Congress·Reported·S. 4709

UNLOCK AUKUS Act

Military Exports: Easing Rules for Australia and the United Kingdom

Jun 8·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: The Senate

The Senate placed this bill on its legislative calendar on July 27, 2026, following its approval by committee. It now requires a vote by the full Senate to move forward. The bill has not moved since July 27, 2026.

Companion bill: Military Technology: Streamlining Exports to UK and Australia →

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Likely to pass

This bill has support from both parties and focuses on a major national security priority. It is a technical fix to help a partnership that already has strong backing in Washington.

How we got here

This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.

Companion
Identical companion bill H.R. 9517 (119th) was introduced in the other chamber.
H.R. 9517 (119th) →

Key Points

This bill changes current laws to make it easier for the United States to share military technology and defense services with Australia and the United Kingdom. It focuses on a partnership called AUKUS, which was created to help these three countries work together on security in the Pacific region.
The main goal is to cut through red tape that often slows down the transfer of sensitive equipment and information. By removing certain legal hurdles, the three countries can develop new military tools faster and coordinate their defense plans more effectively.
This policy affects defense companies and military researchers who work on high-tech projects like submarines or advanced computing. It helps ensure that allies have the tools they need to stay safe without waiting months or years for government paperwork to be approved.
If passed, this law would update the Arms Export Control Act. This is the set of rules that governs how the U.S. sells or gives weapons to other nations. The change specifically targets rules that were seen as too strict for our closest allies in this specific partnership.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

4 milestones5 actions

Jul 27, 2026Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 517.

The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.

Jul 27, 2026Senate

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment. Without written report.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Jun 17, 2026Senate

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.

Jun 8, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

Jun 8, 2026

Introduced in Senate

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes or news coverage recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

UNLOCK AUKUS Act

Bill NumberS 4709

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 517.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(9)

D: 5R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.