II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 430 

To provide authority to enter into a cooperative agreement to protect civilians 

in Iraq and on the Arabian Peninsula from weaponized unmanned aerial 

systems. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2023 

Mr. RISCH (for himself and Mr. MENENDEZ) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To provide authority to enter into a cooperative agreement 

to protect civilians in Iraq and on the Arabian Peninsula 

from weaponized unmanned aerial systems. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

4 It is the sense of Congress that— 

5 (1) the United States should improve coopera6 tion with allies, including Israel, and like-minded 

7 partners to systematically map out, expose, and dis8 rupt missile and drone procurement networks used 

9 by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and 


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1 other Iranian proxies targeting United States forces 

2 and assets and United States allies and partners in 

3 the region; 

4 (2) the partner countries of the United States, 

5 including Iraq and countries on the Arabian Penin6 sula, face urgent and emerging threats from un7 manned aerial systems and other unmanned aerial 

8 vehicles; 

9 (3) joint research and development to counter 

10 unmanned aerial systems will serve the national se11 curity interests of the United States and its partners 

12 in Iraq and on the Arabian Peninsula; 

13 (4) development of counter Unmanned Aircraft 

14 Systems technology will reduce the impacts of these 

15 attacks, build deterrence, and increase regional sta16 bility; and 

17 (5) the United States and partners in Iraq and 

18 on the Arabian Peninsula should continue to work 

19 together to protect against the threat from un20 manned aerial systems. 

21 SEC. 2. DEFINED TERM. 

22 In this Act, the term ‘‘Arabian Peninsula’’ means 

23 Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United 

24 Arab Emirates, and Yemen. 


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1 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE 

2 AGREEMENT TO PROTECT CIVILIANS IN IRAQ 

3 AND ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA FROM 

4 WEAPONIZED UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The President is authorized to 

6 enter into a cooperative project agreement with Iraq and 

7 countries on the Arabian Peninsula under the authority 

8 of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 

9 2767) to carry out research on and development, testing, 

10 evaluation, and joint production (including follow-on sup11 port) of defense articles and defense services to detect, 

12 track, and destroy armed unmanned aerial systems that 

13 threaten the United States and its partners in Iraq and 

14 on the Arabian Peninsula. 

15 (b) APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The cooperative project 

17 agreement described in subsection (a)— 

18 (A) shall provide that any activities carried 

19 out pursuant to such agreement are subject 

20 to— 

21 (i) the applicable requirements de22 scribed in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) 

23 of section 27(b)(2) of the Arms Export 

24 Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767(b)(2)); and 

25 (ii) any other applicable requirements 

26 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 


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1 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) with respect to the 

2 use, transfer, and security of such defense 

3 articles and defense services under such 

4 Act; and 

5 (B) shall establish a framework to nego6 tiate the rights to intellectual property devel7 oped under such agreement. 

8 (2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION REQUIRE9 MENTS.—Notwithstanding section 27(g) of the Arms 

10 Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767(g)), any de11 fense articles that result from a cooperative project 

12 agreement shall be subject to the requirements 

13 under subsections (b) and (c) of section 36 of such 

14 Act (22 U.S.C. 2776). 

15 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO USE 

16 OF MILITARY FORCE. 

17 Nothing in this Act may be construed as an author18 ization for the use of military force. 

Æ 


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