WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) today introduced a concurrent resolution co-sponsored by 28 of his Senate colleagues which outlines specific criteria that must be met for a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to be ratified by the U.S. Senate and recognized as customary international law. On Monday, March 18, 2013, the Obama Administration will continue its reversal of the policies of both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush and engage in a new round of negotiations of the U.N. ATT in New York. The companion resolution was introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).

"We must avoid a situation where the Administration, due to its continued willingness to negotiate, feels pressured to sign a treaty that violates our constitutional rights,” Sen. Moran said. “It is now clear that Congress must reiterate its concerns with the latest draft of the treaty, and I am pleased to be leading this effort once again with Congressman Kelly."

The current ATT treaty text undermines the Constitutional freedoms of American gun owners and does not exempt civilian firearms from its scope or recognize the inherent right to self-defense. If the ATT is supposed to be concerned only with the international trade in conventional weapons, Sen. Moran believes it needs to exempt domestic, civilian firearm ownership and use from its scope, as governed by national laws and constitutions.

Additionally, a near-universal treaty like the ATT will reward dictatorships with privileges that should be reserved for sovereign democracies. Because the U.N. includes every nation in the world, it is not a suitable instrument for negotiating substantive treaties on a subject as profoundly divisive as control over the means of national defense.

"If the ATT could work, it would not be necessary," Sen. Moran said. "There is no reason to believe the ATT will succeed where past U.N. Security Council Arms Embargoes have failed. Smothering the world with law will not affect nations who choose not to respect the treaty, or are too ill-governed to enforce it."

Last July, the U.N. Conference on the ATT dissolved without a consensus treaty text. This was in part thanks to the U.S. delegation asking for additional time after receiving a letter from Sen. Moran and 50 of his Senate colleagues expressing intent to oppose ratification of any treaty that infringes upon our Second Amendment freedoms. On November 7, 2012, the day after President Obama’s reelection, his administration announced its intent to reengage in treaty negotiations which will begin Monday.

Sen. Moran’s concurrent resolution is cosponsored by 28 U.S. Senators including: Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Tom Coburn (R-OK), John Cornyn (R-TX), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dean Heller (R-NV), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), David Vitter (R-LA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

The concurrent resolution has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Heritage Action, and the Endowment for Middle East Truth.

Accatched below is Sen. Moran’s resolution outlining criteria that must be met for a U.N. ATT to be ratified by the Senate. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is poised to introduce an amendment to the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR) that will stop the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) planned funding cuts to air traffic control towers – including seven towers in Kansas. The FAA Contract Tower Program serves airports that otherwise would not have air traffic control services. Irresponsible cuts from sequestration will put the flying public at risk, impair access to rural areas, jeopardize national and civil security missions, and cost jobs. Sen. Moran’s amendment comes on the heels of a Kansas Congressional Delegation letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta opposing the planned funding cuts.

“I am strongly opposed to the FAA’s plan to target air traffic control towers across the country, including the 189 towers that are included in the Contract Tower Program, and today joined the entire Kansas delegation expressing my concern to Secretary LaHood and FAA Administrator Huerta.” Sen. Moran said. “I am taking this fight a step further by introducing an amendment to the CR to protect these contract towers. I am committed to aviation in rural America and know firsthand the importance of maintaining commercial air service in communities across Kansas. I am also frustrated that the Administration has decided to once again play politics that could negatively impact our state’s economic future.”

A report published last summer by the Inspector General for the DOT found that the Contract Tower Program was one of the most efficiently run programs in the FAA. The report also showed the specified towers in the FAA Contract Tower Program were all operational in 2009, when the FAA received less funding than they will under the sequestration.

Given the success of the Contract Tower Program and its importance to Kansas and national aerospace safety, Sen. Moran believes the FAA should focus its cuts elsewhere.

Sen. Moran’s amendment would withdraw $50 million in unobligated FAA research and capital funds from prior appropriations bills. The $50 million is based on Administrator Huerta’s statement when testifying to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he stated that the FAA’s plan to close 173 contract towers on April 7 will save up to $50 million.

Sen. Moran’s amendment is supported by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and aviation industry groups.

Click here to read the full letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta opposing the planned funding cuts.

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