[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF NAVAL VESSELS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to immediate consideration of S. 1886, introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1886) to authorize the transfer of naval vessels 
     to certain foreign recipients.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1886) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1886

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Naval Vessels Transfer Act 
     of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. TRANSFERS BY GRANT.

       The President is authorized to transfer vessels to foreign 
     recipients on a grant basis under section 516 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j), as follows:
       (1) Greece.--To the Government of Greece, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ship PELICAN (MHC-53).
       (2) Egypt.--To the Government of Egypt, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ships CARDINAL (MHC-60) and RAVEN (MHC-
     61).
       (3) Pakistan.--To the Government of Pakistan, the SPRUANCE 
     class destroyer ship FLETCHER (DD-992).
       (4) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey, the SPRUANCE 
     class destroyer ship CUSHING (DD-985).

     SEC. 3. TRANSFERS BY SALE.

       The President is authorized to transfer vessels to foreign 
     recipients on a sale basis under section 21 of the Arms 
     Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761), as follows:
       (1) India.--To the Government of India, the AUSTIN class 
     amphibious transport dock ship TRENTON (LPD-14).
       (2) Greece.--To the Government of Greece, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ship HERON (MHC-52).
       (3) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey, the SPRUANCE 
     class destroyer ship O'BANNON (DD-987).

     SEC. 4. GRANTS NOT COUNTED IN ANNUAL TOTAL OF TRANSFERRED 
                   EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES.

       The value of a vessel transferred to another country on a 
     grant basis pursuant to authority provided by section 2 shall 
     not be counted against the aggregate value of excess defense 
     articles transferred to countries in any fiscal year under 
     section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

     SEC. 5. COSTS OF CERTAIN TRANSFERS.

       Notwithstanding section 516(e)(1) of the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j(e)(1)), any expense incurred by 
     the United States in connection with a transfer authorized 
     under section 2 shall be charged to the recipient.

     SEC. 6. REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT IN UNITED STATES SHIPYARDS.

       To the maximum extent practicable, the President shall 
     require, as a condition of the transfer of a vessel under 
     this section, that the country to which the vessel is 
     transferred have such repair or refurbishment of the vessel 
     as is needed before the vessel joins the naval forces of that 
     country be performed at a shipyard located in the United 
     States, including a United States Navy shipyard.

     SEC. 7. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority to transfer a vessel under this section shall 
     expire at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

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