Courtney Statement Ahead of Overwhelming Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Accelerate Implementation of AUKUS Defense Alliance
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ranking Member of the House Seapower Subcommittee and the second highest ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, joined his colleagues to overwhelmingly pass a bipartisan bill that will accelerate implementation of the AUKUS defense alliance. H.R. 1093 would direct the U.S. Department of State to report to Congress on efforts to implement the advanced capabilities pillar of the AUKUS alliance, and to identify key parts of U.S. export controls that Congress must navigate and amend in order to make the historic partnership a success.
The bill was passed on a strong bipartisan basis of 393-4, only nine days after the announcement in San Diego, CA by the three AUKUS countries of an executable pathway for this historic effort. Tonight’s vote represents the second time the U.S. House of Representatives has come together to pass a bill in direct support of the AUKUS alliance. The first was in December 2022, when Rep. Courtney’s bill to establish a joint submariner training pipeline between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy was passed by a vote of 350-80 after being included in the 2023 NDAA. Courtney spoke in favor of H.R. 1093 prior to its passage, click here to watch his remarks or see below for his remarks as prepared for delivery.
Rep. Courtney’s remarks as prepared for delivery
Mister Speaker, I rise to enthusiastically support H.R. 1093, a bill that will identify key parts of U.S. export controls that can be amended and expedited to achieve the goals of the AUKUS trilateral security agreement which, as the bill states, is “to contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region".
I want to salute and thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and the Members and staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for moving swiftly in the wake of last week’s extraordinary joint appearance of President Biden, Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese, and U.K. Prime Minister Sunak—publicly revealing our three nation’s commitment to a specific pathway to bolster deterrence in support of international rules-based order, which is increasingly under stress.
Mr. Speaker, I had the honor to join these leaders on March 13th at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego for this historic announcement. As was noted, it marked the first time since 1958 that the U.S. and the U.K pledged to share critical technologies with another country.
In addition to sharing nuclear propulsion technology for Australia’s submarine fleet, the three governments also committed to sharing other security capabilities, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and hypersonics.
Pooling these advanced capabilities will enhance our three nation’s capability to protect maritime freedom of navigation and aviation, which have been pillars of peace coexistence in the commons of the seas and skies since the end of the World War II.
The goals of the AUKUS plan will require laser-like focus to remove any barriers that might occur from our system of export controls that are not aligned with this new enhanced alliance.
Admiral Harry Harris, former Commander of Indo-Pacific Command, and former Ambassador to South Korea, said best at a recent House Armed Services Hearing on the contested environment in the Indo-Pacific: “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get through this export control issue with Australia. We could have every good intention in the world, but we could be bound up by our own regulation and our own regulatory policy”.
This bill heeds that call by directing the Department of State to inventory any and all administrative and statutory objections to AUKUS implementation and report that back to Congress within ninety days. This is exactly what Congress needs to do.
Mr. Speaker, I want to end by foot stomping the extraordinary bipartisan support AUKUS enjoys in all three governments, as was on full display last week In San Diego.
Indeed, last Congress, in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, we overwhelmingly passed the first-ever congressional action related to AUKUS by authorizing Australian submariners to begin joint nuclear propulsion training in the United States. That cross-training has already begun in the U.S. Navy moored training ship facility in Charleston, South Carolina.
Building on that effort, it is of the utmost importance that we continue our efforts in Congress and identify opportunities to smoothly implement AUKUS.
As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last week in San Diego: “A new chapter in the relationship between Australia, the United States and United Kingdom begins. A friendship built on our shared values, our commitment to democracy, and our common vision for a peaceful and prosperous future.”
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
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