SFRC: Hearing on the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support

This afternoon, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (Treaty Doc. 110-21). Witnesses included: Keith Loken (Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Private International Law, Department of State); Vicki Turetsky (Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services); Battle Robinson (Uniform Law Commissioner); and Alisha Griffin (Assistant Director, Office of Child Support Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services). Links are to the witnesses' written statements.

Treaty Transmittal: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with France

On September 9th, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the French Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, signed at Paris on August 31, 1994, as Amended by the Protocol signed on December 8, 2004, signed January 13, 2009, at Paris, together with a related Memorandum of Understanding, signed January 13, 2009. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 111-4) is here.

Treaty Transmittal: Protocol Amending Tax Convention with New Zealand

On June 16th, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol Amending the Convention between the United States of America and New Zealand for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income, signed on December 1, 2008, at Washington. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 111-3) is here.

Update: The US and UNCLOS

The latest news on possible Senate consideration of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea this year is available here and here. A new Council on Foreign Relations report on the treaty is available here.

Treaty Transmittal: Annex VI to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

On Thursday, April 2nd, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, Annex VI on Liability Arising From Environmental Emergencies to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, adopted on June 14, 2005, at the twenty-eighth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 111-2) is here. This if the first treaty transmitted by President Obama.

Treaty Transmittal: U.S.-Rwanda Bilateral Investment Treaty

On Thursday, November 20th, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, signed at Kigali on February 19, 2008. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-23) is here.

Resolutions of Ratification: Anti-Fouling Convention and Explosive Remnants of War CCW Protocol

On Friday, the Senate, by the requisite two-thirds vote, agreed to the resolutions of advice and consent to ratification of the following treaties:

• the International Convention on Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (Treaty Doc. 110-13) (Ex. Rept. 110-19); and
• the Protocol to the 1980 Convention Weapons Convention Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Treaty Doc. 109-10(C)) (Ex. Rept. 110-22).

The resolutions of ratification, with any reservations, understandings, declarations, and conditions, can be found here.

Treaty Transmittal: Agreement on Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

On Friday, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, done at Canberra on June 19, 2001. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-22) is here. The Agreement, which entered into force on February 1, 2004, was adopted pursuant to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. There are currently eleven parties to the Agreement. Additional information is available here.

Resolutions of Ratification: Nuclear Terrorism and Additional Treaties

On Thursday, the Senate, by the requisite two-thirds vote, agreed to the resolutions of advice and consent to ratification of the following treaties:

• the Land-Based Sources Protocol to Cartagena Convention (Treaty Doc. 110-1) (Ex. Rept. 110-20);
• the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (Treaty Doc. 110-4) (Ex. Rept. 110-23);
• the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Treaty Doc. 110-6) (Ex. Rept. 110-24);
• the Protocols of 2005 to the Convention Concerning the Safety of Maritime Navigation and to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (Treaty Doc. 110-8) (Ex. Rept. 110-25);
• the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Treaty Doc. 106-1(A)) (Ex. Rept. 110-26);
• the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession of Albania and Croatia (Treaty Doc. 110-20) (Ex. Rept. 110-27); and
• the Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of International Telecommunication Union (Treaty Doc. 108-5; Treaty Doc. 109-11; Treaty Doc. 110-16) (Ex. Rept. 110-28).

The resolutions of ratification, with any reservations, understandings, declarations, and conditions, can be found here, here, here, and here.

SFRC: Treaties Favorably Reported

On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ordered favorably reported the following treaties. The same day the Committee submitted its reports on the treaties.

• Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession of Albania and Croatia (Treaty Doc. 110-20) (Ex. Rept. 110-27)
• Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of International Telecommunication Union (Treaty Doc. 108-5; Treaty Doc. 109-11; Treaty Doc. 110-16) (Ex. Rept. 110-28).

Resolutions of Ratification: Law Enforcement, Tax, and Additional Treaties

Yesterday, the Senate, by the requisite two-thirds vote, agreed to the resolutions of advice and consent to ratification of the following treaties:

• Extradition Agreement with the European Union (Treaty Doc. 109-14) with 22 related bilateral agreements;
• Extradition Treaty with Latvia (Treaty Doc. 109-15);
• Extradition Treaty with Malta (Treaty Doc. 109-17);
• Extradition Treaty with Estonia (Treaty Doc. 109-16);
• Extradition Treaty with Bulgaria and an Agreement on Certain Aspects of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters with Bulgaria (Treaty Doc. 110-12);
• Extradition Treaty with Romania and Protocol to the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters with Romania (Treaty Doc. 110-11);
• Treaty with Malaysia on Mutual Legal Assistance (Treaty Doc. 109-22);
• Protocol Amending 1980 Tax Convention with Canada (Treaty Doc. 110-15);
• Tax Convention with Bulgaria with Proposed Protocol of Amendment (Treaty Doc. 110-18);
• Tax Convention with Iceland (Treaty Doc. 110-17);
• 1992 Partial Revision of the Radio Regulations (Geneva 1979) (Treaty Doc. 107-17);
• 1995 Revision of the Radio Regulations (Treaty Doc. 108-28);
• CCW Protocol on Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III) (Treaty Doc. 105-1(B));
• CCW Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV) (Treaty Doc. 105-1(C));
• Amendment to Article 1 of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (Treaty Doc. 109-10(B));
• Treaty with Sweden on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Treaty Doc. 107-12); and
• Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement with the European Union (Treaty Doc. 109-13) with 25 related bilateral agreements.

The resolutions of ratification, with any reservations, understandings, declarations, and conditions, can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

SFRC: Additional Reports on Treaties Favorably Reported

On Tuesday, September 16th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee submitted the following reports on three treaties that were favorably reported on July 29th:

• Report on the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Treaty Doc. 110-6) (Ex. Rept. 110-24);
• Report on the Protocols of 2005 to the Conventoin Concerning the Safety of Maritime Navigation and to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (Treaty Doc. 110-8) (Ex. Rept. 110-25); and
• Report on the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Treaty Doc. 106-1(A)) (Ex. Rept. 110-26).

SFRC: Reports on Treaties Favorably Reported

On Thursday, September 11th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee submitted the following reports on a number of treaties that were favorably reported on July 29th:

• Report to accompany Extradition Agreement with the European Union, together with 27 bilateral instruments (Treaty Doc. 109-14; Treaty Doc. 109-15; Treaty Doc. 109-16; Treaty Doc. 109-17; Treaty Doc. 110-11; Treaty Doc. 110-12) (Ex. Rept. 110-12);
• Report to accompany Treaty with Sweden on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Treaty Doc. 107-12), Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement with the European Union, together with 27 bilateral instruments (Treaty Doc. 109-13; Treaty Doc. 110-11; Treaty Doc. 110-12) (Ex. Rept. 110-13);
• Report to accompany Treaty with Malaysia on Mutual Legal Assistance (Treaty Doc. 109-22) (Ex. Rept. 110-14);
• Report to accompany Protocol Amending 1980 Tax Convention with Canada (Treaty Doc. 110-15) (Ex. Rept. 110-15);
• Report to accompany Tax Convention with Bulgaria with Proposed Protocol of Amendment (Treaty Doc. 110-18) (Ex. Rept. 110-16);
• Report to accompany Tax Convention with Iceland (Treaty Doc. 110-17) (Ex. Rept. 110-17);
• Report to accompany 1992 Partial Revision and 1995 Revision of the Radio Regulations (Treaty Doc. 108-28) (Ex. Rept. 110-18);
• Report to accompany International Convention on Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (Treaty Doc. 110-13) (Ex. Rept. 110-19);
• Report to accompany Land-Based Sources Protocol to Cartagena Convention (Treaty Doc. 110-1) (Ex. Rept. 110-20);
• Report to accompany 1996 Protocol to Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes (Treaty Doc. 110-5) (Ex. Rept. 110-21);
• Report to accompany an Amendment and Three Protocols to the 1980 Convention Weapons Convention (Treaty Doc. 105-1(B); Treaty Doc. 105-1(C); Treaty Doc. 109-10(B); Treaty Doc. 109-10(C)) (Ex. Rept. 110-22); and
• Report to accompany International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (Treaty Doc. 110-4) (Ex. Rept. 110-23).

SFRC: Hearing on Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty

This morning, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the following treaties:

• Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia (Treaty Doc. 110-20)

Witnesses included: Daniel Fried (Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Department of State) and Daniel P. Fata (Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and NATO Policy, Department of Defense). Links are to the witnesses' written statements.

Treaty Transmittal: Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support

Yesterday, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, adopted at The Hague on November 23, 2007. The United States signed the Convention upon its adoption. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-21) is here.

SFRC: Treaties Favorably Reported

Yesterday, at its business meeting, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ordered favorably reported the following treaties:

• Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (Treaty Doc. 109-10);
• Amendment to Article 1 of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (Treaty Doc. 109-10);
• Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Treaty Doc. 106-1);
• Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III) Additional to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (Treaty Doc. 105-1);
• Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV) Additional to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects (Treaty Doc. 105-1);
• The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (Treaty Doc. 110-4);
• The Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (Treaty Doc. 110-6);
• The Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (Treaty Doc. 110-8);
• The Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (Treaty Doc. 110-8);
• Agreement on Extradition between the United States of America and the European Union, together with 22 bilateral instruments that subsequently were signed between the United States and EU Member States in order to implement the Agreement (Treaty Doc. 109-14);
• Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Latvia (Treaty Doc. 109-15);
• Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Estonia (Treaty Doc. 109-16);
• Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Malta (Treaty Doc. 109-17);
• Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and Romania (Treaty Doc. 110-11);
• Extradition Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria (Treaty Doc. 110-12);
• Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Sweden (Treaty Doc. 107-12);
• Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance between the United States of America and the European Union, together with 25 bilateral instruments that subsequently were signed between the United States and each EU Member State in order to implement the Agreement (Treaty Doc. 109-13);
• Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the United States of America and Malaysia (Treaty Doc. 109-22);
• Treaty between the United States of America and Romania on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed on September 10, 2007 (Treaty Doc. 110-11);
• Agreement on Certain Aspects of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, signed at Sofia September 19, 2007 (Treaty Doc. 110-12);
• 1995 Revision of the Radio Regulations, with appendices (Treaty Doc. 108-28);
• 1992 Partial Revision of the Radio Regulations, with appendices (Treaty Doc. 107-17);
• International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (Treaty Doc. 110-13);
• 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (Treaty Doc. 110-5);
• Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, with Annexes (Treaty Doc. 110-1);
• Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, as Amended by the Protocols done on June 14, 1983, March 28, 1984, March 17, 1995, and July 29, 1997 (Treaty Doc. 110-15);
• Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Iceland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, and accompanying Protocol (Treaty Doc. 110-17);
• Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income, with accompanying Protocol (Treaty Doc. 110-18).

Treaty Transmittal: Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Albania and Croatia

Yesterday, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, adopted at Brussels on July 9, 2008. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-20) is here.

Resolutions of Ratification: Protocol to the International Hydrographic Organization Convention & the International Convention Against Doping in Sport

Yesterday, the Senate, by the requisite two-thirds vote, agreed to the resolutions of advice and consent to ratification of the Protocol of Amendments to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization, done at Monaco on April 14, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 110-9) and the International Convention Against Doping in Sport, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization on October 19, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 110-14). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported the Protocol on April 22, and the Committee submitted its report on June 26. The SFRC favorably reported the Anti-Doping Convention on June 24 and submitted its report on June 27. The resolution on the Anti-Doping Convention included one understanding, one declaration, and one condition.

SFRC: Hearing on Tax, Marine Pollution, and Telecom Treaties

This afternoon, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the following treaties:

• Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital (Treaty Doc. 110-15);
• Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Iceland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, and accompanying Protocol (Treaty Doc. 110-17);
• Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, with accompanying Protocol (Treaty Doc. 110-18);
• International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (Treaty Doc. 110-13);
• 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (Treaty Doc. 110-5);
• Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, with Annexes (Treaty Doc. 110-1);
• Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunications Union, as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Antalya, 2006) (Treaty Doc. 110-16);
• Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunications Union, as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002) (Treaty Doc. 109-11);
• 1995 Revision of the Radio Regulations, with appendices, as contained in the Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-95) (Treaty Doc. 108-28);
• Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunications Union, as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) (Treaty Doc. 108-5); and
• 1992 Partial Revision of the Radio Regulations, with appendices, together with declarations and reservations of the United States as contained in the Final Acts of the World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC-92) (Treaty Doc. 107-17).

Witnesses included: Michael Mundaca (Deputy Assistant Secretary (International), Office of Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury); Emily S. McMahon (Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress); David A. Balton (Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State); and Richard C. Beaird (Senior Deputy U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Bureau for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, Department of State). Links are to the witnesses' written statements.

Treaty Transmittal: International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Yesterday, July 7, the President transmitted to the Senate, for its advice and consent to ratification, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on November 3, 2001. The transmittal package (Treaty Doc. 110-19) is here. The United States signed the treaty on November 1, 2002. The treaty entered into force on June 29, 2004, and currently has 116 parties.

The President's message notes:

The centerpiece of the Treaty is the establishment of a multilateral system under which a party provides access to other parties, upon request, to listed plant genetic resources held in national genebanks. These resources are to be used solely for purposes of research, breeding, and training in agriculture. A recipient of such a resource must then share the benefits from its use, e.g., a recipient who commercializes a product containing an accessed plant genetic resource must generally pay a percentage of any gross sales into a trust account. Transfers under the multilateral system are to be accompanied by a standard material transfer agreement, the current version of which was concluded in June 2006. Provision of plant genetic resources from U.S. genebanks is fully consistent with the Department of Agriculture's long-standing general practice of providing access to such plant genetic resources upon request. Ratification of the Treaty will provide U.S. agricultural interests with similar access to other parties' genebanks, thus helping U.S. farmers and researchers sustain and improve their crops and promote food security. The Treaty may be implemented under existing U.S. authorities.

Further background is available here.