Floor SpeechNeutral2026-09-15

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

TaxesEnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseTrade

Context

On 2026-09-15, Senator James E. Risch (R-ID) delivered a floor speech titled "ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION" in the Senate.

Full Text

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4718] 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. Hon. J.D. Vance, President of the Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: Congressional Notification Transmittal Letter Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-0W. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-0W. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 25-79 of December 16, 2025. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Kaitlyn Wolfe, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-0W Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology or Capability (Sec. 36(B)(5)(C), AECA) (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Lebanon. (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 25-79; Date: December 16, 2025; Implementing Agency: Army. Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing. (iii) Description: On December 16, 2025, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 25-79 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of one hundred forty (140) M1151A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). Also included were RF-7850M-HH multiband handheld radio; Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; Quicklook electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) waveform; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation: training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total value was $34.5 million. Major defense equipment (MDE) constituted $31 million of this total. This transmittal notifies the addition of the following MDE items: up to three hundred thirty (330) M1151A1 HMMWVs. The following non-MDE items will also be included: RF-7850M-HH multiband handheld radio, GPS receiver, Quicklook ECCM waveform; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The estimated total value of the new items is $34.5 million. The estimated MDE value will increase by $120 million to a revised $151 million. The estimated non-MDE value will increase by $20 million to a revised $23.5 million. The estimated total case value will increase by $140 million to a revised $174.5 million. MDE constitutes $151 million of this total. (iv) Significance: This notification accounts for requested additional MDE and non-MDE items not included in the original notification. The inclusion of this MDE represents an increase in capability over what was previously notified. The proposed sale will provide a highly mobile and light combat vehicle capability enabling Lebanese Armed Forces to rapidly engage and defeat perimeter security threats and readily employ counter- and anti-terrorism measures. This acquisition will afford additional military-to-military tactics and operational training among the U.S. Army's and Lebanon's leadership and soldiers. (v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. (vi) Sensitivity of Technology: None. (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 21, 2026. ____________________

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ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4718] 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. Hon. J.D. Vance, President of the Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: Congressional Notification Transmittal Letter Please find enclosed the following notification from the Department of State. Department Notification Number: RSAT 26-0W. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(5)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-0W. This notification relates to enhancements or upgrades from the level of sensitivity of technology or capability described in the Section 36(b)(1) AECA certification 25-79 of December 16, 2025. Recipients: Speaker of the House of Representatives House Committee on Foreign Affairs Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Sincerely, Kaitlyn Wolfe, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-0W Report of Enhancement or Upgrade of Sensitivity of Technology or Capability (Sec. 36(B)(5)(C), AECA) (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Lebanon. (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 25-79; Date: December 16, 2025; Implementing Agency: Army. Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing. (iii) Description: On December 16, 2025, Congress was notified by congressional certification transmittal number 25-79 of the possible sale, under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of one hundred forty (140) M1151A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). Also included were RF-7850M-HH multiband handheld radio; Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; Quicklook electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) waveform; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation: training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total value was $34.5 million. Major defense equipment (MDE) constituted $31 million of this total. This transmittal notifies the addition of the following MDE items: up to three hundred thirty (330) M1151A1 HMMWVs. The following non-MDE items will also be included: RF-7850M-HH multiband handheld radio, GPS receiver, Quicklook ECCM waveform; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The estimated total value of the new items is $34.5 million. The estimated MDE value will increase by $120 million to a revised $151 million. The estimated non-MDE value will increase by $20 million to a revised $23.5 million. The estimated total case value will increase by $140 million to a revised $174.5 million. MDE constitutes $151 million of this total. (iv) Significance: This notification accounts for requested additional MDE and non-MDE items not included in the original notification. The inclusion of this MDE represents an increase in capability over what was previously notified. The proposed sale will provide a highly mobile and light combat vehicle capability enabling Lebanese Armed Forces to rapidly engage and defeat perimeter security threats and readily employ counter- and anti-terrorism measures. This acquisition will afford additional military-to-military tactics and operational training among the U.S. Army's and Lebanon's leadership and soldiers. (v) Justification: This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. (vi) Sensitivity of Technology: None. (vii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: July 21, 2026. ____________________