A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program.

To improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security’s Unmanned Aircraft System Program. 1. Definitions In this Act: (1) Illegal border activities The term illegal border activities (2) Southern border The term Southern border (3) UAS The term UAS 2. Persistent surveillance along the Southern border (a) In general The Department of Homeland Security shall fully utilize surveillance and detection capabilities developed or used by the various Federal departments and agencies for the purpose of enhancing the functioning and operational capability to conduct continuous and integrated manned or unmanned, monitoring, sensing, or surveillance of 100 percent of Southern border mileage or the immediate vicinity of the Southern border. (b) Procurement of additional unmanned aircraft systems (1) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security may not procure any additional UAS until after the Secretary provides Congress with written certification that the Department of Homeland Security successfully operated its current fleet of UAS at least 23,000 hours during the preceding calendar year. (2) Exemption The limitation set forth in paragraph (1) shall not apply to the procurement of unmanned aircraft that do not weigh more than 150 pounds. (c) Use of best available radar and surveillance technology The Department of Homeland Security shall use the best available radar and surveillance technology— (1) to increase awareness of illegal border activities along the Southern border; and (2) to identify gaps in surveillance capabilities. 3. Report to Congress Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and biannually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives (1) the total number of UAS hours required to provide persistent surveillance along the Southern border; (2) the total number of UAS flight hours planned in support of any Federal or State department or agency; (3) the number of planned UAS flight hours in support of the goal referred to in paragraph (1); (4) the number of hours in which UAS were flown in support of the goal referred to in paragraph (1); (5) the number of planned UAS flight hours in support of the goal referred to in paragraph (1) that were cancelled before takeoff, including the reason for such cancellations; (6) performance measures regarding— (A) the number of hours flown by the current fleet of UAS operated by the Department of Homeland Security; (B) the number of subjects detected though the use of UAS; (C) the number of apprehensions assisted by the use of UAS; and (D) the number and quantity of illicit drug seizures assisted by the use of UAS; and (7) all accumulated cost associated with the Unmanned Aircraft System Program within the Department of Homeland Security, including— (A) salaries of pilots; and (B) costs associated with radar and surveillance technology. 4. Interagency collaboration The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with the Secretary of Defense to identify the best practices used by the Department of Defense that could also be used by the Department of Homeland Security to improve the security of the Southern border by enhancing wide aerial surveillance and fulfilling the requirements set forth in section 2. 5. Sunset This Act shall be repealed on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully utilize surveillance and detection capabilities developed or used by federal agencies to enhance the functioning and operational capability to conduct continuous and integrated manned or unmanned monitoring, sensing, or surveillance of 100% of the southern border of the United States. Prohibits DHS from procuring any additional unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) until it provides written certification that it successfully operated its current UAS fleet at least 23,000 hours during the preceding calendar year. Excepts the procurement of unmanned aircraft that do not weigh more than 150 pounds. Requires DHS to: (1) use the best available radar and surveillance technology to increase awareness of illegal border activities along the southern border and to identify gaps in surveillance capabilities; and (2) consult with the Department of Defense to identify best practices that could be used by DHS to improve the security of the southern border. Directs DHS to report biannually on: the number of UAS flight hours required, planned, and flown to provide persistent surveillance along the southern border and the number of flight hours cancelled; the number of UAS flight hours planned in support of any federal or state agency; performance measures regarding the number of hours flown, subjects detected, and apprehensions and illicit drug seizures assisted; and the accumulated cost associated with the UAS Program. Terminates this Act five years after its enactment.