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H.R. 2939

U.S. House•In House Committee

Summary

H.R. 2939, the Drone Espionage Act, was introduced in the House on Apr 17, 2025 by Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R) with 13 co-sponsors. It was referred to Judiciary, and last saw action on Apr 17, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Record

Text

H.R. 2939 has 13 co-sponsors.

hb2939/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 2939 IH: Drone Espionage Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-04-17
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2939  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 17, 2025   Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Drone Espionage Act  .
2.
Taking or transmitting video of defense information prohibited
Section 793 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting  video,  after  photographic negative,  each place such term appears.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-04-17
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Apr 17, 2025

hb2939/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (04/17/2025)

Drone Espionage Act

This bill makes it a federal crime under the Espionage Act to engage in certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting video of national defense information. The term national defense information means information or other material that is related to national defense.

The Espionage Act prohibits certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting national defense information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign nation. Under current law, the prohibitions only apply if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by certain means, such as a sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note. Under current law, a violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

This bill makes the criminal prohibitions under the Espionage Act applicable if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by means of video. Under this bill, a violator is subject to the same penalties as under existing law—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

Sponsors

Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R) sponsors H.R. 2939, and 13 members have co-sponsored it.

Committees

H.R. 2939 went before 1 committee: Judiciary.

Judiciary
Judiciary
Referred To · Apr 17, 2025 · 2,181 Bills

Actions

H.R. 2939 has taken 2 actions since Apr 17, 2025.

ChamberAction
Apr 17, 2025
House
Introduced in House
Apr 17, 2025
House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Judiciary Committee

Votes

H.R. 2939 has not gone to a roll call.

1 bill is related to H.R. 2939, as Identical bill.

Titles

H.R. 2939 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.

  • Drone Espionage Act — Display Title
  • Drone Espionage Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 2939 under Crime and Law Enforcement, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 4 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 2939’s is Crime and Law Enforcement.

hr2939/policy-areas.txt
Crime and Law EnforcementAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 2939 carries 4 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Digital media to Military operations and strategy.

hr2939/subjects.txt
Digital mediaEspionage and treasonMilitary facilities and propertyMilitary operations and strategy

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 2939, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 67 (Thursday, April 17, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia:H.R. 2939.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8[Page H1613]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com