CHEMICAL ARMS: DEADLINE LOOMS: Backers and opponents of treaty marshal bipartisan allies

A flurry of activity in the past 10 days has again roused hope among supporters of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that the Senate will ratify the pact in time for the U.S. to be an original party. The pact has been ratified by 70 nations and takes effect on April 29, with or without the U.S. on board. As C&EN went to press, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) had not yet scheduled floor debate. However, Lott and Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) were negotiating the terms of a unanimous consent agreement that could bring the treaty to the full Senate for debate this week, with a vote on ratification by April 24. Under the terms of the agreement, the Senate might also, among other things, vote on compromises on various issues worked out between Sens. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del), chairman and ranking minority member, respectively, of the ...