[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5930-S5931]
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 sales as defined by that statute. Upon such notification, 
the Congress has 30

[[Page S5931]]

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.
     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. 23-31, 
     concerning the Navy's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and 
     Acceptance to the Government of Tunisia for defense articles 
     and services estimated to cost $110 million. We will issue a 
     news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon 
     delivery of this letter to your office.
           Sincerely,
                                                  J. Aaron Harding
                         (For Michael F. Miller, Acting Director).
       Enclosures.


                         Transmittal No. 23-31

     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 Tunisia.
       (ii) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0 million.
       Other $110 million.
       Total $110 million.
       Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing and National 
     Funds.
       (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or 
     Services Under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military 
     Sales (FMS) case TU-P-LBB was below the congressional 
     notification threshold at $49.3 million for non-MDE 65' SAFE 
     Archangel boats and additional non-MDE articles and services. 
     The Government of Tunisia has requested that the case be 
     amended to include additional non-MDE 65' SAFE Archangel 
     boats and non-MDE articles and services. This amendment will 
     push thy current case above the total case value notification 
     threshold and thus notification of the entire case is 
     required.
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-MDE: Included are 65' SAFE Archangel boats; commercial 
     variant marine global positioning systems; navigation 
     systems; communications equipment; training; and other 
     related elements of logistical and program support.
       (iii) Military Department: Navy (TU-P-LBB).
       (iv) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (v) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed 
     to be Paid: None.
       (vi) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense 
     Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None.
       (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: August 20, 2024.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          policy justification

                   Tunisia--65' SAFE Archangel Boats

       The Government of Tunisia has requested to buy additional 
     non-MDE 65' SAFE Archangel boats and additional non-MDE 
     articles and services that will be added to a previously 
     implemented case. The original FMS case, valued at $49.3 
     million, included non-MDE 65' SAFE Archangel boats and non-
     MDE articles and services, consisting of commercial variant 
     marine global positioning systems; navigation systems; 
     communications equipment; training; and other related 
     elements of logistical and program support. The estimated 
     total cost is $110 million.
       This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and 
     national security objectives by helping to improve the 
     security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to play an 
     important role in regional security and Peacekeeping 
     Operations throughout Africa.
       The proposed sale will better equip Tunisia to contribute 
     to shared security objectives, promote regional stability, 
     and build interoperability with the United States and Western 
     partners. The Tunisian Navy uses the 65' SAFE boats for 
     search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and other 
     maritime-related operations to ensure security in the country 
     and region. The boats will build on Tunisia's existing 
     military capability. Tunisia will have no difficulty 
     absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.
       The proposed sale of this equipment and services will not 
     alter the basic military balance in the region.
       The principal contractor is SAFE Boats International, 
     located in Bremerton, Washington. There are no known offset 
     agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
       Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment 
     of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to 
     Tunisia.
       There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness 
     as a result of this proposed sale.

                          ____________________