[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3125-S3126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATIONS

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control 
Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain 
proposed arms

[[Page S3126]]

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 still 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.
     The 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. 24-12, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for defense 
     services estimated to cost $250 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. 24-12

     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: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
       Other $250 million.
       Total $250 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case SR-P-TDD was below congressional 
     notification threshold at $37 million ($0 in Major Defense 
     Equipment (MDE)) and included blanket order training for 
     Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has 
     requested the case be amended to increase funding to allow 
     continued training. This amendment will push the current case 
     above the notification threshold and thus requires 
     notification of the entire case.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None
       Non-MDE: Included is precision targeting, collateral damage 
     reduction, core technical and professional development 
     training, ship repair facility maintainer and language 
     proficiency courses, and professional military education 
     provided by the U.S. Navy.
       (iv) Military Department: Navy (SR-P-TDD).
       (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: SR-P-TCY.
       (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: April 30, 2024.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          policy justification

            Kingdom of Saudi Arabia--Blanket Order Training

       The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy additional 
     blanket order training for Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) 
     that will be added to a previously implemented case whose 
     value was under the congressional notification threshold. The 
     original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $37 
     million ($0 in Major Defense Equipment (MDE)), included 
     blanket order training for the RSNF, including: precision 
     targeting, collateral damage reduction, core technical and 
     professional development training, ship repair facility 
     maintainer and language proficiency courses, and professional 
     military education provided by the U.S. Navy. This 
     notification is for the entire blanket order training with an 
     estimated total cost of $250 million.
       This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals 
     and national security objectives of the United States by 
     improving the security of a partner country that is a force 
     for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf 
     Region.
       The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to 
     meet current and future threats by enhancing the Kingdom of 
     Saudi Arabia's ability to defend itself against regional 
     malign actors, support U.S. Navy efforts to enforce freedom 
     of navigation, and improve interoperability with systems 
     operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf countries. Saudi 
     Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these services into 
     its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this support will not alter the basic 
     military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor(s) will be determined after 
     contract competition and award. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this sale.
       Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the 
     assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor 
     representatives to Saudi Arabia.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

                          ____________________