ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

On 2026-09-15, 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 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4726-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 25-82. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-82 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Iraq for defense articles and services estimated to cost $800 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, Kaitlyn Wolfe Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. transmittal no. 25-82 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 $800 million. Total $800 million. Funding Source: National Funds. (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; Bell 407M helicopters; GAU-19 three-barrel machine gun launchers; M260 2.75-inch, 7-tube rockets; L-3 Wescam MX-15HDI Electro- Optical/Infrared sensor; AN/AAR-60 Block 2 Missile Launch Detection Systems; very high frequency radios; spare parts; peculiar 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-ZDT; IQ-B-ZEH). (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: August 31, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. [[Page S4727]] policy justification (U) Iraq--Bell 412EPX and Bell 407M Helicopters (U) The Government of Iraq has requested to buy Bell 412EPX helicopters; Bell 407M helicopters; GAU-19 three-barrel machine gun launchers; M260 2.75-inch, 7-tube rockets; L-3 Wescam MX-15HDI Electro-Optical/Infrared sensor; AN/AAR-60 Block 2 Missile Launch Detection Systems; very high frequency radios; spare parts; peculiar 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 $800 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 improving its rotary wing transport, reconnaissance, and air-to-surface targeting capabilities. (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 not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government personnel but will require the assignment of approximately four contractor representatives to Iraq. (U) There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. ____________________