Inhofe declares sea debate victory

After weeks of gathering opposition to the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST), U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday declared victory.  

Inhofe has been the leader in encouraging his Senate colleagues to oppose the measure, garnering 31 signatures of opposition in a letter Inhofe drafted to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). 

Two other Members, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), wrote their own letter of opposition, and a third, U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), publically announced he will vote against LOST, bringing the total opposed to 34 members.  Senate ratification of a treaty requires 67 votes in favor, therefore LOST will not be ratified.
 
"This is Victory Day for U.S. sovereignty in the Senate,” said Inhofe.  “There is not one concrete example that can be made where a company would benefit from our involvement in the Law of the Sea Treaty. Furthermore, this is the first time in history that an international organization, the U.N., would possess taxing authority, transferring potentially billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury.  The treaty also would give the U.N. the ability to regulate 70 percent of the earth’s surface.  With 34 opposed to LOST, this debate is over. It is time for the Senate to move on and focus on important issues such as addressing Sequestration, passing National Defense Authorization Act, and preventing the looming massive tax hike on the American people.”
 
A copy of the letter is available on Inhofe’s website by clicking here.