Ricketts Celebrates UNLOCK AUKUS, Bills Passing Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) celebrated passage of the UNLOCK AUKUS Act and other bills in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.  The UNLOCK AUKUS Act was previously introduced by Senators Ricketts and Tim Kaine (D-VA) to strengthen the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. (AUKUS).  This legislation accelerates collaboration, innovation, and fielding of the advanced military capabilities needed to maintain the United States and our AUKUS partners’ collective technological edge.

“The United States faces the most challenging threat environment since WWII,” said Ricketts.  “In the Senate, I’m fighting to strengthen our national security and deterrence of Communist China.  By strengthening our international partnerships and eliminating red tape, Nebraskans will be safer.”

Ricketts-led bills passed by Foreign Relations Committee include:

• UNLOCK AUKUS Act (Unlocking Next-Generation Licensing and Opportunities for Collaborative Know-how for AUKUS Act)
  • Introduced by Sens. Ricketts and Tim Kaine (D-VA) is the Democrat Co-Lead.
  • The UNLOCK AUKUS Act would enhance collaboration between AUKUS partners on advanced systems such as guided missiles, collaborative combat aircraft, hypersonics, and other AUKUS projects.

• Energy Security Pacts Act
  • Introduced by Sens. Ricketts and Chris Coons (D-DE)
  • The Energy Security Pacts Act would allow for the designation of a Director of Energy Security Pacts within the State Department to coordinate 10-year, bilateral Energy Security Pacts with partner countries to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.

• U.S. Tech PATH Act (U.S. Technology Procurement and Access to Trusted Hardware Act)
  • Introduced by Sens. Ricketts and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
  • The U.S. Tech PATH Act would create a U.S. Technology Procurement Program in the State Department to streamline partner countries’ procurement of American cyber and digital technology.

• Expanded Consular Fellow Act
  • Introduced by Sens. Ricketts and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
  • The Expanded Consular Fellow Act would authorize the State Department to hire Consular Fellows in limited non-career appointments for eight years – an increase from the current maximum of five years.