[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.
____________________