UAS Act

To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from operating or procuring certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unmanned Aerial Security Act UAS Act 2. Prohibition on operation or procurement of certain foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems (a) Prohibition on agency operation or procurement Except as provided in subsection (b) and subsection (c)(3), the Secretary of Homeland Security may not operate, provide financial assistance for, or enter into or renew a contract for the procurement of— (1) an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that— (A) is manufactured in a covered foreign country or by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; (B) uses flight controllers, radios, data transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured in a covered foreign country or by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; (C) uses a ground control system or operating software developed in a covered foreign country or by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; or (D) uses network connectivity or data storage located in a covered foreign country or administered by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; (2) a software operating system associated with a UAS that uses network connectivity or data storage located in a covered foreign country or administered by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country; or (3) a system for the detection or identification of a UAS, which system is manufactured in a covered foreign country or by a business entity domiciled in a covered foreign country. (b) Waiyer (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to waive the prohibition under subsection (a) if the Secretary certifies in writing to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate that a UAS, a software operating system associated with a UAS, or a system for the detection or identification of a UAS described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of such subsection that is the subject of such a waiver is required— (A) in the national interest of the United States; (B) for counter-DAS surrogate research, testing, development, evaluation, or training; or (C) for intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare operations, testing, analysis, and or training. (2) Notice The certification described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Committees specified in such paragraph by not later than the date that is 14 days after the date on which a waiver is issued under such paragraph. (c) Effective dates (1) In general This Act shall take effect on the date that is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Waiyer process Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a process by which the head of an office or component of the Department of Homeland Security may request a waiver under subsection (b). (3) Exception Notwithstanding the prohibition under subsection (a), the head of an office or component of the Department of Homeland Security may continue to operate a UAS, a software operating system associated with a UAS, or a system for the detection or identification of a UAS described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of such subsection that was in the inventory of such office or component on the day before the effective date of this Act until— (A) such time as the Secretary of Homeland Security has— (i) granted a waiver relating thereto under subsection (b); or (ii) declined to grant such a waiver; or (B) one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever is later. (d) Drone origin security report to Congress Not later than 180 days 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 a terrorism threat assessment and report that contains information relating to the following: (1) The extent to which the Department of Homeland Security has previously analyzed the threat that a UAS, a software operating system associated with a UAS, or a system for the detection or identification of a UAS described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) operating in the United States poses, and the results of such analysis. (2) The number of UAS, software operating systems associated with a UAS, or systems for the detection or identification of a UAS described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) in operation by the Department, including an identification of the component or office of the Department at issue, as of such date. (3) The extent to which information gathered by a UAS, a software operating system associated with a UAS, or a system for the detection or identification of a UAS described in any of paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a) could be employed to harm the national or economic security of the United States. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Business entity The term business entity 15 U.S.C. 6764 (2) Covered foreign country The term covered foreign country (A) the intelligence community has identified as a foreign adversary in its most recent Annual Threat Assessment; or (B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, has identified as a foreign adversary that is not included in such Annual Threat Assessment. (3) Intelligence community The term intelligence community 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) (4) Unmanned aircraft system; UAS The terms unmanned aircraft system UAS unmanned aircraft system July 19, 2023 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Unmanned Aerial Security Act or the UAS Act This bill prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from operating, financing, or procuring unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or UAS operating, detection, or identification systems that are manufactured in certain foreign countries or by business entities domiciled in such foreign countries. Applicable foreign countries include those identified as foreign adversaries in the intelligence community's latest annual threat assessment and other countries designated by DHS. DHS may waive the prohibition for (1) the national interest of the United States; (2) counter-UAS surrogate research, testing, development, evaluation, or training; or (3) intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare operations, testing, analysis, and training. An office or component of DHS may continue to operate a UAS or system in its inventory that would otherwise be prohibited until DHS grants or denies a waiver or until one year after this bill is enacted, whichever is later.