International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4215) to require the Secretary of State to promulgate expedited and fixed timelines for the decision-making process to license the export of certain defense articles and defense services, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act to improve licensing timelines and processes for direct commercial defense sales.

America's foreign defense sales program is notorious for its slow timelines and opaque process. This lack of clarity about how foreign partners are prioritized causes frustration and confusion among our most important partners and allies. This inefficiency and murkiness force our partners to consider turning to other countries to source their capabilities.

The U.S. is currently the partner of choice for foreign arms sales, but that status is in jeopardy due to internal delays and unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.

The direct commercial sales process presents a more efficient, expedient pathway for our allies and partners to purchase U.S. technology. Direct commercial sales are the future of American defense sales. Direct commercial sales skyrocketed last year and are quickly outpacing other forms of defense sales.

If our direct commercial sales program is going to continue to grow, more must be done to streamline direct commercial sales and incentivize even faster timelines.

This legislation would codify President Trump's April 9 executive order to establish a list of priority partners for certain defense sales and would create a timebound process for approving direct commercial sales cases.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our defense industrial base and support this commonsense bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we must do everything we can to improve our foreign defense sales process to ensure American competitiveness and equip our allies with the highest quality defense materials.

I am proud to sponsor this legislation to streamline the direct commercial sales process, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of it. This legislation makes America safer and our economy wealthier.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4215. This bill would institute clearer timeframes for the licensing decisions made by the State Department for direct sales of defense items by private firms to foreign buyers.

While large systems, such as aircraft, ships, tanks, and missiles, are principally provided via the foreign military sales, or FMS, process, a number of important items, such as small arms, vehicles, radars, and other equipment, are transferred via direct commercial sales.

These items are often vital for our partners and allies to replenish their military stocks and defensive capabilities. While the vast majority of these sales are processed and licensed in an expeditious manner, foreign partners often seek greater speed and clarity regarding the process.

This bill simply institutes reasonable timeframes of up to 60 days for a licensing decision to be made. This does not preordain an outcome. The State Department can still either return such licenses for adjustment or modification due to additional revisions or controls determined necessary or reject the requested license outright.

Crucially, the bill also does not alter or undermine congressional oversight over direct commercial sales.

In short, while I have strong concerns about the arms sales and security assistance policies of the Trump administration, I support efforts to provide our allies and partners with improved timelines and processing for defense articles that they need for our shared national security goals.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purposes of closing.

Mr. Speaker, the time period limitations on direct foreign commercial sales set forth in this bill will, in fact, provide greater clarity for our allies and a more rapid delivery of necessary items to our partners around the world. Moreover, the bill does so without undermining congressional oversight or predetermining any decisions.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.