June 25, 2012
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2012
Contact:
Frances Cox
202-496-2128
More Business Groups – NAM and RARE – Enlist in Effort to Ratify ‘Law of Sea’
Organizations Become Newest Business Voices to Join The American Sovereignty Campaign
Washington, D.C. – The American Sovereignty Campaign (TASC) today announced that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) – America’s largest industrial trade association – and RARE: The Association for Rare Earth – the bipartisan organization that seeks to increase the production of rare earth elements – have become the latest representatives of America’s business community to join TASC. The American Petroleum Institute (API) – America’s premiere petroleum and natural gas association – joined TASC last week.
The announcement comes just days before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on June 28, 2012, which will focus on Law of the Sea Treaty perspectives from business and industry.
“Ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty will provide manufacturers access to additional energy opportunities and important rare earth minerals, vital to the manufacturing of today’s high tech products,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “With China controlling 90 percent of the world’s rare earth minerals, it is imperative the Senate ratify the treaty to give manufacturers improved access, which will support jobs and improve our competitiveness. The 12 million men and women who make things in America stand to benefit from this treaty – it’s time for the Senate to act now.”
“America needs greater access to rare earth materials to help strengthen national security and military defense and increase the availability and affordability of innovative technologies. Law of the Sea Treaty ratification would give U.S. companies the legal certainty they need to recover vast untapped rare earth mineral resources off America’s shores,” said RARE President and CEO Adam Falkoff. “Failure to ratify the treaty and secure this strategic resource puts America’s national security and economic interests at risk, which is why we vigorously support ratification and TASC.”
“We are excited that NAM, RARE and API, three of America’s most formidable business voices, have joined TASC and are fully engaged in the effort to secure ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty,” said TASC Director Jeff Pike. “Their enlistments further broaden the support for ratification from the business community and bolster our momentum ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s industry perspectives hearing this week. TASC is committed to working with all stakeholders to encourage ratification of the sovereignty-expanding Law of the Sea Treaty without delay.”
NAM is the preeminent U.S. manufacturers association and the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. RARE is a bipartisan organization that seeks to increase the production of rare earth elements; remove barriers to access of rare earth elements domestically and internationally; increase the affordability and trade of rare earth minerals; and increase the affordability and availability of technologically and environmentally advanced products made with rare earth minerals. API is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry.
By joining TASC, all have added their considerable influence to the groundswell of business support for immediate treaty ratification.
Learn more about TASC at www.RatifyTheTreatyNow.org.
The American Sovereignty Campaign (TASC) is supported by a broad, diverse and distinguished group of national security, business and NGO leaders who are committed to expanding U.S. sovereignty and protecting vital national security and economic interests by securing Senate ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty this year.
