Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4432, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act.

In the wrong hands, unmanned aerial systems can pose a threat to the American people. At our borders, criminals are using drones to smuggle drugs and surveil law enforcement. Terrorists like ISIS have used them in the past to carry out attacks overseas.

We must do more to address this threat, and with this bill we do just that. H.R. 4432 protects the American people from the threat posed by these criminal drone operators.

This legislation requires the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at DHS to prepare an assessment of the threat from drones with information gathered from Federal, State, local, and private-sector partners.

This bill also requires DHS to establish a secure communications network to receive and analyze information on the threat and a voluntary mechanism for reporting threat information from owners and operators of critical infrastructure.

During committee consideration of this bill, I proposed an amendment to allow DHS to produce this information in a classified form, as appropriate. I am pleased that language was included in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill that will position DHS to address the threat that drones pose to critical infrastructure. This measure was previously introduced by my colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) in the 115th Congress and passed the House by a voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will do the same today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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