[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S6055]
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. 23-82, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
     Office in the United States (TECRO) 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.


                         transmittal no. 23-82

     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: Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (TECRO).
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment $0.
       Other $300 million.
       Total $300 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-MDE: Included is follow-on life cycle support to 
     maintain Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) 
     capabilities managed under the Syun An program. The C4 
     capabilities consisting of previously procured 
     Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems-Low Volume 
     Terminals (MIDS-LVT) and Joint Tactical Information 
     Distribution System (JTIDS) equipment, as well as procurement 
     of spare and repair parts; repair and return of equipment; 
     technical documentation; personnel training; software and 
     hardware; software development; maintenance of Continental 
     United States (CONUS) technical laboratories; U.S. Government 
     and contract engineering and technical support; logistics; 
     and other related elements of logistics and program support.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (TW-P-GPU).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: TW-P-GOS, TW-P-GNU, TW-P-
     GMK.
       (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 15, 
     2023.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

   Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United 
States--Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) Life Cycle 
                                Support

       The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in 
     the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy follow-on life 
     cycle support to maintain Command, Control, Communications, 
     and Computers (C4) capabilities managed under the Syun An 
     program. The C4 capabilities consisting of previously 
     procured Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems-Low 
     Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) and Joint Tactical Information 
     Distribution System (JTIDS) equipment, as well as procurement 
     of spare and repair parts; repair and return of equipment; 
     technical documentation; personnel training; software and 
     hardware; software development; maintenance of Continental 
     United States (CONUS) technical laboratories; U.S. Government 
     and contract engineering and technical support; logistics; 
     and other related elements of logistics and program support. 
     The estimated total cost is $300 million.
       This proposed sale is consistent with U.S. law and policy 
     as expressed in Public Law 96-8.
       This proposed sale serves U.S. national, economic, and 
     security interests by supporting the recipient's continuing 
     efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a 
     credible defensive capability. The proposed sale will help 
     improve the security of the recipient and assist in 
     maintaining political stability, military balance, and 
     economic progress in the region.
       The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability 
     to meet current and future threats by enhancing operational 
     readiness and maintenance of its existing C4 capabilities and 
     sustaining capabilities that provide secure flow of tactical 
     information required for the development of a Joint Common 
     Operation Picture. The recipient will have no difficulty 
     absorbing this support and equipment into its inventory.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor(s) will be determined through U.S. 
     Government competitive processes. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will require an 
     estimated twenty-six (26) U.S. Government personnel and 
     eighty-three (83) U.S. contractor representatives to travel 
     to the recipient, as required, to provide engineering and 
     technical support services as well as program and technical 
     reviews.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

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