[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11--EXPRESSING THE NEED FOR THE SENATE TO 
   PROVIDE ADVICE AND CONSENT TO RATIFICATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS 
                   CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

  Mr. PADILLA submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 11

       Whereas human actions are contributing to an unprecedented 
     and increasing loss of biodiversity worldwide;
       Whereas nearly 1,000,000 species could be threatened with 
     extinction;
       Whereas every United Nations member state has ratified the 
     Convention on Biological Diversity, done at Rio de Janeiro 
     June 5, 1992, with the exception of the United States;
       Whereas the United States signed the Convention on 
     Biological Diversity in 1993 but has not ratified the treaty;
       Whereas the United States, under current domestic law, is 
     already legally compliant with the obligations of the 
     Convention;
       Whereas Federal agencies often design their plans to align 
     with Convention on Biological Diversity initiatives;
       Whereas the absence of the United States from the 
     Convention on Biological Diversity limits the United States 
     to holding the status of an ``observer'' to deliberations and 
     decision making processes of the Convention on Biodiversity;
       Whereas, not being party to the Convention on Biological 
     Diversity, the United States does not have a vote within the 
     convention, which diminishes our voice and influence;
       Whereas the decisions and rules made by the Convention on 
     Biological Diversity affect both national security and 
     economic interests of the United States in spite of the 
     United States' non-party status;
       Whereas the United States is one of the world's largest 
     contributors in international conservation funding and 
     biological diversity expertise; and
       Whereas we are inextricably interconnected on this planet, 
     and the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity has a 
     direct impact on all Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is in the national interest for the 
     Senate to provide its advice and consent for the ratification 
     of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was signed 
     by the United States in New York on June 4, 1993.

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