,,iii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #bhd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #be1 #bjai,ms4  
,hirono 7= h]self & ,ms4 ,murk[ski7     
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,relations  ,,resolution  ,call+ ^u !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ate to give its advice 
& cons5t to ! ratification ( ! ,unit$   
,nations ,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea4 
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,nations ,conv5tion on !
 ,law ( ! ,sea 7,,unclos7 0 adopt$ by ! 
,?ird ,unit$ ,nations ,conf]5ce on !    
,law ( ! ,sea 9 ,decemb] #aihb1 & ent]$ 
into =ce 9 ,novemb] #aiid to e/abli% a  
treaty regime to gov]n activities on1   
ov]1 & "u ! _w's oceans2 ,:]eas ,,unclos
 builds on f\r #aieh ,law ( ! ,sea      
conv5tions to :i* ! ,unit$ ,/ates is a  
p>ty1 includ+ ! ,conv5tion on !         
,t]ritorial ,sea & ! ,contigu\s ,zone1 !
 ,conv5tion on ! ,high ,seas1 !         
,conv5tion on ! ,cont95tal ,%elf1 & !   
,conv5tion on ,fi%+ & ,cons]vation ( !  
,liv+ ,res\rces ( ! ,high ,seas2 ,:]eas 

! treaty & an associat$ #aiid agreem5t  
relat+ to implem5tation ( ! treaty 7    
transmitt$ to ! ,s5ate on ,octob] #f1   
#aiid1 &1 9 ! abs5ce ( ,s5ate advice &  
cons5t to adh]5ce1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates is n 
a p>ty to ! conv5tion & ! associat$     
#aiid agreem5t2 ,:]eas ! conv5tion has  
be5 ratifi$ by #afg p>ties1 :i* includes
 #aff c\ntries & ! ,european ,union1 b n
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$       
,/ates1 l mo/ o!r c\ntries1 believes t  
coa/al ,/ates "u ,,unclos h ! "r to     
regulate economic activities 9 _!       
,exclusive ,economic ,zones 7,e,e,zs71 b
 d n h ! "r to regulate =eign milit>y   
activities 9 _! ,e,e,zs2 ,:]eas !       
treaty's provisions relat+ to           
navigational rights1 includ+ ^? 9       
,e,e,zs1 reflect ! ,unit$ ,/ates        
diplomatic position on ! issue dat+ back
 to ,,unclos's adoption 9 #aihb2 ,:]eas 
becom+ a p>ty to ! treaty w\ld re9=ce ! 
,unit$ ,/ates p]spective into p]man5t   
int]national law2 ,:]eas becom+ a p>ty  
to ! treaty w\ld give ! ,unit$ ,/ates   

/&+ to p>ticipate 9 discussions relat+  
to ! treaty & !reby improve ! ,unit$    
,/ates ability to int]v5e z a full p>ty 
to disputes relat+ to navigational      
rights1 & to def5d ,unit$ ,/ates        
int]pretations ( ! treaty's provisions1 
includ+ ^? relat+ to :e!r coa/al ,/ates 
h a "r "u ,,unclos to regulate =eign    
milit>y activities 9 _! ,e,e,zs2 ,:]eas 
rely+ on cu/om>y int]national norms to  
def5d ,unit$ ,/ates int]e/s 9 ^! issues 
is n suffici5t1 because x is n          
univ]sally accept$ & is subject to *ange
 ov] "t bas$ on /ate practice2 ,:]eas   
rely+ on o!r c\ntries to ass]t claims on
 behalf ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates at ! ,hague   
,conv5tion is woefully insuffici5t to   
def5d & uphold ,unit$ ,/ates sov]eign   
rights & int]e/s2 ,:]eas ! ,p]man5t     
,c\rt ( ,arbitration1 9 _! ,july #ab1   
#bjaf1 rul+ on ! case 9 ! matt] ( ! ,s\?
 ,*9a ,sea ,arbitration1 /at$1 !        
,tribunal =w>d$ to ! ,p>ties = _! comm5t
 a ,note ,v]bale f ! ,embassy ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ( ,am]ica1 reque/+ to s5d a     

repres5tative to obs]ve ! he>+1 & !     
,tribunal communicat$ to ! ,p>ties & !  
,u4,s4 ,embassy t x _h decid$ t only    
int]e/$ ,/ates p>ties to ! ,unit$       
,nations ,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea w
 be admitt$ z obs]v]s & ?us c\ld n acc$e
 to ! ,u4,s4 reque/42 ,:]eas1 on        
,novemb] #be1 #bjah1 ! ,russian         
,f$]ation violat$ int]national norms &  
b9d+ agreem5ts1 includ+ ! ,unit$        
,nations ,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea1 
9 fir+ ^u1 ramm+1 & seiz+ ,ukra9ian     
vessels & crews attempt+ to pass ?r\gh !
 ,k]* ,/rait2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #be1      
#bjai1 ! ,int]national ,tribunal = !    
,law ( ! ,sea rul$ 9 a vote ( #ai-a t ! 
,russian ,f$]ation %all imm$iately      
release ! ,ukra9ian naval vessels       
,b]dyansk1 ,nikopol & ,yani ,kapu1 &    
return !m to ! cu/ody ( ,ukra9e1 & t !  
,russian ,f$]ation %all imm$iately      
release ! #bd deta9$ ,ukra9ian s]vicem5 
& all[ !m to return to ,ukra9e1         
demon/rat+ ! ,tribunal's rejection (    
,russia's argum5ts 9 ?is matt] 9        

relation to ! ,law ( ! ,sea2 ,:]eas1    
despite ! ,tribunal's rul+ align+ ) !   
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t's position on ! 
incid5t1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates cont9u$        
nonp>ticipation 9 ,,unclos limits !     
,unit$ ,/ates ability to effectively    
respond to ,russia's actions 9 !        
,novemb] #be1 #bjah1 incid5t1 z well z  
to any pot5tial future violations by !  
,russian ,f$]ation & any o!r signatory (
 ,,unclos2 ,:]eas ! confirm$ nom9ee &   
future ,*ief ( ,naval ,op]ations1       
,admiral ,bill ,moran1 /at$ t becom+ a  
p>ty to ! ,conv5tion w\ld re9=ce fre$om 
( ! seas & ! navigational rights vital  
to our global =ce po/ure 9 ! _w's l>ge/ 
maneuv] space4 ,jo9+ ! ,conv5tion w\ld  
also demon/rate our commitm5t to ! rule 
( law1 & /r5g!n our cr$ibility ) o!r    
,conv5tion p>ties1 9 response to advance
 policy que/ions on ,april #cj1 #bjai1  
be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! 
,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! pa/ ,secret>y ( !      
,navy1 ! ,honorable ,ray ,mabus1 /at$1 !
 ,,unclos treaty gu>antees rights su* z 

innoc5t passage ?r\gh t]ritorial seas2  
transit passage ?r\gh1 "u & ov]         
int]national /raits2 & ! lay+ & ma9ta9+ 
( subm>9e cables1 & ! conv5tion has be5 
approv$ by ne>ly e m>itime p[] & all !  
p]man5t memb]s ( ! ,,un ,security       
,c\ncil1 except ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 on     
,febru>y #af1 #bjab1 be=e ! ,committee  
on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas !  
pa/ ,secret>y ( ! ,navy1 ! ,honorable   
,ray ,mabus1 fur!r /at$1 ,our notable   
abs5ce z a signatory weak5s our position
 ) o!r nations1 all[+ ! introduction (  
expansive def9itions ( sov]eignty on !  
high seas t und]m9e our ability to def5d
 our m9]al rights along our own         
cont95tal %elf & 9 ! ,arctic41 & !      
,dep>tm5t /rongly supports ! accession  
to ,,unclos1 an action consi/5tly       
recomm5d$ by my pr$ecessors ( bo?       
p>ties1 on ,febru>y #af1 #bjab1 be=e !  
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
 ,:]eas ! pa/ ,presid5t & curr5t ,*ief  
,executive ,(fic] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
,*amb] ( ,comm]ce1 ,mr4 ,?omas ,j4      

,donahue1 /at$1 we support jo9+ !       
,conv5tion because x is 9 our national  
int]e/--bo? 9 our national security &   
our economic int]e/s1 &1 becom+ a p>ty  
to ! ,treaty b5efits ! ,u4,s4           
economically by provid+ ,am]ican        
companies ! legal c]ta9ty & /ability !y 
ne$ to hire & inve/1 &1 companies w be  
hesitant to take on ! inve/m5t risk &   
co/ to explore & develop ! res\rces ( ! 
sea--p>ticul>ly on ! ext5d$ cont95tal   
%elf 7,,ecs7--)\t ! legal c]ta9ty &     
/ability accession to ,,los provides1 on
 ,june #bh1 #bjab1 be=e ! ,committee on 
,=eign ,relations ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas !  
pa/ ,presid5t & curr5t ,*ief ,executive 
,(fic] ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,*amb] (       
,comm]ce1 ,mr4 ,?omas ,j4 ,donahue1     
fur!r /at$1 ! b5efits ( jo9+ cut across 
_m important indu/ries includ+          
telecommunications1 m9+1 %ipp+1 & oil & 
natural gas1 &1 jo9+ ! ,conv5tion w     
provide ! ,u4,s4 a critical voice on    
m>itime issues--f m9]al claims 9 !      
,arctic to h[ ,int]national ,seab$      

,au?ority 7,,isa7 funds are di/ribut$1  
on ,june #bh1 #bjab1 be=e ! ,committee  
on ,=eign ,relations ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas 
! pa/ ,comm&] ( ,unit$ ,/ates ,pacific  
,comm&1 ,admiral ,samuel ,j4 ,lockle>1  
/at$ t ,,unclos is widely accept$ aft] a
 lot ( ye>s ( delib]ation by _m1 _m     
c\ntries1 mo/ c\ntries 9 my ,area (     
,responsibility 7,,aor71 &1 :5 we're n a
 signatory1 x r$uces our ov]all         
cr$ibility :5 we br+ x up z a *oice ( h[
 y might solve a dispute ( any k9d1 on  
,april #af1 #bjae1 be=e ! ,committee on 
,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! pa/ 
,comm&ant ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,coa/ ,gu>d1
 retir$ ,admiral ,paul ,zukunft1 /at$ on
 ,febru>y #ab1 #bjaf1 ,) ! rec$+ ( !    
icepack1 ! ,arctic ,ocean has become !  
focus ( int]national int]e/41 & ,all    
,arctic /ates agree t ! ,law ( ! ,sea   
,conv5tion is ! gov]n+ legal regime = ! 
,arctic ,ocean ''' yet1 we rema9 ! only 
,arctic nation t has n ratifi$ ! v      
in/rum5t t provides ?is accept$ legal   
framework gov]n+ ! ,arctic ,ocean & its 

seab$41 & ,ratification ( ! ,law ( !    
,sea ,conv5tion supports our economic   
int]e/s1 environm5tal protection1 &     
safety ( life at sea1 especially 9 !    
,arctic ,ocean42 ,:]eas ! pa/ ,*ief (   
,naval ,op]ations1 ,admiral ,jona?an    
,gre5]t1 fur!r /at$1 rema9+ outside ,law
 ( ! ,sea ,conv5tion 7,,losc7 is        
inconsi/5t ) our pr9ciples1 our national
 security /rategy & our lead]%ip 9      
comm]ce & trade1 &1 virtually e major   
ally ( ! ,u4,s4 is a p>ty to ,,losc1 z  
are all o!r p]man5t memb]s ( ! ,u4,n4   
,security ,c\ncil & all o!r ,arctic     
nations1 on ,june #ad1 #bjab1 be=e !    
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
 ,:]eas ! pa/ ,*ief ( ,naval ,op]ations1
 ,admiral ,jona?an ,gre5]t1 fur!r /at$1 
our abs5ce f ,,losc c\ld provide an     
excuse = nations to selectively *oose   
among ,conv5tion provisions or ab&on x  
altoge!r1 !reby erod+ ! navigational    
fre$oms we enjoy today1 &1 accession    
w\ld enhance multilat]al op]ations ) our
 p>tn]s & demon/rate a cle> commitm5t to

 ! rule ( law = ! oceans1 on ,june #ad1 
#bjab1 be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$       
,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$    
,/ates ,special ,repres5tative ( ,/ate =
 ! ,arctic & =m] ,comm&ant ( ! ,coa/    
,gu>d1 ,admiral ,rob]t ,papp1 ,jr41     
/at$1 z a non-p>ty to ! ,law ( ! ,sea   
,conv5tion1 ! ,u4,s4 is at a significant
 disadvantage relative to ! o!r ,arctic 
,ocean coa/al ,/ates1 &1 ^? ,/ates are  
p>ties to ! ,conv5tion1 & are well along
 ! pa? to obta9+ legal c]ta9ty &        
int]national recognition ( _! ,arctic   
ext5d$ cont95tal %elf1 &1 becom+ a ,p>ty
 to ! ,law ( ! ,sea ,conv5tion w\ld all[
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to fully secure its    
rights to ! cont95tal %elf (f ! coa/ (  
,alaska1 :i* is likely to ext5d out to m
 ?an #fjj nautical miles1 on ,decemb]   
#aj1 #bjad1 be=e ! ,subcommittee on     
,europe1 ,eurasia1 & ,em]g+ ,?reats ( ! 
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives2 ,:]eas ! ,*airman ( !
 ,jo9ts ,*iefs ( ,/aff1 ,g5]al ,joseph  
,f4 ,dun=d1 /at$1 ,! ,conv5tion provides

 legal c]ta9ty 9 ! _w's l>ge/ maneuv]   
space41 &1 access w\ld /r5g!n ! legal   
f\ndation = our ability to transit ?r\gh
 int]national /raits & ar*ipelagic      
wat]s2 pres]ve our "r to conduct milit>y
 activities 9 o!r c\ntries' ,exclusive  
,economic ,zones 7,e,e,zs7 )\t notice or
 p]mission2 reaffirm ! sov]eign immunity
 ( w>%ips2 provide a framework to c\nt] 
excessive m>itime claims2 & pres]ve or  
op]ations & intellig5ce-collection      
activities1 &1 jo9+ ! ,conv5tion w\ld   
also demon/rate our commitm5t to ! rule 
( law1 /r5g!n our cr$ibility among ^?   
nations t are already p>ty to !         
,conv5tion1 & all[ u to br+ ! full =ce (
 our influ5ce 9 *all5g+ excessive       
m>itime claims1 on ,july #i1 #bjae1 be=e
 ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( !     
,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! ,*airman ( ! ,jo9ts    
,*ief ( ,/aff1 ,g5]al ,joseph ,f4       
,dun=d1 fur!r /at$1 by rema9+ outside ! 
,conv5tion1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates rema9s 9    
sc>ce company ) ,iran1 ,v5ezuela1 ,nor? 
,korea1 & ,syria1 &1 by fail+ to jo9 !  

,conv5tion1 "s c\ntries may come to d\bt
 our commitm5t to act 9 accordance )    
int]national law1 on ,july #i1 #bjae1   
be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! 
,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! ,*ief ( ,naval         
,op]ations1 ,admiral ,john ,m4          
,ri*>dson1 /at$1 acc$+ to ! ,conv5tion  
w\ld /r5g!n our cr$ibility & /rategic   
position1 &1 we und]m9e our lev]age by n
 sign+ up to ! same rule book by :i* we 
are ask+ o!r c\ntries to accept1 on     
,july #cj1 #bjae1 9 8 nom9ation he>+    
be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! 
,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! ,*ief ( ,naval         
,op]ations1 ,admiral ,john ,m4          
,ri*>dson1 fur!r /at$1 t becom+ a "p (  
,,unclos w\ld give u a great deal (     
cr$ibility1 & p>ticul>ly z x p]ta9s to !
 unfold+ opportunities 9 ! ,arctic1 &1  
?is provides a framework to adjudicate  
disputes1 on ,july #cj1 #bjae1 9 8      
nom9ation he>+ be=e ! ,committee on     
,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! pa/ 
,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,def5se = ,asian &
 ,pacific ,security ,affairs1 !         

,honorable ,david ,%e>1 /at$1 t :ile !  
,unit$ ,/ates op]ates consi/5t ) !      
,unit$ ,nations conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! 
,sea1 we've se5 positive mom5tum 9      
promot+ %>$ rules ( ! road1 &1 our ef=ts
 w\ld be greatly /r5g!n$ by ,s5ate      
ratification ( ,,unclos1 on ,septemb]   
#ag1 #bjae1 be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$  
,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! ,comm&] ( 
,unit$ ,/ates ,indo-,pacific ,comm&1    
,admiral ,philip ,s4 ,davidson1 /at$ our
 accession to ! ,,unclos w\ld help our  
position legally across ! globe & w\ld d
 no?+ to limit our milit>y op]ations 9 !
 mann] 9 :i* we're conduct+ !m n[1 on   
,april #ag1 #bjah1 be=e ! ,committee on 
,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 ,:]eas ! pa/ 
,comm&] ( ,unit$ ,/ates ,pacific ,comm&1
 retir$ ,admiral ,h>ry ,b4 ,h>ris1 /at$ 
,i believe t ,,unclos gives ,russia !   
pot5tial to1 quote1 unquote own almo/   
half ( ! ,arctic ,circle1 & we w n h t  
opportunity because (1 we're n a        
signatory to ,,unclos1 on ,m>* #ae1     
#bjah1 be=e ! ,committee on ,arm$       

,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2 & ,:]eas ! pa/     
,comm&] ( ,unit$ ,/ates ,pacific ,comm&1
 ,admiral ,h>ry ,b4 ,h>ris1 /at$ ,i ?9k 
t by n sign+ onto x t we lose !         
cr$itability = ! v same ?+ t we're argu+
 =1 & :i* is ! foll[+--accept+ rules &  
norms 9 ! int]national ar5a4 ,! ,unit$  
,/ates is a beacon--we're a beacon on a 
hill b ,i ?9k t light is bright] if we  
sign on to ,,unclos1 on ,febru>y #bc1   
#bjaf1 at a he>+ be=e ! ,committee on   
,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate3 ,n[1 !re=e1  
be x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 affirms t x is 
9 ! national int]e/ = ! ,unit$ ,/ates to
 become a =mal signatory ( ! ,unit$     
,nations ,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea2 
7#b7 urges ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ate to    
give its advice & cons5t to !           
ratification ( ! ,unit$ ,nations        
,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea           
7,,unclos72 &  7#c7 recomm5ds !         
ratification ( ,,unclos rema9 a top     
priority = ! ,adm9i/ration1 hav+ receiv$
 bip>tisan support f e ,presid5t s9ce   
#aiid1 & hav+ mo/ rec5tly be5 und]scor$ 

by ! /rategic *all5ges ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
faces 9 ! ,asia-,pacific1 ! ,arctic1 & !
 ,black ,sea regions4