[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 133 (Friday, August 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5247-S5248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3479. Mr. LANKFORD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title X, add the following:
Subtitle I--Border Drone Threat Assessment
SEC. 1091. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Border Drone Threat
Assessment Act''
SEC. 1092. DEFINITIONS.
In this subtitle:
(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.
SEC. 1093. 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
[[Page S5248]]
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.
SEC. 1094. REPORT AND BRIEFING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after completing
the threat assessment required under section 2092, 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.
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