[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NAVAL VESSELS TRANSFER ACT OF 2006

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 564, S. 3722.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3722) to authorize the transfer of naval vessels 
     to certain foreign recipients.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3722) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3722

       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 2006''.

     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) Lithuania.--To the Government of Lithuania, the OSPREY 
     class minehunter coastal ships KINGFISHER (MHC-56) and 
     CORMORANT (MHC-57).
       (2) Portugal.--To the Government of Portugal, the OLIVER 
     HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigates GEORGE PHILIP 
     (FFG-12) and SIDES (FFG-14).
       (3) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ship BLACK HAWK (MHC-58).

     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) Taiwan.--To the authorities in Taiwan, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ships ORIOLE (MHC-55) and FALCON (MHC-59).
       (2) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ship SHRIKE (MHC-62).
       (3) Mexico.--To the Government of Mexico, the AUSTIN class 
     amphibious transport dock ships OGDEN (LPD-5) and CLEVELAND 
     (LPD-7).

     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 performed at a shipyard located in the United States, 
     including a United States Navy shipyard.

     SEC. 7. APPROVAL OF TRANSFER OF NAVAL VESSELS TO FOREIGN 
                   NATIONS BY VESSEL CLASS.

       Section 7307(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``or vessels of that class'' after ``that 
     vessel''.

     SEC. 8. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.

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

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