Floor SpeechNeutral2026-05-12

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

TaxesEnvironmentForeign PolicyDefenseTradeInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-05-12, 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 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S2225-S2226] 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 [[Page S2226]] 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 26-36. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended. we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-36 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of the Philippines 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, Paul D. Guaglianone, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-36 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of the Philippines. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $0. Other $150 million. Total $150 million. Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; spare parts including main rotor blades; tail rotor blades; full length trainer shoes; training for twenty-two (22) pilots including ground and flight training, left seat orientation, and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and Helicopter Upset Recovery; maintenance training for six (6) students including Bell 505 Maintenance Officer Course; field maintenance, integrated avionics, component maintenance, and Safran engine maintenance training for twenty-two (22) students; Bell 505 Veris flight simulators including Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package for five (5) years, and operator and maintenance training for six (6) students; Field Support Representative and Logistics Support Representative for one (1) year; ILS, tools, and ground support equipment for two (2) operating bases supporting twenty-two (22) aircraft operating two hundred (200) hours per year for a duration of five (5) years; subscriptions including electronic online; technical publications for twenty (20) years; Garmin subscription for five (5) years; Program Management Reviews for three (3) years hosted once annually; delivery and reassembly of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Army (PI-B-CAE). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 5, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION (U) The Philippines--Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopter (U) The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; spare parts including main rotor blades; tail rotor blades; full length trainer shoes; pilot training for twenty-two (22) pilots including ground and flight training, left seat orientation, and Instrument Meteorological Conditions and Helicopter Upset Recovery; maintenance training for six (6) students including Bell 505 Maintenance Officer Course; field maintenance, integrated avionics, component maintenance, and Safran engine maintenance training for twenty-two (22) students. This proposed acquisition also includes Bell 505 Veris flight simulators; an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package for five (5) years, and operator and maintenance training for six (6) students; Field Support Representative and Logistics Support Representative for one (1) year; ILS, tools, and ground support equipment for two (2) operating bases supporting twenty-two (22) aircraft operating two hundred (200) hours per year for a duration of five (5) years; subscriptions including electronic online; technical publications for twenty (20) years; Garmin subscription for five (5) years; Program Management Reviews for three (3) years hosted once annually; delivery and reassembly of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; 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 that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Southeast Asia. (U) The proposed sale will improve the Philippines' capability to meet current and future threats by providing aircraft competency gaps in operating rotary wing aircraft as part of an upgraded Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopter modern aircraft equipped with advanced system and thereby enhancing comprehensive training. This enhanced capability will facilitate the smooth transition for pilots to more complex rotary aircraft within the Armed Forces Philippines, and it is a cost-effective solution for developing rotary wing pilots. (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 Inc., 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 the assignment of an additional three U.S. Government and three contractor representatives to Philippines for a duration of three years to support program requirements and technical oversight. (U) There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. ____________________

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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 S2225-S2226] 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 [[Page S2226]] 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 26-36. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended. we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-36 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of the Philippines 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, Paul D. Guaglianone, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Transmittal No. 26-36 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of the Philippines. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment * $0. Other $150 million. Total $150 million. Funding Source: Foreign Military Financing. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; spare parts including main rotor blades; tail rotor blades; full length trainer shoes; training for twenty-two (22) pilots including ground and flight training, left seat orientation, and Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and Helicopter Upset Recovery; maintenance training for six (6) students including Bell 505 Maintenance Officer Course; field maintenance, integrated avionics, component maintenance, and Safran engine maintenance training for twenty-two (22) students; Bell 505 Veris flight simulators including Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package for five (5) years, and operator and maintenance training for six (6) students; Field Support Representative and Logistics Support Representative for one (1) year; ILS, tools, and ground support equipment for two (2) operating bases supporting twenty-two (22) aircraft operating two hundred (200) hours per year for a duration of five (5) years; subscriptions including electronic online; technical publications for twenty (20) years; Garmin subscription for five (5) years; Program Management Reviews for three (3) years hosted once annually; delivery and reassembly of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Army (PI-B-CAE). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None. (vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid: None known at this time. (vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: None. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: May 5, 2026. * As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION (U) The Philippines--Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopter (U) The Government of the Philippines has requested to buy Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; spare parts including main rotor blades; tail rotor blades; full length trainer shoes; pilot training for twenty-two (22) pilots including ground and flight training, left seat orientation, and Instrument Meteorological Conditions and Helicopter Upset Recovery; maintenance training for six (6) students including Bell 505 Maintenance Officer Course; field maintenance, integrated avionics, component maintenance, and Safran engine maintenance training for twenty-two (22) students. This proposed acquisition also includes Bell 505 Veris flight simulators; an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package for five (5) years, and operator and maintenance training for six (6) students; Field Support Representative and Logistics Support Representative for one (1) year; ILS, tools, and ground support equipment for two (2) operating bases supporting twenty-two (22) aircraft operating two hundred (200) hours per year for a duration of five (5) years; subscriptions including electronic online; technical publications for twenty (20) years; Garmin subscription for five (5) years; Program Management Reviews for three (3) years hosted once annually; delivery and reassembly of the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopters; 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 that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Southeast Asia. (U) The proposed sale will improve the Philippines' capability to meet current and future threats by providing aircraft competency gaps in operating rotary wing aircraft as part of an upgraded Bell 505 Jet Ranger X Helicopter modern aircraft equipped with advanced system and thereby enhancing comprehensive training. This enhanced capability will facilitate the smooth transition for pilots to more complex rotary aircraft within the Armed Forces Philippines, and it is a cost-effective solution for developing rotary wing pilots. (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 Inc., 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 the assignment of an additional three U.S. Government and three contractor representatives to Philippines for a duration of three years to support program requirements and technical oversight. (U) There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. ____________________