Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty Hails 34th Senate Signature Rejecting L.O.S.T.

Washington, D.C., July 18, 2012– The Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty applauds the announcement that opponents of Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) have secured enough votes to block ratification. The count of 34 votes rejecting the treaty was reached when Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) signed onto letter of opposition circulated by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), and Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) issued their own letter publicly expressing their opposition to the treaty.

 

The victory comes after a culmination of efforts by Americans across the country, Congressional leadership as well as the Coalition and other military, business and conservative leaders, to express their concerns that LOST’s ratification would prove inimical to both the national security interests and sovereignty of the United States.    

 

On June 14^th a group of senior retired U.S. military leaders – who had earned among them a total of 33 stars – released a letter through the Coalition voicing serious concerns regarding LOST. This letter was sent on the day Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, convened a hearing on LOST featuring six currently serving U.S. military commanders – what he has called his “24-star panel” – who argued in favor of ratification. Since then, several additional military leaders, including two former Chiefs of Naval Operations – for a total of three – have signed on as well. 

 

On June 28^th a group of oil and gas industry leaders also sent a letter to Committee Chairman John Kerry, to provide an alternate opinion to a business hearing for the treaty where only proponents of the treaty were allowed to testify. Their letter expressed serious concerns about the net effect this accord would have on U.S. national, as well as commercial, interests.

 

The 34 Senators who have expressed opposition to the treaty are as follows:

• Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
• Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
• Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
• John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
• John Boozman (R-Ark.)
• Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.)
• Dan Coats (R-Ind.)
• Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)
• John Cornyn (R-Texas)
• Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
• Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)
• Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
• Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)
• Dean Heller (R-Nev.)
• John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
• Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)
• Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
• Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE)
• Ron Johnson (R-Wis.)
• Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)
• Mike Lee (R-Utah)
• Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
• Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
• Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
• Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
• Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
• Pat Roberts (R-Kansas)
• Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
• Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)
• Richard Shelby (R-Ala.)
• John Thune (R-S.D.)
• Pat Toomey (R-Penn.)
• David Vitter (R-La.)
• Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. of the Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty said:

 

“Today’s announcement that the Senate opponents of the Law of the Sea Treaty have secured sufficient commitments to block ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty is a great victory for American sovereignty. Despite Senator Kerry’s efforts to present a selective rendering of this treaty the truth about LOST emerged – due in large part to the tireless efforts of a team of legislators and their staff and public spirited citizens who aroused their countrymen to the perils associated with LOST. The country owes a debt of gratitude to these patriots. The decision clearly shows that when the public is presented with an unadulterated perspective on the issues, they will arrive at the proper conclusion.”

 

Military leaders who expressed their opposition to LOST through the Coalition include:

• Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, USA (Ret.), former Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Forces Command; former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence
• Adm. Bruce Demars USN (Ret.), former Director Naval Nuclear Propulsion
• Adm. Thomas B. Hayward, USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations
• Admiral Jim Holloway, USN (Ret.) former Chief of Naval Operations
• Adm. Frank Kelso USN (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Operations
• Adm. G.E.R. Kinnear II, USN (Ret.), former U.S. Member of the NATO Military Committee
• Gen. Richard L. Lawson, USAF (Ret.), former Deputy Commander-in Chief, Headquarters U.S. European Command
• Adm. James “Ace” Lyons, Jr., USN (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet
• Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney, USAF (Ret.), former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, USAF
• Vice Adm. Robert Monroe, USN (Ret.), former Director of Navy Research, Development Testing and Evaluation
• Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., USMC (Ret.), former Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
• Adm. Leighton “Snuffy” Smith, USN (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Navy Forces Europe and NATO Allied Forces Southern Europe

Business leaders who expressed their opposition to LOST through the Coalition include: 

• Raul Brito, President, Brito Oil Company
• Steve Dillard, Vice President, Pickrell Drilling Company
• Mike Dixon, Owner, Dixon Oil and Gas, Inc.
• Hon. Dennis Hedke, Owner, Hedke Saenger Geoscience Ltd.
• Bill Johnson, Partner, McCoy Petroleum Corporation
• A. Scott Ritchie III, President, Ritchie Exploration, Inc.
• Scott Stewart, Owner, Bird Dog Oil LLC