[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6202-H6204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROHIBITION ON SALE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OF PARTS FOR F-14 FIGHTER
AIRCRAFT
Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1441) to prohibit the sale by the Department of Defense of
parts for F-14 fighter aircraft, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1441
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Arizona (Ms. Giffords) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Arizona.
General Leave
Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1441, a bill that will put an
end to military surplus sales that may inadvertently be helping to
sustain Iran's Air Force.
First, I would like to thank Chairman Lantos and Chairman Skelton for
their leadership on this issue. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss
this critical national security issue.
The background to this problem begins in the 1970s when our country
sold F-14 Tomcats to Iran's pro-Western secular government. Iran was a
close ally of the United States at the time and needed the capabilities
of the F-14 in a dangerous part of the world. Times have changed,
unfortunately. And Iran has now called for the destruction of Israel
and is refining uranium in what many observers from the non-
proliferation community believe is an attempt to develop the fuel
necessary for an atomic weapon.
Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is likely responsible for
arming insurgents in Iraq. Iran has ignored the calls of the
international community for greater transparency in its nuclear power
research and development, and the United Nations Security Council
recently imposed stricter economic sanctions on Iran as a result.
When the United States Navy retired the F-14 fleet last September,
that left Iran as the only nation still flying those aircraft. Iran has
been trying to get around United States sanctions and export controls
to secure the parts necessary to keep the F-14 flying. Recent
[[Page H6203]]
undercover investigations and reports have made it clear that Iran may
have been successful.
Following an undercover investigation, the GAO reported in 2006 that
acquiring surplus military hardware not properly demilitarized is
disturbingly easy.
In January of this year, the Associated Press reported that front
companies were able to secretly purchase military parts for resale in
Iran. Iran is the only nation still using the F-14. There are no other
legitimate buyers overseas.
In order to address this issue, I worked with my colleague from New
Mexico, Mr. Pearce. And after a joint trip to Israel, we introduced
H.R. 1441, which will prevent the United States Government from selling
approximately 10,000 parts that are unique only to the F-14 Tomcat.
This legislation will prohibit the military, as well as any other
private company, from selling F-14-specific parts. It is also, Mr.
Speaker, a complete ban on all international sales of parts specific to
the F-14.
We cannot take the risk that components unique to the F-14 could be
resold to Iran. The text of this bill was included in the fiscal year
2008 defense authorization bill, H.R. 1585, as section 1049.
The House Armed Services Committee approved the language in its
markup of that bill, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has
already marked up the specific bill and has reported it favorably.
Mr. Speaker, we must take the responsibility to ensure that our
military hardware never falls into the hands of nations hostile to the
United States and can never be used against our men and women in
uniform and not used against our allies.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1441.
I include for the Record an exchange of letters related to this bill
between Chairman Skelton of the Armed Services Committee and Chairman
Lantos of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
June 8, 2007.
Hon. Tom Lantos,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Rayburn House Office
Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman, On March 27, 2007, the Committee on
Foreign Affairs ordered reported favorably H.R. 1441, ``The
Stop Arming Iran Act.'' This legislation contains subject
matter within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on
Armed Services, and thus, was sequentially referred to the
Committee on Armed Services by the Parliamentarian for the
House.
Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 1441 and
the need for the legislation to move expeditiously.
Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over
this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive
further consideration of H.R. 1441. I do so with the
understanding that by waiving further consideration of the
bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional
claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference
with the Senate on this bill, the Committee on Armed Services
reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees.
I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy
of the response in your Committee's report on H.R. 1441 and
in the Congressional Record during consideration of the
measure on the House floor.
Very truly yours,
Ike Skelton
Chairman.
____
June 8, 2007.
Hon. Ike Skelton,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of
Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R.
1441, an Act to Strengthen Controls on the Export of Surplus
F-14 Fighter Aircraft Parts.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed
Services. I acknowledge that your Committee will not seek a
sequential referral of the bill and agree that the inaction
of your Committee with respect to the bill does not in any
way serve as a jurisdictional precedent as to our two
committees.
Further, as to any House-Senate conference on the bill, I
understand that your Committee reserves the right to seek the
appointment of conferees for consideration of portions of the
bill that are within the Committee's jurisdiction, and I
agree to support a request by the Committee with respect to
serving as conferees on the bill, consistent with the
Speaker's practice in this regard.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
any Committee report on the bill and in the Congressional
Record at the time of consideration by the whole House. I
look forward to working with you on this important
legislation.
Cordially,
Tom Lantos,
Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would like to thank Representative Giffords for her leadership on
this issue, as well as Chairman Lantos for sponsoring the committee
amendment clarifying the intent and impact of this legislation.
Earlier this year as a result of the Federal sting operation,
Congress learned that Iran had illegally purchased parts for F-14
fighter planes from a U.S. military surplus store. According to
investigators, the incident was just one piece of a larger ring of
illegally sold military surplus parts that found their way to China and
Iran.
The report prompted the Pentagon's Defense Logistics Agency to
suspend sales of the F-14 components.
{time} 1600
Military surplus offices are supposed to demilitarize parts, which
would render them useless for military purposes.
They are also allowed to auction the parts but only to buyers who
promise to obey U.S. arms embargoes, export controls, and other laws.
That was not the case, however, with these particular F-14 parts.
As Members are aware, Tehran is in search of several key components
for its aging fleet of F-14 Tomcat jets, which the United States sold
to Iran prior to its 1979 Islamic revolution. This bill will add
another layer of protection to the extensive array of export sanctions
already imposed on Iran under the International Economic Emergency
Powers Act and related executive orders.
The committee amendment recognizes these facts and adjusts the title
of the bill to more accurately reflect the purpose of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, given the clear and present danger Iran poses to the
national security interests of the United States and to the broader
peace and stability of the Middle East, this is an appropriate and
timely measure for our consideration today.
I want to thank again Ms. Giffords and Mr. Pearce, and I support the
adoption of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
Arkansas for his comments, and I indeed think that this is an important
piece of legislation that will further support our interests abroad and
make sure that parts like the F-14 Tomcat are not sold to the Iranians.
Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, we must utilize every resource available
while fighting the Global War on Terror. Currently, we are fighting two
major combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan which are critical to
implementing democracy and peace throughout the Middle East. In both
these areas we have a common enemy that continues to increase its
forces. Recent reports have shown that Iran is supplying arms to both
the terrorists in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Every night on the news we see the price we pay in a two front war
against a sinister and studious enemy. It is difficult enough to fight
an insurgency inspired by hatred, let alone an enemy supported by a
sovereign nation such as Iran.
Reports of Iranian weapons and funds surfacing both in Iraq and
Afghanistan are indicators that Iran is willing to use other countries
to attack American interests without having to sacrifice their own sons
and daughters. We are fighting a cowardly enemy which uses others to do
its dirty work for them. This is state sponsored terrorism and we must
take steps to cut off the resources they use to fund our enemies.
In addition, under the guise of energy development, Iran continues a
program that puts them closer and closer to developing weapons grade
plutonium. I have severe reservations allowing this program continue
until Iranian President Ahmadinejad can unequivocally prove that he
does not have intentions of someday creating and using a nuclear
warhead against the United States, Israel, Europe or other Allies.
This legislation is crucial in the Global War on Terror because it is
a tangible indicator to Iran, and all other nations which harbor or
sponsor terrorist tactics in any form, that we will not allow the
violence to escalate any further. By preventing the sale of F-14s in
whole or part to Iran we will be cutting off the supply of arms that
may someday be used to kill American soldiers.
[[Page H6204]]
I congratulate my colleague and Congressional neighbor from Arizona
for her hard work and dedication to this issue. It is important for our
safety as a country, as well as the world's freedom from terrorism,
that we cut off the supply of F-14 parts to Iran. I call to my friends
on both sides of the aisle for overwhelming bipartisan support of this
legislation.
Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. Giffords) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1441, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to strengthen controls
on the export of surplus parts for F-14 fighter aircraft.''
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________