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 S4719-S4720] 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 26-53. Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, we are forwarding Transmittal No. 26-53 concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Kuwait for defense articles and services estimated to cost $542 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. [[Page S4720]] Transmittal No. 26-CA 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 Kuwait. (ii) Total Estimated Value: Major Defense Equipment \*\ $0. Other $542 million. Total $542 million. Funding Source: National Funds. (iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase: The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy planning, design, contracting, and construction of facilities that are required for Kuwait Ministry of Defense to execute the Caracal Alert mission at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait Naval Base, and other ancillary and affiliated locations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall provide all engineering studies, designs, construction, and construction management services necessary to provide fully functioning facilities. Major Defense Equipment (MDE): None. Non-MDE: The following non-MDE items will be included: design and construction of covered helicopter parking; hangar storage facilities; maintenance hangars;ammunition warehouses; administrative buildings; air traffic control tower; helipads; forward arming and refueling points; runway; taxiway; perimeter security fencing; entry control points; roads including pavements, infrastructure connections to existing pavement, utilities, demolition, and site preparation necessary for phasing of work and furnishings; fixtures; and equipment necessary for base operations; life cycle design, construction, and project management; engineering services; technical support; facility and infrastructure assessments; surveys; planning; programming; design; acquisition; contract administration; construction management; technical services; architect-engineer services for new construction; studies; investigations; professional surveying and mapping; landscaping design and sustainment services; evaluations and assessments; consultations; program management; development of plans and specifications; value engineering; construction phase services; soils engineering drawing reviews; geotechnical surveys; preparation of operations and maintenance manuals and other related services; facility and infrastructure sustainment (including maintenance and repair services and operations and maintenance services); training; other support services as requested by Kuwait; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (iv) Military Department: Army (KU-B-HBV). (v) Prior Related Cases, if any: KU-B-HBB. (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: July 27, 2026. \*\ As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act. POLICY JUSTIFICATION Kuwait--Design and Construction of Caracal Helicopter Facilities The Government of Kuwait has requested to buy planning, design, contracting, and construction of facilities that are required for Kuwait Ministry of Defense to execute the Caracal Alert mission at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait Naval Base) and other ancillary and affiliated locations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shall provide all engineering studies, designs, construction, and construction management services necessary to provide fully functioning facilities. The following non-MDE items will be included: design and construction of covered helicopter parking; hangar storage facilities; maintenance hangars; ammunition warehouses; administrative buildings; air traffic control tower; helipads; forward arming and refueling points; runway; taxiway; perimeter security fencing; entry control points; roads including pavements, infrastructure connections to existing pavement, utilities, demolition, and site preparation necessary for phasing of work and furnishings; fixtures; and equipment necessary for base operations; life cycle design, construction, and project management; engineering services; technical support; facility and infrastructure assessments; surveys; planning; programming; design; acquisition; contract administration; construction management; technical services; architect-engineer services for new construction; studies; investigations; professional surveying and mapping; landscaping design and sustainment services; evaluations and assessments; consultations; program management; development of plans and specifications; value engineering; construction phase services; soils engineering drawing reviews; geotechnical surveys; preparation of operations and maintenance manuals and other related services; facility and infrastructure sustainment (including maintenance and repair services and operations and maintenance services); training; other support services as requested by Kuwait; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $542 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that has been an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future threats by supporting its efforts to operate and maintain technologically capable Caracal aircraft. Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. No principal contractor(s) has been identified for this sale at this time. The principal contractor(s) will be determined from approved vendors, likely by competitive acquisitions. The host nation can limit competition but has not requested to do so at this time. 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. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment often (10) additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Kuwait for a duration of up to twelve (12) years to provide construction management and oversight. It may be possible to utilize locally available labor to provide some oversight services in lieu of the assignment of U.S. personnel. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. ____________________