[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 88 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7286-S7287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 109-11

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask 
unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the 
following treaty transmitted to the Senate on July 10, 2006, by the 
President: 2002 Amendments to the ITU Constitution and Convention, 
Treaty Document No. 109-11. I further ask unanimous consent that the 
treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be 
referred, with accompanying papers, to

[[Page S7287]]

the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that 
the President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the amendments to the Constitution 
and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 
1992), as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994) and 
the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998), together with the 
declarations and reservations by the United States, all as contained in 
the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002).
  I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of the 
Department of State concerning these amendments.
  The Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002) adopted amendments 
that would expand the field of individuals eligible for election to the 
Radio Regulations Board; provide for functional privileges and 
immunities for members of the Radio Regulations Board; strengthen the 
finances of the International Telecommunication Union by, among others, 
providing for sector member contributions to defray the expenses of 
regional conferences in which they participate and clarifying that 
operational plans prepared by the International Telecommunication Union 
Secretary-General and Directors of each of the International 
Telecommunication Union sectors must reflect the financial implications 
of the activities proposed; provide for sector members to be 
represented as observers at meetings of the Council; and recognize the 
authority of the Radiocommunication Assembly, the World 
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly, and the World 
Telecommunication Development Conference to adopt working methods and 
procedures for their respective sectors.
  Consistent with longstanding practices, the United States, in signing 
the 2002 amendments, made certain declarations and reservations. 
Subject to those declarations and reservations, I believe the United 
States should ratify the 2002 amendments to the International 
Telecommunication Union Constitution and Convention. Those amendments 
will contribute to the International Telecommunication Union's ability 
to adapt to changes in the telecommunication environment and, in so 
doing, serve the needs of the United States Government and United 
States industry. It is my hope that the Senate will take early action 
on this matter and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, July 10, 2006.

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