,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bhd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #be1 #bjai,ms4 ,hirono 7for herself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,calling upon the ,united ,states ,senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea4 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea 7,,unclos7 was adopted by the ,third ,united ,nations ,conference on the ,law of the ,sea in ,december #aihb1 and entered into force in ,november #aiid to establish a treaty regime to govern activities on1 over1 and under the world's oceans2 ,whereas ,,unclos builds on four #aieh ,law of the ,sea conventions to which the ,united ,states is a party1 including the ,convention on the ,territorial ,sea and the ,contiguous ,zone1 the ,convention on the ,high ,seas1 the ,convention on the ,continental ,shelf1 and the ,convention on ,fishing and ,conservation of the ,living ,resources of the ,high ,seas2 ,whereas the treaty and an associated #aiid agreement relating to implementation of the treaty were transmitted to the ,senate on ,october #f1 #aiid1 and1 in the absence of ,senate advice and consent to adherence1 the ,united ,states is not a party to the convention and the associated #aiid agreement2 ,whereas the convention has been ratified by #afg parties1 which includes #aff countries and the ,european ,union1 but not the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states1 like most other countries1 believes that coastal ,states under ,,unclos have the right to regulate economic activities in their ,exclusive ,economic ,zones 7,e,e,zs71 but do not have the right to regulate foreign military activities in their ,e,e,zs2 ,whereas the treaty's provisions relating to navigational rights1 including those in ,e,e,zs1 reflect the ,united ,states diplomatic position on the issue dating back to ,,unclos's adoption in #aihb2 ,whereas becoming a party to the treaty would reinforce the ,united ,states perspective into permanent international law2 ,whereas becoming a party to the treaty would give the ,united ,states standing to participate in discussions relating to the treaty and thereby improve the ,united ,states ability to intervene as a full party to disputes relating to navigational rights1 and to defend ,united ,states interpretations of the treaty's provisions1 including those relating to whether coastal ,states have a right under ,,unclos to regulate foreign military activities in their ,e,e,zs2 ,whereas relying on customary international norms to defend ,united ,states interests in these issues is not sufficient1 because it is not universally accepted and is subject to change over time based on state practice2 ,whereas relying on other countries to assert claims on behalf of the ,united ,states at the ,hague ,convention is woefully insufficient to defend and uphold ,united ,states sovereign rights and interests2 ,whereas the ,permanent ,court of ,arbitration1 in their ,july #ab1 #bjaf1 ruling on the case in the matter of the ,south ,china ,sea ,arbitration1 stated1 the ,tribunal forwarded to the ,parties for their comment a ,note ,verbale from the ,embassy of the ,united ,states of ,america1 requesting to send a representative to observe the hearing1 and the ,tribunal communicated to the ,parties and the ,u4,s4 ,embassy that it had decided that only interested ,states parties to the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea will be admitted as observers and thus could not accede to the ,u4,s4 request42 ,whereas1 on ,november #be1 #bjah1 the ,russian ,federation violated international norms and binding agreements1 including the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea1 in firing upon1 ramming1 and seizing ,ukrainian vessels and crews attempting to pass through the ,kerch ,strait2 ,whereas1 on ,may #be1 #bjai1 the ,international ,tribunal for the ,law of the ,sea ruled in a vote of #ai-a that the ,russian ,federation shall immediately release the ,ukrainian naval vessels ,berdyansk1 ,nikopol and ,yani ,kapu1 and return them to the custody of ,ukraine1 and that the ,russian ,federation shall immediately release the #bd detained ,ukrainian servicemen and allow them to return to ,ukraine1 demonstrating the ,tribunal's rejection of ,russia's arguments in this matter in relation to the ,law of the ,sea2 ,whereas1 despite the ,tribunal's ruling aligning with the ,united ,states ,government's position on the incident1 the ,united ,states continued nonparticipation in ,,unclos limits the ,united ,states ability to effectively respond to ,russia's actions in the ,november #be1 #bjah1 incident1 as well as to any potential future violations by the ,russian ,federation and any other signatory of ,,unclos2 ,whereas the confirmed nominee and future ,chief of ,naval ,operations1 ,admiral ,bill ,moran1 stated that becoming a party to the ,convention would reinforce freedom of the seas and the navigational rights vital to our global force posture in the world's largest maneuver space4 ,joining the ,convention would also demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law1 and strengthen our credibility with other ,convention parties1 in response to advance policy questions on ,april #cj1 #bjai1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,secretary of the ,navy1 the ,honorable ,ray ,mabus1 stated1 the ,,unclos treaty guarantees rights such as innocent passage through territorial seas2 transit passage through1 under and over international straits2 and the laying and maintaining of submarine cables1 and the convention has been approved by nearly every maritime power and all the permanent members of the ,,un ,security ,council1 except the ,united ,states1 on ,february #af1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,secretary of the ,navy1 the ,honorable ,ray ,mabus1 further stated1 ,our notable absence as a signatory weakens our position with other nations1 allowing the introduction of expansive definitions of sovereignty on the high seas that undermine our ability to defend our mineral rights along our own continental shelf and in the ,arctic41 and the ,department strongly supports the accession to ,,unclos1 an action consistently recommended by my predecessors of both parties1 on ,february #af1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,president and current ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,chamber of ,commerce1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,j4 ,donahue1 stated1 we support joining the ,convention because it is in our national interest--both in our national security and our economic interests1 and1 becoming a party to the ,treaty benefits the ,u4,s4 economically by providing ,american companies the legal certainty and stability they need to hire and invest1 and1 companies will be hesitant to take on the investment risk and cost to explore and develop the resources of the sea--particularly on the extended continental shelf 7,,ecs7--without the legal certainty and stability accession to ,,los provides1 on ,june #bh1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,president and current ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,chamber of ,commerce1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,j4 ,donahue1 further stated1 the benefits of joining cut across many important industries including telecommunications1 mining1 shipping1 and oil and natural gas1 and1 joining the ,convention will provide the ,u4,s4 a critical voice on maritime issues--from mineral claims in the ,arctic to how ,international ,seabed ,authority 7,,isa7 funds are distributed1 on ,june #bh1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,commander of ,united ,states ,pacific ,command1 ,admiral ,samuel ,j4 ,locklear1 stated that ,,unclos is widely accepted after a lot of years of deliberation by many1 many countries1 most countries in my ,area of ,responsibility 7,,aor71 and1 when we're not a signatory1 it reduces our overall credibility when we bring it up as a choice of how you might solve a dispute of any kind1 on ,april #af1 #bjae1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,commandant of the ,united ,states ,coast ,guard1 retired ,admiral ,paul ,zukunft1 stated on ,february #ab1 #bjaf1 ,with the receding of the icepack1 the ,arctic ,ocean has become the focus of international interest41 and ,all ,arctic states agree that the ,law of the ,sea ,convention is the governing legal regime for the ,arctic ,ocean ''' yet1 we remain the only ,arctic nation that has not ratified the very instrument that provides this accepted legal framework governing the ,arctic ,ocean and its seabed41 and ,ratification of the ,law of the ,sea ,convention supports our economic interests1 environmental protection1 and safety of life at sea1 especially in the ,arctic ,ocean42 ,whereas the past ,chief of ,naval ,operations1 ,admiral ,jonathan ,greenert1 further stated1 remaining outside ,law of the ,sea ,convention 7,,losc7 is inconsistent with our principles1 our national security strategy and our leadership in commerce and trade1 and1 virtually every major ally of the ,u4,s4 is a party to ,,losc1 as are all other permanent members of the ,u4,n4 ,security ,council and all other ,arctic nations1 on ,june #ad1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,chief of ,naval ,operations1 ,admiral ,jonathan ,greenert1 further stated1 our absence from ,,losc could provide an excuse for nations to selectively choose among ,convention provisions or abandon it altogether1 thereby eroding the navigational freedoms we enjoy today1 and1 accession would enhance multilateral operations with our partners and demonstrate a clear commitment to the rule of law for the oceans1 on ,june #ad1 #bjab1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,special ,representative of ,state for the ,arctic and former ,commandant of the ,coast ,guard1 ,admiral ,robert ,papp1 ,jr41 stated1 as a non-party to the ,law of the ,sea ,convention1 the ,u4,s4 is at a significant disadvantage relative to the other ,arctic ,ocean coastal ,states1 and1 those ,states are parties to the ,convention1 and are well along the path to obtaining legal certainty and international recognition of their ,arctic extended continental shelf1 and1 becoming a ,party to the ,law of the ,sea ,convention would allow the ,united ,states to fully secure its rights to the continental shelf off the coast of ,alaska1 which is likely to extend out to more than #fjj nautical miles1 on ,december #aj1 #bjad1 before the ,subcommittee on ,europe1 ,eurasia1 and ,emerging ,threats of the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 ,whereas the ,chairman of the ,joints ,chiefs of ,staff1 ,general ,joseph ,f4 ,dunford1 stated1 ,the ,convention provides legal certainty in the world's largest maneuver space41 and1 access would strengthen the legal foundation for our ability to transit through international straits and archipelagic waters2 preserve our right to conduct military activities in other countries' ,exclusive ,economic ,zones 7,e,e,zs7 without notice or permission2 reaffirm the sovereign immunity of warships2 provide a framework to counter excessive maritime claims2 and preserve or operations and intelligence-collection activities1 and1 joining the ,convention would also demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law1 strengthen our credibility among those nations that are already party to the ,convention1 and allow us to bring the full force of our influence in challenging excessive maritime claims1 on ,july #i1 #bjae1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the ,chairman of the ,joints ,chief of ,staff1 ,general ,joseph ,f4 ,dunford1 further stated1 by remaining outside the ,convention1 the ,united ,states remains in scarce company with ,iran1 ,venezuela1 ,north ,korea1 and ,syria1 and1 by failing to join the ,convention1 some countries may come to doubt our commitment to act in accordance with international law1 on ,july #i1 #bjae1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the ,chief of ,naval ,operations1 ,admiral ,john ,m4 ,richardson1 stated1 acceding to the ,convention would strengthen our credibility and strategic position1 and1 we undermine our leverage by not signing up to the same rule book by which we are asking other countries to accept1 on ,july #cj1 #bjae1 in his nomination hearing before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the ,chief of ,naval ,operations1 ,admiral ,john ,m4 ,richardson1 further stated1 that becoming a part of ,,unclos would give us a great deal of credibility1 and particularly as it pertains to the unfolding opportunities in the ,arctic1 and1 this provides a framework to adjudicate disputes1 on ,july #cj1 #bjae1 in his nomination hearing before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,assistant ,secretary of ,defense for ,asian and ,pacific ,security ,affairs1 the ,honorable ,david ,shear1 stated1 that while the ,united ,states operates consistent with the ,united ,nations convention on the ,law of the ,sea1 we've seen positive momentum in promoting shared rules of the road1 and1 our efforts would be greatly strengthened by ,senate ratification of ,,unclos1 on ,september #ag1 #bjae1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the ,commander of ,united ,states ,indo-,pacific ,command1 ,admiral ,philip ,s4 ,davidson1 stated our accession to the ,,unclos would help our position legally across the globe and would do nothing to limit our military operations in the manner in which we're conducting them now1 on ,april #ag1 #bjah1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 ,whereas the past ,commander of ,united ,states ,pacific ,command1 retired ,admiral ,harry ,b4 ,harris1 stated ,i believe that ,,unclos gives ,russia the potential to1 quote1 unquote own almost half of the ,arctic ,circle1 and we will not have that opportunity because of1 we're not a signatory to ,,unclos1 on ,march #ae1 #bjah1 before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 and ,whereas the past ,commander of ,united ,states ,pacific ,command1 ,admiral ,harry ,b4 ,harris1 stated ,i think that by not signing onto it that we lose the creditability for the very same thing that we're arguing for1 and which is the following--accepting rules and norms in the international arena4 ,the ,united ,states is a beacon--we're a beacon on a hill but ,i think that light is brighter if we sign on to ,,unclos1 on ,february #bc1 #bjaf1 at a hearing before the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 affirms that it is in the national interest for the ,united ,states to become a formal signatory of the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea2 7#b7 urges the ,united ,states ,senate to give its advice and consent to the ratification of the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea 7,,unclos72 and 7#c7 recommends the ratification of ,,unclos remain a top priority for the ,administration1 having received bipartisan support from every ,president since #aiid1 and having most recently been underscored by the strategic challenges the ,united ,states faces in the ,asia-,pacific1 the ,arctic1 and the ,black ,sea regions4