[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1783-S1784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. MENENDEZ. 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,

                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. Robert Menendez,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements 
     of Section 36(b)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), 
     as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No.

[[Page S1784]]

     23-01. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades 
     from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability 
     described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 11-05 of 
     February 1, 2011.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosure.


                         Transmittal No. 23-0I

     Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology 
         or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(C), AECA)
       (i) Purchaser: Government of Australia.
       (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 11-05; Date: 
     February 1, 2011; Military Department: Navy.
       (iii) Description: On February 1, 2011, Congress was 
     notified by congressional certification transmittal number 
     11-05 of the possible sale under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms 
     Export Control Act of the Government of Australia's request 
     for ten year Through-Life-Support (TLS) for Australia's fleet 
     of twenty-four (24) MH-60R helicopters. The sustainment 
     effort included spare and repair parts provisioning, support 
     and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, 
     U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and 
     logistics support services, and other related elements of 
     logistics support. The estimated cost was $1.6 billion, with 
     no Major Defense Equipment (MDE).
       On July 10, 2018, Congress was notified by congressional 
     certification transmittal number 18-0A of the extension of 
     the sustainment support will include additional spare parts 
     through June 2028 as requested by Australia. There was no 
     increase in MDE cost. The case value increased from $1.6 
     billion to $2.8 billion.
       On June 15, 2020, Congress was notified by congressional 
     certification transmittal number 0H-20 of the addition of the 
     following MDE: three (3) airborne Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) with 
     GPS security devices and four (4) T700-GE-401C turbo engines. 
     This equipment resulted in a net increase in MDE cost of $5 
     million and a corresponding decrease in the non-MDE value by 
     $5 million. The total estimated cost remained $2.8 billion.
       This transmittal notifies Australia's request for continued 
     sustainment and support services for its MH-60R helicopters. 
     No additional MDE is being added and there is no increase in 
     MDE cost. The total estimated cost will increase to $4.3 
     billion.
       (iv) Significance: This proposed sale will improve 
     Australia's capability to perform antisurface and 
     antisubmarine warfare missions as well as secondary missions, 
     including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and 
     communications relay. Australia will use the enhanced 
     capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to 
     strengthen its homeland defense.
       (v) Justification: This proposed sale supports the foreign 
     policy and national security objectives of the United States 
     by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a 
     key partner of the United States in ensuring peace and 
     stability around the world.
       (vi) Sensitivity of Technology: The Sensitivity of 
     Technology Statement contained in the original notification 
     applies to items reported here.
       The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 19, 2023.

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