Republicans Fight Off Law of Sea Treaty

The Obama administration's push to join the United Nations international maritime treaty is just four votes short of being doomed after two more senators this week added their names to the list of lawmakers who would oppose the Law of Sea Treaty. Both Senators McConnell and Grassley have joined 28 other Republicans in a letter to Senator Majority Leader Reid pleading to keep the treaty off the senate floor. The Hill relates part of their plea:

“We are writing to let you know that we believe this Convention reflects political, economic, and ideological assumptions which are inconsistent with American values and sovereignty.

"By its current terms, the Law of the Sea Convention encompasses economic and technology interests in the deep sea, redistribution of wealth from developed to undeveloped nations, freedom of navigation in the deep sea and exclusive economic zones which may impact maritime security, and environmental regulation over virtually all sources of pollution.”