H.Con.Res. 34

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 34 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 34

Expressing the need for the Senate to provide advice and consent to 
ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 29, 2025

Ms. Stansbury submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the need for the Senate to provide advice and consent to 
ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Whereas human actions are contributing to an unprecedented and increasing loss 
of biodiversity worldwide;
Whereas nearly 1,000,000 species could be threatened with extinction;
Whereas every United Nations member state has ratified the Convention on 
Biological Diversity, done at Rio de Janeiro June 5, 1992, with the 
exception of the United States;
Whereas the United States signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993 
but has not ratified the treaty;
Whereas the United States, under current domestic law, is already legally 
compliant with the obligations of the Convention;
Whereas Federal agencies often design their plans to align with Convention on 
Biological Diversity initiatives;
Whereas the absence of the United States from the Convention on Biological 
Diversity limits the United States to holding the status of an 
``observer'' to deliberations and decision making processes of the 
Convention on Biodiversity;
Whereas, not being party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United 
States does not have a vote within the convention, which diminishes our 
voice and influence;
Whereas the decisions and rules made by the Convention on Biological Diversity 
affect both national security and economic interests of the United 
States in spite of the United States non-party status;
Whereas the United States has historically been one of the world's largest 
contributors to international conservation efforts and a global leader 
in biodiversity science and expertise, though recent shifts in Federal 
policy and funding have weakened that leadership role; and
Whereas we are inextricably interconnected on this planet, and the work of the 
Convention on Biological Diversity has a direct impact on all Americans: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is in the national interest for the Senate to provide its 
advice and consent for the ratification of the Convention on Biological 
Diversity, which was signed by the United States in New York on June 4, 
1993.
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