Washington, DC – Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which requires the Obama Administration to sell at least 66 new F-16 C/D multirole fighter aircraft to Taiwan. The amendment is companion legislation to Granger’s House Bill, H.R. 2992, and Senators Cornyn and Menendez’ Taiwan Airpower Modernization Act of 2011. The amendment was adopted late Thursday evening by voice-vote.
The Granger amendment forces the Obama Administration to comply with its legal obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 which mandates the United States provide Taiwan with the military equipment it needs to defend their homeland.
“This sale will ensure our key strategic ally in the Pacific has the defense capacity to defend its own airspace and their nation,” Granger said. “Our support for a democratic Taiwan is consistent with our national security priorities in the region. It also demonstrates that we stand by our friends and allies no matter where the threats are from. The House sent a bipartisan message of unequivocal support for our ally Taiwan and their need to replace their aging fighter aircraft.”
In 32 different states, the sale would generate $8.7 billion in economic output and produce an estimated $768 million in federal tax revenues.