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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 4545 (105th)

Code of Conduct Arms Transfer Act of 1998

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

10 September 1998

Last action

28 September 1998 · Referred

Status

Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

Sponsors

Rep. McKinney, Cynthia A. [D-GA-4], Rep. Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA-48], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Porter, John Edward [R-IL-10], Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17], Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., II [D-MA-8], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10], Rep. Campbell, Tom [R-CA-15], Rep. Leach, James A. [R-IA-2], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Del. Faleomavaega, Eni F. H. [D-AS-At Large], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. Hilliard, Earl F. [D-AL-7], Rep. Luther, Bill [D-MN-6], Rep. Rothman, Steven R. [D-NJ-9], Rep. Morella, Constance A. [R-MD-8], Rep. Riggs, Frank [R-CA-1], Rep. LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ-2], Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8], Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4], Rep. Furse, Elizabeth [D-OR-1], Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1], Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1], Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1], Rep. Barrett, Thomas M. [D-WI-5], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Blagojevich, Rod R. [D-IL-5], Rep. Bonior, David E. [D-MI-10], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Rep. Clay, William (Bill) [D-MO-1], Rep. Clement, Bob [D-TN-5], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10], Rep. Dixon, Julian C. [D-CA-32], Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20], Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Hooley, Darlene [D-OR-5]

Subjects

Defence, Rule of law

Source updated

21 August 2025

Defence · Rule of law

Summary

Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers Act of 1998 - Prohibits U.S. military assistance and arms transfers to a foreign government unless the President certifies to the Congress that the government: (1) meets specified conditions regarding democracy, including that it was chosen by free and fair elections and promotes civilian control of the military, the rule of law, and respect for individual rights; (2) does not engage in human rights violations, investigates and prosecutes those responsible for human rights violations, permits access to political prisoners by international organizations, and provides access to such organizations in situations of conflict or famine; (3) is not engaged in acts of armed aggression in violation of international law; and (4) is participating in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Authorizes the President to request from the Congress an exemption from such prohibition, stating that: (1) it is in the national security interest to provide military assistance and arms transfers to a government; or (2) an emergency exists under which it is vital to the U.S. interest to do so. Makes the exemption effective upon such request, unless disapproved by the Congress. Directs the President to: (1) compile a list of countries that do not meet the requirements of this Act; (2) notify the governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies, done at Vienna, July 11 and 12, 1996, that the listed countries are ineligible to receive U.S. arms sales and military assistance; and (3) request that the notified countries also declare the listed countries as ineligible for arms sales and military assistance. Requires the President to continue efforts through the United Nations and other international fora, such as the Wassenaar Arrangement, to limit arms transfers worldwide, particularly transfers to the listed countries, for the purpose of establishing a permanent multilateral regime to govern the transfer of conventional arms. Directs the President, in conjunction with the submission of the annual congressional presentation documents for foreign assistance programs, to report to the Congress on progress made toward establishing such regime.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 10 September 1998

    Introduced

    Referred to House International Relations

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 10 September 1998

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 10 September 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 10 September 1998

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 28 September 1998

    Committee

    Executive Comment Requested from DOD.

    Source: Committee

  6. 28 September 1998

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

    Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 10 September 1998

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 10 September 1998

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 10 September 1998

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Sponsors

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Related records

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Sources

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