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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast announced the formation of a new task force charged with crafting legislative reforms to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets the demands of the future.

“This task force will examine the process, make it more transparent, and ensure we’re getting instruments of war – which are also instruments of peace – into the hands of the right partners at the pace that war, deterrence and preparation require,” Chairman Mast said.

“This is a no-fail mission for our committee, and I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to ensure the arms sales process places American interests and those of our closest allies front and center.” 

The task force will propose overdue reforms aimed at eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that encumber the current foreign arms sales process. These efforts 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.

In addition to announcing the formation of the task force, Chairman Mast named Rep. Ryan Zinke, (MT-01), to serve as its chairman.

“The United States military is the finest fighting force and the strongest force for good on the planet. We operate with high lethality and some of the most technologically advanced systems ever created by man. And yet, our closest allies get the bureaucratic shaft when they try to meet their defense needs with made-in-America equipment and systems,” Rep. Zinke said.

“My goal with the task force is to examine the red tape in foreign military sales and streamline the process for our allies and American companies, while also ensuring mission-critical information is not shared with adversaries.”

Members serving on the task force include:

 

Republican Members:

Rep. Ryan Zinke, (MT-01)

Rep. Michael Lawler, (NY-17)

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, (PA-7)

Rep. Maria Salazar, (FL-27)

Rep. Young Kim, (CA-40)

Rep. Scott Perry, (PA-10)

Rep. Michael Baumgartner, (WA-5)

 

Democrat Members:

Rep. Brad Sherman, (CA-32)

Rep. William Keating, (MA-9)

Rep. Joaquin Castro, (TX-20)

Rep. Sara Jacobs, (CA-51)

Rep. Madeleine Dean, (PA-4)