[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8189 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8189
To prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating certain
unmanned ground vehicle systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2026
Ms. Stefanik introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating certain
unmanned ground vehicle systems, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Security Robotics Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON THE PROCUREMENT AND OPERATION OF COVERED
UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered nation.--The term ``covered nation'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4872(f) of title 10, United
States Code.
(2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign
entity'' means an entity that is--
(A) domiciled in a covered nation;
(B) subject to the influence or control of the
government of a covered nation, as determined by the
Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of
Defense; or
(C) a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity
described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term
``covered unmanned ground vehicle system'' means an unmanned
ground vehicle system manufactured or assembled by a covered
foreign entity.
(4) Executive agency.--The term ``executive agency'' has
the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United
States Code.
(5) Unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``unmanned
ground vehicle system'' means a system that includes--
(A) a mechanical device, including a remote
surveillance vehicle, autonomous patrol technology,
mobile robotics, or a humanoid robot, that--
(i) is capable of locomotion, navigation,
or movement on the ground; and
(ii) operates at a distance from a human
operator or supervisor based on commands or in
response to sensor data or any combination
thereof;
(B) the payload of the mechanical device described
in subparagraph (A); and
(C) any external device used to control the
mechanical device described in subparagraph (A).
(b) Prohibition on Procurement of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Systems.--Except as provided under subsection (e), the head of an
executive agency may not procure any covered unmanned ground vehicle
system.
(c) Prohibition on Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Systems.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (e),
beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, no executive agency may operate a
covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(2) Applicability to contracted services.--The prohibition
under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned ground
vehicle system being used by an executive agency through a
contract for the services of the covered unmanned ground
vehicle system.
(d) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Procurement or
Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as
provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds awarded
through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made
available, may be used to procure or in connection with the operation
of a covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(e) Exemption to Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--The head of an agency described in
paragraph (2) is exempt from the prohibitions under subsections
(b), (c), and (d) if--
(A) the procurement or operation of the covered
unmanned ground vehicle system is in the national
interest of the United States; and
(B)(i) the sole purpose for the procurement or
operation is--
(I) research, evaluation, training,
testing, or analysis for electronic warfare,
information warfare operations, cybersecurity,
or the development of unmanned ground vehicle
system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle
system technology; or
(II) conducting counter-terrorism or
counterintelligence activities, protective
missions, or Federal criminal or national
security investigations, including forensic
examinations; or
(ii) the covered unmanned ground vehicle system, as
procured or as modified after procurement but before
operational use--
(I) can no longer transfer data to, or
download data from, a covered foreign entity;
and
(II) poses no national security
cybersecurity risk as determined by the head of
the agency.
(2) Agencies described.--The agencies described in this
paragraph are--
(A) the Department of Homeland Security;
(B) the Department of Defense;
(C) the Department of State; and
(D) the Department of Justice.
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