S. 4709 – UNLOCK AUKUS Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 29, 2026 at 4:12 AM UTC

The UNLOCK AUKUS Act changes the Arms Export Control Act to relax a specific restriction on the export and transfer of defense articles and services to the AUKUS partners (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). By excluding certain subclauses from the limitation, the bill aims to make it easier for the United States to share advanced defense technology with its AUKUS allies.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 38(l)(4)(B) of the Arms Export Control Act to add the phrase “excluding subclauses (I), (II), and (III)” after the reference to “subsection (j)(1)(C)(ii),” thereby narrowing the limitation on exports and transfers of defense articles and services under the AUKUS partnership.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

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

July 27, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 8, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

June 8, 2026

SenateCommittee

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

Foreign Relations Committee

June 17, 2026

SenateCommittee

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

Foreign Relations Committee

July 27, 2026

SenateCalendars

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

July 27, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued July 27, 2026

II

Calendar No. 517

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4709

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 8, 2026

Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Coons, Mr. Risch, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Kim, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

July 27, 2026

Reported by Mr. Risch, without amendment

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Unlocking Next-Generation Licensing and Opportunities for Collaborative Know-how for AUKUS Act or the UNLOCK AUKUS Act.

2.

Modification of limitation relating to exports and transfers of defense articles and services under the AUKUS partnership

Section 38(l)(4)(B) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(l)(4)(B)) is amended by inserting , excluding subclauses (I), (II), and (III) after subsection (j)(1)(C)(ii).

July 27, 2026

Reported without amendment