[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3741-S3742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        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

[[Page S3742]]

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)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
     amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 23-54, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Romania for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $120.5 million. We will issue 
     a news release to notify the public of this proposed sale 
     upon delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  James A. Hursch,
                                                         Director.
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 23-54

     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: Government of Romania.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $75.5 million.
       Other $45.0 million.
       Total $120.5 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       Sixteen (16) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Personnel Variant 
     (AAVP-7A1)
       Three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant 
     (AAVC-7A1)
       Two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Recovery Variant (AAVR-
     7AI)
       Sixteen (16) 50 Cal Machine Guns (Heavy Barrel)
       Five (5) 7.62 mm M240B Machine Guns
       Non-MDE: Also included are MK-19 Grenade Launchers; M36E Tl 
     Thermal Sighting Systems (TSS); supply support (spare parts); 
     support equipment (including special mission kits/Enhanced 
     Applique Kits (EAAK)); training, unclassified technical 
     manuals, technical data package, engineering and technical 
     support and assistance (including Contractor Engineering 
     Technical Services (CETS)); and other related elements of 
     program and logistics support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (RO-P-L-WL).
       (v) Prior Related Cases. if any: None.
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None known at this time.
       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense 
     Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached 
     Annex.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 27, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                  Romania--Assault Amphibious Vehicles

       The Government of Romania has requested to buy sixteen (16) 
     Assault Amphibious Vehicles (AAVs), Personnel Variant (AAVP-
     7A1); three (3) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Command Variant 
     (AAVC-7Al); two (2) Assault Amphibious Vehicles, Recovery 
     Variant (AAVR-7Al); sixteen (16) 50 Cal Machine Guns (Heavy 
     Barrel); and five (5) 7.62 mm M240B Machine Guns. Also 
     included are MK-19 Grenade Launchers; M36E T1 Thermal 
     Sighting Systems (TSS); supply support (spare parts); support 
     equipment (including special mission kits/Enhanced Applique 
     Kits (EAAK)); training, unclassified technical manuals, 
     technical data package, engineering and technical support and 
     assistance (including Contractor Engineering Technical 
     Services (CETS)); and other related elements of program and 
     logistics support. The total estimated program cost is $120.5 
     million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by helping 
     to improve the security of a North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) Ally which is an important force for 
     political and economic stability in Europe. It is vital to 
     the U.S. national interest to assist Romania in developing 
     and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.
       The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet 
     current and future threats by modernizing and ensuring 
     Romania's continued expeditionary capability to counter 
     regional threats. Romania will have no difficulty absorbing 
     this equipment and services into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       A principal contractor has not been determined for 
     potential sale. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
     in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of U.S. Government personnel but will require the 
     assignment of one (1) contractor representative to Romania 
     for approximately one (1) year to deliver AAVs, related 
     equipment, and support.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.


                         Transmittal No. 23-54

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act

                           Annex Item No. vii

       (vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
       1. The mission of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) is 
     to maneuver surface assault elements of the landing force and 
     their equipment from assault shipping during amphibious 
     operations to inland objectives and to conduct mechanized 
     operations and related combat support in subsequent 
     operations ashore.
       a. The AAV-7A1 family of vehicles includes the personnel 
     variant, which carries troops in amphibious operations from 
     ship to shore, through the surf zone, and to inland 
     objectives. The AAVP-7Al provides protected transport of up 
     to 25 combat-loaded personnel through all types of terrain.
       b. The Command Variant, AAVC-7Al, is an armored assault 
     amphibious full-tracked landing vehicle. The vehicle provides 
     a mobile task force communication center in amphibious 
     operations from ship to shore through surf zone to inland 
     objectives.
       c. The Recovery Variant, AAVR-7A1, is an armored assault 
     amphibious full-tracked vehicle. The vehicle is designed to 
     recover similar or smaller size vehicles. It also carries 
     basic maintenance equipment to provide field support 
     maintenance to vehicles in the field.
       d. The 50 Cal Machine Gun (Heavy Barrel) is the standard 
     weapon for the AAVP-7A1.
       e. The 7.62 mm M240B Machine Gun is the standard weapon for 
     the AAVC-7Al and the AAVR-7Al.
       2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, 
     components, and services included in this potential sale is 
     SECRET.
       3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain 
     knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the 
     information could be used to develop countermeasures that 
     might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the 
     development of a system with similar or advanced 
     capabilities.
       4. A determination has been made that Romania can provide 
     substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive 
     technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale 
     is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign pc,Hcy and 
     national security objectives outlined in the Policy 
     Justification.
       5. All defense articles and services listed in this 
     transmittal have been authorized for release and export to 
     the Government of Romania.

                          ____________________