[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. CARDIN. 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. 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. 23-84, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Australia for defense 
     articles and services estimated to cost $2.0 billion. 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. 23-84

     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 Australia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0.
       Other $2.0 billion.
       Total $2.0 billion.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of 
     Australia has requested to buy articles and services in 
     support of the Trilateral AUKUS Pillar I program.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       None.
       Non-MDE: Included are training devices, personnel training, 
     planning, and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) services; 
     support equipment; special tools; training software and 
     courseware; design; supply chain and industrial base support; 
     facilities and construction support; publications and 
     technical documentation; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; test and trials 
     support; studies and surveys; other related elements of 
     engineering and repair services for associated equipment and 
     program support; and other related elements of logistic and 
     program support. U.S. training of private Australian industry 
     personnel will occur only after explicitly authorized by the 
     U.S. Department of State under U.S. law.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (AT-P-BTQ).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: AT-P-FBG.
       (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None known.
       (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, 2023.
       *As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          Policy Justification

             Australia--AUKUS Training and Training Devices

       The Government of Australia has requested to buy articles 
     and services in support of the Trilateral AUKUS Pillar I 
     program. Included are training devices, personnel training, 
     planning, and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) services; 
     support equipment; special tools; training software/ and 
     courseware; design; supply chain and industrial base support; 
     facilities and construction support; publications and 
     technical documentation; personnel training and training 
     equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, 
     technical, and logistics support services; test and trials 
     support; studies and surveys; other related elements of 
     engineering, and repair services for associated equipment and 
     program support; and other related elements of logistic and 
     program support. U.S. training of private Australian industry 
     personnel will occur only after explicitly authorized by the 
     U.S. Department of State under U.S. law. The estimated total 
     program cost is $2.0 billion.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States. Australia 
     is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. 
     The strategic location of this political and economic power 
     contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic 
     stability in the region. It is vital to the U.S. national 
     interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a 
     strong and ready self-defense capability.
       The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to 
     meet current and future threats by providing an effective 
     combatant deterrent capability to protect maritime interests 
     and infrastructure in support of its strategic mission. The 
     acquisition will lay the groundwork for the Australia/United 
     Kingdom/United States (AUKUS) trilateral agreement. Australia 
     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.
       The principal contractors will be Huntington Ingalls 
     Industries, Newport News, VA; General Dynamics Electric Boat, 
     Groton, CT; and Systems Planning Analysis, Alexandria, VA. 
     There are no known offset agreements in connection with this 
     potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale requires the 
     assignment of approximately seventy (70) additional U.S. 
     Government and contractor representatives to Australia for a 
     duration of approximately three (3) years to support in-
     person training, equipment familiarization, and onsite 
     engineering and maintenance of simulation and training 
     devices.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

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