[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6777-S6778]
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 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. 24-112,
concerning the Army'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 $65 million. We will issue a news
release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Miller,
Director.
Enclosures.
Transmittal No. 24-112
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 $65 million.
Total $65 million.
Funding Source: National Funds.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase: Foreign Military
Sales (FMS) case TW-B-ZCW was below congressional
notification threshold at $41.6 million ($0 in MDE) in value
and included services related to Improved Mobile Subscriber
Equipment (IMSE) and Experimental Force (EXFOR) system
follow-on support, including repair and return of equipment;
management, replacement, and repair services; U.S. Government
liaison support; contract engineering and technical support;
logistics; contractor operation and management of the OCONUS
Depot, including repair and replacement; and other related
elements of logistics and program support. The recipient has
requested that the case be amended to extend these services
for an additional two years. This amendment will cause the
case to exceed the notification threshold, and thus
notification of the entire program is required. The above
notification requirements are combined as follows:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
Non-Major Defense Equipment: Services related to Improved
Mobile Subscriber Equipment (IMSE) and Experimental Force
(EXFOR) system follow-on support, including repair and return
of equipment; management, replacement and repair services;
U.S. Government liaison support; contract engineering and
technical support; logistics; contractor operation and
management of the OCONUS depot, including repair and
replacement; and other related elements of logistics and
program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (TW-B-ZCW).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: TW-B-ZCS.
(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: November 29,
2024.
*As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United
States--Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment Follow-On Support
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in
the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy extended
services provided under a previously implemented case whose
value was under the congressional notification threshold. The
original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $41.6
million ($0 in MDE), included services related to follow-on
support for the Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment (IMSE)
and Experimental Force (EXFOR) system, including repair and
return of equipment; management, replacement, and repair
services; U.S. Government liaison support; contract
engineering and technical support; logistics; contractor
operation and management of the OCONUS depot, including
repair and replacement; and other related elements of
logistics and program support. This notification is for an
extension of those same services for an additional two years.
The estimated total cost is $65 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 ability to
meet current and future threats. The recipient will have no
difficulty absorbing this equipment 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 Mission
Systems, located in Fairfax, 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 U.S. Government representatives; however, it
will require the assignment of three contractor Technical
Assistance Representatives (TAR) to the recipient to support
equipment fielding and training.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.
TRANSMITTAL NO. 24-112
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to
Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The Improved Mobile Subscriber Equipment (IMSE) system
is an area-switched communications system designed to provide
mobile and secure communications in a variety of battlefield
and military operations other than war (MOOTW) situations.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
CONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures that
might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the
development
[[Page S6778]]
of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that the recipient can
provide substantially the same degree of protection for the
sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government.
This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign
policy and national security objectives outlined in the
Policy Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
the recipient.
____________________