Foreign Relations Committee Approves LOST

JBS | Nov. 1, 2007

The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) on Wednesday, October 31, by a vote of 17-4. With the committee's approval, the full Senate will now be faced with a final vote on ratification of the treaty.

As of October 31, there is no scheduled vote on LOST in the Senate. Nevertheless, previous reports indicated that the Senate would vote on LOST prior to the end of the year.

The Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) entered into force in 1994 and has been ratified by 153 countries (click here for a list of recent LOST developments). The treaty gives the UN complete jurisdiction over the oceans and everything in them, including the ocean floor with all its resources, along with the power to regulate 70 percent of the world's surface.

It is more important now then ever to contact your senators and urge them to oppose the Law of the Sea Treaty. To take immediate action, click here.