[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7810-H7811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DHS COUNTERING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS COORDINATOR ACT
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 6438) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in
the Department of Homeland Security an Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Coordinator, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6438
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 ``DHS Countering Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act''.
SEC. 2. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS COUNTERMEASURES
COORDINATOR.
(a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following new section:
``SEC. 321. COUNTERING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS COORDINATOR.
``(a) Coordinator.--The Secretary shall designate an
official of the Department as the Countering Unmanned
Aircraft Systems (UAS) Coordinator (in this section referred
to as the `Coordinator') to coordinate with relevant
Department offices and components on the development of
policies and plans to counter threats associated with UAS,
including--
``(1) countering UAS that may be used in a terrorist
attack;
``(2) promoting research and development of counter UAS
technologies;
``(3) ensuring the dissemination of information and
guidance related to countering UAS threats;
``(4) serving as the Department point of contact for
Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement entities
and the private sector regarding the Department's activities
related to countering UAS; and
``(5) carrying out other related UAS activities, as
directed by the Secretary.
``(b) Coordination With Applicable Federal Laws.--The
Coordinator shall, in addition to other assigned duties,
coordinate with relevant Department components and offices to
ensure testing, evaluation, or deployment of a system used to
identify, assess, or defeat a UAS is carried out in
accordance with applicable Federal laws.
``(c) Coordination With Private Sector.--The Coordinator
shall, working with the Office of Partnership and Engagement
and other relevant Department offices and components, or
other Federal agencies, as appropriate, serve as the
principal Department official responsible for disseminating
to the private sector information regarding counter UAS
technology, particularly information regarding instances in
which counter UAS technology may impact lawful private sector
services or systems.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Redesignation of duplicate section number.--Title III
of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
redesignating the second section 319 (relating to EMP and GMD
mitigation research and development) as section 320.
(2) Table of contents.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by
striking the items relating to sections 317, 319, 318, and
319 and inserting the following new items:
``Sec. 317. Promoting antiterrorism through international cooperation
program.
``Sec. 318. Social media working group.
``Sec. 319. Transparency in research and development.
``Sec. 320. EMP and GMD mitigation research and development.
``Sec. 321. Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) and the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs.
Watson Coleman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and
include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6438, the DHS
Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act.
In 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration estimated that there
were 1.9 million consumer unmanned aircraft systems vehicles, commonly
known as drones, in the U.S. This number is expected to grow to a
staggering 4.3 million by the end of 2020.
The increased availability and expanded use of drones has led to
concerns over the potential risks to national security. Drones provide
malicious actors both a robust aerial delivery mechanism for
potentially hazardous payloads and anonymity in carrying out an attack.
[[Page H7811]]
This threat is not just imaginary. Known incidents involving drones
have included weaponized use by ISIS and cartels, smuggling operations,
intrusions at NFL and Olympic stadiums, and damage to electrical grid
infrastructure in Canada.
Several DHS offices and components assess drone threats and are
members of interagency and industry drone working groups which promote
information sharing, research, and joint problem-solving initiatives.
However, DHS currently does not have a centralized, departmentwide
official responsible for the coordination of counter-drone policies and
activities.
H.R. 6438 authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security to designate a countering unmanned aircraft systems
coordinator at the Department to serve as the lead DHS official for
coordinating counter-drone threat planning policies and plans. H.R.
6438 enables DHS to centralize the coordination of counter-drone threat
planning efforts under one official.
Under H.R. 6438, the countering UAS coordinator is responsible for
coordinating with relevant DHS components on the development of
policies and plans to counter threats from drones. The countering UAS
coordinator promotes the research and development of counter-drone
technologies within the Department and ensures that information and
guidance regarding drone threats is disseminated across the Department
as appropriate.
The coordinator will also serve as the principal Department official
responsible for disseminating information to the private sector
regarding DHS counter-drone measures and will ensure that DHS counter-
drone activities are carried out in accordance with Federal laws.
H.R. 6438 is an important and timely piece of legislation that seeks
to further prepare the Department in carrying out its duties in
countering this emerging threat.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6438,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, September 4, 2018.
Hon. Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 6438, the DHS
Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act. This
legislation includes matters that I believe fall within the
Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 6438, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo
action on this bill, including seeking a sequential referral.
However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that
forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the
Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to
any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters
contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within
the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Finally, should a
conference on the bill be necessary, I ask that you support
my request to have the Committee represented on the
conference committee.
Please place a copy of this letter and your response
acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the
Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the
bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on
Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative
process.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, September 4, 2018.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Shuster: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 6438, the ``DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Coordinator Act.'' I appreciate your support in bringing this
legislation expeditiously before the House of
Representatives. I understand that the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, to the extent it may have
a jurisdictional claim, will not seek a sequential referral
on the bill; and therefore, there has been no formal
determination as to its jurisdiction by the Parliamentarian.
The Committee on Homeland Security concurs with the mutual
understanding that the absence of a decision on this bill at
this time does not prejudice any claim the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure may have held or may have
on similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a
conference on this bill be necessary, I would support a
request by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
for conferees on those provisions determined to be within its
jurisdiction.
I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional
Record during consideration of this bill on the House floor.
I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Michael T. McCaul,
Chairman.
{time} 1930
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6438, the DHS Countering
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6438 directs the Department of Homeland Security to
have a designated official to coordinate the Department's unmanned
aircraft systems, or UAS, plans and policies.
The countering UAS coordinator would work with Department components
and offices to ensure testing, evaluation, or deployment of systems to
identify, assess, or defeat a UAS threat are in compliance with
applicable Federal laws. The coordinator would also serve as the
principal Department official responsible for disseminating information
to the private sector regarding counter-UAS technology.
In homeland security circles, there is broad recognition that UAS
technology enhances capabilities to, among other things, deliver
disaster relief to affected areas and surveil weak spots along the
southwest border.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, today, there is considerable concern
regarding the security threats that UAS may pose. More and more, we
hear of instances where unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to
as drones, are used for nefarious reasons, such as smuggling operations
or to conduct surveillance to evade law enforcement. The threat was
underscored last month when a drone was used in an unsuccessful
assassination attempt on the life of the Venezuelan President as he
spoke at a massive military parade.
As such, I support DHS organizing itself to better address this
emerging homeland security threat, as set forth in H.R. 6438.
There is increasingly more concern regarding the potential threats
that UAS may pose to the security of our Nation and its people.
Last Congress, when I served as the ranking member of the Oversight
and Management Efficiency Subcommittee with Mr. Perry, we worked
together on legislation that I drafted to address the UAS threat. Since
that time, the range of threats associated with UAS has grown more
complex and demand that DHS prioritize counter-UAS efforts in an
unprecedented way. Designating an official to coordinate Department
counter-UAS plans and policies is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) for
his work on this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey. She has
been a leader on this issue, and it is something that is important to
both of us and to our country. I applaud her efforts and thank her for
her support of these efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6438, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6438, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________