CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
July 11, 2012 – 11:09 p.m.
More Senators Line Up Against Sea Treaty
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff
Opposition to one United Nations- brokered treaty is hardening, while advocates for another are optimistic about its chances for Senate ratification before the August recess.
Minority Leader
The addition of McConnell and
The growing opposition leaves backers very little breathing room — they can stand to lose just three additional votes and still secure ratification — despite the active support of the national security establishment and the oil, gas and telecommunications industries, as well as GOP former officials.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has held three hearings on the Law of the Sea treaty since May. Chairman
Rights of Persons With Disabilities Pact
The committee is also kicking off consideration of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (
The first hearing is being held Thursday morning, with boosters eyeing ratification as early as July 26, the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336).
Jennifer Dexter, the assistant vice president for government relations at disability advocacy group Easter Seals, acknowledged that is “a pretty aggressive timeline” but said that “so far we’re on track with that.”
“Sen. Kerry didn’t want to move ahead until he knew this had a shot,” Dexter added, so the fact that the committee is now holding a hearing “gives me hope.” Committee staff declined to comment on potential timing of a ratification vote.
The disability rights treaty is likely to avoid some of the controversy other treaties have faced in recent years, thanks to the fact that it will not affect U.S. laws, which advocates say are the gold standard for international disability regulations. Rather, the treaty would largely force the rest of the world to catch up to U.S. standards.
The treaty does face some opposition — DeMint and Republican
The same support is not there on Law of the Sea. Both Barrasso and Moran have signed onto the DeMint letter urging the Senate not to ratify the treaty, which opponents say would undermine U.S. sovereignty and subject U.S. companies to unnecessary regulation and fees. Just two moderate Republicans —
More Senators Line Up Against Sea Treaty
Treaty supporters need to maintain the support of the entire Democratic caucus and win over 12 of the 15 Republicans still on the fence.