[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 15 (Thursday, January 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN:
  S. 387. A bill to prohibit the sale by the Department of Defense of 
parts for F-14 fighter aircraft; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to light an important 
issue which threatens our national security and begs the attention of 
Congress. The legislation I propose today seeks to end the Iranian 
government's acquisition of sensitive military equipment by blocking 
the Pentagon's sale of F-14 fighter jet parts.
  It is the sensitive job of the Department of Defense to demilitarize 
and auction off surplus military equipment. However, recent 
investigations and reports have uncovered a frightening trend regarding 
the sale of F-14 ``Tomcat'' aircraft parts. U.S. customs agents have 
discovered F-14 parts being illegally shipped to Iran by brokers who 
bought F-14 surplus equipment from Department of Defense auctions.
  Other than the United States, Iran is the only Nation to fly the F-
14. The U.S. allowed Iran to buy 79 F-14s before its revolution in 
1979. Fortunately, most of Iran's F-14s are currently grounded for lack 
of parts.
  We know that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. We know 
that the Department of State has identified Iran as the most active 
state sponsor of terrorism. We know that the sale of spare parts for F-
14s could make it more difficult to confront the nuclear weapons 
capability of Iran. And yet F-14 parts are still being sold by the DoD.
  Iran's F-14s, especially with the parts to get more of them airborne, 
greatly strengthen its ground war potential, harming our national and 
global security. Our country should be doing everything possible to 
deny the brutal regime in Tehran access to spare parts for their F-14 
fleet.
  The Department of Defense will tell you that it is already taking 
action to control the sale of F-14 parts. A few times a year they 
change the restriction on the sale of F-14 parts. But history has shown 
us that these rules are not enough. The Department has been caught 
still selling F-14 parts, even when its rules forbid it. It has sold F-
14 parts to companies that have turned out to be fronts for the 
Iranians. More recently, the DoD sold sensitive technology, including 
classified F-14 parts to undercover GAO investigators.
  My intention with this bill is to make it crystal clear to the 
Department of Defense that it may not sell any F-14 parts to anyone for 
any reason. There should be no chance for the parts to make their way 
to the Iranians.
  Additionally, my bill would prohibit the export of any F-14 parts 
that have already been sold. This prevents the parts from ending up in 
Iran through even the most roundabout route.
  I am not trying to reform the entire military surplus sales process. 
I am confident that the Armed Services Committee will continue its 
investigations and propose some much needed changes. My bill would 
simply fix a very specific, but very important, problem: the sale of F-
14 components that end up in the hands of Iran.
  I urge the members of the Senate to support this bill.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 387

       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 ``Stop Arming Iran Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON SALE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF PARTS 
                   FOR F-14 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Department of Defense is responsible for 
     demilitarizing and auctioning off sensitive surplus United 
     States military equipment.
       (2) F-14 ``Tomcat'' fighter aircraft have recently been 
     retired, and their parts are being made available by auction 
     in large quantities.
       (3) Iran is the only country, besides the United States, 
     flying F-14 fighter aircraft and is purchasing surplus parts 
     for such aircraft from brokers.
       (4) The Government Accountability Office has, as a result 
     of undercover investigative work, declared the acquisition of 
     the surplus United States military equipment, including parts 
     for F-14 fighter aircraft, to be disturbingly effortless.
       (5) Upon the seizure of such sensitive surplus military 
     equipment being sold to Iran, United States customs agents 
     have discovered these same items, having been resold by the 
     Department of Defense, being brokered illegally to Iran 
     again.
       (6) Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons capability, and the 
     Department of State has identified Iran as the most active 
     state sponsor of terrorism.
       (7) Iran continues to provide funding, safe haven, 
     training, and weapons to known terrorist groups, including 
     Hizballah, HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the 
     Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
       (8) The sale of spare parts for F-14 fighter aircraft could 
     make it more difficult to confront the nuclear weapons 
     capability of Iran and would strengthen the ground war 
     capability of Iran. To prevent these threats to regional and 
     global security, the sale of spare parts for F-14 fighter 
     aircraft should be prohibited.
       (b) Prohibition on Sale by Department of Defense.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     and except as provided in paragraph (2), the Department of 
     Defense may not sell (whether directly or indirectly) any 
     parts for F-14 fighter aircraft, whether through the Defense 
     Reutilization and Marketing Service or through another agency 
     or element of the Department.
       (2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect 
     to the sale of parts for F-14 fighter aircraft to a museum or 
     similar organization located in the United States that is 
     involved in the preservation of F-14 fighter aircraft for 
     historical purposes.
       (c) Prohibition on Export License.--No license for the 
     export of parts for F-14 fighter aircraft to a non-United 
     States person or entity may be issued by the United States 
     Government.
                                 ______