This bill amends the Arms Export Control Act to make a foreign government's respect for internationally recognized human rights and international humanitarian law a central factor in deciding whether it can receive defense articles or defense services. It creates a new monitoring and verification section that requires the President to run a program to observe and evaluate how exported defense items are used. The program can use U.S. personnel, contractors, members of the Armed Forces, real-time video feeds, other sensory data, and information from media and nongovernmental organizations. The bill defines "country of concern," sets procedures for designations, and establishes ineligibility periods for sales and transfers (including 3-year and 10-year blocks in certain cases). It requires export agreements to include terms obligating recipient cooperation with U.S. investigations. The bill also adds requirements that letters of offer and export license applications include assessments by the Department of State on whether items are more likely than not to be used to violate human rights or humanitarian law, and it adds a due diligence requirement for licensees.
The bill establishes an independent Human Rights and Law of War Oversight Board. The Board will review transfers, advise the President and agencies, review compliance with human rights and humanitarian law, and may designate countries of concern by majority vote. The Board can access executive branch records (including classified material where permitted), request subpoenas through the Attorney General, hold public hearings, issue reports to Congress, and make policy recommendations. The Board has specified membership, staffing, ethics rules, and initial funding authorizations for fiscal years 2027–2030.
The bill adds reporting requirements: the Secretary of State must report to Congress every 180 days on countries of concern, findings of the monitoring program, and related information. The Comptroller General must report on implementation within two years.
The bill's text states that its policy is to make respect for internationally recognized human rights and international humanitarian law central in decisions about arms transfers. It includes provisions to monitor and verify end use, to require assessments for offers and licenses, to require recipient cooperation, and to create an independent oversight board to review transfers and report to Congress. These provisions are presented in the bill as measures to improve accountability and oversight of exported defense articles and services.
No publicly available information.