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Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2505) to require the development of strategies and options to prevent the export to Iran of certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2505
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Iranian regime has provided financial and material support, including the provision of unmanned aircraft systems, to United States adversaries, including terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Russian Federation as a part of its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
(2) In 2022, the United States established an interagency task force to investigate how United States and Western-made technology has been incorporated into unmanned aircraft systems produced by Iran and take appropriate steps in response.
(3) On June 9, 2023, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of the Treasury issued a joint advisory to alert persons and businesses globally to the threat of Iran's unmanned aircraft systems and the need to take appropriate steps to avoid or prevent any activities that would support the further development of Iran's unmanned aircraft program.
(4) In recent years the United States enacted sanctions targeting--
(A) the unmanned aircraft industry and missile industry of Iran;
(B) entities, individuals, and vessels that played a central role in facilitating and financing the clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles; and
(C) entities associated with the Iranian defense ministry's procurement of critical components for missiles and drones. SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) controlling the end use of dual use technology and highly ubiquitous parts thereof in the global market is difficult for manufacturers and government regulators alike;
(2) Iranian-made unmanned aircraft systems play a key role in the Russian Federation's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, including attacks on civilian population centers and critical infrastructure such as power plants and ports; and
(3) the United States, along with the allies and partners of the United States, must ensure that technology designed or produced by United States or using certain United States software, technology, or production equipment, is not used to support the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine or used by Hamas to attack Israel, particularly in the case of unmanned aircraft systems produced by Iran. SEC. 4. STRATEGIES TO PREVENT EXPORT TO IRAN OF CERTAIN TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.
(a) Department of Commerce Strategy.--
(1) Strategy required.--The Secretary of Commerce (in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence) shall develop a strategy to prevent the illegal export to Iran by United States persons regarding technologies used or that may be used in the design, development, production, or operational employment of unmanned aircraft systems by Iran, including the following microelectronics:
(A) Microcontrollers.
(B) Voltage regulators.
(C) Digital signal controllers.
(D) GPS modules.
(E) Microprocessors.
(2) Elements.--The strategy under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) A process for the Secretary of Commerce (in coordination with the Secretaries and heads specified in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify--
(i) current and emerging technologies used or that may be used by Iran in the design, development, production, or operational employment of unmanned aircraft systems (including critical components thereof);
(ii) United States manufacturers of such technologies; and
(iii) foreign manufacturers and proliferators of such technologies.
(B) A process for the Secretary of Commerce (in coordination with the Secretaries and heads specified in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify third-party distributors and resellers of the technologies specified in subparagraph (A)(i) that, through the use of intermediaries with no or nominal operations or assets, or through other mechanisms, contrive to circumvent export controls for such items with respect to Iran.
(C) A methodology for the Secretary of Commerce to proactively engage the United States manufacturers identified pursuant to the process under subparagraph (A)(ii), to provide such manufacturers with timely updates to the list of third-party distributors and resellers identified pursuant to the process under subparagraph (B).
(3) Submission.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the strategy under paragraph (1).
(4) Form.--The report required by subsection (a)(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but portions of the report described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may contain a classified annex, so long as such annex is provided separately from the unclassified report.
(b) Department of State Strategy.--
(1) Strategy required.--The Secretary of State (in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence) shall develop a strategy to prevent the export to Iran of technologies from the United States and allied and partner countries which are used, or may be used, by Iran in the design, development, production, or operational employment of unmanned aircraft systems (including the microelectronics listed in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (a)(1)).
(2) Elements.--The strategy under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) A process for the Secretary of State (in consultation with the relevant Secretaries and heads specified in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify foreign manufacturers of the technologies referred to in such paragraph.
(B) A process for the Secretary of State to engage with any ally or partner of the United States regarding technologies which have been incorporated into an unmanned aircraft system produced by Iran, for the purpose of synchronizing the export control regime of such ally or partner with the United States export controls developed by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to the strategy under subsection (a) with respect to such technology.
(3) Submission.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the strategy under paragraph (1).
(4) Form.--The report required by subsection (b)(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but portions of the report described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may contain a classified annex, so long as such annex is provided separately from the unclassified report.
(c) Requirement for Secretary of Defense To Develop Range of Options.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence) shall develop a range of options that may be employed by the Armed Forces of the United States to counter or otherwise deny Iran the ability to acquire technologies used, or that may be used, in the design, development, production, or operational employment of unmanned aircraft systems by Iran, including the following technologies:
(A) Microcontrollers.
(B) Voltage regulators.
(C) Digital signal controllers.
(D) GPS modules.
(E) Microprocessors.
(F) Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
(G) Computer numerical control machines.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the options developed under paragraph (1). SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
(2) Unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system.--The terms ``unmanned aircraft'' and ``unmanned aircraft system'' have the meanings given those terms in section 130i of title 10, United States Code.
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Mr. MAST. 2505.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2505, the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act.
Iranian drones are being used to terrorize civilians and attack Americans and our allies throughout the world. Too often, those drones contain technology that originated in the United States or in Europe.
That should alarm every Member of this body.
Iran has become one of the world's leading exporters of unmanned aerial systems to rogue regimes and terrorist proxies. Its drones have been used by Russia to strike Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and civilians. They have been supplied to Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East, and they are part of Iran's broader strategy to destabilize the region.
Many of the components found in these drones are commercially available dual-use technologies, products that may have legitimate civilian applications but can be repurposed for lethal military use.
Existing sanctions and export controls are clearly not enough. If American and allied technology is still ending up inside Iranian-made drones, then we need to identify the gaps, tighten the enforcement, and work more closely with our partners to stop it.
That is exactly what this bill does.
It requires the Departments of Commerce, State, and Defense to develop coordinated strategies and options to prevent Iran from acquiring U.S. and allied technologies used in unmanned aerial systems.
It strengthens interagency coordination and engagement with our allies to ensure that we block Iran's access to drone technology.
This is not just about Iran. It is about making sure American innovation is not exploited by our adversaries to kill innocent people.
Every Iranian drone that reaches Russia, Hezbollah, the Houthis, or other malign actors strengthens America's enemies, and it puts lives at risk.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Keating for introducing this important piece of legislation, which passed out of the committee with broad bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2505.
Mr. Speaker, I will add this: Iranian drones are not just a regional threat. They are a global threat. They are being used to attack Ukraine, threaten Israel, empower terrorist proxies, and undermine international security. The United States cannot allow American or allied technology to become the backbone of Iran's drone arsenal.
This bill helps to close those gaps. It is a commonsense, low-cost, high-impact measure to protect U.S. technology, support our allies, and counter Iran's malign activities.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2505.
Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, August 28, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Mast: I write concerning H.R. 2505, the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 2505 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services, I agree to forego any further consideration of this resolution so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.
The Committee on Armed Services takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2505 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this resolution or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.
This legislation contains provisions that may require further modification prior to final consideration to ensure the support of the House Committee on Armed Services, particularly language related to export matters.
Finally, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included by House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Michael D. Rogers, Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, June 8, 2026. Hon. Mike Rogers, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Rogers: Thank you for consulting with the Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2505, the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act, so that the measure may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate conference on this legislation.
I will seek to place our letters on this bill into the Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work together as this measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Brian Mast, Chairman.
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Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2505, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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