[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION
Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain
proposed arms sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification,
the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be
reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the
notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant
information is available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such annex is
available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations
Committee, room SD-423.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Defense Security
Cooperation Agency,
Arlington, VA.
Hon. James E. Risch,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 20-58
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense
articles and services estimated to cost $350 million. After
this letter is delivered to your office, we plan to issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale.
Sincerely,
Heidi H. Grant,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 20-58
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended
(i) Prospective Purchaser: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment * $0 million.
Other $350 million.
Total $350 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
Non-MDE: U.S. Security Assistance Office (SAO) support
services to include technical assistance and advisory support
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense (MOD)
for an additional five years, through the U.S. Military
Training Mission to Saudi Arabia (USMTM) located in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia. SAO support services provided includes: Pay and
allowances for U.S. Military, U.S. Government, and Foreign
National staff members; USMTM communications support costs;
local contracting costs; construction and renovation costs of
housing area; transportation costs; U.S. Mail services
support costs; dependent education (grades K through 12);
administrative costs; temporary duty costs for USMTM
personnel; Value Added Taxes (VAT) assessed by Saudi Arabia;
future transition costs to move USMTM to a proposed new
housing location in Saudi Arabia; and other related elements
of logistical and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (SR-B-ABY).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-B-ABV, SR-B-ABW, SR-B-
ABX.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: December 1, 2020.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Saudi Arabia- Security Assistance Office (SAO) Support Services, U.S.
Training Mission to Saudi Arabia (USMTM)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested U.S. Security
Assistance Office (SAO) support services to include technical
assistance and advisory support to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia's Ministry of Defense (MOD) for an additional five
years, through the U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi
Arabia (USMTM) located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia SAO support
services provided includes: Pay and allowances for U.S.
Military, U.S. Government, and Foreign National staff
members; USMTM communications support costs; local
contracting costs; construction and renovation costs of
housing area; transportation costs; U.S. Mail services
support costs; dependent education (grades K through 12);
administrative costs; temporary duty costs for USMTM
personnel; Value Added Taxes (VAT) assessed by Saudi Arabia;
future transition costs to move USMTM to a proposed new
housing location in Saudi Arabia; and other related elements
of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost
is $350 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals
and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a friendly country that is a force
for political stability and economic progress in the Middle
East.
This proposed sale will continue to improve Saudi Arabia's
capability to meet current and future threats by utilizing
USMTM's continued efforts to train, advise, and assist the
Saudi Arabian Armed Forces to build defense capacity and
capability through military exercises and professional
military education. USMTM conducts non-combat, institutional
advising that assists the MOD in developing, training, and
sustaining a capable deterrent to regional threats.
The proposed sale of this support and services will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
There is no prime contractor associated with this proposed
sale. There are no known offset agreements in connection with
this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will continue to
require the permanent assignment of approximately 330 U.S.
Military, U.S. Government, and Foreign National USMTM staff
members to Saudi Arabia. Additional Training Advisory Field
Teams (TAFT) and Support teams will travel to the country on
a temporary basis as required.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
____________________