The Threat of Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST)

Last fall, the Senate came close to ratifying the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST), which would give total regulatory jurisdiction over the world’s oceans and seas to a United Nations body, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.  The rush to ratify LOST appears to have slowed—for now at least.

 

President Ronald Reagan first rejected LOST in 1982 on grounds that the U.S. would surrender sovereignty to the UN and its international courts.

 

President Clinton, anxious to appease One World Government advocates in his own party, favored the treaty but withheld submission to the Senate due to lack of support.

 

LOST provides the legal framework within which all activities on, over and under the oceans and the seas must be carried out. In other words, the LOST treaty would give the UN jurisdiction over everything concerning the oceans and seas of the earth. 

 

The treaty creates three new international institutions—the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority, and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. U.S. companies would pay taxes or “fees” for access to oil, gas and minerals. But such access would be determined by the treaty organizations, not the weakened U.S.  We would not have veto power protection in these organizations like we do in the Security Council. We’d have one vote among a membership of over 150 nations.

 

LOST has gathered dust on the shelves of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee until last fall.  The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has approved it, and our Senate has schemed to keep the public unaware, while it is believed they could ratify it at any time. The secrecy involved in this treaty that would incredibly affect our nation speaks of its very controversial nature. Then it, once again, came to life.  President Bush has given every indication that he would sign it if it is sent to his desk.  This type of legislating behind the backs of Americans and President Bush’s willingness to go along with it reminds me of the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill.  The Senate tried to sneak that into law in the dark of night as well. 

 

John McCain has voiced both opposition and support for the LOST treaty, but most of his statements seem to be in favor of it!  Barack Obama has already voted in favor of the treaty once as a member of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee when it voted to send it to the Senate floor.  Hillary Clinton supported ratification when it was being addressed during the Clinton White House years.  What that means to all of us is that whenever there are enough votes in the Senate in favor of the treaty, whoever happens to be in the Oval Office for the next four-to-eight years will likely sign it!

 

Our personal freedom and security depend on preserving American sovereignty and security by remaining vigilant in this fight against LOST! The Law of the Sea Treaty could come up on the Senate floor anytime! Be sure to contact your Senators today and tell them to oppose ratification of the treaty.

 

Call Your Senators Today!
Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121