Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Committee’s Ranking Member, introduced the Naval Vessel and Arms Export Control Amendments Act of 2013, H.R. 3470, which strengthens ties with key U.S. security partners by transferring ships that meet shared maritime security requirements.  On Wednesday, November 20, the Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to consider the legislation.

Specifically, the legislation authorizes the grant transfer of two Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates each to Mexico and Thailand, and authorizes the transfer by sale of four Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates to Taiwan.

Chairman Royce said: “This legislation helps support the priorities of the United States Navy while strengthening the capability of our friends in Taiwan and other partners to help meet our shared maritime security objectives.”

The bill text H.R. 3470 is available HERE.

Additionally, H.R. 3470:

  • benefits the U.S. taxpayer by reducing the Navy’s storage costs and supports U.S. jobs through ship refurbishments performed in U.S. shipyards;
  • improves the timeliness of U.S. arms sales to friends and allies while maintaining appropriate Congressional oversight over U.S. conventional arms transfer policy;
  • makes technical amendments to update certain notification and reporting requirements under the Arms Export Control Act.

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