[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.
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