S.Amdt. 3479

SA 3479, submitted by Mr. Lankford, proposes to add a new subtitle to bill S. 2296 called the Border Drone Threat Assessment Act.

The purpose of this amendment is to require the government to assess and report on the threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (drones) at or near the international borders of the United States.

Changes and Additions

The amendment aims to add the following requirements to the bill:

• Threat Assessment: Within one year of the Act's enactment, the Under Secretary of Defense must lead an assessment of drone threats within 100 air miles of international land or coastal borders. This assessment must cover:

  • Who the malign actors are and how they identify and use drones for activities like attacks, surveillance, and moving contraband.
  • The current capabilities of the U.S. Government to detect, identify, and mitigate these threats.
  • Whether current government capabilities and authorities are enough to achieve complete air domain awareness.
  • Policies regarding the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of people who operate drones lawfully.

• Reporting and Briefing: Within 180 days of finishing the assessment, a report must be sent to the appropriate congressional committees. This report must include:

  • Detailed descriptions of national security threats from drones used by malign actors.
  • A summary of current government responsibilities and policies for countering these drones.
  • An evaluation of whether more resources or changes in authority are needed.

• Follow-up: The Under Secretary of Defense must provide a briefing to the congressional committees within 90 days after the report is submitted.