,,iii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #cca  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bb1 #bjbe ,ms4 
,hirono 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,murk[ski1 ,mr4 
,ka9e1 ,mr4 ,cassidy1 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51 
,mr4 ,"y1 & ,mr4 ,k+7 submitt$ ! foll[+ 
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,=eign ,relations  ,,resolution     
,call+ ^u ! ,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] #aihb & 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 namely ! ,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 ,seas1 all    
done at ,g5eva ,april #bi1 #aieh2       
,:]eas ! ,,unclos & an associat$ #aiid  
agreem5t relat+ to implem5tation ( !    
treaty 7 transmitt$ to ! ,s5ate on      
,octob] #f1 #aiid1 &1 9 ! abs5ce (      
,s5ate advice & cons5t to ratification1 
! ,unit$ ,/ates is n a p>ty to ! treaty 
or ! associat$ #aiid agreem5t2  ,:]eas1 
z ( ,janu>y #bjbe1 #agj p>ties h ratifi$
 ,,unclos1 includ+ #aff ,unit$ ,nations 
memb] /ates1 b n ! ,unit$ ,/ates2       
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 l mo/ o!r       
c\ntries1 ma9ta9s 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+  
navigational rights 9 ,e,e,zs1 reflect !
 diplomatic position ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
on ! issue dat+ back to ! adoption ( !  
,,unclos 9 #aihb2  ,:]eas becom+ a p>ty 
to ! treaty w\ld codify ! ,unit$ ,/ates'

 curr5t position ( recogniz+ !          
provisions )9 ! ,,unclos z cu/om>y      
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 ! ability ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates to int]v5e z a full p>ty
 to disputes relat+ to navigational     
rights & 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
 becom+ a p>ty to ! treaty w\ld all[ !  
,unit$ ,/ates to be a memb] ( !         
,int]national ,seab$ ,au?ority & !reby  
p>ticipate directly 9 sett+ & vot+ on ! 
policies organiz+ & controll+           
m9]al-relat$ activities 9 ! int]national
 seab$ area z global dem& = critical    
m9]als increases2  ,:]eas m ?an #ig     
p]c5t ( ! global int]net traffic relies 
on infra/ructure locat$ on ! seab$ ( !  
_w's oceans comp>$ to space-bas$        
infra/ructure2  ,:]eas lack ( full-p>ty 

memb]%ip to ,,unclos limits ! access &  
influ5ce ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to critical  
t]ritorial dispute managem5t1 includ+   
matt]s involv+ pursuit & competition (  
ext5d$ out] cont95tal %elf submissions1 
facilitat$ prim>ily by ,article #gf1 :i*
 repres5ts ! ma9 tool assi/+ sov]eign   
au?ority delimitation agreem5ts2  ,:]eas
 rely+ on cu/om>y int]national norms to 
def5d ,unit$ ,/ates int]e/s 9 ^? issues 
is n suffici5t1 because cu/om>y         
int]national law 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 ! ,p]man5t ,c\rt (     
,arbitration at ,! ,hague 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$ t ! ,tribunal        
communicat$ to ! ,p>ties & ! ,u4,s4     
,embassy t x _h decid$ t only int]e/$   

,/ates pa#aa;ies to ! ,unit$ ,nations   
,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea w be      
admitt$ z obs]v]s & ?us c\ld n acc$e to 
! ,u4,s4 reque/ to s5d a repres5tative  
to obs]ve ! he>+2  ,:]eas1 on ,novemb]  
#be1 #bjah1 ! ,russian ,f$]ation violat$
 int]national norms & b9d+ agreem5ts1   
includ+ ! ,,unclos1 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 to #a t the ,russian         
,f$]ation %all imm$iately release !     
,ukra9ian naval vessels ,b]dyansk1      
,nikopol & ,yani ,kapu1 & return !m to !
 cu/ody ( ,ukra9e & t the ,russian      
,f$]ation %all imm$iately release ! #bd 
deta9$ ,ukra9ian s]vicem5 & all[ !m to  
return to ,ukra9e1 demon/rat+ !         
,tribunal's rejection ( ! ,russian      
,f$]ation's argum5ts 9 t matt] 9        
relation to ! ,law ( ! ,sea2  ,:]eas1   
despite ! ,tribunal's rul+ align+ ) !   
position ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t on 

! ,novemb] #be1 #bjah1 incid5t1 !       
cont9u$ nonp>ticipation ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates 9 ! ,,unclos limits ! ability ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates to effectively respond to
 ! ,russian ,f$]ation's actions & to any
 pot5tial future violations by !        
,russian ,f$]ation & any o!r signatory (
 ,,unclos2  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,secret>y (    
,def5se1 ! ,honorable ,lloyd ,au/91 /at$
 t ! ,unit$ ,/ates has long treat$ !    
,,unclos's provisions relat$ to         
navigation & ov]flight z reflective (   
long/&+ & cu/om>y int]national law4 ,our
 milit>y already acts 9 a mann] consi/5t
 ) ^! rights & fre$oms1 s accession to !
 ,conv5tion w n impact ! mann] 9 :i* we 
conduct our op]ations1 9 response to a  
"q = ! record f ,s5ator ,mazie ,hirono  
on ,janu>y #ba1 #bjba2  ,:]eas ! pa/    
,*ief ( ,naval ,op]ations1 ,admiral     
,lisa ,fran*etti1 /at$ t ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 play$ a major role 9 draft+ !          
,conv5tion1 & x is favorable to ,u4,s4  
int]e/s on all significant issues z a   
result4 ,fur!r1 our ,navy already acts 9

 a mann] consi/5t ) ! ,conv5tion's      
navigational & ov]flight provisions4    
,accession w\ld n impose any additional 
con/ra9ts on ! ,navy's ability to fly1  
sail1 & op]ate :]ev] int]national law   
all[s1 9 response to advance policy     
que/ions on ,septemb] #ad1 #bjbc1 be=e !
 ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( !       
,s5ate2  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,*ief ( ,naval    
,op]ations1 ,admiral ,lisa ,fran*etti1  
fur!r /at$ t ! ,unit$ ,nations          
,conv5tion on ! ,law ( ! ,sea w\ld give 
our objections to excessive m>itime     
claims a /rong] legal f\ndation t does n
 rely exclusively on cu/om>y            
int]national law4 ,:5 prote/+ excessive 
m>itime claims ass]t$ by ! ,p's         
,republic ( ,*9a 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 !  
,russian ,f$]ation 9 ! ,arctic region1 &
 o!rs1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates w\ld come f a    
position ( increas$ au?ority & influ5ce1
 9 response to advance policy que/ions  
on ,septemb] #ad1 #bjbc1 be=e !         
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
  ,:]eas ! ,comm&]1 ,nor? ,am]ican      

,a]ospace ,def5se ,comm& & ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,nor!rn ,comm&1 ,g5]al ,gregory ,m4    
,guillot1 /at$1 ,i support ,u4,s4       
accession to ! ,law ( ! ,sea ,conv5tion 
7,,unclos74 ,,unclos provides a         
compreh5sive regime = ! gov]nance ( !   
_w's oceans1 includ+ ! ,arctic1 & ,u4,s4
 accession w\ld fur!r demon/rate our    
commitm5t to an int]national rules-bas$ 
ord]4 ,acc$+ to ! treaty w\ld enable    
,u4,s4 repres5tation dur+ critical      
int]national negotiations t impact !    
m>itime doma91 provide an additional    
me*anism to c\nt] c\ntries l ,russia &  
,*9a t cont9ue to exploit our abs5ce f  
key ocean gov]nance diplomatic =ums1 &  
ultimately help protect our nation's    
rights & int]e/s 9 ?is critical sph]e ( 
op]ations1 9 response to advance policy 
que/ions on ,july #bc1 #bjbc1 be=e !    
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
  ,:]eas ! ,comm&]1 ,nor? ,am]ican      
,a]ospace ,def5se ,comm& & ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,nor!rn ,comm&1 ,g5]al ,gregory ,m4    
,guillot1 fur!r /at$ 9 reg>d to ,unit$  

,/ates ratification ( ! ,,unclos1 ,i    
believe accession to ! ,law ( ! ,sea    
,conv5tion 7,,unclos7 w\ld help ! ,u4,s4
 protect its int]e/s 9 ! ,arctic3       
,accession w\ld demon/rate our commitm5t
 to a rules-bas$ ord]1 ensure our be/   
int]e/s are repres5t$ dur+ int]national 
negotiations reg>d+ t]ritorial disputes 
& *all5ges to long/&+ m>itime cu/oms &  
practices1 & improve our ability to     
advocate = our ocean gov]nance int]e/s  
ar\nd ! globe1 includ+ 9 ! ,arctic4     
,engagem5t ?r\gh ,,unclos is p>ticul>ly 
critical today z multiple nations vie = 
access & control 9 ! ,arctic & seek to  
modify int]national norms to accommodate
 expansioni/ ambitions ar\nd ! globe 9  
g5]al1 & 9 ! ,arctic 9 p>ticul>4        
,f9ally1 accession w\ld preclude ,russia
 & ,*9a f exploit+ ,u4,s4 abs5ce 9 =ums1
 9 response to advance policy que/ions  
on ,july #bc1 #bjbc1 be=e ! ,committee  
on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2  ,:]eas ! 
pa/ ,secret>y ( ! ,navy1 ,honorable     
,c>los ,del ,toro1 /at$ t accession w\ld

 lock 9 ! cu/om>y rights & fre$oms      
reflect$ 9 ! ,,unclos1 & w\ld give !    
,u4,s4 a seat at ! table to set ! c\rse 
= future law ( ! sea discussions on a   
coequal level ) memb] /ates l ,*9a &    
,russia4 ,*9a cont9ues a m aggressive   
po/ure 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4 ,z widely    
report$1 ,*9ese w>%ips1 law en=cem5t    
vessels1 & o!r ,,prc-flagg$ vessels h   
fail$ to respect ! rights ( m>itime     
nations "u ! ,conv5tion4 ,z a p>ty to ! 
,conv5tion1 ,u4,s4 objections to ^!     
violations w\ld h m =ce & cr$ibility1 & 
w\ld enhance its ability to respond to  
excessive m>itime claims1 l&            
reclamation1 & milit>ization ef=ts by   
,*9a 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 9 response to a
 "q = ! record f ,s5ator ,hirono on     
,july #ac1 #bjba2  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,comm&] 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,indo-,pacific ,comm&1
 ,admiral ,john ,c4 ,aquil9o1 /at$ t    
!re's really two ma9 reasons to ratify !
 ,,unclos3 z ! gr\p gets toge!r1 x w\ld 
be c]ta9ly b5eficial if we _h a seat at 
! table :5 !re 7 discussions occurr+ z x

 appli$ to pot5tial adju/m5ts & !       
int]pretations ( ^? int]national laws & 
! second reason is x puts u 9 an        
increas$ position ( cr$ibility''' we    
adh]e to ! ,,unclos treaty 9 our        
op]ations1 & x w\ld make our position   
mu* /rong] if we 7 signatories1 on ,m>* 
#bc1 #bjba1 at 8 nom9ation he>+ be=e !  
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,comm&] ( ,unit$ ,/ates  
,indo-,pacific ,comm&1 retir$ ,admiral  
,philip ,s4 ,davidson1 /at$ t 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
 retir$ ,admiral ,h>ry ,b4 ,h>ris1 /at$1
 ,i ?9k t by n sign+ onto x t we lose ! 
cr$ibility = ! 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 ( ! ,s5ate2  ,:]eas ! pa/
 ,*airman ( ! ,jo9ts ,*ief ( ,/aff1     
retir$ ,g5]al ,joseph ,f4 ,dun=d1 /at$ t
 by rema9+ outside ! ,conv5tion1 !      
,unit$ ,/ates rema9s 9 sc>ce company )  
,iran1 ,v5ezuela1 ,nor? ,korea1 & ,syria
 & 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 !   
pa/ ,presid5t & ,*ief ,executive ,(fic] 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,*amb] ( ,comm]ce1    

,?omas ,j4 ,donahue1 /at$ t we support  
jo9+ ! ,conv5tion because x is 9 our    
national int]e/-bo? 9 our national      
security & our economic int]e/s1becom+ a
 p>ty to ! ,treaty b5efits ! ,u4,s4     
economically by provid+ ,am]ican        
companies ! legal c]ta9ty & /ability !y 
ne$ to hire & inve/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 & ,*ief ,executive ,(fic] 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,*amb] ( ,comm]ce1    
,mr4 ,?omas ,j4 ,donahue1 fur!r /at$ t !
 b5efits ( jo9+ cut across _m important 
indu/ries includ+ telecommunications1   
m9+1 %ipp+1 & oil & natural gas1 & 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$1 on ,june #bh1 #bjab1 be=e !  
,committee on ,=eign ,relations ( !     
,s5ate2  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,comm&ant ( !     
,unit$ ,/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$41 & ,ratification ( ! ,law ( !    
,sea ,conv5tion supports our economic   
int]e/s1 environm5tal protection1 &     
safety ( life at sea1 especially 9 !    
,arctic ,ocean42  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,*ief (  
,naval ,op]ations1 retir$ ,admiral      
,mi*ael ,gilday1 /at$ t acc$+ to !      
,conv5tion w\ld /r5g!n our /rategic     
position on issues p]ta9+ to ! ,s\? ,*9a
 ,sea & ! ,arctic4 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates w\ld
 h increas$ cr$ibility :5 respond+ to   

excessive m>itime claims & milit>ization
 ef=ts 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4 ,) respect to
 ! ,arctic1 becom+ a p>ty to !          
,conv5tion w\ld all[ ! ,u4,s4 to        
position itself to safegu>d access = !  
purposes ( m>itime traffic1 res\rce     
exploitation1 & o!r human activities1   
:ile ensur+ o!r /ates comply ) ! law ( !
 sea1 9 response to advance policy      
que/ions on ,july #cj1 #bjai1 be=e !    
,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices ( ! ,s5ate2
 &  ,:]eas ! pa/ ,unit$ ,/ates ,special 
,repres5tative ( ,/ate = ! ,arctic & =m]
 ,comm&ant ( ! ,coa/ ,gu>d1 retir$      
,admiral ,rob]t ,papp1 ,jr41 /at$ t 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^? ,/ates are      
p>ties to ! ,conv5tion1 & are well along
 ! pa? to obta9+ legal c]ta9ty &        
int]national recognition ( _! ,arctic   
ext5d$ cont95tal %elf1 & 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 
( ,repres5tatives3 ,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 ( ! ,sea  
7,,unclos71 done at ,montego ,bay       
,decemb] #aj1 #aihb2  7#b7 urges !      
,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ate to give its advice 
& cons5t to ! ratification ( ! ,,unclos2
 &  7#c7 recomm5ds ! ratification ( !   
,,unclos rema9 a top priority = ! ,f$]al
 ,gov]nm5t1 ! importance ( :i* 0 mo/    
rec5tly und]scor$ by ! /rategic *all5ges
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates faces 9 !              
,indo-,pacific1 ! ,arctic1 & ! ,black   
,sea regions4