Expanding the Defense Industrial Base Sales Act

Michael Baumgartner

Republican · WA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Michael Lawler (R-NY-17)· 2026-05-12

Ordered to be Reported Unfavorably by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 23.

2026-05-13

Source: Congress.gov

The federal government would be allowed to use foreign military financing—money given to other countries to buy military equipment—to help those countries purchase weapons and military goods directly from American defense companies instead of only through government-to-government sales. This change would streamline the process for allied nations to acquire U.S. military equipment and could expand business opportunities for American defense contractors. The proposal is currently under review by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8649 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8649 To amend the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the use of foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 4, 2026 Mr. Baumgartner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Arms Export Control Act to authorize the use of foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Expanding the Defense Industrial Base Sales Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING FOR DIRECT COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS. The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 23 the following new section: ``SEC. 23A. USE OF FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING FOR DIRECT COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS. ``(a) Authority.--Notwithstanding section 23(h), funds made available to carry out the foreign military financing program under this Act may be used to finance the procurement by any foreign country or international organization eligible to receive such financing under this Act of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services that are not sold by the United States Government. ``(b) Approval and Oversight.--The use of foreign military financing authorized in subsection (a) shall-- ``(1) be approved by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, prior to the extension of such authority to any foreign country or international organization; and ``(2) be subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations as the Secretary of State determines appropriate to advance the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States. ``(c) Implementing Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall prescribe regulations to implement this section, including regulations relating to, with respect to foreign military financing for direct commercial contracts authorized in subsection (a)-- ``(1) procedures for review and approval; ``(2) audit, reporting, and financial accountability standards; ``(3) compliance with end-use monitoring and export control requirements; and ``(4) efforts to encourage participation by nontraditional defense companies. ``(d) Rule of Construction.--The authority provided by this section is in addition to, and shall not be construed to limit or replace, the foreign military sales program otherwise authorized by this Act.''. <all>

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