,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjbj,ms4 ,hassan 7for herself and ,mr4 ,johnson7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,armed ,services ,a ,,bill ,to improve the response of the ,department of ,defense to threats to ,united ,states forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems4 #a4 ,department of ,defense response to threats to ,united ,states forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,united ,states military forces face an ever increasing and constantly evolving threat from small unmanned aircraft systems in operations worldwide1 whether in the ,united ,states or abroad4 7#b7 ,the ,department of ,defense is already doing important work to address the threats from small unmanned aircraft systems worldwide1 though the need for engagement in that area continues4 7b7 ,executive agent 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,army is the executive agent of the ,department of ,defense for programs1 projects1 and activities to counter small unmanned aircraft systems1 groups #a1 #b1 and #c 7known as ,counter ,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems for ,unmanned ,aircraft ,groups #a1 #b1 and #c and in this section referred to collectively as the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program74 7#b7 ,functions ,the functions of the ,secretary as executive agent shall be as follows3 7,a7 ,to develop the strategy required by subsection 7c74 7,b7 ,to carry out such other activities to counter threats to ,united ,states forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems as the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary of the ,army consider appropriate4 7#c7 ,structure ,the ,secretary as executive agent shall carry out the functions specified in paragraph 7#b7 through such administrative structures as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7c7 ,strategy ,to counter threats from small unmanned aircraft systems ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,army1 as executive agent for the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program1 shall develop and submit to relevant committees of ,congress a strategy for the ,armed ,forces to effectively counter threats from small unmanned aircraft systems worldwide4 7d7 ,report on executive agent activities 7#a7 ,report required ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,army1 as executive agent for the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program1 shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program4 7#b7 ,elements ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a description and assessment of the structure and activities of the executive agent as established and put in place by the ,secretary1 including any obstacles hindering the effective discharge of its functions and activities1 including limitations in authorities or policy4 7,b7 ,recommendations for legislative or administration action for any changes to statutes1 policies1 or plans that may be required in order to optimize the use by the ,armed ,forces of counter-small unmanned aircraft systems4 7,c7 ,an assessment of the implementation of the strategy required by subsection 7c71 and a description of any updates to the strategy that are required in light of evolving threats to the ,armed ,forces from small unmanned aircraft systems4 7e7 ,report on threat from small unmanned aircraft systems 7#a7 ,report required ,not later than #ahj days after the submittal of the strategy required by subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report that sets forth a direct comparison between the threats ,united ,states forces worldwide face from small unmanned aircraft systems and the capabilities of the ,united ,states to counter such threats4 ,the report shall be submitted in classified form4 7#b7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall prepare the report required by paragraph 7#a7 in coordination with the ,director of ,national ,intelligence1 other appropriate officials of the intelligence community1 and such other officials in the ,united ,states ,government as the ,secretary considers appropriate4 7#c7 ,elements ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an evaluation and assessment of the current and evolving threat being faced by ,united ,states forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems4 7,b7 ,a description of the counter-small unmanned aircraft systems acquired by the ,department of ,defense as of the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and an assessment whether such systems are adequate to meet the current and evolving threat described in subparagraph 7,a74 7f7 ,independent assessment of ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program 7#a7 ,assessment ,not later than #fj days after the submittal of the strategy required by subsection 7c71 the ,secretary of ,defense shall seek to enter into a contract with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an assessment of the efficacy of the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program4 7#b7 ,elements ,the assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,an identification of metrics to assess progress in the implementation of the strategy required by subsection 7c71 which metrics shall take into account the threat assessment required for purposes of subsection 7e74 7,b7 ,an assessment of progress1 and key challenges1 in the implementation of the strategy using such metrics1 and recommendations for improvements in the implementation of the strategy4 7,c7 ,an assessment of the extent to which the ,department of ,defense is coordinating adequately with other departments and agencies of the ,united ,states ,government1 and other appropriate entities1 in the development and procurement of counter-small unmanned aircraft systems for the ,department4 7,d7 ,an assessment of the extent to which the designation of the ,secretary of the ,army as executive agent for the ,counter-,small ,unmanned ,aircraft ,systems ,program has reduced redundancies and increased efficiencies in procurement of counter-small unmanned aircraft systems4 7,e7 ,an assessment whether ,united ,states technological progress on counter-small unmanned aircraft systems is sufficient to maintain a competitive edge over the small unmanned aircraft systems technology available to ,united ,states adversaries4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than one year after entry into the contract referred to in paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the results of the assessment required under the contract4 7g7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services and the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services and the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section #aja7;a77#af7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code4