[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 183 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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. Benjamin L. Cardin,
     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. 23-63, 
     concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and 
     services estimated to cost $300 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.
     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Iraq.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $ 0.
       Other $300 million.
       Total $300 million.
       Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case IQ-B-AQJ was below the congressional 
     notification threshold at $28 million ($0 in MDE) and 
     included a Bell Contracted Logistics Support (CLS) and Field 
     Service Representative (FSR) contract in support of the 
     following types of Bell aircraft: three (3) 407 variants, 
     206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, and Huey II. The Government of Iraq 
     has requested the case be amended to include additional 
     option years on the current contract and to add contract 
     support for Bell 505 aircraft as indicated below. This 
     amendment will push the current case above the total case 
     value notification threshold and thus requires notification 
     of the entire case.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
       Non-MDE: Bell Contracted Logistics Support (CLS) and Field 
     Service Representative (FSR) maintenance in support of the 
     following Bell aircraft: three (3) 407 variants, 206B3, OH-
     58A/C Kiowa, Huey II and 505. Also included is U.S. 
     Government and contractor engineering, technical and 
     logistics support services; studies and surveys; and other 
     related elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Army (IQ-B-AQJ).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: IQ-B-UDZ, IQ-B-ADQ.
       (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: None.
       (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: November 2, 2023.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

        Iraq--Bell Helicopter Contracted Logistics Support (CLS)

       The Government of Iraq has requested to buy additional 
     services, as indicated below, that will be added to a 
     previously implemented case whose value was under the 
     congressional notification threshold. The original FMS case, 
     valued at $28 million, included a Bell Contracted Logistics 
     Support (CLS) and Field Service Representative (FSR) 
     contract. This notification is for the combined CLS and FSR 
     maintenance support for the following Bell aircraft: three 
     (3) 407 variants, 206B3, OH-58A/C Kiowa, Huey II and 505. 
     Also included is U.S. Government and Contractor engineering, 
     technical and logistics support services; studies and 
     surveys; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The estimated total cost is $300 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a strategic partner.
       The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Iraq's 
     capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing 
     the strength of its homeland defense. The Republic of Iraq 
     will have ho difficulty absorbing these services into its 
     armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor will be Bell Helicopter Company, 
     Fort Worth, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed 
     in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require the 
     assignment of four (4) additional U.S. Government or 
     contractor representatives to Iraq for a duration of one (1) 
     year to support CLS for Bell 505 aircraft. There are 
     currently seven (7) U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives in Iraq that will stay an additional two (2) 
     years to provide support for the contract option years for 
     CLS and FSR service support for the three (3) 407 variants, 
     206B3, OH-58A/C and Huey II aircraft.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

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