S. 1908

119 S1908 IS: Border Drone Threat Assessment Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-05-22
 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.
  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 1908
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  May 22, 2025
  Mr. Lankford  (for himself and  Mr. Kelly ) introduced the following bill; which was
  read twice and referred to the  Committee on
  Armed Services
  A BILL
To require the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to
  complete a threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems at or near the
  international borders of the United States, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This section may be cited as the   Border Drone Threat Assessment Act .
2.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Administrator
The term  Administrator  means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2)
Appropriate congressional
  committees
The term  appropriate congressional committees  means—
(A)
the  Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate ;
(B)
the  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate ;
(C)
the  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate ;
(D)
the  Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate ;
(E)
the  Committee on Armed Services of the Senate ;
(F)
the  Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate  ;
(G)
the  Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives ;
(H)
the  Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives ;
(I)
the  Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives ;
(J)
the  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives ;
(K)
the  Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives ;
(L)
the  Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives ; and
(M)
the  Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives .
(3)
At or near the international borders of the united states
The term  at or near the international borders of the United States  means at or within 100 air miles of an international land border or coastal border of the United States.
(4)
Commander
The term  Commander  means the Commander of the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
(5)
Director
The term  Director  means the Director of National Intelligence.
(6)
Foreign malign influence
The term  foreign malign influence  has the meaning given such term in section 119B(f) of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3059(f) ).
(7)
Intelligence community
The term  intelligence community  has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 ( 50 U.S.C. 3003 ).
(8)
Malign actor
The term  malign actor  means any individual, group, or organization that is engaged in foreign malign influence, illicit drug trafficking, or other forms of transnational organized crime.
(9)
Transnational organized crime
The term  transnational organized crime  has the meaning given such term in section 284(i) of title 10, United States Code.
(10)
Under secretary
The term  Under Secretary  means the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security.
(11)
Under secretary of defense
The term  Under Secretary of Defense  means the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.
(12)
Unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system
The terms  unmanned aircraft  and  unmanned aircraft system  have the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.
3.
Threat assessment
(a)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commander, the Director, the Under Secretary, the Administrator, and the heads of the other elements of the intelligence community, shall complete an assessment of the threat regarding unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States.
(b)
Elements
The threat assessment required under subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
a description of the malign actors operating unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States, including malign actors who cross such borders;
(2)
a description of how a threat is identified and assessed at or near the international borders of the United States, including a description of the capabilities of the United States Government to detect and identify unmanned aircraft systems operated by, or on behalf of, malign actors;
(3)
a description of the data and information collected by operators of unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States, including how such data is used by malign actors;
(4)
a description of the tactics, techniques, and procedures used at or near the international borders of the United States by malign actors with regards to unmanned aircraft systems, including how unmanned aircraft systems are acquired, modified, and utilized to conduct malicious activities, including attacks, surveillance, conveyance of contraband, and other forms of threats;
(5)
a description of the guidance, policies, and procedures that address the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of persons who lawfully operate unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States;
(6)
a description of the capabilities of the United States Government to counter, contain, trace, defeat, or otherwise mitigate threats from unmanned aircraft systems operated by malign actors at or near the international borders of the United States;
(7)
an assessment of whether the capabilities of the United States Government are sufficient for achieving complete air domain awareness at or near the international borders of the United States; and
(8)
an assessment of the adequacy of current authorities of the United States Government to counter the use of unmanned aircraft systems by malign actors at or near the international borders of the United States, including an accounting of the delineated responsibilities of Federal agencies to counter, contain, trace, or defeat unmanned aircraft systems at or near the international borders of the United States.
4.
Report and briefing
(a)
In general
Not later than 180 days after completing the threat assessment required under section 2, the Under Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Commander, the Director, the Under Secretary, and the Administrator, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees containing findings with respect to such assessment.
(b)
Elements
The report required under subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
a detailed description of the threats posed to the national security of the United States by unmanned aircraft systems operated by malign actors at or near the international borders of the United States;
(2)
a summary of the current responsibilities, authorities, regulations, policies, and procedures of the United States Government for achieving air domain awareness at and near the international borders of the United States and countering and defeating unmanned aircraft systems used by malign actors along such borders; and
(3)
an assessment of whether a change in authorities or additional authorities or resources are necessary to achieve complete air domain awareness at or near international borders of the United States and to counter and defeat unmanned aircraft systems used by malign actors along such borders.
(c)
Form
The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex, as appropriate.
(d)
Briefing
Not later than 90 days after the submission of the report required under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing regarding the report to the appropriate congressional committees.