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119-s-663119th Congress

DEFENSE Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would let federal officials deputize state and local law enforcement officers to protect stadiums and other flight-restricted sites from drone threats. It ties that power to required training, federal oversight, and a government-approved list of detection and tracking equipment.

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  • State and local law enforcement: Could be deputized to use the specified federal authority at sites with flight restrictions or at eligible large public gatherings. Deputized officers must finish training set by the Department of Homeland Security or the Attorney General with input from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.
  • Event organizers and attendees: Adds a federal tool to protect stadiums and other large public gatherings from unmanned aircraft system threats through protected sites and temporary flight restrictions.
  • Federal coordination and tech limits: Directs DHS and DOJ to coordinate with FAA, the Federal Communications Commission, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on an authorized list of detection, identification, monitoring, and tracking equipment and on oversight of deputized officers' use of the authority.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Local police can be deputized for drones

This bill would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to deputize state or local police to use federal drone countermeasure authority. Deputization would be allowed only to protect: (A) sites covered by flight restrictions under the 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (49 U.S.C. 40103 note); (B) locations of eligible large public gatherings (49 U.S.C. 44812(c)); or (C) public gatherings under temporary flight restrictions at the FAA Administrator's discretion (49 U.S.C. 40103(b)). Officers could be deputized only after completing required training set by DHS or DOJ in coordination with the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator. DHS and DOJ would coordinate with transportation agencies to oversee deputies' use of the authority. Only unmanned aircraft detection, identification, monitoring, or tracking equipment on a DHS-maintained authorized list, created with DOJ, FAA, FCC, and NTIA, could be used.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/20/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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