The U.S. House of Representative recently passed several bills that would improve the foreign arms sales process and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base.
The bills were included in a legislation package the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced and will codify reforms to the foreign arms sales process.
“America can’t afford bureaucratic delays that put our allies at risk and weaken our national security,” U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) said. “These reforms cut red tape, strengthen our ability to deter adversaries, and get more American-made systems into the hands of our partners faster. That means more jobs at home and a stronger, safer America abroad.”
Zinke and U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), committee ranking member, head a task force established by committee chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) in March to ensure the foreign arms sales process meets future demands.
The task force has heard from defense industry stakeholders, interagency U.S. government officials and foreign partners about the reforms needed.
“The reforms being led by the task force are, at their core, about deterring aggression and, when needed, defeating our adversaries,” Mast said. “When we streamline and strengthen the foreign arms sales process, we incentivize innovation, improve our domestic manufacturing capabilities, and create American jobs.”
The House also adopted several other committee-led measures that would strengthen U.S. partnerships and promoting peace and stability worldwide.