Rep. Opsommer offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 223.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to oppose a treaty with the United Nations known as the Law of the Sea Treaty.

            Whereas, The Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) was conceived in 1982 by the United Nations as a method for governing activities on, over, and beneath the ocean's surface.  It primarily focuses on navigational and transit issues, however, it also contains provisions on the regulation of deep-sea mining, redistribution of wealth to underdeveloped countries, pollution, and dispute resolution, among other provisions.  It was rejected by President Reagan; and

            Whereas, The Bush administration has urged the United States Senate to ratify this treaty in spite of concerns that this treaty weakens American sovereignty and empowers the United Nations and its subsidiaries.  LOST would surrender control of 70 percent of the world's surface to a U.N. affiliated organization and would establish a mandatory dispute resolution mechanism that is governed by a U.N. court or tribunal; and

            Whereas, This mandatory dispute resolution provision contained in LOST restricts the autonomy of the United States and could weaken our national security.  Intelligence and submarine maneuvers in territorial waters could be restricted and regulated.  A U.N. tribunal will be able to mandate certain regulations regarding fisheries, environmental protection, and navigation, among other provisions.  Finally, submitting to external jurisdiction under LOST would weaken the position of the United States when it refuses to submit to the authority of the International Criminal Court and other international bodies that encroach upon American sovereignty; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to oppose a treaty with the United Nations known as the Law of the Sea Treaty; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.