[Pages S1040-S1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ARMS SALES NOTIFICATION

Mr. CARDIN. Madam 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 available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to
have printed in the Record the notifications which have been received.
If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such 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:

Defense Security

Cooperation Agency,

Washington, DC.
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements
of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as
amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 24-22,
concerning the Army's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and
Acceptance to the Government of Germany for defense articles
and services estimated to cost $281 million. We will issue a
news release to notify the public of this proposed sale upon
delivery of this letter to your office.
Sincerely,
James A. Hursch,
Director.
Enclosures.

Transmittal No. 24-22

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 Germany.
(ii) Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment* $0.
Other $281 million.
Total $281 million.
(iii) Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or
Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
None.
Non-MDE: Included are AN/PRC-117 radios; AN/PRC-160 radios;
spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test
equipment; diagnostic equipment; technical data and
publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S.
Government and contractor technical assistance; technical and
logistics support services; and other related elements of
logistics and program support.
(iv) Military Department: Army (GY-B-XBU, GY-B-XBV, GY-B-
XBW, GY-B-XBX).
(v) Prior Related Cases, if any: None.
(vi) Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed
to be Paid: None.
(vii) Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense
Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached
Annex.
(viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: February 27,
2024.
* As defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control
Act.

POLICY JUSTIFICATION

Germany--High-Frequency, Very-High Frequency, and Ultra-High Frequency
Radios

The Government of Germany has requested to buy AN/PRC-117
radios; AN/PRC-160 radios; spare and repair parts; support
equipment; tools and test equipment; diagnostic equipment;
technical data and publications; personnel training and
training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical
assistance; technical and logistics support services; and
other related elements of logistics and program support. The
estimated total cost is $281 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and
national security of the United States by improving the
security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for
political and economic stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve interoperability between
Germany and other NATO military forces and will increase
secure communications effectiveness to help combat current
and future threats. Germany will have no difficulty absorbing
this equipment into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not
alter the basic military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be L3Harris Global
Communications, Inc., Rochester, NY. There are no known
offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the
assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives
to Germany.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness
as a result of this proposed sale.

Transmittal No. 24-22

Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section
36(b)(l) of the Arms Export Control Act

Annex Item No. vii

(vii) Sensitivity of Technology:
1. The AN/PRC-117 and AN/PRC-160 radios and their
accessories are used to transmit and receive voice and data
information using Type-1 encryption.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles,
components, and services included in this potential sale is
SECRET.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain
knowledge of the hardware and software elements, the
information could be used to develop countermeasures or
equivalent systems which might reduce system effectiveness or
be used in the development of a system with similar or
advanced capabilities.
4. A determination has been made that Germany can provide
substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive
technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale
is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and
national security objectives outlined in the Policy
Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this
transmittal have been authorized for release and export to
Germany.

SFRC Meeting Memorandum

To: Chairman Cardin.
From: Charlotte Oldham-Moore, Molly Barlow, Stephanie Oviedo.
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
Re: Meeting with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.
Meeting Purpose: On Thursday, February 29 at 11:30AM in SH-
509, YOU will have a meeting with Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC), Charlotte will staff. Ms. Spoljaric would like to
discuss the ICRC's operations in Israel/Gaza, Ukraine, and

[[Page S1041]]

Sudan as well as the prospects for passage of U.S.
supplemental funding.

BLC Objectives

Express your commitment to upholding international
humanitarian law and addressing global humanitarian crises,
including by passing the supplemental funding.
[Israel/Gaza point to be provided by Team MENA]

BLC Message & Suggested Questions

Israel and Gaza:
[questions and talking points to follow from Team MENA]
Kidnapped Ukrainian Children: I know that the ICRC has a
unique perspective as one of the few interlocutors that talks
to both sides and with the ability to operate in occupied
territories in Ukraine as well as within the Russian
Federation.
How do you engage with the Russian government on questions
of kidnapped children? Have you found more success engaging
with certain Russian agencies than others?
How does the ICC arrest warrant for Putin and his
Commissioner for Children's Rights influence the Russian
response to engagement on kidnapped children? Is there
additional leverage that the international community could
bring to bear to help you succeed in your mission of
reuniting families?
War Crimes and Atrocities in Ukraine:
Can you discuss the nature of war crimes and atrocities
being committed in occupied territories now? Is there
additional engagement or resources from the international
community necessary to help support victims and prevent
future such atrocities and war crimes?
Sudan: There has been bipartisan and bicameral support for
increasing U.S. leadership to resolve the horrific crisis in
Sudan. I was pleased to see the Administration name a Special
Envoy for Sudan, which I expect to put us in a much better
position to exert diplomatic pressure to bring about a
ceasefire. In addition to increasing our diplomatic efforts,
we need greater resources to address the humanitarian
catastrophe.
Where can the U.S. do more to support the work of the ICRC
and other humanitarian organizations in Sudan?
What is your impression of the effectiveness of U.S.
mediation efforts?
Armenia: USAID has committed more than $4 million in
additional humanitarian assistance to people displaced by
Azerbaijan's military operation in Nagorno Karabkah. But with
over 74,000 refugees, I know that the needs are great.
Has the international response been sufficient to support
the vulnerable population from Karabakh forced to leave their
entire lives behind?
Humanitarian Funding: As you know, the Senate's bill for
supplemental funding, which includes more than $9 billion for
humanitarian assistance, is still under consideration in the
House. This funding is critical to addressing the massive
shortfall between available assistance and growing needs.
Given the growing humanitarian needs, how can Congress more
effectively assist the ICRC and push other countries--
including partners that have traditionally not provided
substantial foreign assistance--to step up to the plate?

Background

Gaza: In response to the, October 7 attacks, the ICRC
scaled up its humanitarian response in Israel and Gaza. As
part of this effort, the ICRC has actively advocated for the
release of all hostages immediately and unconditionally.
Concurrently, the ICRC has asked to visit the hostages, to
check on their conditions, to deliver medical care, and to
facilitate communication with their families. When political
agreements allowed hostages to be released, the ICRC played
the role of neutral intermediary to facilitate the release,
transfer, and return of 109 hostages from Gaza to their
families. ICRC also facilitated the release, transfer and
return of 154 Palestinian detainees from Israeli places of
detention to their families. The ICRC works closely with its
partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and continues to work closely with local service-
providers, communities and other partners on the ground.
Ukraine: With over 800 staff working in eight locations,
Ukraine is the ICRC's largest operation in 2024. Working
alongside partners from the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement, the ICRC has provided humanitarian
assistance to over 11.6 million people since February 2022.
ICRC staff have visited almost 2,400 prisoners of war on both
sides, sharing news and updates directly with thousands of
families. The ICRC continues to push for access to all
prisoners of war through bilateral dialogue and to advocate
for the reunification of kidnapped Ukrainian children with
their families.
Sudan: The ICRC's work in Sudan, in cooperation with the
Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS), includes promoting
respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), supporting
hospitals and health facilities with equipment and supplies,
working with local water authorities on improving people's
access to clean water and supporting the authorities in
providing rehabilitation services for people with
disabilities. The ICRC is helping families separated by
conflict or displacement to keep in touch with their loved
ones, and has facilitated the release of detainees upon
request of the parties. Since the beginning of the conflict
between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) in April 2023, the ICRC has acted as a neutral
intermediary between parties to the conflict and conducted
various activities to protect and assist those affected by
the consequences of the crisis.
ICRC Funding: The ICRC is appealing for $2.34 billion in
2024, a 13% cut from the previous year's appeal. One quarter
of the ICRC's total funding comes from the United States. The
Senate-passed supplemental included $3.5 billion in the
Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account, which
includes funding for the ICRC.
Biography: Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger has been ICRC
President since October 2022. From 2018 to 2022, she served
as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant
Administrator of the UN Development Program (UNDP), and
Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS. Prior
to joining the UN, Ms. Spoljaric had many years of
distinguished service with the Swiss Diplomatic Corps, where
she served as Ambassador and Head of the United Nations and
International Organizations Division, and as Counsellor and
Head of the Political Team at the Permanent Mission of
Switzerland to the UN. From 2010-2012, Ms. Spoljaric was
seconded to the Office of the Commissioner-General of the UN
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East (UNRWA) as Senior Advisor covering organizational
development, management reforms, and external relations. Ms.
Spoljaric studied Philosophy, Economics and International Law
at the Universities of Basel and Geneva and holds a master's
degree.

____________________