Rep. Courtney’s Australian Submarine Officer Pipeline Bill Officially Included in 2023 NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) introduced the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act(H.R. 8073), a new bipartisan bill to establish a joint training pipeline for submarine officers between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. Courtney's bill would enable the start of U.S.-based training of Commanding Officers for Australia's future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS alliance. Early this morning, Courtney's bill to help ensure the success of AUKUS was officially adopted as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as the full House Armed Services Committee conducted its markup of the defense authorization.

Rep. Courtney was joined in introducing the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act last week by his fellow Co-Chairmen of the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group—Reps. Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), and Blake Moore (UT-01)—as well as by Reps. Rob Wittman (VA-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07). Yesterday, when Courtney offered his bill as an amendment to the 2023 NDAA, he was joined by Reps. Gallagher, Wittman, Norcross, and Moore once again as Committee co-sponsors. Rep. Courtney's Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act was adopted to the 2023 NDAA during markup this morning with unanimous support from the full House Armed Services Committee. After adopting Courtney's provision to support AUKUS, the Committee continued its markup of the NDAA and voted to refer the bill to the full House of Representatives.

"I introduced the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act last week—it was the U.S. Congress's first legislative action to support the historic AUKUS alliance, and today I'm excited to announce that it's moving forward as part of this year's bipartisan defense authorization," said Congressman Courtney. "The AUKUS alliance is the most important security partnership that America has entered into in decades, and at its core is the creation of an Australian fleet of nuclear-powered submarines—the same world-beating technology operated by our own U.S. Navy, vital to keeping up with today's challenges in the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific. Delivering these submarines is only part of our task. When they arrive, we need to be sure our partners are ready to pilot them expertly. Our bill authorizes an education and training program for Royal Australian Navy submariners to receive formal training right alongside our own U.S. Navy submariners, which will maximize efficiency down the road when we're working together beneath the waves. Inclusion in this year's NDAA is a clear signal that our effort and the underlying AUKUS alliance both have strong, bipartisan support in Congress. I will keep pressing forward to make the Australia-U.S. submarine officer training pipeline a reality, and to ensure that Congress provides all necessary support to make AUKUS a success."

Congressman Courtney is the founder and Co-Chairman of the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group. He is also the founder and Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Friends of Australia Caucus. His bill, the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act, will help facilitate the delivery and ensure the future success of Australia's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS alliance. Because the delivery of such submarines to Australia will require the appropriate training and development of future commanding officers, and to uphold the stewardship of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, Courtney's bill establishes a program for Australian submariner training between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

Under the program, a minimum of two Australian submarine officers would be selected each year to participate in training with the U.S. Navy. Each such participant will:

• Receive training in the Navy Nuclear Propulsion School
• Enroll in the Submarine Office Basic Course
• Be assigned to duty on an operational U.S. submarine at sea

Now, Courtney's bill will move forward as part of the 2023 NDAA. More information will be provided on the 2023 NDAA once the House Armed Services Committee has completed its markup.

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