[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 359]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            CHRISTMAS DRONES

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Red Ryder BB gun is a ghost of 
Christmas past because, this year, Santa gave drones. Here a drone, 
there a drone, everywhere a drone. Just more eyes in the sky and these 
eyes could be anywhere and on any person. How comforting is that?
  It is estimated that by 2030, 30,000 drones will be over the skies of 
America. People are rightfully concerned that these eyes in the sky 
could be a threat to their constitutional right of privacy.
  Mr. Speaker, we are entering a world of unchartered drone technology. 
That is why I am reintroducing the Preserving American Privacy Act. 
This bill seeks to ensure the privacy of Americans. It establishes 
specific guidelines for about when and what purposes that law 
enforcement and private entities can use drones.
  Technology may change, but the Constitution does not. The Christmas 
spy machines that have useful purposes also need constitutional rules 
to prevent unlawful surveillance by law enforcement or private 
organizations.
  And that is just the way it is.

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