy in Third World countries. (“Return to UNESCO?” March 21, 2001.)

UNESCO “can and does increase the number of people who are literate,” wrote the International Reading Association’s president, Alan E. Farstrup, in a letter to the White House on the matter. “Without such literacy skills, the bonds of poverty are impossible to break.”

The House allotted the nearly $60 million required for annual UNESCO dues in its foreign-relations appropriations bill, which passed May 16.

The United States dropped out of UNESCO in 1984 over concerns about the organization’s management.

Membership in the U.N. and its specialty groups has long been a point of contention in Washington. Many Republicans, in particular, argue that the organization is a waste of money and gives too large a voice to nondemocratic nations.

Aid for Cuba

An amendment offered by Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., to remove the funding for UNESCO dues from the appropriations bill failed, 225-193. Mr. Tancredo cited recent reports that the organization’s new director-general, Koichiro Matsura of Japan, plans to use millions of dollars of UNESCO’s funds to help restore colonial Havana, Cuba.

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., called UNESCO “an organization truly in search of a mission.”

“Currently, the U.S. gives approximately $3 million each year on a voluntary basis to support educational, scientific, and cultural projects which we feel are worthwhile, whereas if we were to become a member [of UNESCO], we would be funding good and bad projects alike,” he said.

The Senate has not acted on the issue. The White House press office did not respond to a request for President Bush’s position on rejoining UNESCO.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the May 23, 2001 edition of Education Week as House Allocates Money For Rejoining UNESCO

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Webinar
Reimagining Grading in K-12 Schools: A Conversation on the Value of Standards-Based Grading
Hear from K-12 educational leaders and explore standards-based grading benefits and implementation strategies and challenges
Content provided by Otus
Reading & Literacy Webinar How Background Knowledge Fits Into the ‘Science of Reading’ 
Join our webinar to learn research-backed strategies for enhancing reading comprehension and building cultural responsiveness in the classroom.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Innovative Strategies for Data & Assessments
Join our webinar to learn strategies for actionable instruction using assessment & analysis.
Content provided by Edulastic

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Federal House GOP Passes Parents' Rights Bill in Clash Over Schools
The legislation seeks to give parents a role in what's taught in public schools, but it has little chance in the Democrat-run Senate.
4 min read
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, of Calif., right, speaks about the proposed legislation dubbed the "Parents Bill of Rights," on March 1, 2023, next to Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, of Calif., right, speaks about the proposed legislation dubbed the "Parents Bill of Rights," on March 1, 2023, next to Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Federal How Schools Fare in Biden's Proposed Budget
President Joe Biden released his fiscal 2024 budget, which calls for more money for preschool, Title I, and special education.
7 min read
President Joe Biden speaks about his 2024 budget proposal at the Finishing Trades Institute, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Philadelphia.
President Joe Biden speaks about his 2024 budget proposal at the Finishing Trades Institute, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Philadelphia.
Evan Vucci/AP
Federal The Push for a $60K Base Teacher Salary Gains Steam as Bernie Sanders Signs On
Sanders' legislation complements a proposal in the House and comes as state lawmakers from both parties prioritize legislation to boost teacher pay.
6 min read
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., outlines his priorities during an interview in his Capitol Hill office, Feb. 7, 2023.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., outlines his priorities during an interview in his Capitol Hill office, Feb. 7, 2023.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal Q&A Ending 'Government-Run Monopoly' on Schools Is Top Priority for Rep. Virginia Foxx
The Republican chair of the U.S. House's education committee plans to pass parents' rights and school choice bills.
5 min read
House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., greets then-Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar at the conclusion of a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.' Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., greets then-Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar at the conclusion of a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in June 2018. Foxx spoke to Education Week about her priorities as she becomes chair of the committee for a second time.
Carolyn Kaster/AP