Arms Sales Notification

Floor Speech

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Mr. RISCH. Madam President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Hon. James E. Risch, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 19-30, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of India for defense articles and services estimated to cost $670 million. After this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale. Sincerely, Charles W. Hooper, Lieutenant General, USA, Director.

Enclosures. Transmittal No. 19-30 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended

(i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of India.

(ii) Total Estimated Value:

Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.

Other $670 million.

Total $670 million.

(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.

Non-MDE: C-17 follow-on support includes spares and repair parts; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; support and test equipment; U.S. Government-and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

(iv) Military Department: Air Force IN-D-QAC.

(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IN-D-SAC, IN-D-SAE.

(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered. or Agreed to be Paid: None.

(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.

(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 26, 2019.

* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION India--C-17 Sustainment Follow-On Support

The Government of India has requested to buy equipment for C-17 follow-on support, to include spares and repair parts; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $670 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the mobility capabilities of a major defensive partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Inda-Pacific and South Asia region.

India needs this follow-on support to maintain its operational readiness and ability to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) assistance in the region. India will have no difficulty absorbing this support into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be the Boeing Corporation, Chicago, Illinois. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, however, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the prime contractor.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of one U.S. Government representative and 23 contractor representatives to India.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

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