Authorize the Secretary of State to issue foreign military financing loans or loan guarantees
I will authorize the Secretary of State to issue foreign military financing loans or loan guarantees.
Occurrences
H.R. 8661, To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes. (Mast)
The Secretary of State is authorized to provide, to any country or international organization the Secretary determines appropriate and consistent with United States national security interests-- (1) direct loans...; and (2) loan guarantees...
To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes.
To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes.
Evidence
Mast introduced H.R. 8661 and it was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bill title is “Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act of 2026,” and its full title is “To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan guarantees for the procurement of defense articles, defense services, and design and construction services, and for other purposes.”
The committee announced that Chairman Brian Mast introduced the Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act of 2026, describing it as legislation to “authorize the Secretary of State to issue foreign military financing loans or loan guarantees.”
The committee said it advanced the Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act during a full committee markup on May 13, 2026.
The markup summary lists H.R. 8661, “To authorize the Secretary of State to provide certain direct loans and loan…” among the measures considered at the May 13, 2026 Foreign Affairs markup.
House Foreign Affairs Committee markup summary records that H.R. 8661 was ordered to be reported favorably to the House, as amended, by a 37-9 vote.
Assessments
Mast took a serious legislative step by introducing H.R. 8661, the Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act of 2026, and advancing it out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. That materially matches the promise language and shows real effort in the same congressional term. But the evidence provided stops at introduction and committee approval; it does not show House passage, Senate passage, or enactment into law. Because the promised authorization was not actually delivered, this is best scored as an unsuccessful but substantial attempt rather than fulfillment.
Mast clearly acted on the promise by introducing H.R. 8661, the Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act of 2026, with bill text matching the pledge to authorize the Secretary of State to issue foreign military financing loans or loan guarantees. The measure was not only introduced but also taken up and advanced in House Foreign Affairs Committee markup. However, the evidence provided does not show House passage, Senate passage, or enactment into law, so the promised authorization was not fully delivered. Because he made a substantial legislative effort and advanced the proposal in committee during the same term, this merits partial credit rather than full delivery or unresolved.