Heritage Foundation by Steven Groves 1/28/2021
Key Treaties That Threaten American Sovereignty, Which the Senate Must Oppose During the Biden Presidency
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The new Biden administration will likely seek to revive several treaties and agreements that failed to gain Senate approval in the past
• These will likely include treaties on human rights, environmental agreements, arms control agreements, and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• The Senate must fulfill its constitutional role to scrutinize treaties and reject any that undermine the interests and national sovereignty of the american people
The Trump Administration was rightfully skeptical of treaties and other international agreements that would result in the loss of American sovereignty. The new Biden Administration will likely seek to revive several treaties or agreements that failed to gain congressional approval in the past.
Over the next four years, particularly the first two while Democrats have certain control of Congress, the Biden Administration can be expected to push for U.S. ratification of a number of international agreements, including human rights conventions, environmental agreements, arms control treaties, and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The U.S. Congress must fulfill its constitutional role by scrutinizing such treaties and rejecting any that undermine the interests and national sovereignty of the American people.
Human Rights ConventionsPrior Democratic Administrations have tried and failed to push through various human rights conventions. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and submitted it to the Senate, then controlled by his own party, for advice and consent. The convention ultimately failed on the Senate floor by a vote of 61 to 38. Since the CRPD was signed when he served as Vice President, President Joe Biden may feel obligated to make another push for ratification.
More:
https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/IB6045.pdf