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S. 3163Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to seek to engage appropriate officials of Taiwan in a joint program with Taiwan to enable the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities.

Sponsored by Elissa SlotkinSen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
Introduced November 7, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM UTC

This bill directs the Defense Department, in coordination with the State Department, to start a joint U.S.–Taiwan effort to develop and field drone technologies and counter‑drone capabilities for both countries’ militaries. It sets a March 1, 2026 deadline to begin the program, allows use of existing defense authorities, and requires regular reporting to Congress on progress and resource needs.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of State, must begin a joint program with Taiwan by March 1, 2026 to develop and produce uncrewed (drone) systems and ways to counter them for both U.S. and Taiwanese forces, following the Taiwan Relations Act.
  • The Department of Defense can use its existing Title 10 authorities and any other applicable statutes to carry out the program.
  • Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, and then each year through 2029, the Defense and State Secretaries must report to the Armed Services, Appropriations, and Foreign Relations/Foreign Affairs committees on the program’s progress, including details of engagements, activities, and the status of several defense‑trade agreements with Taiwan.
  • The reports must also identify any additional resources or authorities needed for the program.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 7, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 7, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

November 7, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued November 7, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 3163

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 7, 2025

Ms. Slotkin (for herself and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Defense to seek to engage appropriate officials of Taiwan in a joint program with Taiwan to enable the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities.

1.

Joint program with Taiwan to enable fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities

(a)

In general

Not later than March 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall seek to engage with appropriate officials of Taiwan in a joint program for the purpose of enabling the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities, including co-development and co-production of such capabilities, for the Armed Forces of the United States and the military forces of Taiwan, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.).

(b)

Use of authorities

In carrying out a joint program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense may use the authorities under title 10, United States Code, and other applicable statutory authorities available to the Secretary.

(c)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2029, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the joint program under subsection (a).

(2)

Elements

Each report required by paragraph (1) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:

(A)

A summary of engagements under subsection (a).

(B)

A description of activities undertaken by the Secretary of Defense and appropriate officials of Taiwan to enable the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities described in subsection (a).

(C)

A description of progress made in finalizing defense trade foundational agreements between the United States and Taiwan, including—

(i)

a memorandum of understanding on reciprocal defense procurement;

(ii)

a security of supply agreement;

(iii)

an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement;

(iv)

a general security of military information agreement; and

(v)

a cyber maturity model certification.

(D)

An identification of the additional resources or authorities necessary to enable the fielding of uncrewed systems and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities described in subsection (a).

(E)

Any other matter the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.

(d)

Appropriate committees of Congress defined

In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(1)

the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and

(2)

the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.