Bill > HR4215

This bill aims to streamline and expedite the licensing process for exporting U.S. defense articles and services by requiring the Secretary of State to create and maintain a list of priority countries and end-users for whom rapid export licensing decisions are crucial to national security. Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary must develop this list and submit it to congressional committees, and then update it annually. The bill establishes specific timelines for processing export license applications: 45 days for applications involving listed priority countries or end-users, and 60 days for all other applications. These timelines can be suspended for specific reasons, such as allowing Congressional review periods or waiting for Department of Defense technology and foreign disclosure approvals. Additionally, the Secretary of State must submit semi-annual reports to congressional committees detailing any applications that exceeded the established decision-making timelines, including information about the specific articles or services, recipient countries, end-users, previous export history, reasons for delay, and anticipated resolution timeline. The bill is designed to improve the efficiency and transparency of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) licensing process while maintaining national security considerations.

Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4215/all-info