S.Amdt. 304

SA 304. Mr. INHOFE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 600, to authorize appropriations for the Department of State and international broadcasting activities for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, for the Peace Corps for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, for foreign assistance programs for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 59, between lines 4 and 5, insert the following:

SEC. 405. RENOVATION OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds shall be used to process any acceptance of the offer of a loan for $1,200,000,000 at 5.5 percent interest, or any other loan amount at any other interest rate, for the renovation of the United Nations building in New York, New York, until the Secretary of State certifies the falsehood of reports from approximately 6 renovation experts with particular experience in the costs of renovating high-end facilities and structures in New York, New York that the costs proposed by the United Nations for such renovation is above commercial, fair market prices.

(b) Additional Offers.--In examining such reports of severely inflated cost estimates (some estimating charges in excess of 200 percent of fair market value), the Secretary shall arrange a meeting of the Bureau of International Organizations to discuss and receive written offers for the renovation of the United Nations building in New York, New York from not less than 12 different renovation enterprises or experts.