US Transfers Two OHP Class Frigates to Thailand

09 Januari 2013

USS Rentz - FFG 46 (photo :maritimequest)

H. R. 6649
To provide for the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 11, 2012
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself and Mr. BERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To provide for the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2012’’.
SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF NAVAL VESSELS TO CERTAIN FOREIGN RECIPIENTS.

(a) TRANSFERS BY GRANT.—The President is authorized to transfer vessels to foreign countries on a grant basis under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 11 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j), as follows:

(1) MEXICO.—To the Government of Mexico,  the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigates USS CURTS (FFG–38) and USS MCCLUSKY (FFG–41).

(2) THAILAND.—To the Government of Thailand, the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigates USS RENTZ (FFG–46) and USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG–48).

USS - FFG 48 (photo :excellentlogistics)

(b) TRANSFER BY SALE.—The President is authorized to transfer the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigates USS TAYLOR (FFG–50), USS GARY (FFG–51), USS CARR (FFG–52), and USS ELROD (FFG–55) to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office of the United States (which is the Taiwan instrumentality designated pursuant to section 10(a) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3309(a))) on a sale basis under section 21 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761).

(c) ALTERNATIVE TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—Not-withstanding the authority provided in subsections (a) and (b) to transfer specific vessels to specific countries, the President is authorized, subject to the same conditions that would apply for such country under this Act, to transfer any vessel named in this Act to any country named 25 in this Act such that the total number of vessels transferred to such country does not exceed the total number of vessels authorized for transfer to such country by this Act.

(d) GRANTS NOT COUNTED IN ANNUAL TOTAL OFTRANSFERRED EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES.—The value of a vessel transferred to another country on a grant basis pursuant to authority provided by subsection (a) or (c) shall not be counted against the aggregate value of excess defense articles transferred in any fiscal year under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.2321j).

(e) COSTS OF TRANSFERS.—Any expense incurred by the United States in connection with a transfer authorized by this section shall be charged to the recipient notwith-standing section 516(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j(e)).

(f) REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT IN UNITED
STATES SHIPYARDS.—To the maximum extent practicable, the President shall require, as a condition of the transfer of a vessel under this section, that the recipient  to which the vessel is transferred have such repair or refurbishment of the vessel as is needed, before the vessel  joins the naval forces of that recipient, performed at a shipyard located in the United States, including a United States Navy shipyard.

(g) EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.—The authority to transfer a vessel under this section shall expire at the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(GPO)