[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           REAUTHORIZE DEEP SEABED HARD MINERAL RESOURCES ACT

                                 ______


                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 1994

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a bill to reauthorize 
the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act for fiscal years 1995 
through 1999.
  On June 30, 1994, Secretary of State Warren Christopher announced 
that the United States will sign a deep seabed mining agreement 
amending the Law of the Sea Treaty, effectively approving the treaty as 
a whole, subject to Senate ratification. Recent negotiations by the 
administration have led to the resolution of a number of concerns 
related to U.S. participation in the international seabed mining 
regime. The United States will be subject to provisional application of 
the mining agreement for up to 4 years, subject to U.S. law. During 
this time, U.S. domestic seabed mining law, the Deep Seabed Hard 
Mineral Resources Act, will preempt the agreement should a conflict 
arise.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill I am introducing today reauthorizes our 
domestic seabed mining law, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act 
[DSHMRA], through fiscal year 1999. Reauthorization of DSHMRA will 
reaffirm this Congress' interest in maintaining a domestic deep seabed 
mining policy and will provide a framework for implementing legislation 
should the U.S. agree to ratify the treaty in the future. A 
reauthorized domestic legal regime will provide legal certainty to 
those U.S. operators licensed under DSHMRA, provide a basis for funding 
future activities, and preserve domestic mining claims against other 
nations. Additionally, should the United States decide not to ratify 
the Law of the Sea Treaty, a reauthorized DSHMRA will be critically 
important to preserve and oversee U.S. deep seabed mining activities 
and research in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a simple but important legislative measure that 
will provide both our Government as well as our domestic mining 
industry the security and autonomy needed to ensure the future 
viability of U.S. deep seabed mining efforts. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting and enacting this legislation.

                          ____________________