REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met the new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday and said he hoped the U.S. Congress would pass legislation related to the AUKUS submarine project this year. "We, of course, have important legislation required for AUKUS," Albanese told Johnson at the start of their meeting. "We are certainly hoping that the Congress can pass that legislation this year." Budget wrangling and the lack of a speaker for several weeks until Johnson's appointment interrupted the U.S. legislative process in Congress, and Australian officials have expressed concern about delays in approving legislation needed to move the AUKUS project forward. Officials and experts and say this is important for the success of AUKUS given the need to share U.S. technology both in the submarine project and a second AUKUS pillar involving three-way cooperation on high-tech weaponry.

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Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Albanese, Rishi Sunak, Leah Millis, Albanese, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Biden, Mara Karlin, Biden's, Joe Courtney, Courtney, David Brunnstrom, Rod Nickel Organizations: Australian, British, U.S, Naval Base Point, San Diego , California U.S, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . House, Capitol, Republicans, Pentagon, Democratic, Australia Caucus, National Defense, Republican, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: Australia, United Kingdom, Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego , California, Washington, U.S, United States, Britain, Australia Virginia