Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “I respectfully rise in opposition to the amendment, which would impose a blanket prohibition on the transfer of cluster…”

“I respectfully rise in opposition to the amendment, which would impose a blanket prohibition on the transfer of cluster munitions to any ally or partner abroad. Although the bill contains a longstanding limitation on the use abroad of U.S. cluster munitions, it does permit the transfer of these weapons where the dud rate is 1 percent or less. The bill also allows the transfer of related assistance where the purpose is for demilitarization or permanently disposing of such munitions. This amendment, however, goes beyond the restrictions in this bill. It would ban the transfer of those weapons to any foreign partner under any circumstances, whether to respond to a conflict potentially in the Korean Peninsula, to support Taiwan, or in the event of a Communist Chinese invasion or other unforeseen potential issues. I say this respectfully: It would, I think, unwisely tie the hands of our military in any potential future conflict. For those reasons, I respectfully urge defeat of this amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”