The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), has endorsed the integration of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) Security Partnership into the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
McCaul highlighted the importance of this alliance in a statement, "The Australia-U.K.-U.S. alliance, known as AUKUS, is critical to pushing back against the increasingly aggressive Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific."
On December 14, Congress passed the 2024 NDAA. This annual bill has been consistently approved for over six decades and outlines defense policy guidelines while specifying military funding distribution. According to Investopedia, it undergoes regular revisions and updates by Congress to ensure its alignment with evolving national defense needs and challenges.
The NDAA's AUKUS provisions encompass several acts. The "AUKUS Submarine Authorization Act" focuses on submarine-related aspects in Australia, including the sale of "conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines." It ensures a $3 billion Australian investment in the U.S. submarine industrial base. The "AUKUS Oversight and Accountability Act" provides congressional oversight for efficient implementation. Furthermore, these provisions establish a "whole nation defense trade exemption," under the "Keeping Our Allies Leading in Advancement Act", according to a press release from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In another statement by McCaul, he emphasized on recent global events that underscored the importance of reliable allies. He said: "Recent events like the atrocities committed by Hamas, Russia’s illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine, and China’s threats against Taiwan and in the South China Sea remind us why it is key to have reliable allies like Australians and British who have fought side-by-side with us for decades." He expressed satisfaction that the NDAA includes language authorizing Virginia-class submarines' sale to Australia and providing them with a full nation defense trade exemption, unhampered by over-regulation.
McCaul, currently serving his tenth term, represents Texas' 10th District. He is the first Texan to chair the Foreign Affairs Committee and previously served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. According to McCaul's website, he holds a degree in Business and History and co-chairs the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus and the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, among other leadership positions.
