HFAC-Led Foreign Military Sales Reforms Pass in the NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House passed key measures spearheaded by the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Foreign Military Sales Task Force to improve the foreign arms sales process and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base as part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
The legislation, which include the AUKUS Reform for Military Optimization and Review (ARMOR) Act and the Made-in-America Defense Act, codifies much-needed reforms as outlined in President Trump’s April 9th Executive Order. This tailored legislation will improve transparency and efficiency in our foreign defense sales process, boosting the US defense base and improving interoperability with our foreign partners and ensuring the US and its allies maintain the strongest military in the world.
Specifically, the ARMOR Act,, spearheaded by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), streamlines and strengthens the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership. At a time where adversaries continue to grow more hostile, strengthening AUKUS ties is critical to maintain our competitive edge.
“As our authoritarian adversaries like China grow more brazen in their Unholy Alliance, the United States must move with urgency to strengthen AUKUS and maintain our technological edge,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Outdated export controls and bureaucratic delays weaken our ability to counter threats. The ARMOR Act cuts through the red tape so AUKUS can deliver peace through strength and show the world that America is serious about preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The Made-In-America Defense Act, led by Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC), strengthens U.S. defense export processes by cutting bureaucratic red tape, improving transparency, and making sure American manufacturers have an easier time at contributing to our national security. Prior to this legislation, certain defense items were restricted to slow, government-run sales channels due to their classification, even when faster, commercial avenues exist. This legislation will require regular review of such items, ensuring our foreign defense system stays up to date and allows our closest partners and allies to receive cutting edge American technology.
"Washington bureaucracy should never stand in the way of getting vital defense equipment to our allies or boosting American industry," said Congresswoman Biggs. "This bill cuts red tape, improves transparency, and ensures American manufacturers can play the vital role of contributing to our national security."
These measures were spearheaded by the bipartisan Foreign Military Sales Task Force.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast formally established the task force, led by Chairman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Ranking Member Madeleine Dean (D-PA), in March to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets the demands of the future.
“As Chairman of the Foreign Military Sales Task Force, I’ve made it my mission to eliminate the bureaucratic delays that prevent America’s top-tier military equipment from reaching our allies and partners,” Chairman Zinke said. “The Foreign Military Sales Task Force was given a job, and we delivered. I appreciate Chairman Mast’s support in these efforts and look forward to voting for this legislation on the House floor.”
Since being stood up, the task force has heard from foreign partners, defense industry stakeholders, and U.S. government officials from across the interagency about key reforms needed to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets the demands of the future.
These task force’s efforts, which build upon the House Foreign Affairs Foreign Military Sales TIGER Task Force co-led by Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) last Congress, will result in more efficient partnerships between the government and private sector stakeholders, a stronger defense industrial base, and foreign partners being better armed more quickly with American systems and hardware which improves interoperability.
Specifically, the Task Force passed five key pieces of legislation to reform our outdated foreign weapons sales processes.
“These actions, at their core, are about deterring aggression and, when needed, defeating our adversaries,” Chairman Mast said. “When we streamline and strengthen the foreign arms sales process, we incentivize innovation, improve our domestic manufacturing capabilities, and create American jobs. This is a no-fail mission, and I appreciate the hard work by the Task Force in getting this legislation before the House Floor today. I will continue to work with our friends in the Senate and Administration to enact the other needed legislative reforms developed by the Task Force.”
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