H.R. 1646 — Introduced in House

I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1646 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2015 Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself and Mr. Thompson of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to research how small and medium sized unmanned aerial systems could be used in an attack, how to prevent or mitigate the effects of such an attack, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act. 2. Drone assessment and analysis (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall research how commercially available small and medium sized unmanned aerial systems could be used to perpetuate an attack and, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Energy, develop Federal policies, guidance, and protocols to prevent such an attack or mitigate the effects of such an attack. (b) Dissemination to State and local officials The Secretary of Homeland Security shall disseminate information to State, local, and tribal law enforcement officials regarding how such officials may bolster preparedness for and responses to attacks perpetrated by commercially available small and medium sized unmanned aerial systems. (c) Report Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate an assessment of the security threat associated with the commercial availability of small and medium sized unmanned aerial systems. Such assessment shall be informed by research conducted in accordance with subsection (a) and may be developed in coordination with the Centers of Excellence of the Department of Homeland Security and other academic institutions.