Vice Ranking Member Amo Passes Three Amendments to Support Rhode Island Jobs, Strengthen U.S. Alliances

Washington, DC – TODAY, House Foreign Affairs Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) secured the passage of three amendments as part of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s State Department Reauthorization process to strengthen the Australia United Kingdom United States (AUKUS) Security Pact, support the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Australia, and encourage a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“American leadership on the world stage requires strong alliances and sustained investment,” said Vice Ranking Member Amo. “Streamlining collaboration with our allies, supporting American diplomats working abroad, and bolstering peaceful resolutions to longstanding conflicts should be the focus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Department of State. I’m glad to have worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure the passage of three bipartisan amendments in this year’s State Department reauthorization bills to achieve these goals.” 

Vice Ranking Member Amo introduced the bipartisan Australian United Kingdom United States Security Pact (AUKUS) Improvement Act, with House Foreign Affairs Chair Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-TX) in August 2025. It was included as an amendment in the reauthorization package and would exempt defense entities already vetted by the State Department as AUKUS Authorized Users from additional scrutiny. It passed out of committee.

Amo’s amendment that would authorize a report to better understand the State Department’s capacity at Mission Australia, a key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, was also included in the legislation passed out of committee. 

Finally, Amo’s amendment that would support a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, was also passed as part of the reauthorization legislation. 

Amo also introduced an amendment on behalf of Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) that would affirm the United States’ partnership with the Republic of Cyprus to help increase stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. This amendment passed as part of the reauthorization legislation.

Background

On August 21, 2025, Vice Ranking Member Amo and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced the AUKUS Improvement Act as standalone legislation. The legislation is also cosponsored by Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Michael Lawler (R-NY), André Carson (D-IN), Blake Moore (R-UT), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ed Case (D-HI), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN).

The AUKUS trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States was founded in 2021 to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

Currently, AUKUS Authorized Users must undergo additional, often slow, Third Party Transfer approvals, causing unnecessary delays to defense production. By removing this redundant step, the AUKUS Improvement Act will expedite collaboration and strengthen the efficiency of AUKUS.

Rhode Island’s First Congressional District is home to numerous manufacturers producing defense materials for the AUKUS partnership, including submarines and autonomous naval vessels.

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