SAFE Act

Bill: 116-s-1945
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2019-06-24
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Foreign aid and international relief

Licensing and registrations

Military assistance, sales, and agreements

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Trade restrictions

War and emergency powers
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 145.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-06-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Saudi Arabia False Emergencies Act or the SAFE Act</b></p> <p>This bill limits the President's authority&nbsp;to waive congressional review of a proposed arms sale through the use of an emergency determination.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill limits&nbsp;the use of emergency authorities to&nbsp;arms exports to only NATO countries, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. In addition, the bill requires the President to issue an individual determination and detailed justification for each proposal. Furthermore, such a determination shall be available for a proposal only if (1) the proposal directly responds to, or counters, a physical security threat; and (2) three-quarters of the arms will be delivered within two months. </p>

action_date: 2019-07-15
action_desc: Reported to Senate
text: <p><b>Saudi Arabia False Emergencies Act or the SAFE Act</b></p> <p>This bill limits the President's authority&nbsp;to waive congressional review of a proposed arms sale through the use of an emergency determination.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill limits&nbsp;the use of emergency authorities to&nbsp;arms exports to only NATO countries, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. In addition, the bill requires the President to issue an individual determination and detailed justification for each proposal. Furthermore, such a determination shall be available for a proposal only if (1) the proposal directly responds to, or counters, a physical security threat; and (2) three-quarters of the arms will be delivered within two months. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1945 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2019 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Graham , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Paul , and Mr. Leahy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To amend section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2776 ) to preserve congressional review and oversight of foreign arms sales, and for other purposes.

1. Short titles This Act may be cited as the Saudi Arabia False Emergencies Act or the SAFE Act . 2. Protection of congressional review and oversight of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other countries Section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2776 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Determination of an emergency Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act related to a determination of an emergency to waive congressional review of proposed letters of offer, licenses, or approvals— (1) a determination pursuant to subsection (b)(1), (c)(2), (d)(2), section 3(d)(2), or any other provision of this Act that an emergency exists shall apply only to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, any member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New Zealand; (2) the President— (A) shall submit a determination and detailed justification for each letter of offer, license, or approval subject to an emergency determination; and (B) shall include a specific and detailed description of how such waiver of the congressional review requirements directly responds to or addresses the circumstances of the emergency cited in the determination; and (3) the determination described in paragraph (2)(A) shall only be available for a certification for a letter of offer, license, or approval for defense articles or defense services— (A) that directly respond to or counter a physical security threat; and (B) 75 percent of which will be delivered not later than 2 months after the date of such determination. .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 145 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1945 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2019 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Graham , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Paul , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Lee , and Mr. Merkley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations July 15, 2019 Reported by Mr. Risch , without amendment A BILL To amend section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2776 ) to preserve congressional review and oversight of foreign arms sales, and for other purposes.

1. Short titles This Act may be cited as the Saudi Arabia False Emergencies Act or the SAFE Act . 2. Protection of congressional review and oversight of arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other countries Section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act ( 22 U.S.C. 2776 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Determination of an emergency Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act related to a determination of an emergency to waive congressional review of proposed letters of offer, licenses, or approvals— (1) a determination pursuant to subsection (b)(1), (c)(2), (d)(2), section 3(d)(2), or any other provision of this Act that an emergency exists shall apply only to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, any member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New Zealand; (2) the President— (A) shall submit a determination and detailed justification for each letter of offer, license, or approval subject to an emergency determination; and (B) shall include a specific and detailed description of how such waiver of the congressional review requirements directly responds to or addresses the circumstances of the emergency cited in the determination; and (3) the determination described in paragraph (2)(A) shall only be available for a certification for a letter of offer, license, or approval for defense articles or defense services— (A) that directly respond to or counter a physical security threat; and (B) 75 percent of which will be delivered not later than 2 months after the date of such determination. .

July 15, 2019 Reported without amendment