On the recordMay 17, 2012
I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'll be very brief. For the last 20 years, every single chief of Naval operations, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and other military officers have supported this treaty because they recognize that it gives us greater protections in an increasingly complicated world. So I would urge opposition to this amendment that would undermine that Law of the Sea. It does not turn over the power to the United Nations. It creates a treaty that gives us a framework for dealing with what is an increasingly difficult set of issues. China, absent this treaty, could, in fact, make greater claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere, and we would not have the same amount of power to oppose them. So please oppose this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes appeared to have it.
