DHS Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator Act

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.