Ford signs Arms Export Control Act, codifying 30-day congressional review for major foreign arms sales

President Gerald Ford signs the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) on June 30, 1976, consolidating and strengthening U.S. arms export law. Section 36(b) of the AECA requires a 30-day congressional review period before any major arms sale above specified thresholds can close, during which Congress can pass a joint resolution of disapproval. The law also includes Section 36(c), which allows the president to bypass the 30-day period by certifying to Congress that an emergency exists requiring immediate action. The AECA becomes the primary legal framework governing U.S. arms exports for the next 50 years, setting the stage for repeated disputes over the reach and limits of the emergency certification power.