A bill to amend the Arms Export Control Act to modify a limitation relating to exports and transfers of defense articles and services under the AUKUS partnership, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Floor Vote
Latest Action · June 17, 2026
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
This bill, known as the UNLOCK AUKUS Act, makes a technical but consequential change to U.S. arms export law to streamline defense trade among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom under the AUKUS security partnership. Specifically, it amends the Arms Export Control Act to narrow a legal exclusion that currently limits which defense articles and services can move more freely between the three AUKUS partner nations. By carving out certain subclauses from an existing restriction, the bill effectively expands the categories of defense-related exports and technology transfers eligible for simplified licensing under the AUKUS framework. This change primarily affects U.S. defense contractors, the Department of State's export control processes, and military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom, particularly in areas like submarine technology and advanced weapons systems central to the AUKUS pact. The bill does not include new funding authorizations, and it was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee without amendment on July 27, 2026, following its introduction on June 8, 2026.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.