National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

Floor Speech

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present my amendment No. 435.

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment--a very simple amendment. My amendment seeks to restore congressional notification requirements on a category of munitions export licenses.

For decades, when a U.S. company wanted to export these munitions, the sale required authorization from the Federal Government. The State Department has the responsibility for issuing approvals for most types of weapons once it has assessed any impact on our national security or our foreign policy.

The State Department was also required to notify Congress every time it approved a license. Unfortunately, the Trump administration changed all of this. It moved the licensing of firearms export sales from the State Department to the Department of Commerce, and it changed the standard review process.

They also ended the congressional notification process. The Department of Commerce is not currently required to notify Congress when they issue a munitions export license.

I strongly opposed those changes.

Given the serious national security implications of foreign munitions sales and the possibility that those weapons could end up in the wrong hands, Congress has a clear policy interest in understanding when they occur.

This amendment will restore those notification requirements by mandating that the Department of Commerce follow the same procedure and guidelines that was in place prior to that change.

Frankly, I am surprised that anyone is objecting to restoring longstanding congressional oversight powers.

I hope my colleagues will support my amendment to ensure that foreign munitions sales receive the careful scrutiny they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, we can reserve the debate whether the State Department or the Commerce Department should have jurisdiction over gun sale exports.

This amendment is not about that. This amendment is very simple. It restores a longstanding requirement to notify Congress--a notification. That is not dictating to anyone where they should sell or whom they should sell weapons to. Simply report to Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I respectfully request a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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