mr. chairman , the u.n .  soon to celerate its 60th anniversary , is chartered to promote universal human rights , justice and social progress .  these are perfect ideals that the global community must strive to put into action , but that does not mean the u.n .  is a perfect organization .  recent scandals and the lack of transparency within the u.n .  undermine the essential role the u.n .  plays in world affairs .  reform is an urgent priority but the cure for fixing these problems should not be worse than the disease .  h.r. 2745 will hamstring the u.s. 's ability to create positive reform within the u.n. , tarnish the image of the u.s. abroad when public opinion of the u.s. , particularly in the arab countries where is at an all time low , and defeat the administration 's public diplomacy efforts before karen hughes even assumes her new responsibilities in september .  additionally , h.r. 2745 would halt funding for any new or expanded peacekeeping missions .  unilaterally preventing the u.s. from supporting new peacekeeping missions puts an untold number of lives at risk and additionally , could endanger u.s. national security interests .  in fact many of the peacekeeping reforms contained in the hyde bill are endorsed by the u.n .  department of peacekeeping operations , and in most cases are already underway , to address recent concerns raised about sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping missions .  moreover , h.r. 2745 does not enjoy the full support of the administration .  according to r. nicholas bums , under secretary of state for political affairs , `` we have serious concerns with the bill .  we are the founder of the u.n .  we 're the host country of the u.n .  we 're the leading contributor to the u.n .  we do n't want to put ourselves in a position where the united states is withholding 50 percent of the american contributions to the u.n .  system. '' congress must provide the state department with the tools and flexibility to push for positive changes within the u.n .  the lantos/shays substitute would provide the authority , but not mandate , the secretary of state to withhold dues from the u.n .  if reform measures are n't implemented in a timely manner .  the united states , as the world leader , must take an active , positive role in helping reform the u.n .  the lantos/shays substitute is the step in the right direction for u.s. reform efforts and i will vote in favor of this substitute and against the u.n .  reform act .  