we have a coalition of environmentalconservations, businesses, all in support of this convention. i would ask that my longer written statement along with the letters i have written in support of the treaty be put into the record. >> without objection. >> one could argue, ten years ago, 20 years ago, maybe even five years ago, joining the convention was important but not urgent. that is no longer the case today. four new developments make our participation a matter of utmost security and economic urgency. first, for years, american oil and gas companies were not technologically ready to take advantage of the convention's provision regarding the extended u.s. continental shelf. now they are. the convention allows countries to claim sovereignty over their continental shelf far out into the ocean, beyond 200 nautical miles from shore. the relevant area for the united states is probably more than one and a half times the size of texas. in fact, we believe it could be considerably larger. u.s. oil and gas companies are now ready, willing, and able to explore this area. but they have mad