[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 144 (Tuesday, August 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6005-S6006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 115-3

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted 
to the Senate on August 28, 2018, by the President of the United 
States: amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments 
of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United 
States of America, Treaty Document No. 115-3. I further ask that the 
treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be 
referred, with accompanying papers, to 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 Treaty on 
Fisheries between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and 
the Government of the United States of America, done at Port Moresby 
April 2, 1987, as amended (the ``Treaty''), done at Nadi, Fiji, 
December 3, 2016. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, 
the amendments to the Annexes to the Treaty and report of the 
Department of State with respect to the Treaty and a Memorandum of 
Understanding reflecting the parties' intent to provisionally apply 
certain amendments.
  The objective of the Treaty is to provide United States purse seine 
vessels with fishing access to waters under the jurisdiction of 16 
Pacific Island parties, and to provide a platform for broader 
cooperation between the parties. The Amendments update the Treaty's 
terms and conditions to promote more effective cooperation between 
parties and United States private-sector stakeholders. The Senate gave 
its advice and consent to prior amendments to the Treaty in 2003, but 
those amendments never entered into force. The Amendments my 
Administration is now submitting include some of those prior 
amendments.
  The Treaty and its Amendments serve United States diplomatic and 
economic interests by promoting positive relations with the Pacific 
Island parties and allowing for the continued operation of the United 
States-flagged fishing fleet in the region. The Amendments are 
supported by both Pacific Island parties and United States industry 
stakeholders.
  The recommended changes to the Treaty's implementing legislation, the 
South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, to reflect the Amendments to the Treaty 
and its Annexes, will be submitted separately to the Congress.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Amendments to this Treaty, and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                                     Donald J. Trump.  
                                      The White House, August 28, 2018.


                           Executive Calendar

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Executive 
Calendar No. 1060.

[[Page S6006]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the nomination.
  The legislative clerk read the nomination of David Hale, of New 
Jersey, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career 
Minister, to be an Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs).
  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the nomination.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate; that if 
confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's 
action; that no further motions be in order; and that any statements 
relating to the nomination be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Hale 
nomination?
  The nomination was confirmed.

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