3.0.0 159 2023-01-11T13:28:53Z 2023-01-11T13:28:53Z Senate S 2015-01-13 114 ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2015-01-13T20:02:23Z 2015-01-13 ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. IntroReferral 2015-01-13 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress M000303 Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] JOHN MCCAIN R AZ SIDNEY N F000444 Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] JEFF FLAKE R AZ 2015-01-13 True A000368 Sen. Ayotte, Kelly [R-NH] Kelly Ayotte R NH 2015-01-13 True Crime and Law Enforcement Arizona Aviation and airports Border security and unlawful immigration California Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of Homeland Security Drug trafficking and controlled substances Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information Latin America Mexico New Mexico Public contracts and procurement Smuggling and trafficking Texas Crime and Law Enforcement 00 2015-01-13 Introduced in Senate 2015-03-27T14:59:29Z Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully utilize surveillance and detection capabilities developed or used by federal agencies to enhance the functioning and operational capability to conduct continuous and integrated manned or unmanned monitoring, sensing, or surveillance of 100% of the southern border of the United States.

Prohibits DHS from procuring any additional unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) until it provides written certification that it successfully operated its current UAS fleet at least 23,000 hours during the preceding calendar year. Excepts the procurement of unmanned aircraft that do not weigh more than 150 pounds.

Requires DHS to: (1) use the best available radar and surveillance technology to increase awareness of illegal border activities along the southern border and to identify gaps in surveillance capabilities; and (2) consult with the Department of Defense to identify best practices that could be used by DHS to improve the security of the southern border.

Directs DHS to report biannually on:

  • the number of UAS flight hours required, planned, and flown to provide persistent surveillance along the southern border and the number of flight hours cancelled;
  • the number of UAS flight hours planned in support of any federal or state agency;
  • performance measures regarding the number of hours flown, subjects detected, and apprehensions and illicit drug seizures assisted; and
  • the accumulated cost associated with the UAS Program.

Terminates this Act five years after its enactment.

]]> A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program. Display Title A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program. Official Title as Introduced A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program. Introduced in Senate IS Introduced in Senate 2015-01-13T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114s159is/xml/BILLS-114s159is.xml 2015-01-13 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 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. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.