[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2362]
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 that have been received. 
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an 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. 24-32, 
     concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Canada for defense services 
     estimated to cost $138 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. 24-32

     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 Canada.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment * $0.
       Other $138 million.
       Total $138 million.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
       None.
       Non-MDE: Telecommunications services providing Tactical 
     Narrowband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to 
     Canadian Armed Forces users over the Mobile User Objective 
     System (MUOS) service; communication technical assistance to 
     provide operational support, lifecycle management support, 
     and engineering technical assistance and services; personnel 
     training and training equipment; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering; technical and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) Military Department: Air Force (CN-D-DAV).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: CN-P-FEU, CN-P-FFN.
       (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: March 7, 2024.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

              Canada--Mobile User Objective System Access

       The Government of Canada has requested to buy 
     telecommunications services providing Tactical Narrowband 
     Satellite Communications (SATCOM) access to Canadian armed 
     forces users over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) 
     service; communication technical assistance to provide 
     operational support, lifecycle management support, and 
     engineering technical assistance and services; personnel 
     training and training equipment; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering; technical and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support. The estimated total cost is $138 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security objectives of the United States by helping 
     to improve the military capability of Canada, a NATO Ally 
     that is an important force for ensuring political stability 
     and economic progress and a contributor to military, 
     peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world.
       The proposed sale will improve Canada's ability to meet 
     current and future threats by providing ultra-high frequency 
     SATCOM access. MUOS access will increase Canada's capacity to 
     conduct operations in concert with U.S. forces for the 
     defense of North America. Enhanced functionality in northern 
     latitudes is integral to meeting Canada's North American 
     Aerospace Defense Command missions and makes MUOS 
     particularly beneficial to continental air defense 
     collaboration. Canada will have no 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 General Dynamics, Reston, 
     VA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in 
     connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Canada.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

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