[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3391-S3392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 290. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 1790, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2020 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title XII, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. ___. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF ARTICLES ON 
                   THE UNITED STATES MUNITIONS LIST TO THE 
                   REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS.

       (a) Sense of the Senate on Cyprus.--It is the sense of the 
     Senate that--
       (1) allowing for the export, re-export or transfer of arms 
     subject to the United States Munitions List (part 121 of 
     title 22, Code of Federal Regulations) to the Republic of 
     Cyprus would advance United States security interests in 
     Europe by helping to reduce the dependence of the Government 
     of the Republic of Cyprus on other countries, including 
     countries that pose challenges to United States interests 
     around the world, for defense-related materiel; and
       (2) it is in the interest of the United States--
       (A) to continue to support United Nations-facilitated 
     efforts toward a comprehensive solution to the division of 
     Cyprus; and

[[Page S3392]]

       (B) for the Republic of Cyprus to join NATO's Partnership 
     for Peace program.
       (b) Modification of Prohibition.--Section 620C(e) of the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2373(e)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Any agreement'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), any 
     agreement''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) The requirement under paragraph (1) shall not apply 
     to any sale or other provision of any defense article or 
     defense service to Cyprus if the end-user of such defense 
     article or defense service is the Government of the Republic 
     of Cyprus.''.
       (c) Exclusion of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus 
     From Certain Related Regulations.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to subsection (d) and except as 
     provided in paragraph (2), beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall not apply 
     a policy of denial for exports, re-exports, or transfers of 
     defense articles and defense services destined for or 
     originating in the Republic of Cyprus if--
       (A) the request is made by or on behalf of the Government 
     of the Republic of Cyprus; and
       (B) the end-user of such defense articles or defense 
     services is the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
       (2) Exception.--This exclusion shall not apply to any 
     denial based upon credible human rights concerns.
       (d) Limitations on the Transfer of Articles on the United 
     States Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus.--
       (1) In general.--The policy of denial for exports, re-
     exports, or transfers of defense articles on the United 
     States Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus shall remain 
     in place unless the President determines and certifies to the 
     appropriate congressional committees not less than annually 
     that--
       (A) the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is continuing 
     to cooperate with the United States Government in efforts to 
     implement reforms on anti-money laundering regulations and 
     financial regulatory oversight; and
       (B) the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has made and 
     is continuing to take the steps necessary to deny Russian 
     military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing.
       (2) Waiver.--The President may waive the limitations 
     contained in this subsection for one fiscal year if the 
     President determines that it is essential to the national 
     security interests of the United States to do so.
       (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______