American Security Drone Act of 2019

To ban the Federal procurement of certain drones and other unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Security Drone Act of 2019 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Covered foreign entity The term covered foreign entity (A) a covered entity (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce); (B) any entity that is subject to ex­tra­ju­di­cial direction from a foreign government, as determined by the Director of National Intelligence; (C) any entity the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, determines poses a national security risk; (D) any entity subject to influence or control by the Government of the People Republic of China or the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (E) any subsidiary or affiliate of an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D). (2) Covered unmanned aircraft The term covered unmanned aircraft 3. Ban on procurement of foreign off-the-shelf drones and unmanned aircraft systems (a) In general Except as provided under subsections (b) and (c), the head of an executive agency may not procure any commercial off-the-shelf drone or covered unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity, including any Original Equipment Manufacturer flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country. (b) Exemption The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense are exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation or procurement— (1) is for the purposes of training, testing, or analysis for— (A) counter-UAS surrogate intelligence; (B) electronic warfare; or (C) information warfare operations; and (2) is required in the national interest of the United States. (c) Waiver The head of an executive agency may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of Defense and notification to Congress. 4. Prohibition on operation of foreign commercial off-the-shelf drones and small unmanned aircraft systems (a) Prohibition (1) In general Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal department or agency may operate a commercial off-the-shelf drone or covered unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity. (2) Phase-in period for existing contracts The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall not apply, during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, to commercial off-the-shelf drones and covered unmanned aircraft systems procured through a contract entered into before the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Exemption The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense are exempt from the restriction under subsection (a) if the operation or procurement— (1) is for the purposes of training, testing, or analysis for— (A) counter-UAS surrogate intelligence; (B) electronic warfare; or (C) information warfare operations; and (2) is required in the national interest of the United States. (c) Waiver The head of an executive agency may waive the prohibition under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of Defense and notification to Congress. (d) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations to implement this section. 5. Prohibition on use of Federal funds for purchases and operation of commercial off-the-shelf drones and unmanned aircraft systems from China No Federal funds awarded through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement or otherwise made available may be used to purchase a commercial off-the-shelf drone or covered unmanned aircraft system, or a system to counter unmanned aircraft systems, that is manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity or in connection with the operation of such a drone or system. 6. Comptroller General report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the amount of commercial off-the-shelf drones and covered unmanned aircraft systems procured by Federal departments and agencies from covered foreign entities.

Summary: American Security Drone Act of 2019 This bill bans the procurement or use by the federal government of commercial off-the-shelf drones or other unmanned aircraft systems manufactured or assembled by certain entities, including entities subject to influence or control by China, with exceptions. Federal funds may not be used to purchase or operate such a drone or system, or a system to counter unmanned aircraft systems, that is manufactured or assembled by such an entity. The Government Accountability Office shall report regarding such drones or systems procured by federal agencies from foreign entities.