February 10, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 27 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST DRONES AND EMERGING THREATS ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 27
(House of Representatives - February 10, 2020)
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[Pages H993-H994] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST DRONES AND EMERGING THREATS ACT Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4432) to require the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a terrorism threat assessment relating to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4432 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 ``Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act''. SEC. 2. DRONE AND EMERGING THREAT ASSESSMENT. (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall-- (1) in consultation with other relevant officials of the Department, request additional information from other agencies of the Federal Government, State and local government agencies, and the private sector relating to threats of unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging threats associated with such new technologies; (2) in consultation with relevant officials of the Department and other appropriate agencies of the Federal Government, develop and disseminate a security threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging threats associated with such new technologies; and (3) establish and utilize, in conjunction with the Chief Information Officer of the Department and other relevant entities, a secure communications and information technology infrastructure, including data-mining and other advanced analytical tools, in order to access, receive, and analyze data and information in furtherance of the responsibilities under this section, including by establishing a voluntary mechanism whereby critical infrastructure owners and operators may report information on emerging threats, such as the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems. (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall prepare a threat assessment and report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems, including information collected from critical infrastructure owners and operators and Federal, State, and local government agencies. Such assessment and report shall also include a classified plan to mitigate such threat, as appropriate. (c) Definitions.-- (1) Critical infrastructure.--The term ``critical infrastructure'' has the meaning given such term in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). (2) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft system'' has the meaning given such term in section 331 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note; Public Law 112-95). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Crenshaw) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico. General Leave Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from New Mexico? There was no objection. Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4432, would require the Department of Homeland Security to take action and address an emerging threat to our Nation's security, the threat posed by unmanned aerial systems, or drones, to critical infrastructure. Drone technology is far from new. However, as technology evolves, so do the capabilities of bad actors who may want to cause harm to the people of this country. We know the drones can be weaponized and used to carry out terrorist attacks, particularly on vulnerable, critical infrastructure. Earlier this fall, drones struck Saudi Arabian crude oil infrastructure, disrupting the production of 5.7 million barrels of oil per day and causing a spike in oil prices around the world. In an evolving threat environment, understanding the threats that drones present to critical infrastructure here in the United States is critical to mitigating those threats. Critical infrastructure owners and operators recognize the benefits of drone technology; many even put them to good use in their own businesses. Nevertheless, they do have concerns about the threats that unauthorized drones may pose to their facilities. Currently, when a drone is detected in a facility's airspace, there is no DHS official agency to call. At the very least, owners and operators should be able to report unauthorized drone activity when they detect it. H.R. 4432 would allow for information sharing between critical infrastructure owners and operators and DHS in several ways: First, it would require DHS to establish a channel for the voluntary reporting information on drones, as well as other emerging threats, over a secure communications infrastructure developed in conjunction with the Department's Chief Information Officer. Additionally, H.R. 4432, would mandate that the DHS' Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis develop and disseminate a threat assessment on unmanned aerial systems and other emerging threats associated with drone technology. This assessment would consider threat intelligence from Federal, State, local, and private-sector partners and would be prepared in consultation with other DHS components, like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, that have relevant expertise. Finally, H.R. 4432 would require DHS to report its findings to Congress within 1 year. Collectively, this bill would require DHS to take the lead on understanding the threat that drones present to this Nation's critical infrastructure, while also creating an enduring mechanism for DHS to gather information on emerging threats, as they arise, from the owners and operators who stand on the front line of our defense. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4432, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act. In the wrong hands, unmanned aerial systems can pose a threat to the American people. At our borders, criminals are using drones to smuggle drugs and surveil law enforcement. Terrorists like ISIS have used them in the past to carry out attacks overseas. We must do more to address this threat, and with this bill we do just that. H.R. 4432 protects the American people from the threat posed by these criminal drone operators. {time} 1630 This legislation requires the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at DHS to prepare an assessment of the threat from drones with information gathered from Federal, State, local, and private-sector partners. This bill also requires DHS to establish a secure communications network to receive and analyze information on the threat and a voluntary mechanism for reporting threat information from owners and operators of critical infrastructure. During committee consideration of this bill, I proposed an amendment to allow DHS to produce this information in a classified form, as appropriate. I am pleased that language was included in this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill that will position DHS to address the threat that drones pose to critical infrastructure. This measure was previously introduced by my colleague [[Page H994]] from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) in the 115th Congress and passed the House by a voice vote. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will do the same today, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4432, 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. ____________________
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