She laid out the submarine production rate needed for AUKUS at her Senate hearing, though her confirmation is uncertain. Mara Karlin emphasized the importance of crisis hot lines with China while highlighting the ongoing U.S. role in the Middle East. The Senate unanimously passed legislation that will eventually require components for all Navy ships to be made in the United States. The House advanced four bills to implement AUKUS, but broader concerns over submarine industrial capacity and export controls are muddying the waters. After moving legislation geared at speeding up the lengthy foreign military sales process, Congress is following DoD's lead with its own task force. The Pentagon has started to use Ukraine aid funds to bolster munitions production while hoping to free defense supply chains from Russia and China. The Biden administration is asking Congress to make Australia and the U.K. eligible for U.S. Defense Production Act grants and loans as part of AUKUS. The Pentagon has asked Congress to authorize three new AUKUS provisions, including the transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the rounds in Washington seeking to deepen the alliance amid concerns over Chinese aggression. The Senate is preparing a new bill meant to hamper China's artificial intelligence development and help back Pacific security partners. Load More