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. The underlying spreadsheet tracking such legislation is updated frequently.
Below are key arms trade responsibility, transparency, and reporting measures that Forum on the Arms Trade-listed experts are tracking most closely. If there is legislation you believe should be included, please email us at [email protected]. |
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See, search, and sort the full list of legislation in our spreadsheet.
Within the spreadsheet, legislation is currently categorized as follows:
Responsibility/Transparency/Reporting, National Defense Authorization Act, State Appropriations, Foreign Military Financing, Arms Trafficking || Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia/UAE in Yemen, Iran || Eurasia: Philippines, Taiwan, Myanmar, Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan || Latin America: Northern Triangle, South America || Africa: East Africa, Egypt, North Africa || Other Measures/Sense of Congress
Responsibility/Transparency/Reporting, National Defense Authorization Act, State Appropriations, Foreign Military Financing, Arms Trafficking || Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia/UAE in Yemen, Iran || Eurasia: Philippines, Taiwan, Myanmar, Turkey, Ukraine, Azerbaijan || Latin America: Northern Triangle, South America || Africa: East Africa, Egypt, North Africa || Other Measures/Sense of Congress
Select items we're watching closely
National Security Reforms and Accountability Act of 2021 (NSRAA) (text) (status), press release "McGovern, Meijer Lead Introduction of Sweeping New Legislation to Reassert Congressional Power Over National Security"; and 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. Letter from civil society organizations, October 26, 2021.
National Defense Authorization Act and its amendments. House version (H.R. 4350 - approved Sept. 23, 2021), Senate version (S.2792).
H.R.4718: 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.
H.R.7367: Values in Arms Export Act of 2022 (text) (status) "Jacobs Introduces Legislation to Prevent U.S. Weapons from Being Used to Commit Human Rights," press release, April 1, 2022.
S.3558: Values in Arms Export Act of 2022 Senate (text) (status), press release "Senator Murray Introduces Bill to Prevent U.S. Weapons Going Towards Human Rights Abuses," February 2, 2022
S.1473/H.R.5629: Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2021 Senate (text) (status), House (text) (status) press releases "Menendez, Democratic Colleagues Introduce New Legislation Barring U.S. Arms Sales to Human Rights Violators," April 29, 2021; Chair Meeks, Reps. Spanberger, Wild Introduce House Companion Bill to SAFEGUARD Act, October 20, 2021.
S.1182: Secure F-35 Exports Act (text) (status), press release "Senators Menendez, Feinstein Introduce Secure F-35 Exports Act," April 16, 2021.
- Requires an affirmative vote to approve certain types of arms sales
National Defense Authorization Act and its amendments. House version (H.R. 4350 - approved Sept. 23, 2021), Senate version (S.2792).
- See Jordan Cohen's "House 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Passes 21 Amendments on Arms Sales and Security Assistance" (September 21, 2021)
H.R.4718: 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.
H.R.7367: Values in Arms Export Act of 2022 (text) (status) "Jacobs Introduces Legislation to Prevent U.S. Weapons from Being Used to Commit Human Rights," press release, April 1, 2022.
S.3558: Values in Arms Export Act of 2022 Senate (text) (status), press release "Senator Murray Introduces Bill to Prevent U.S. Weapons Going Towards Human Rights Abuses," February 2, 2022
- Creates a mechanism where the Executive Branch, Congress, or a newly created Human Rights and Law of War Oversight Board can each designate a country as a “country of concern”
S.1473/H.R.5629: Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act of 2021 Senate (text) (status), House (text) (status) press releases "Menendez, Democratic Colleagues Introduce New Legislation Barring U.S. Arms Sales to Human Rights Violators," April 29, 2021; Chair Meeks, Reps. Spanberger, Wild Introduce House Companion Bill to SAFEGUARD Act, October 20, 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."
Additional Resources
Civil Society:
Government:
Key 116th Congressional Legislation:
- Broad policy advice to Congress
- "Human Rights, Civilian Harm, and Arms Sales: A Primer on U.S. Law and Policy," Center for Civilians in Conflict and American Bar Association's Center for Human Rights, February 2022.
- "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
- "In Support of National Security Reforms and Accountability Act," released September 30, 2021 with bill introduction.
- "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.
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