S. 1620: Taiwan Security Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-07-24 · International Affairs · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-07-24 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Taiwan Security Act of 2017

Plain summary

Taiwan Security Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out a program of exchanges of senior military officers and senior officials between the United States and Taiwan that are designed to improve military relations. Exchanges should focus on: threat analysis; military doctrine; force planning; logistical support; intelligence collection and analysis; operational tactics, techniques, and procedures; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; and civil-military relations. Such exchanges should be conducted in the United States and Taiwan. The United States shall: (1) conduct regular transfers of defense articles to Taiwan to support its efforts to develop and integrate asymmetric capabilities into its military forces, and (2) host senior officials of the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense for an annual strategic dialogue on arms sales to ensure the regular transfer of such articles. DOD shall invite Taiwan's military forces to participate in: (1) the 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercise; and (2) one of the Red Flag military exercises at either Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, or Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. DOD shall: (1) reestablish regular ports of call by the U.S. Navy in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, or in other suitable ports on Taiwan; and (2) permit the United States Pacific Command to receive ports of call by Taiwan's navy in Hawaii, Guam, or other appropriate locations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Taiwan Security Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] · 2 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] reported raising $7.1 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s1620.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s1620 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115