Inhofe declares 'Law of the Sea' treaty dead in the Senate

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) announced Monday evening that more than one third of the Senate is now on the record as opposing the Law of the Sea treaty in the United Nations, making it impossible for the Senate to approve the treaty by the needed two-thirds vote.

"Something isn't going to happen this year," he said on the floor. "It could be they want to bring it up, certainly it's up to the leader. But if it does come up, it's going to take an awful lot of time from other business that this body is supposed to be addressing."

Inhofe was referring to a letter from 31 Republicans saying they oppose the Law of the Sea treaty, which opponents say would cede control over the oceans to the UN, possibly threatening U.S. military operations.

Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) sent in their own letter, and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is also against it. That makes 34 senators opposed, and 66 at most in favor, short of the 67 needed.

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