[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 27960]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 110-9

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. 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 October 23, 2007, by the 
President of the United States:
  Protocol of Amendments to Convention on International Hydrographic 
Organization, Treaty Document No. 110-9.
  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 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 Protocol of Amendments to the 
Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization done at 
Monaco on April 14, 2005. The Protocol amends the Convention on the 
International Hydrographic Organization, which was done at Monaco on 
May 3, 1967, and entered into force for the United States on September 
22, 1970 (TIAS 6933; 21 UST 1857; 752 UNTS 41). I am also transmitting, 
for the information of the Senate, the report of the Secretary of State 
on the Protocol.
  The Protocol will facilitate the reorganization of the International 
Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The IHO, which is a technical and 
consultative international organization headquartered in Monaco, 
facilitates safe and efficient maritime navigation throughout the 
world. It accomplishes these objectives by facilitating the 
coordination of the activities of national hydrographic offices, 
promoting uniformity in the nautical charts and documents generated by 
such offices, encouraging the adoption of reliable surveying methods, 
and fostering the development of the science of hydrography. 
Reorganization of the IHO will result in a more flexible, efficient, 
and visible organization.
  Ratification of the Protocol would serve important U.S. interests. 
United States commercial shipping, the United States Navy, and the 
scientific research community rely heavily on hydrographic information 
collected and shared under the auspices of the IHO. The United States 
plays an important leadership role in the IHO and as a result enjoys 
expeditious and economical access to this information. Moreover, the 
United States has committed more resources than any other country to 
research, development, and evaluation of hydrographic instruments and 
therefore stands to benefit significantly from the efficiencies 
generated by this reorganization.
  Article XXI of the Convention sets forth the procedure for the 
approval and entry into force of amendments: Amendments that are 
adopted or ``approved'' by the Conference enter into force for all 
Contracting Parties to the Convention 3 months after two-thirds of the 
Contracting Parties have notified the depositary of the their consent 
to be bound.
  I recommend that the Senate give prompt and favorable consideration 
to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, October 23, 2007.

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