# 119-s-4461: Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act

119-s-4461, Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4461
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4461
- Congress: 119
- Title: Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Strengthens protections against foreign surveillance of U.S. strategic military assets.** The bill defines who counts as a person of concern, what counts as a high-value asset, and what installations get special protection, and it requires the Defense Department to list and mark them. - The Department of Defense must keep and update an annual list of high-value assets and designate tier-1 installations, and it must install signs that say photography and surveillance are prohibited. This list names items like the Boeing E-4B, RC-135, Northrop B-2, Rockwell B-1, and nuclear command platforms. - The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that citizens or agents of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran who photograph or track those assets with suspicious intent are engaged in prohibited activity unless they show prior Defense Department approval. - It expands banned capture methods to digital photos, live or near-live video transmission, and AI-enhanced images, increases criminal penalties to up to 1 year for general violations and up to 7 years for high-value asset violations, and sets penalties of 5 to 10 years if the defendant is a citizen of a country of concern. - Enforcement tools include forfeiture of devices used in violations, civil fines up to $100,000, visa revocation for convicted citizens of countries of concern, and placement in removal proceedings.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stricter bans on photographing military assets: cost, medium. This bill would strengthen and modernize bans on photographing or tracking U.S. defense assets. It would require the Defense Department to publish and update at least annually a list of high-value assets — including the Boeing E-4B "Nightwatch", RC-135, B-2 "Spirit", B-1 "Lancer", and any nuclear c…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-2010: TERMS Act
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4461 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4461)

## Related
- [119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2342)
- [119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4615)
- [119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2142)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-2010: TERMS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2010)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4461 (as of 2026-08-11).