Senator Expects Bill to Enhance AUKUS Defense Trade to Become Law
Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., said Nov. 4 that it’s his “expectation” that the final version of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will contain his bill that aims to remove obstacles to defense trade within the Australia-U.K.-U.S. security partnership.
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Ricketts said that in addition to being included as an amendment to the Senate-passed version of the NDAA, his bill received “strong bipartisan support” from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (see 2510100015 and 2510220035). Lawmakers are working to iron out differences between the Senate and House versions of the NDAA.
The AUKUS Improvement Act would exempt State Department-vetted entities that have been approved as AUKUS authorized users from the requirement to obtain third-party transfer approvals under the foreign military sales process. The proposed change is intended to make it easier for AUKUS partners to transfer equipment to industry for further development, operation, maintenance and sustainment (see 2506200003).