Arms Sales Notification

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. RISCH. Mr. 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.

In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an 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)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 24-0R. This transmittal notifies a cost increase in excess of the total value previously described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 17-22 of November 1, 2017. Sincerely, Michael F. Miller, Director.

Enclosures. transmittal no. 24-0r Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(c), AECA)

(i) Purchaser: Government of Qatar.

(ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 17-22; Date: November 1, 2017; Implementing Agency: Air Force; Funding Source: National Funds.

(iii) Description: On November 1, 2017, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 17-22 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of design and construction services, new parking/loading ramps, hot cargo pads, taxiways, hangars, back shops, alert facilities, weapons storage areas, hardened shelters, squadron operations facilities, maintenance facilities, training facilities, information technology support and cyber facilities, force protection support facilities, squadron operations facilities, other F-15QA related support structures, construction/facilities/design services, cybersecurity services, mission critical computer resources, support services, force protection services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost was $1.1 billion. There was no Major Defense Equipment (MDE) associated with this sale.

This transmittal notifies increased value for continued design and construction services and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total non-MDE value will increase by $0.52 billion, resulting in a new non-MDE and overall total case value of $1.62 billion. There is no MDE included in this potential sale.

(iv) Significance: The proposed sale will support F-15QA CONUS basing construction to increase Qatar's interoperability objectives in combined operations supporting the United States.

(v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

(vi) Date Report Delivered to Congress: March 20, 2025.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source