; Whereas the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, stated, “The Convention provides legal certainty in the world’s largest maneuver space”, and, “access would strengthen the legal foundation for our ability to transit through international straits and archipelagic waters; preserve our right to conduct military activities in other countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) without notice or permission; reaffirm the sovereign immunity of warships; provide a framework to counter excessive maritime claims; and preserve or operations and intelligence-collection activities”, and, “joining the Convention would also demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law, strengthen our credibility among those nations that are already party to the Convention, and allow us to bring the full force of our influence in challenging excessive maritime claims”, on July 9, 2015, before the Senate Armed Services Committee; Whereas the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, further stated, “by remaining outside the Convention, the United States remains in scarce company with Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Syria”, and, “by failing to join the Convention, some countries may come to doubt our commitment to act in accordance with international law”, on July 9, 2015, before the Senate Armed Services Committee; Whereas the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John M. Richardson, stated, “acceding to the Convention would strengthen our credibility and strategic position”, and, “we undermine our leverage by not signing up to the same rule book by which we are asking other countries to accept”, on July 30, 2015, before the Senate Armed Services Committee