Bill · S. 663· Senate(119-S-663)
DEFENSE Act
- Introduced
- 2/20/2025
- Last activity
- 2/20/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- Sponsored by
- Tom Cotton
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Disabling Enemy Flight Entry and Neutralizing Suspect Equipment Act" or the "DEFENSE Act," seeks to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It allows the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize State or local law enforcement officers to protect specific events. These protected events include sites with flight restrictions, locations of eligible large public gatherings, or gatherings protected by temporary flight restrictions. To be deputized, officers must complete specific training coordinated with the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA. The bill also requires oversight of these officers by the Secretary or Attorney General. Additionally, it limits the use of equipment for drone detection and tracking to a specific authorized list.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this change how police departments operate?+3
The bill establishes training requirements and federal oversight for deputized state and local officers.
Would people in cities be better off under this?+2
The bill provides enhanced security measures for large public gatherings often held in urban areas.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+2
The bill requires federal oversight of the authority granted to deputized state and local officers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of large public gatherings: The bill allows for the deputization of law enforcement to protect sites with flight restrictions or eligible large public gatherings (Section 2, subsection m, paragraph 1). This could provide enhanced security for people attending these events.
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Standardized training for officers: Law enforcement officers must complete specific training before they can be deputized (Section 2, subsection m, paragraph 2). This ensures that those exercising this authority have been trained in its use.
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Regulated technology use: The use of equipment for detecting, identifying, monitoring, or tracking unmanned aircraft is limited to a specific list of authorized technologies (Section 2, subsection m, paragraph 4). This limits the types of equipment used during these security operations.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Urban Residents+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+2
- 2/20/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada