A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The PORCUPINE Act seeks to amend the Arms Export Control Act to include Taiwan among the recipient countries that qualify for shorter certification and reporting periods. It also directs the Secretary of State to conduct a feasibility assessment regarding an expedited decision-making process for allies transferring military equipment to Taiwan. This assessment would look at third-party transfers of defense articles and services from various countries to Taiwan. The Act requires a briefing to Congressional committees regarding the results of this assessment. Furthermore, the Secretary of State must submit reports on the implementation and effectiveness of these amendments every two years. The Act includes a sunset provision that ends its effect seven years after enactment.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?
The bill strengthens ties with allies by facilitating more efficient military equipment transfers to Taiwan.
- Scored +1
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill focuses on international defense transfers rather than direct domestic veteran support.
- Scored +1
Would gun owners be better off under this?
The bill concerns international military transfers rather than domestic firearm ownership rights.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Military Transfers: By amending the Arms Export Control Act, the bill includes Taiwan in the list of countries with shorter certification and reporting periods (Section 2).
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Expedited Decision-Making Assessment: The Secretary of State is tasked with assessing the possibility of a faster process for allies to transfer defense articles and services to Taiwan (Section 3).
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Defined Timelines for Licensing: The feasibility assessment includes looking at a process where government-to-government agreement licensing applications are approved, returned, or denied within 15 days (Section 3).
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Review Completion Goals: The assessment also evaluates the possibility of completing reviews for all other licensing requests within 30 days (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Expiration of Authority: The Act is subject to a sunset provision, meaning it will cease to have effect seven years after it is enacted (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill strengthens ties with allies by facilitating more efficient military equipment transfers to Taiwan. Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill focuses on international defense transfers rather than direct domestic veteran support.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill concerns international military transfers rather than domestic firearm ownership rights.
- 12/15/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/11/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8693; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S8693)
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/30/2025
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 232.
- 10/22/2025
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia