Lawmakers look to get tough on UN, introduce further legislation

"Lawmakers at a hearing Thursday called on the U.S. to get tough with the United Nations in response to a recent Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement activity.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) called the UN a 'politicized tool' at a hearing on Israel, the Palestinians and the UN before the House Foreign Affairs subcommittees dealing with the Middle East and on international organizations.

Ros-Lehtinen, the chairwoman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, said she would reintroduce legislation to bring about tougher U.S. oversight of the world body.

Her bill, the United Nations Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act, first introduced in 2015, demands greater oversight of U.S. contributions to the UN and affiliated organizations...

Some lawmakers wanted to go further, with Reps. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) calling for the U.S. to cut off UN funding..."