On that occasion, as I recall, the treaty received four negative votes in committee, but it went to the floor with a pretty good majority.

Sixty percent of these populations under the age of 25; 50 percent under the age of 21; 40 percent under the age of 18.

Our influence in the Middle East significantly reduced by our inability to be able to effect things.

We have, I might say, the best companies in the world, the most technologically advanced.

I am concerned, Secretary Rumsfeld, about a recommendation for United States businesses to have to joint venture with another country to exploit our resources or what might be our resources.

I found the testimony very important just in terms of the historical record of the evolution of this issue before previous administrations and the Congress.

Senator Harry Reid, now the Democratic majority leader, did not find it convenient to take up the treaty.

By definition of these partnerships, we already divide up the profits, leaving aside the royalties in the sixth year.

Unfortunately, Senator Bill Frist, who was the Republican majority leader, decided there were other priorities.

Thus, there would not be the creation of the jobs nor the degree of energy independence or the other attributes.

This morning the Foreign Relations Committee heard unequivocal testimony from our uniformed military leadership in support of the Law of the Sea Convention.

Americans who are involved in the oceans professionally on a daily basis... want this Convention ratified.

The Law of the Sea will continue to form the basis of maritime law regardless of whether the United States is a party.

Consequently, the United States cannot insulate itself from the Convention merely by declining to ratify.

The Commander in Chief, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and individual combatant commanders are asking the Senate to give its advice and consent to the Law of the Sea Convention.

The Navy is telling us that U.S. membership in the Law of the Sea Convention is a tool that they need to maximize their ability to protect United States national security with the least risk to the men and women charged with this task.

Senator Lugar and I are committed to hear from everybody so that the Senate can build the strongest record possible.

Each of you knows that we got briefings here about the so-called pivot of our national defense toward the South China Sea, toward the Pacific.