Under the new act, the sale of nuclear submarines to Australia would put the entire process under Congressional oversight. Meanwhile, the transfer would be contingent on the President's approval.
Legislation that would assist Australia's efforts to bolster its nuclear-powered submarine fleet with help from the United States is moving forward, after the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously approved the measure on Wednesday.
Introduced by United States Representative Bill Huizenga of West Michigan, the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act would green-light the sale of up to two Virginia Class Submarines to the country of Australia.
The legislation aims to strengthen the United States' security partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia, as Congressman Huizenga says, China's fleet of maritime warships continues to grow.
"By authorizing the sale of the first two Virginia Class conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, we are tackling the China issue head-on. As China expands as a maritime power, the focus should be on deterrence in what they call the South China Sea."
Read Rep. Huizenga's full transcript below:
The AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act begins the conversation to fully realize the potential benefits of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Deterrence, capabilities, and readiness are critical for future success in the Indo-Pacific Region. This bill is an important step to get us there.
This bipartisan solution provides the clearest signal to the Australians that this is not just another empty promise by someone or an Administration of any sort trying to just score political points on the international stage. By authorizing the sale of the first two Virginia Class conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, we are tackling the China issue head-on. As China expands as a maritime power, the focus should be on deterrence in what they call the South China Sea.
This bill serves as an opportunity for $3 billion of investment from the Australians into the submarine industrial base. In an industry hampered by supply chain shortages and workforce disruptions, this investment will help ease the production and maintenance backlog that plagues our submarine forces, thus jumpstarting the future of our maritime fleet and putting us on a track to hit our fleet goals. As we increase our shipbuilding capabilities over time, we must remind our allies and partners that America has and will continue to deliver on its promises in the face of communist China. The AUKUS partnership brings about a new level of maritime interoperability to a region plagued by the growing malign of Chinese influence.
According to the Wall Street Journal reporting, “Beijing has become the dominant force in the South China Sea and has gradually changed both the geography and the balance of power.” We all have seen the lengths the Chinese have gone to turn up the heat without breaking the threshold of conflict. Just last year, a Chinese spy balloon traversed the entire continental United States. Also, there have been reports of listening buoys seen by Canadian Forces in the Arctic. The South China Sea is no different. The United States must not lose its focus on the reality of the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Regime.
Future cooperation and deterrence of Chinese incursion in the Indo-Pacific region hinges on the effort to bolster our regional allies and deliver on both pillars of the AUKUS partnership.