[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

  Mr. RISCH. 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:

                                     U.S. Department of State,

                                                   Washington, DC.


             CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION TRANSMITTAL LETTER

       Please find enclosed the following notification from the 
     Department of State.
       Department Notification Number: RSAT 25-83.
       Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) 
     of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are 
     forwarding Transmittal No. 25-83 concerning the Army's 
     proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government 
     of Iraq for defense articles and services estimated to cost 
     $150 million. We will issue a news release to notify the 
     public of this proposed sale upon delivery of this letter to 
     your office.
       Recipients:
       Speaker of the House of Representatives
       House Committee on Foreign Affairs
       Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
           Sincerely,

                                             Katherine Bowles,

                                           Senior Bureau Official,
                                    Bureau of Legislative Affairs.


                         Transmittal No. 25-83

     Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to 
         Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as 
         amended
       (i) (U) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Iraq.
       (ii) (U) Total Estimated Value:
       Major Defense Equipment* $0.
       Other $150 million.
       Total $150 million.
       Funding Source: National Funds and Foreign Military 
     Financing.
       (iii) (U) Description and Quantity or Quantities of 
     Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
       Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None.
       Non-Major Defense Equipment: Bell 412EPX helicopters; Very 
     High Frequency (VHF) radios; spare parts; ground support 
     equipment; publications and technical data; new equipment 
     training including pilot and maintenance; U.S. Government and 
     contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support 
     services; and other related elements of logistics and program 
     support.
       (iv) (U) Military Department: Army (IQ-B-ZDV).
       (v) (U) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
       (vi) (U) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or 
     Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time.
       (vii) (U) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the 
     Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: 
     None.
       (viii) (U) Date Report Delivered to Congress: September 1, 
     2026.
       * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control 
     Act.


                          POLICY JUSTIFICATION

                     (U) Iraq--Bell 412 Helicopters

       (U) The Government of Iraq has requested to buy Bell 412EPX 
     helicopters; Very High Frequency (VHF) radios; spare parts; 
     ground support, equipment; publications and technical data; 
     new equipment training including pilot and maintenance; 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 
     $150 million.
       (U) This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and 
     national security of the United States by helping to improve 
     the security of a strategic partner.
       (U) The proposed sale will improve Iraq's capability to 
     meet current and future threats by providing an airlift 
     capability for troop, medical and logistics transport. The 
     addition of air-lift capability affords Counter-Terrorism 
     Services operational capabilities. Iraq will have no 
     difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its 
     armed forces.
       (U) The proposed sale of this equipment and support will 
     not alter the basic military balance in the region.
       (U) The principal contractor will be Bell-Textron, located 
     in Fort Worth, TX. At this time, the U.S. Government is not 
     aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with 
     this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in 
     negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
       (U) Implementation of this proposed sale will require 
     temporary duty travel of three (3) to five (5) U.S. 
     Government representatives to Iraq for a duration of up to 
     five (5) years. Implementation of this proposed sale will 
     also require twelve (12) contractor representatives for 
     support equipment fielding and training.
       (U) There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense 
     readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

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