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.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations convened on October 22, 2025, for a business meeting to consider a broad package of foreign policy legislation. The agenda included multiple bills targeting U.S. relations with China and Taiwan, such as measures to develop economic deterrence tools against Chinese aggression toward Taiwan, expedite military equipment transfers to Taiwan, and strengthen Taiwan's international standing. The committee also reviewed legislation addressing Russia, including a bill to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and measures to support Ukraine through seizure of Russian assets. Additional bills covered regional security partnerships like the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the United Kingdom, sanctions on Haitian elites, Arctic affairs, critical mineral supply chains, and international scam operations. No witnesses were listed for this business meeting, which focused on committee consideration of the proposed legislation rather than hearing public testimony. Business meetings typically allow committee members to debate bills and vote on whether to advance them to the full Senate. The hearing does not guarantee that any of the bills will advance. The committee's consideration of these measures represents the initial step in the legislative process, after which the bills would require further action and votes before potentially moving forward in Congress.

Video

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Oct 22, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

Oct 22, 2025 · 13:30

Business meeting to consider S.2960, to develop economic tools to deter aggression by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, S.2130, to make improvements to the AUKUS partnership, S.2424, to require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the Government of the People's Republic of China, S.1744, to 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, S.2626, to strengthen the leadership role of the United States at the Inter-American Development Bank, S.2146, to require the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for increased transparency with respect to exchange rate policies of the People's Republic of China, S.2950, to require the Secretary of State and relevant executive branch agencies to address international scam compounds defrauding people in the United States, to hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable, S.2550, to provide for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains, S.1854, to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to political and economic elites in Haiti, S.2657, to impose sanctions relating to the support of the People's Republic of China for the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, S.2018, to modify certain limitations and exclusions regarding defense articles and requirements regarding security assistance and sales with respect to the Republic of Cyprus, S.799, to establish and implement a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, S.2684, to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, to counter efforts by the People's Republic of China to coerce or pressure governments into breaking such ties, to deepen coordination with Taiwan on diplomatic, development, and economic engagement in the Western Hemisphere, S.2224, to amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 to provide that the United States, in its role as a member of any international organizations, should oppose any attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve Taiwan's status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of any such organization, S.2918, to amend the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act to improve the implementation of the seizure of Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine, S.1000, to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, S.Res.409, recognizing the 74th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the strong bilateral security alliance between our two nations in the wake of escalating aggression and political lawfare by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea, S.2978, to provide for the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and S.Res.226, condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China for engaging in transnational repression, and the nominations of Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary (Near Eastern Affairs), and Andrew Veprek, of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Secretary (Population, Refugees, and Migration), both of the Department of State.

Committee

Summary

Video

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Oct 22, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

Oct 22, 2025 · 13:30

Business meeting to consider S.2960, to develop economic tools to deter aggression by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, S.2130, to make improvements to the AUKUS partnership, S.2424, to require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the Government of the People's Republic of China, S.1744, to 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, S.2626, to strengthen the leadership role of the United States at the Inter-American Development Bank, S.2146, to require the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for increased transparency with respect to exchange rate policies of the People's Republic of China, S.2950, to require the Secretary of State and relevant executive branch agencies to address international scam compounds defrauding people in the United States, to hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable, S.2550, to provide for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains, S.1854, to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to political and economic elites in Haiti, S.2657, to impose sanctions relating to the support of the People's Republic of China for the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, S.2018, to modify certain limitations and exclusions regarding defense articles and requirements regarding security assistance and sales with respect to the Republic of Cyprus, S.799, to establish and implement a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, S.2684, to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, to counter efforts by the People's Republic of China to coerce or pressure governments into breaking such ties, to deepen coordination with Taiwan on diplomatic, development, and economic engagement in the Western Hemisphere, S.2224, to amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 to provide that the United States, in its role as a member of any international organizations, should oppose any attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve Taiwan's status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of any such organization, S.2918, to amend the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act to improve the implementation of the seizure of Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine, S.1000, to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, S.Res.409, recognizing the 74th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the strong bilateral security alliance between our two nations in the wake of escalating aggression and political lawfare by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea, S.2978, to provide for the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and S.Res.226, condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China for engaging in transnational repression, and the nominations of Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary (Near Eastern Affairs), and Andrew Veprek, of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Secretary (Population, Refugees, and Migration), both of the Department of State.

Committee

Summary

Video

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Oct 30, 2025

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Oct 22, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

Oct 22, 2025 · 13:30

Business meeting to consider S.2960, to develop economic tools to deter aggression by the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, S.2130, to make improvements to the AUKUS partnership, S.2424, to require a report of, and a strategy to combat, arms sales of the Government of the People's Republic of China, S.1744, to 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, S.2626, to strengthen the leadership role of the United States at the Inter-American Development Bank, S.2146, to require the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for increased transparency with respect to exchange rate policies of the People's Republic of China, S.2950, to require the Secretary of State and relevant executive branch agencies to address international scam compounds defrauding people in the United States, to hold significant transnational criminal organizations accountable, S.2550, to provide for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains, S.1854, to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to political and economic elites in Haiti, S.2657, to impose sanctions relating to the support of the People's Republic of China for the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, S.2018, to modify certain limitations and exclusions regarding defense articles and requirements regarding security assistance and sales with respect to the Republic of Cyprus, S.799, to establish and implement a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, S.2684, to support countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, to counter efforts by the People's Republic of China to coerce or pressure governments into breaking such ties, to deepen coordination with Taiwan on diplomatic, development, and economic engagement in the Western Hemisphere, S.2224, to amend the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019 to provide that the United States, in its role as a member of any international organizations, should oppose any attempts by the People's Republic of China to resolve Taiwan's status by distorting the decisions, language, policies, or procedures of any such organization, S.2918, to amend the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act to improve the implementation of the seizure of Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine, S.1000, to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, S.Res.409, recognizing the 74th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines and the strong bilateral security alliance between our two nations in the wake of escalating aggression and political lawfare by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea, S.2978, to provide for the designation of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and S.Res.226, condemning the Government of the People's Republic of China for engaging in transnational repression, and the nominations of Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary (Near Eastern Affairs), and Andrew Veprek, of Louisiana, to be an Assistant Secretary (Population, Refugees, and Migration), both of the Department of State.

Committee

Summary

Video