Summary of HR 2059: Prohibition on Exporting Defense Articles to the UAE

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HR 2059

Title: To prohibit the issuance of licenses for the exportation of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates, and for other purposes.

Status: Introduced in House

Introduced Date: March 11, 2025

Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HR 2059 is to restrict the export of specific defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the UAE is certified as not providing support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. This legislation aims to ensure that U.S. defense exports do not inadvertently support groups involved in conflict or human rights abuses.

Key Provisions

1. Export License Prohibition:

   • The bill prohibits the President from selling or authorizing licenses for the export of "covered defense articles" to the UAE or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
   • This prohibition is effective immediately upon the enactment of the bill.

2. Certification Requirement:

   • The President must certify to both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that the UAE is not providing material support to the RSF in Sudan before any licenses for defense exports can be issued.

3. Definition of Covered Defense Articles:

   • "Covered defense articles" refers to items listed under Categories I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, XIV, XVI, XVII, or XVIII of the United States Munitions List as outlined in part 121 of title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Affected Parties

• United Arab Emirates: The UAE government and its agencies will be directly affected by this bill, as it restricts their ability to acquire certain defense articles from the United States.
• U.S. Defense Contractors: Companies involved in the production and export of defense articles may experience a decrease in business opportunities related to the UAE market.
• Rapid Support Forces in Sudan: The bill indirectly targets the RSF by limiting the UAE's capacity to support them through U.S. defense exports.

Legislative Actions

• March 11, 2025: The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for further consideration.

Sponsors

The bill is sponsored by Representative Sara Jacobs, with numerous cosponsors, including:
- Lloyd Doggett
- Madeleine Dean
- Delia C. Ramirez
- Greg Casar
- Mark Pocan
- Dina Titus
- Sarah McBride
- Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Gerald E. Connolly
- Pramila Jayapal
- Seth Moulton
- Emanuel Cleaver
- Jake Auchincloss
- Gabe Amo
- James P. McGovern
- Jerrold Nadler
- Ilhan Omar
- Frank Pallone
- Melanie A. Stansbury
- Rashida Tlaib
- André Carson
- Maxwell Frost

Related Legislation

• S 935: A companion bill in the Senate that addresses similar issues regarding defense exports to the UAE.

This summary provides a clear understanding of HR 2059, its intent, key provisions, and potential impacts on various stakeholders.