Lawmakers want counter-drone measure in short-term funding legislation

Two lawmakers are calling for a counter-drone measure to be added into the short-term funding legislation Congress needs to pass in the coming days.

Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) urging them to include a measure in the continuing resolution that addresses the recent spike in drone sightings.

“In light of the recent incidents involving drones spotted over the eastern seaboard, we urge you to swiftly take action on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) legislation that will allow for state and local law enforcement to protect their communities from this emerging threat in the year end continuing resolution,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter.

Unidentified drones have been spotted across New York and New Jersey, leaving residents questioning what they are and if they’re safe, and state and federal officials offering little explanation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has assured the public that there is no foreign involvement in the drone sightings and that officials are being “vigilant” in investigating what was going on.

However, several lawmakers have been calling for the federal government to release more information.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) suggested the drones were Iranian, which the Pentagon disputed. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said they were “almost certainly planes,” and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for more answers from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In their letter, Houlahan and Garbarino acknowledged that DHS and the Department of Justice have said there are no immediate national security threats, but also noted that leaders from both departments have been “extremely clear” in multiple appearances before Congress that the government does not have enough resources to “handle every drone threat alone.”

In an interview Sunday, Mayorkas noted that there are hundreds of drones flown across the country every day.

The representatives argued that with the number of unregistered drones in the country, “these sort of incidents are likely to become only more common,” and said state law enforcement should be empowered to deal with drone threats.

Their calls for local authorities to be more involved echo those of others, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

The lawmakers wrote that they were in favor of a “limited pilot program” that would allow the counter-drone technology to be used responsibly in various local and state jurisdictions.

“There has been bipartisan legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate that will address this emerging threat, including our bill H.R.4333. It is essential that as you consider a year-end continuing resolution, that this package include an expansion of the current C-UAS authorities to allow local and state law enforcement to access these technologies,” they concluded.

The government spending deadline is Dec. 20, as congressional negotiators are struggling to reach a deal over the continuing resolution.

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