Washington, D.C. — FDD Action today applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s approval of several bipartisan bills that advance U.S. national security objectives by countering Chinese aggression, strengthening key partnerships, and holding Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine. Of the 17 bills approved during the committee’s business meeting, FDD Action endorsed eight measures, which together represent a comprehensive approach to deterring authoritarian aggression and protecting American interests.
“Today’s bipartisan action by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sends a powerful message to Beijing and Moscow: The United States will not stand idly by while authoritarian regimes threaten our national security and undermine global stability,” said Nick Stewart, Managing Director of Advocacy at FDD Action. “These bills provide the tools necessary to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan, disrupt Russia’s war machine, and strengthen critical partnerships that advance our security interests.”
The eight FDD Action-endorsed bills approved by the committee include measures to establish a sanctions framework against Chinese entities should Beijing move against Taiwan, streamline arms sales to Taiwan, counter Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere, strengthen the AUKUS partnership, support Cyprus as a vital Eastern Mediterranean partner, implement the confiscation of Russian sovereign assets, and designate Russia as a State Sponsor of Terrorism if it fails to return abducted Ukrainian children.
“Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen deserve tremendous credit for their leadership in advancing these critical national security priorities,” continued Stewart. “The bipartisan cooperation demonstrated today shows that when it comes to protecting American interests and standing up to authoritarian aggression, Democrats and Republicans can unite around effective solutions. We look forward to working with Senate leadership to advance these commonsense measures.”
Of the 17 bills approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, FDD Action endorsed eight as especially critical to U.S. national security interests. These include the following bills:
S.2960 – Deter PRC Aggression Against Taiwan Act (Risch, Shaheen): This bipartisan legislation establishes a PRC Sanctions Task Force to identify military and non-military entities that can be sanctioned should the People’s Republic of China take action to achieve the physical or political control of Taiwan. The task force would be required to develop a comprehensive list of potential sanctions targets, including Chinese Communist Party officials, military entities, state-owned enterprises, and financial institutions that would enable or support an invasion or coercive action against Taiwan. By pre-identifying sanctions targets and signaling the heavy economic price China would have to pay for aggressive action, this bill strengthens deterrence and demonstrates American resolve to defend Taiwan’s autonomy.
S.2130 – AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025 (Ricketts, Kaine): This bipartisan legislation makes technical changes and additions to the Arms Export Control Act to strengthen the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The AUKUS partnership, established in 2021, represents a critical pillar of the U.S. strategy to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region in the face of China’s aggressive military buildup. By reducing bureaucratic barriers to collaboration, the legislation will enable faster development and deployment of cutting-edge military technologies that are essential to countering China’s advanced naval and missile capabilities.
S.2424 – Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit while Thwarting Weapons Imports from Chinese Entities (THINK TWICE) Act of 2025 (Ricketts, Bennet): This bipartisan legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to assess arms sales facilitated by entities in the People’s Republic of China and report findings to Congress. The bill addresses a critical gap in U.S. understanding of China’s expanding role as a global arms dealer and its growing security cooperation with U.S. adversaries. Increased visibility into Chinese arms sales will enable Congress and the Defense Department to better understand and counter China’s growing threat to U.S. security interests. The bill will help identify which countries are receiving Chinese weapons, what capabilities those weapons provide, and how Chinese arms sales may be undermining U.S. foreign policy objectives or threatening American forces and allies.
S.1744 – Providing Our Regional Companions Upgraded Protection in Nefarious Environments (PORCUPINE) Act (Ricketts, Coons): This bipartisan legislation amends the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan among NATO member states and other close allies and partners of the United States who enjoy a streamlined arms sales process. Currently, Taiwan faces a more cumbersome arms procurement process than many other U.S. partners, even though it faces a direct military threat from China. The bill would allow Taiwan to benefit from the same expedited review and approval procedures available to NATO allies and major non-NATO allies, ensuring Taipei can meet its most urgent deterrent requirements in a timely and efficient manner. As China continues its military buildup across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan needs access to defensive weapons systems including air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, mines, coastal defense systems, and other asymmetric capabilities that can help deter Chinese aggression.
S.2626 – Strengthening United States Leadership at the IDB Act (McCormick, Kaine): This bipartisan legislation requires the Treasury Secretary to take specific actions to strengthen U.S. participation in and leadership of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and establishes policies to counter the People’s Republic of China’s influence at the institution. The IDB is one of the largest sources of development financing in Latin America and the Caribbean, making it a strategic battleground for influence in America’s backyard. The bill recognizes that China’s activities at the IDB threaten U.S. interests by expanding Beijing’s economic and political influence in the Western Hemisphere.
S.2018 – A bill to modify certain limitations and exclusions regarding defense articles and requirements regarding security assistance and sales with respect to the Republic of Cyprus (Moran, Booker): This bipartisan legislation extends the waiver period from one year to three years for the transfer of articles on the United States Munitions List to the Republic of Cyprus. The change provides greater flexibility and certainty in the U.S.-Cyprus defense relationship, allowing for more sustained security cooperation and planning. Cyprus has emerged as a vital U.S. partner in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which has become increasingly important to American national security interests. The extension of the waiver period will facilitate deeper security cooperation including training, exercises, intelligence sharing, and access arrangements that strengthen both countries’ ability to respond to regional security challenges.
S.2918 – REPO Implementation Act of 2025 (Risch, Whitehouse): This bipartisan legislation makes critical technical changes and additions to the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act that became law in April 2025. The REPO Act represented the most significant legislation relating to the confiscation of sovereign assets in nearly two decades, authorizing the seizure of Russian Central Bank assets held in U.S. jurisdiction to benefit Ukraine’s reconstruction. This legislation serves both justice and deterrence objectives. It helps ensure that Russia bears the financial cost of its destruction in Ukraine rather than forcing Ukrainian taxpayers or international donors to foot the entire bill. It also establishes a precedent that countries launching illegal wars of aggression will face severe economic consequences including the forfeiture of sovereign assets held abroad.
S.2978 – Designating the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (Graham, Blumenthal): This bipartisan legislation requires the Secretary of State to certify whether Ukrainian children abducted or deported by Russia since the 2022 invasion have been reunited with their families and reintegrated into Ukrainian society. If the Secretary cannot make this certification, the bill mandates Russia’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism until it returns the children and addresses its support for terrorism. Russia has abducted at least 19,500 Ukrainian children since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022, though the actual number is likely far higher. These children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories, placed in foster care with Russian families, sent to re-education camps, or adopted by Russian citizens. Russian officials have openly discussed plans to erase these children’s Ukrainian cultural identity and heritage and assimilate them into Russian society.
FDD Action is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(4) organization established to advocate for effective policies to promote U.S. national security and defend free nations.