ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-05-12, Senator James E. Risch (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION" in the Senate.

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2226-S2232] 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. transmittal of a determination to congress Please find enclosed a Determination and accompanying documentation from the Department of State. Title of DETERMINATION: Determination under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act. Background: Consistent with section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, the Department of State wishes to inform you that the Secretary has exercised his delegated authority, as described in the enclosed Memorandum of Justification, to authorize the immediate transfer of U.S.- origin defense articles to the Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Recipients: Speaker of the House President of the Senate Chairman, SFRC and Ranking Minority Member Chairman, HFAC and Ranking Minority Member Sincerely, Paul Guaglianone, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Enclosure. ____ DETERMINATION UNDER SECTION 36(b)(1) OF THE ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT Pursuant to section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. 2776, I hereby determine an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale through the following foreign military sales cases, including any further amendments specific to the cost, quantity, or requirements of these cases, in the national security interest of the United States: For Bahrain: PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T For Israel: APKWS-II For Kuwait: PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) For Qatar: PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T APKWS-II For the UAE: PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T APKWS-II This determination shall be published in the Federal Register and, along with the accompanying Memorandum of Justification, shall be transmitted to Congress with the applicable notifications. Marco Rubid, Secretary of State. [[Page S2227]] ____ memorandum of justification for emergency arms transfers to bahrain, kuwait, qatar, the united arab emirates, and israel, under section 36(b)(1) of the arms export control act. On February 28, 2016, the United States and Israel launched a broad and joint operation against the Iranian regime to remove the existential threat it poses to the United States, Israel, the Middle East. and the world. This historic operation is a defining point in the region's military operations and the region's cooperation with the United States in a fight against a destabilizing regime. Despite the combined successes of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Rising Lion to cripple Iran's ability to project power and terror in 2025, the Iranian regime has not abandoned its plans. In the eight months since the Twelve-Day War, the regime restored damaged nuclear infrastructure, accelerated missile production, and continued to finance, train, and arm its proxies throughout the Middle East, while at the same time combating its internal civil crisis and large-scale protests with excessive and deadly force. The combination of accelerated reconstruction of nuclear infrastructure, its ba]listic missile stockpile, and its continued circumvention of sanctions created a new reality in the Iranian arena. These trends led to the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, with the aim of halting the regime's attempts to reconstitute its instruments of power. Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE all have sustained hundreds of direct and ongoing ballistic missile and drone strikes since the start of Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, and they have suffered civilian or military fatalities. In Bahrain, Iran has conducted hundreds of strikes against Isa Air Base, the Bahrain International Airport, and one of Bahrain's major oil refinery complexes. In Kuwait, Iran has launched attacks against Embassy Kuwait, Camp Buehring, airport fuel tanks, and government buildings, killing at least seven U.S. service members. Qatar has suffered significant impacts to its liquified natural gas facilities due to Iranian strikes, which have resulted in an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue on top of strikes against Al Udeid Air Base. In the UAE, Iran has targeted Al Dahfra Air Base, U.S. diplomatic facilities, Emirati airports, ports, and oil infrastructure. Israel has weathered the most waves of Iranian and proxy attacks on military, industrial, and residential infrastructure. These countries have demonstrated strong collaboration with CENTCOM to not only protect each country's sovereignty and citizens, but also to protect U.S. citizens, servicemen and women, and assets in country. Bahrain. Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE have all successfully intercepted many attacks using the U.S.-provided Patriot system. All five countries have experienced countless attacks by one-way attack drones and are utilizing U.S. provided interceptors and munitions to counter these attacks. These countries are essential defense and security partners, and the United States is committed to ensuring our partners have the means to defend themselves. The Departments of State and War are coordinating with Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE to meet their military requirements and ensure their needs are met to defend their territory and citizens, as well as Americans living, working, and traveling in the region. Given the scale and scope of the regional conflict, it is in the U.S. national security interest to swiftly provide Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE with the systems they require to defend themselves and to reinforce deterrence against other regional threats. The immediacy of the challenge at hand requires overcoming the statutory 30-day Congressional notification timeline to expedite transfers to Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. For the reasons cited above, an emergency exists requiring immediate provision of these defense articles to Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE in the national security interest of the United States. These transfers, through foreign military sales, will provide needed defense capabilities to Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE as soon as possible. The Secretary of State, therefore, has certified an emergency exists under sections 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. 2776, thereby waving the Congressional review requirement of these provisions. Transmittal No. 26-0Z Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology or Capability (Sec. 36(b)(5)(C), AECA) (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Bahrain. (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 19-06; Date: May 3, 2019; Implementing Agency: Army. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description: On May 3, 2019, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 19-06 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of sixty (60) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles; thirty- six (36) Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T) with canisters; nine (9) M903 Launching Stations; five (5) Antenna Mast Groups; three (3) Electrical Power Plants III; two (2) AN/MPQ-65 radar sets; and two (2) AN/MSQ-132 Engagement Control Stations. The following non-major defense equipment (MDE) items were also included: communications equipment; tools and test equipment; range and test programs; support equipment; prime movers; generators; publications and technical documentation; training equipment; spare and repair parts; personnel training; Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services; Systems Integration and Checkout (SICO); field office support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total value was $2.478 billion. MDE constituted $1.445 billion of this total. This transmittal notifies the inclusion of the following MDE items: one hundred fifty (150) Patriot MIM-104E GEM-T with canisters; and fifty (50) PAC-3 MSE missiles. The following non-MDE items will also be included: communications equipment; tools and test equipment; range and test programs; support equipment; prime movers; generators; publications and technical documentation; training equipment; spare and repair parts; personnel training; TAFT; U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services; SICO; field office support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total value of the new items is $1.625 billion. The estimated MDE value will increase by $1.125 billion to a revised $2.57 billion. The estimated non-MDE value will increase by $500 million to a revised $1.533 billion. The estimated total case value will increase by $1.625 billion to a revised $4.103 billion. MDE constitutes $2.57 billion of this total. (iv) Significance: The inclusion of this MDE represents an increase in capabili