Congressional Arms Trade Measures 2021-2022
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During the 117th U.S. Congress session (2021-2022) members of the House and Senate have and will propose a range of legislation addressing the arms trade, security assistance, and military support. This resource page will be updated frequently to provide information about key measures that Forum on the Arms Trade-listed experts* are tracking and about which they can be contacted for analysis and opinion.
If there is legislation you believe should be included, please email us at info@forumarmstrade.org. Last updated August 3, 2021 |
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Arms Trade Responsibility, Transparency, and Reporting I Arms sales to Israel I Arms Sales to the Philippines I Saudi/UAE Intervention in Yemen I Other Measures and Sense of Congress I Additional Resources
Arms Trade Responsibility, Transparency, and Reporting I Arms sales to Israel I Arms Sales to the Philippines I Saudi/UAE Intervention in Yemen I Other Measures and Sense of Congress I Additional Resources
Arms Trade Responsibility, Transparency, and Reporting
- National Security Powers Act (text) (status) press release "Murphy, Lee, Sanders Introduce Sweeping, Bipartisan Legislation to Overhaul Congress's Role in National Security," Senator Murphy op-ed in War on the Rocks, July 20, 2021. Update with list of civil society endorsements in press release, August 2, 2021.
- Requires an affirmative vote to approve certain types of arms sales
- H.R.4717: Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (text) (status) "Rep. Omar Introduces the the Global Migration Agreement Act and Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (SAHRAA)," press release, July 27, 2021.
- S.1473: Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2021 (text) (status), press release "Menendez, Democratic Colleagues Introduce New Legislation Barring U.S. Arms Sales to Human Rights Violators," April 29, 2021.
- "To enhance the consideration of human rights in arms exports."
- S.1182: Secure F-35 Exports Act (text) (status), press release "Senators Menendez, Feinstein Introduce Secure F-35 Exports Act," April 16, 2021.
- "To ensure that sales, exports, or transfers of F–35 aircraft do not compromise the qualitative military edge of the United States or Israel, and for other purposes."
Experts to contact*: Jeff Abramson, Rachel Stohl, Annie Shiel, Brittany Benowitz, Elias Yousif, Seth Binder, Lauren Woods
Arms Sales to Israel
Experts to contact*: Josh Ruebner, Seth Binder |
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Arms Sales to The Philippines
- H.R.3884: Philippine Human Rights Act (text) (status), press release "Rep. Wild Reintroduces Philippine Human Rights Act" June 15, 2021.
Experts to contact*: William Hartung
Saudi/UAE Intervention in Yemen
Experts to contact*: Kate Kizer, William Hartung, Scott Paul, Annie Shiel, Jeff Abramson, Elias Yousif, Seth Binder, Jodi Vittori (corruption) |
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Other Measures and Sense of Congress Bills
- H.Res.348: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations Security Council should immediately impose an arms embargo against the military of Burma. (text) (status)
- H.R.4350: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (text) (status)
- "To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes."
- H.R.196: To prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency from using an unmanned aerial vehicle to carry out a weapons strike or other deliberately lethal action and to transfer the authority to conduct such strikes or lethal action to the Department of Defense. (text) (status)
- H.R.2103: Taiwan PLUS Act (text) (status)
- "To improve defense cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and for other purposes."
- H.R.857: Iranian Arms Transfer Prevention Act of 2021 (text) (status), press release "Bacon, Wilson Introduce Iranian Arms Transfer Prevention Act of 2021," February 8, 2021.
- H.R.2716 - Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021 (text) (status), press release "Schakowsky, Johnson, Castro, García, Kaptur, and Omar Introduce Legislation to Combat Rampant Corruption and Human Rights Abuses in Honduras," April 21, 2021.
- S.388: Honduras Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021 (text) (status), press release "Merkley, Leahy, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Tackle Corruption, Human Rights Violations in Honduras," February 23, 2021.
- H.Res.476: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding wasteful Pentagon spending and supporting cuts to the bloated defense budget. (text) (status)
- H.R.30: Gun Trafficking Prohibition Act (text) (status)
- "To increase public safety by punishing and deterring firearms trafficking."
- H.R.1120 - Illicit Arms Trafficking Security Enforcement Act (text) (status), press release "Gallagher Introduces Bill to Combat Illicit Arms Trafficking," February 13, 2020.
- S.878: Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2021 (text) (status), press release "Collins, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Illegal Straw Purchasing and Firearms Trafficking", April 5, 2021. Press release, "Leahy reintroduces bill to combat illegal 'straw purchasing' and firearms trafficking," March 23, 2021.
- H.R.1694: Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (text) (status), press release "Rep. Johnson reintroduces bipartisan bill to de-militarize police," March 9, 2021.
Additional Resources
Civil Society:
Government:
Key 116th Congressional Legislation:
- Broad policy advice to Congress
- "Great Responsibility: A Legislative Reform Agenda for U.S. Arms Transfers and Civilian Harm," Center for Civilians in Conflict and The Stimson Center, October 2020.
- "How Congress Can Exert Responsible Oversight on Trump's Dangerous Approach to Arms Sales," Jeff Abramson, Issue Brief, Arms Control Association, January 15, 2019.
- Ethan B Kapstein and Jonathan D. Caverley, "Biden Must Base Arms Sales on U.S. Interests—Not U.S. Jobs," Foreign Policy, February 25, 2021.
- Flip the script/requiring Congressional approval
- "CIVIC Welcomes Bipartisan Legislation on US Arms Transfers Oversight," Center for Civilians in Conflict, July 20, 2021.
- "Oxfam reaction to the introduction of the National Security Powers Act," Oxfam, July 20, 2021.
- Saudi/UAE
- Civil society statements
- Letter from more than 75 organizations and experts, February 11, 2021.
- "Arms Sale Freeze is a Major Victory. Now Make it Permanent," Win Without War, January 27, 2021
- New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs, statements, February 4 and January 27, 2021. On December 30, the New York Center for Foreign Policy Affairs filed a lawsuit seeking to block sales to the United Arab Emirates (see press release, brief).
- Lauren Woods, "U.S. Foreign Military Training to Saudi Arabia," Security Assistance Monitor, July 2021.
- Elias Yousif, "Factsheet: Enduring U.S. Support for Saudi-Led Operations in Yemen," Security Assistance Monitor, June 2021.
- William Hartung, "Issue Brief: Transferring Arms To The UAE Is Not In U.S. Security Interests," Center for International Policy, April 15, 2021; "Fueling Conflict: U.S. Arms Sales to the United Arab Emirates and the U.S.-UAE Military Alliance," Center for International Policy, January 27, 2021. See also "Don’t stop with Saudis — Biden must cut off weapons to UAE, too," Responsible Statecraft, February 17, 2021.
- Civil society statements
- Israel
- Elias Yousif, "Factsheet: US Arms Sales and Security Assistance to Israel," Security Assistance Monitor, May 12, 2021.
- "National Coalition Calls on Biden to Halt Weapons Sales to Israel" - letter from more than 100 organizations - June 8, 2021
- Organizational statements (select- generally from organizations with Forum-listed experts)
- Amnesty USA (May 17, 2021)
- Oxfam America (May 18, 2021)
- DAWN (Democracy for the Arab World Now) (May 25, 2021)
Government:
- "Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process," Congressional Research Service, Updated May 24, 2021.
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) - includes USML list - State Department
- Congress.gov - look up current and past legislation
Key 116th Congressional Legislation:
- H.R.5880: Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (text) (status), press release "Rep. Omar Introduces “Pathway to PEACE,” A Bold Foreign Policy Vision for the United States of America," February 12, 2020.
- S.854: Enhancing Human Rights Protections in Arms Sales Act of 2019 (text) (status), press release "Cardin, Durbin Introduce Bill to Limit U.S. Arms Sales to Countries that Commit War Crimes, Human Rights Violations," March 26, 2019.
- S.4739: Values in Arms Export Act of 2020 (text) (status)
- "To amend the Arms Export Control Act to provide for better monitoring and verification of the use of defense articles and defense services by countries of concern, and for other purposes."
* Inclusion on the Forum on the Arms Trade expert list does not indicate agreement with or endorsement of the opinions of others. Please contact experts directly for comments.