H.R. 4215: International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act

This bill, known as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Licensing Reform Act, seeks to streamline the process for exporting defense articles and services from the United States. Here’s a breakdown of its key components:

1. Establishing a Priority List

The Secretary of State is required to create and maintain a list of countries and end-users that are considered crucial for U.S. national security. This list must be developed within 90 days of the bill's enactment and will be updated annually. This priority list will help in expediting licensing decisions for defense exports to these entities.

2. Decision-Making Timelines

Within 30 days after publishing the priority list, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, must set fixed timelines for making decisions on export license applications. The timelines will include:

• Applications for listed countries or end-users must be approved, returned, or denied within 45 days.
• Applications for all other entities must be decided within 60 days.

These deadlines may be extended under certain circumstances, such as congressional action or when additional information is needed from the Department of Defense.

3. Reporting Requirements

The Secretary of State must submit reports every six months to Congress detailing applications that took longer than the established deadlines to process. The report will include:

• The specific defense items or services requested.
• The recipient country and any involved corporate entities.
• Information on previous similar exports to the recipient.
• Reasons for the delays in decision-making.
• Future expected timelines for pending applications.

4. Purpose and Implications

The purpose of this bill is to enhance the efficiency of the licensing process for exporting defense items, thereby supporting national security interests and potentially improving the responsiveness of the U.S. defense industry to international demands.

Relevant Companies

• BA - The Boeing Company: As a major defense contractor, changes in export licensing may directly impact Boeing's ability to sell military aircraft and other defense systems.
• RTX - Raytheon Technologies Corporation: This company, involved in defense and aerospace, could see its international sales processes expedited under this bill.
• LMT - Lockheed Martin Corporation: As a leader in defense technology, quicker licensing could facilitate more timely international sales of their products.
• NOC - Northrop Grumman Corporation: The company would likely benefit from streamlined processes for exporting defense services and products.