[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1908 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1908
To require the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
to complete a threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems at
or near the international borders of the United States, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2025
Mr. Lankford (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
to complete a threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems at
or near the international borders of the United States, 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 section may be cited as the ``Border Drone Threat Assessment
Act.''
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(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. 3. 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 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. 4. REPORT AND BRIEFING.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after completing the
threat assessment required under section 2, 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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