I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7586 
To establish a Department of State Domestic Protection Mission relating 
to unmanned aircraft system and unmanned aircraft. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 7, 2024 
Mr. MILLS (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Judiciary, and En-
ergy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a Department of State Domestic Protection 
Mission relating to unmanned aircraft system and un-
manned aircraft. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DOMESTIC PROTEC-
TION MISSION. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding section 46502 of 
title 49, United States Code, sections 32, 1030, 1367, and 
chapters 119 and 206 of title 18, United States Code, or 
section 705 of the Communications Act of 1934, the Sec-
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retary of State may take, and may authorize appropriate 
personnel, including Bureau of Diplomatic Security per-
sonnel and contractors, with assigned duties that include 
safety, security, or protection of personnel, facilities, or 
assets, to take, such actions described in subsection (b)(1) 
that are necessary to mitigate a credible threat (as defined 
by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Federal 
Aviation Administration) that an unmanned aircraft sys-
tem or unmanned aircraft poses to the safety or security 
of a covered facility or asset. 
(b) ACTIONS DESCRIBED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The actions described in this 
paragraph are the following: 
(A) During the operation of the unmanned 
aircraft system, detect, identify, monitor, and 
track the unmanned aircraft system or un-
manned aircraft, without prior consent, includ-
ing by means of intercept or other access of a 
wire communication, an oral communication, or 
an electronic communication used to control the 
unmanned aircraft system or unmanned air-
craft. 
(B) Warn the operator of the unmanned 
aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, including 
by passive or active, and direct or indirect phys-
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ical, electronic, radio, and electromagnetic 
means. 
(C) Disrupt control of the unmanned air-
craft system or unmanned aircraft, without 
prior consent, including by disabling the un-
manned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft 
by intercepting, interfering, or causing inter-
ference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio com-
munications used to control the unmanned air-
craft system or unmanned aircraft. 
(D) Seize or exercise control of the un-
manned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft. 
(E) Seize or otherwise confiscate the un-
manned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft. 
(F) Use reasonable force to disable, dam-
age, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system 
or unmanned aircraft. 
(2) RESEARCH, TESTING, TRAINING, AND EVAL-
UATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 46502 of title 49, United States Code, sec-
tions 32, 1030, 1367, and chapters 119 and 
206 of title 18, United States Code, or section 
705 of the Communications Act of 1934, the 
Secretary of State shall conduct research, test-
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ing, training on, and evaluation of any equip-
ment, including any electronic equipment, to de-
termine its capability and utility prior to the 
use of any such technology for any action de-
scribed in paragraph (1). Personnel, including 
contractors, who do not have duties that include 
the safety, security, or protection of people, fa-
cilities, or assets may engage in research, test-
ing, training, and evaluation activities pursuant 
to this section. 
(B) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 
coordinate procedures governing research, test-
ing, training, and evaluation for carrying out 
any provision in this section with the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
before initiating such activities so the Adminis-
trator may ensure the activities do not ad-
versely impact or interfere with safe airport op-
erations, navigation, air traffic services, or the 
safe and efficient operation of the national air-
space system. 
(c) FORFEITURE.—Any unmanned aircraft system or 
unmanned aircraft described in subsection (a) that is 
seized by the Secretary of State is subject to forfeiture 
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to the United States pursuant to the provisions of chapter 
46 of title 18, United States Code. 
(d) REGULATIONS AND GUIDANCE.—The Secretary 
of State and the Secretary of Transportation, in consulta-
tion with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Com-
munications and Information of the National Tele-
communications and Information Administration, may 
prescribe regulations and shall issue guidance in the re-
spective areas of each Secretary to carry out this section. 
(e) COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 
develop the actions described in subsection (b)(1) in 
coordination with the Secretary of Transportation 
(through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration), and the Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Communications and Information of 
the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration. 
(2) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Secretary 
of State shall coordinate with the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration prior to any ac-
tion authorized by this section so the Administrator 
may ensure the action does not adversely impact or 
interfere with safe airport operations, navigation, air 
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traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of 
the national airspace system. 
(3) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Secretary 
of State shall coordinate the development of guid-
ance and regulations under subsection (d) with the 
Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Com-
munications Commission, and the National Tele-
communications and Information Administration. 
(4) FURTHER COORDINATION.—Before issuing 
any guidance under subsection (d), or otherwise im-
plementing this section, the Secretary of State shall 
coordinate with the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration to ensure such guidance or 
implementation is designed to preserve safe airport 
operations, navigation, air traffic services, and the 
safe and efficient operation of the national airspace 
system. 
(f) PRIVACY PROTECTION.—The regulations pre-
scribed or guidance issued under subsection (d) shall en-
sure that— 
(1) the interception or acquisition of, access to, 
or maintenance or use of communications to or from 
an unmanned aircraft system under this section is 
conducted in a manner consistent with the First and 
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Fourth Amendments to the Constitution and appli-
cable provisions of Federal law; 
(2) communications to or from an unmanned 
aircraft system are intercepted, acquired, or accessed 
only to the extent necessary to support the actions 
described in subsection (b); 
(3) records of such communications are main-
tained only for as long as necessary, and in no event 
more than 180 days, unless the Secretary of State 
determines that maintenance of such records— 
(A) is necessary to investigate or assist in 
the prosecution of a violation of law; 
(B) is necessary to directly support an on-
going security, law enforcement, or national de-
fense operations; or 
(C) is required under Federal statue, regu-
lation, or for the purpose of litigation; and 
(4) such communications are not disclosed out-
side the Department of State unless the disclosure— 
(A) is necessary to investigate or assist in 
the prosecution of a violation of law; 
(B) would support the Department of De-
fense, a Federal law enforcement, intelligence, 
or security agency, or a State, local, tribal, or 
territorial law enforcement agency; 
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(C) would support the enforcement activi-
ties of a regulatory agency of the Federal Gov-
ernment in connection with a criminal or civil 
investigation of, or any regulatory, statutory, or 
other enforcement action relating to, an action 
described in subsection (b); 
(D) is between the Department of State 
and a Federal, State, local, tribal, or territorial 
law enforcement agency in the course of a secu-
rity or protection operation of either agency or 
a joint operations of such agencies; or 
(E) is otherwise required by law. 
(g) BUDGET.—The Secretary of State shall submit 
to Congress, as a part of the budget presentation docu-
ments for each fiscal year following the enactment of this 
provision, a consolidated funding display that identifies 
the funding source for the actions described in subsection 
(b)(1) within the Department of State. The funding dis-
play shall be in unclassified form but may contain a classi-
fied annex. 
(h) ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.— 
(1) FACILITIES
AND
SERVICES
OF
OTHER 
AGENCIES AND NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES.—The Sec-
retary is authorized to use, solicit, or accept from 
any other Federal agency, or any other public or pri-
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vate entity, supplies, services, or funds to facilitate 
or take the actions provided for in subsection (b). 
The Secretary may use, solicit, or accept such sup-
plies, services, or funds with or without reimburse-
ment and notwithstanding any provision of law that 
would prevent such use or acceptance. The Secretary 
in implementing subsection (l)(3)(C) may enter into 
agreements with other executive agencies and with 
appropriate officials of other non-Federal public or 
private agencies or entities, as may be necessary and 
proper to carry out their responsibilities under this 
section. 
(2) MUTUAL SUPPORT.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to provide support or assistance, upon the 
request of an agency or department conducting a 
mission specified in section 210G of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124n), section 130i 
of title 10, United States Code, or section 4510 of 
the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2661), 
in fulfilling the requesting agency’s or department’s 
roles and responsibilities for that mission, when exi-
gent circumstances exist, limited to a specified time-
frame and location, within available resources, on a 
reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis, in coordina-
tion with the Federal Aviation Administration. 
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(i) SEMIANNUAL BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On a semiannual basis be-
ginning six months following the enactment of this 
provision during the seven-year period beginning 
upon enactment of this provision, the Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Transportation shall 
jointly provide a briefing to the appropriate congres-
sional committees on the activities carried out pursu-
ant to this section. Such briefings shall include a de-
scription of— 
(A) policies, programs, and procedures to 
mitigate or eliminate impacts of such activities 
to the National Airspace System; 
(B) instances where actions described in 
subsection (b)(1) have been taken; 
(C) the guidance, policies, or procedures 
established to address privacy, civil rights, and 
civil liberties issues implicated by the actions 
authorized under this section and any changes 
or subsequent efforts that would significantly 
affect privacy, civil rights, or civil liberties; 
(D) how the Secretaries have informed the 
public as to the possible use of authorities 
under this section; 
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(E) how the Secretaries have engaged with 
Federal, State, and local law enforcement agen-
cies to implement and use such authorities; and 
(F) a description of the impact of the au-
thorities granted under this section on lawful 
operator access to national airspace and UAS 
integration into the national airspace system. 
(2) FORM.—Each briefing under paragraph (1) 
shall be in unclassified form but may be accom-
panied by an additional classified briefing. 
(j) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to— 
(1) vest in the Secretary of State any authority 
of the Secretary of Transportation or the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration under 
title 49, United States Code; and 
(2) vest in the Secretary of Transportation or 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration any authority of the Secretary of State. 
(k) TERMINATION.—The authority provided by sub-
section (a) shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after 
the enactment of this Act. 
(l) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
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(A) the Senate Foreign Relations Com-
mittee and the House Foreign Affairs Com-
mittee; 
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence, 
the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate; and 
(C) the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives; 
(2) the term ‘‘budget’’, with respect to a fiscal 
year, means the budget for that fiscal year that is 
submitted to Congress by the President under sec-
tion 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; 
(3) the term ‘‘covered facility or asset’’ means 
any facility or asset that— 
(A) is identified as high-risk and a poten-
tial target for unlawful unmanned aircraft ac-
tivity by the Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the Federal Aviation Administration, with 
respect 
to 
potentially 
impacted 
airspace, 
through a risk-based assessment for purposes of 
this section; 
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(B) is located in the United States (includ-
ing the territories and possessions of the United 
States); 
(C) directly relates to the security and pro-
tective missions of the Department of State, in-
cluding those consistent with— 
(i) the Omnibus Diplomatic Security 
and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 
4801, et seq.); and 
(ii) section 37 of the State Depart-
ment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 
U.S.C. 2709); and 
(D) when fulfilling personal protection re-
sponsibilities 
consistent 
with 
U.S.C. 
4802(a)(1)(D), 
4802(a)(2)(B)(vii), 
4802 
(a)(2)(B)(viii), and 2709(a)(3), is limited to a 
specified timeframe at a static location; 
(4) the terms ‘‘electronic communication’’, 
‘‘intercept’’, ‘‘oral communication’’, and ‘‘wire com-
munication’’ have the meanings given those terms in 
section 2510 of title 18, United States Code; 
(5) the term ‘‘personnel’’— 
(A) means officers, employees, and con-
tractors of the Department of State with as-
signed duties that include safety, security, or 
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protection of personnel, facilities, or assets and 
who are trained and certified to perform such 
duties, including training specific to countering 
unmanned aircraft threats and mitigating risks 
in the national airspace; and 
(B) includes contractors conducting oper-
ations under subsections (a) and (b) if the con-
tractors are— 
(i) directly contracted by the Depart-
ment of State; 
(ii) operating at a government owned 
or government leased facility; 
(iii) not conducting inherently govern-
mental functions; and 
(iv) trained and certified by the De-
partment of State as meeting established 
Department guidance and regulations; 
(6) the term ‘‘risk-based assessment’’ includes 
an evaluation of threat information specific to a cov-
ered facility or asset and, with respect to potential 
impacts on the safety and efficiency of the national 
airspace system and the needs of law enforcement 
and national security at each covered facility or 
asset identified by the Secretary, of each of the fol-
lowing factors: 
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(A) Potential impacts to safety, efficiency, 
and use of the national airspace system, includ-
ing potential effects on manned aircraft and un-
manned aircraft 30 systems, aviation safety, 
airport operations, infrastructure, and air navi-
gation services related to the use of any system 
or technology for carrying out the actions de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1). 
(B) Options for mitigating any identified 
impacts to the national airspace system related 
to the use of any system or technology, includ-
ing minimizing when possible the use of any 
technology which disrupts the transmission of 
radio or electronic signals, for carrying out the 
actions described in subsection (b)(1). 
(C) Potential consequences of the impacts 
of any actions taken under subsection (b)(l) to 
the national airspace system and infrastructure 
if not mitigated. 
(D) The ability to provide reasonable ad-
vance notice to aircraft operators consistent 
with the safety of the national airspace system 
and the needs of law enforcement and national 
security. 
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(E) The setting and character of any cov-
ered facility or asset, including whether it is lo-
cated in a populated area or near other struc-
tures, whether the facility is open to the public, 
whether the facility is also used for nongovern-
mental functions, and any potential for inter-
ference with wireless communications or for in-
jury or damage to persons or property. 
(F) Potential consequences to national se-
curity, public safety, or law enforcement if 
threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems are 
not mitigated or resolved; and 
(7) the terms ‘‘unmanned aircraft’’ and ‘‘un-
manned aircraft system’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
Æ 
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