The warships were designed in the United States in the mid-1970s as general-purpose escort vessels inexpensive enough to be bought in large quantities to replace World War II-era destroyers and 1960s-era Knox-class frigates.

[1] The Taiwan Relations Act Affirmation and Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2014 would authorize the President to transfer on a grant basis to Mexico, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates Curts and McClusky; and (2) to Thailand, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates Rentz and Vandegrift.

[1] The bill would authorize the President to transfer on a sale basis the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates Taylor, Gary, Carr, and Elrod to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office of the United States (which is the Taiwan instrumentality designated pursuant to the Taiwan Relations Act).

[1] The bill would amend the Arms Export Control Act to increase congressional notification thresholds for certain foreign military and commercial sales.

[1] The Naval Vessel Transfer and Arms Export Control Amendments Act of 2013 was introduced into the United States House of Representatives on November 13, 2013, by Rep. Edward R. Royce (R, CA-39).

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that those sales would increase offsetting receipts (thus, reducing direct spending) by $40 million over the 2014-2024 period.

Enacting the bill would not affect revenues, and implementing it would have insignificant effects on spending subject to appropriation.

Based on information from the United States Navy, the CBO estimates that all four vessels would be sold over that period, for about $10 million each.

[2] Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) argued in favor of the bill saying that "these ships would bolster Taiwan's defense.

"[4] Royce also said that "these transfers help support the priorities of the U.S. Navy while strengthening the capability of allies and our close partners to meet our share maritime security objectives.