119 S1744 RS: Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments Act U.S. Senate 2025-10-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IICalendar No. 232119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1744IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 13, 2025Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Budd, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsOctober 30, 2025Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicA BILLTo amend the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan among the list of recipient countries with respect to which shorter certification and reporting periods apply and to expedite licensing for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments Act or PORCUPINE Act.

2.

Modification of certification and reporting requirements under the Arms Export Control Act

The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 3 (22 U.S.C. 2753)—(A)in subsection (b)(2), by inserting the Government of Taiwan, before or the; and(B)in subsection (d)—(i)in paragraph (2)(B), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(ii)in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(iii)in paragraph (5), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(2)in section 21 (22 U.S.C. 2761)—(A)in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(B)in subsection (h)—(i)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking or Israel and inserting Israel, or Taiwan; and(ii)in paragraph (2), by striking or Israel and inserting Israel, or Taiwan;(3)in section 36 (22 U.S.C. 2776)—(A)in subsection (b)—(i)in paragraph (1), in the undesignated matter following subparagraph (P), in the second sentence, by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(ii)in paragraph (2), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(iii)in paragraph (6), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(B)in subsection (c)—(i)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(ii)in paragraph (5), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(C)in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(4)in section 62(c)(1) (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1)), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(5)in section 63(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan.

3.

Expedited licensing for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish an expedited decision-making process for blanket third party transfers of defense articles and services from North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, or New Zealand to Taiwan, including transfers and re-transfers of United States origin grant, Foreign Military Sales, and Direct Commercial Sales end-items not covered by an exemption under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations.(b)

Availability

The expedited decision-making process described in subsection (a)—(1)shall be available for classified and unclassified items; and(2)shall, to the extent practicable—(A)require the approval, return, or denial of any licensing application to export defense articles and services that is related to a government-to-government agreement within 15 days after the submission of such application; and(B)require the completion of the review of all other licensing requests not later than 30 days after the submission of such application.(c)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the expedited decision-making process under subsection (a) is established, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation and effectiveness of such process, including an assessment of the actions taken to coordinate with North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and New Zealand to ensure alignment with the respective export control regulations of such countries.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments Act or PORCUPINE Act.

2.

Modification of certification and reporting requirements under the Arms Export Control Act

(a)

In general

The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) is amended—(1)in section 3 (22 U.S.C. 2753)—(A)in subsection (b)(2), by inserting Taiwan, before or the; and(B)in subsection (d)—(i)in paragraph (2)(B), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(ii)in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(iii)in paragraph (5), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(2)in section 21 (22 U.S.C. 2761)—(A)in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(B)in subsection (h)—(i)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking or Israel and inserting Israel, or Taiwan; and(ii)in paragraph (2), by striking or Israel and inserting Israel, or Taiwan;(3)in section 36 (22 U.S.C. 2776)—(A)in subsection (b)—(i)in paragraph (1), in the undesignated matter following subparagraph (P), in the second sentence, by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(ii)in paragraph (2), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(iii)in paragraph (6), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(B)in subsection (c)—(i)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(ii)in paragraph (5), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(C)in subsection (d)(2)(A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan;(4)in section 62(c)(1) (22 U.S.C. 2796a(c)(1)), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan; and(5)in section 63(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2796b(a)(2)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking or New Zealand and inserting New Zealand, or Taiwan.(b)

Report

Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation and effectiveness of the amendments made by this section.

3.

Feasibility assessment of expedited licensing for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan

(a)

In general

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall conduct an assessment of the feasibility of establishing an expedited decision-making process for third party transfers of defense articles and services from North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, or Israel to Taiwan, including transfers and re-transfers of United States-origin grant, Foreign Military Sales, and Direct Commercial Sales end-items not covered by an exemption under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations.(b)

Elements

The assessment required by subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the following:(1)The availability of such an expedited decision-making process for classified and unclassified items.(2)The feasibility of requiring—(A)the approval, return, or denial of any licensing application to export defense articles and services that is related to a government-to-government agreement within 15 days after the submission of such application; and(B)the completion of the review of all other licensing requests not later than 30 days after the submission of such application.(c)

Briefing

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives with a briefing on the outcome of the assessment required by subsection (a).

4.

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act may be construed to alter the policy of the United States toward Taiwan as specified in the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.).

5.

Sunset

This Act shall cease to have effect on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

October 30, 2025Reported with an amendment