Joining the Convention and the 1994 Agreement that modifies its deep seabed mining provisions is a priority for the Department of State and for me personally.

No country is in a position to gain more from the Law of the Sea Convention than the United States.

The time is now, for this Senate to do what others have failed to do: ratify the Law of the Sea Convention.

The Convention would also provide a stronger legal basis for some important activities such as stopping and boarding stateless vessels.

I think you have made the case, both eloquently and persuasively, for anyone who is willing to look at the facts.

I believe it would, Senator. I think joining the Convention would likely strengthen the PSI by attracting new cooperative partners.

I just don't think is economically smart.

the types of modernizations at Sandia and Los Alamos and Pantex and other places have been waiting for, and military leaders and civilian military leaders have said is very important, has not occurred, per the resolution of ratification.

We will really only have ourselves to hold responsible if the bodies that are now gearing up and working under this Convention begin to make decisions that are not in our interest.

But, Senator, it is a consensus, which means it has to be unanimous, so our 1 vote counts as much as 159 other votes.

We can block that until the cows come home.

Joining the Convention was important, but not urgent. That is no longer the case today.

So much is at stake, and I, therefore, urge the committee to listen to the experts, listen to our businesses, listen to the Chamber of Commerce, listen to our military, and please give advice and consent to this treaty before the end of…

Being a member of the Convention would better allow the United States to exercise global security leadership.

By finally acceding to the Convention, we help make our Nation more secure and more prosperous for generations to come.

I join you in being absolutely, 100 percent, supportive and protective of American sovereignty.

Joining the Convention would give our day-to-day maritime operations a firmer, codified legal foundation.

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