{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hirono-murkowski-kaine-in-reintroducing-resolution-calling-on-us-senate-to-ratify-un-convention-on-the-law-of-the-sea", "Van Hollen Joins Hirono, Murkowski, Kaine in Reintroducing Resolution Calling on U.S. Senate to Ratify UN Convention on the Law of the Sea", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, on the 29th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) entering into force, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in introducing a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify UNCLOS. UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 168 nations and the European Union, details the rights and responsibilities of countries regarding the world\u2019s oceans, including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources, and provides a legal framework to protect those rights while avoiding conflict.\n\n\u201cSitting on the sidelines of UNCLOS not only undermines our standing to advocate for international freedom of navigation and the protection of our oceans \u2013 it also undercuts our ability to protect our own national security and commercial interests in the seas. It is critical that the U.S. ratify this Convention so we can more credibly defend international law of the sea,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cMore than twenty years after UNCLOS took effect, the U.S. is one of just a handful of signatories that has not ratified it, preventing us from engaging in important international conversations about our oceans and seas,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis long overdue step would help strengthen our national security, expand oceanic access for maritime industries, and support efforts to preserve the environmental health of our oceans. Ratifying UNCLOS enables the U.S. to participate in the decision making process regarding our planet\u2019s oceans and seas.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe longer we sit out, the longer the rest of world will continue to set the agenda of maritime domain, from seabed mining to critical subsea infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Lisa Murkowski. \u201cRatifying the Law of the Sea Treaty will help us keep China\u2019s illegal territorial advances at bay in the South China and is also critical to our national interest in the maritime domain, especially as other Arctic nations look to define their rights to seabed areas beyond their existing exclusive economic zones. It is time for America to not just join the world at the table, but to make sure we are helping to set the rules going forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring our seas remain free and open is critical to protecting our economy and our national security. U.S. ratification of UNCLOS would underscore our commitment to freedom of navigation worldwide and the importance of this agreement. As Chairman of the Armed Services\u2019 Subcommittee on Seapower and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues to make progress on this issue,\u201d said Senator Kaine.\n\n\u201cThe United States must be in the conversation when it comes to defining international maritime laws,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cWhile the U.S. dallies, Russia and China are moving into seabed mining. UNCLOS will protect our domestic shipping industry, national security, and economic security by ensuring we are able to compete with existing monopolies at sea.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica is an Arctic Nation, but as we fail to assert our rights, we allow rival countries \u2013 near-Arctic nations and otherwise \u2013 to seize opportunities in our maritime territory,\u201d said Arctic Caucus Co-Chair Senator Angus King (I-Maine). \u201cSigning on to the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea would give us our rightful seat at the table for international conversations about territorial rights, navigation, environmental protections and economic opportunities \u2013 especially in the race for critical minerals that will unlock our technological future. That\u2019s why ever military official I have met with has said it would assist in advancing America\u2019s interests and strengthening our security. The High North offers historical possibilities for America\u2019s future, but we are holding ourselves back by standing still.\u201d\n\nUNCLOS is a comprehensive legal framework governing all uses of the world\u2019s oceans and seas, and their resources. It also allows for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea. It is the globally recognized framework for dealing with all matters relating to the law of the sea, governing areas including, but not limited to, environmental control, marine scientific research, economic and commercial activities, and the settlement of disputes relating to ocean matters.\n\nThe treaty was opened for signature on December 10, 1982 and was entered into force on November 16, 1994. The United States signed UNCLOS on July 29, 1994, but the U.S. Senate has not yet voted to ratify the treaty, despite urging from environmental, scientific, labor, and industry organizations.\n\nIn addition to Senator Van Hollen, the resolution led by Senators Hirono, Murkowski, and Kaine is cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hirono-murkowski-kaine-in-reintroducing-resolution-calling-on-us-senate-to-ratify-un-convention-on-the-law-of-the-sea"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.7273930609226227, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}