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HR 5749 112th Congress House

Arms Sale Responsibility Act of 2012

Official title: To prohibit the transfer of defense articles and defense services to the governments of foreign countries that are engaging in gross violations of internationa… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prohibit the transfer of defense articles and defense services to the governments of foreign countries that are engaging in gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights, and for other purposes.

Introduced: August 2, 2012 See on congress.gov
International Affairs Arms control and nonproliferationCongressional oversightHuman rightsInternational law and treatiesMilitary assistance, sales, and agreements
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 15, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
May 15, 2012
Introduced in House
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 Latest action May 15, 2012

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Arms Sale Responsibility Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that it should be U.S. policy to adhere to a policy of restraint in transferring conventional arms if evidence exists of substantial risk that such arms will be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Urges the President, in negotiating any conventional arms control agreement, to: (1) encourage the national control list of each party to an agreement to cover all types of weaponry, munitions, armaments and related material used for potentially lethal force in military and law enforcement operations; (2) assess each application or proposal to export or internationally transfer arms on a case-by-case basis; (3) deny an arms transfer authorization if there is a substantial risk that the arms will be used to commit or facilitate violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law; (4) require import and transit state authorizations and certified end use assurances before issuing an export license or authorization for any international transfer of conventional arms; and (6) require each party to an agreement to establish a legal framework for lawful brokering and shipping activities relating to conventional arms transfers.

Prohibits, with certain exemptions, the transfer of defense articles or defense services to the government of a foreign country under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act unless the President certifies to Congress that such government is not: (1) engaging in gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights, and (2) identified by the Secretary of State as having governmental armed forces or government supported armed groups that recruit or use child soldiers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5749: Arms Sale Responsibility Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5749/
MLA
"H.R. 5749: Arms Sale Responsibility Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5749/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5749, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5749/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5749: Arms Sale Responsibility Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-5749/)
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