# 119-s-2168: Drones for America Act

119-s-2168, Drones for America Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2168
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2168
- Congress: 119
- Title: Drones for America Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-25
- Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Raises tariffs on China-made drones and ties tariff revenue to a new grant fund for secure unmanned aircraft systems.** It pairs stepped-up duties and strict origin checks with grants aimed at first responders, farmers, critical infrastructure, and U.S. component makers. - Creates new China-origin tariff lines for unmanned aircraft and parts, with duties starting at 30% and rising over four years toward 50%. - Requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to certify that drones and parts do not contain specified China-made components like flight controllers, radios, cameras, gimbals, magnets, network hardware, or software. Finished unmanned aircraft face an entry prohibition starting in 2028 and parts face a prohibition starting in 2031. - Establishes a Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems Trust Fund funded by those tariff collections and directs the Department of Homeland Security to run a grant program. Grants prioritize first responders with up to 60% of funds and also support farmers, critical infrastructure providers, and U.S. manufacturers of UAS components.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants and Trust Fund for Secure Drones: benefit, medium. If enacted, a Treasury trust fund would collect new drone tariff money starting in fiscal year 2026 and invest unused amounts. The Department of Homeland Security would set up a grant program within one year. Grants would help first responders, farmers and ranchers, and critical infrastructure buy…
- New import rules and bans for drones: cost, medium. If enacted, U.S. Customs would require import certificates showing listed drone components were not made in China. The listed components include flight controllers, radios, data transmitters, cameras, gimbals, certain magnets, ground control systems, software, network hardware, and data storage. CB…
- Higher import tariffs on China-made drones: cost, medium. If enacted, imports of drones and drone parts from China would face extra duties starting 30 days after enactment. Year 1: 30% extra. Year 2: 35%. Year 3: 40%. Year 4: 45%. After year 4: $100 per article plus 50% ad valorem. These extra duties would be on top of any existing tariffs or trade duties.
- Who counts as covered drone entities: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would define "covered foreign entity" to include entities on several government China-linked lists and other named groups. "Foreign adversary country" would follow a cited U.S. law definition. A "secure drone" would mean a drone not made or assembled by a covered foreign entity…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-4782: ReportScams.gov Act
- 119-s-4280: SAFE Act
- 119-s-690: Overdose RADAR Act

## Sources
- [119-s-2168 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2168)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-4782: ReportScams.gov Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4782)
- [119-s-4280: SAFE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4280)
- [119-s-690: Overdose RADAR Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-690)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2168 (as of 2025-12-21).