; Whereas the past Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, the Honorable David Shear, stated, that while the United States operates consistent with the United Nations convention on the Law of the Sea, we’ve seen positive momentum in promoting shared rules of the road , and, our efforts would be greatly strengthened by Senate ratification of UNCLOS , on September 17, 2015, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the Commander of United States Pacific Command, Admiral Philip S. Davidson, 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 now , on April 17, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, retired Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I believe that UNCLOS gives Russia the potential to, quote, unquote own almost half of the Arctic Circle, and we will not have that opportunity because of, we’re not a signatory to UNCLOS, on March 15, 2018, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, Admiral Harry B. Harris, stated I think that by not signing onto it that we lose the creditability for the very same thing that we’re arguing for , and which is the following—accepting rules and norms in the international arena. 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 UNCLOS , on February 23, 2016, at a hearing before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate: Now, therefore, be it