Title: A bill to improve the response of the Department of Defense to threats to United States forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill directs the Department of the Army, as executive agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, to submit to Congress a strategy for the Armed Forces to counter threats from small unmanned aircraft systems worldwide. The bill requires reports on activities of the Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program and on threats from small unmanned aircraft systems, and an assessment by a research and development center of the efficacy of the program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4413 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4413

  To improve the response of the Department of Defense to threats to 
  United States forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 4, 2020

Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Johnson) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To improve the response of the Department of Defense to threats to 
  United States forces worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems.

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

SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPONSE TO THREATS TO UNITED STATES 
              FORCES WORLDWIDE FROM SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) United States military forces face an ever increasing 
        and constantly evolving threat from small unmanned aircraft 
        systems in operations worldwide, whether in the United States 
        or abroad.
            (2) The Department of Defense is already doing important 
        work to address the threats from small unmanned aircraft 
        systems worldwide, though the need for engagement in that area 
        continues.
    (b) Executive Agent.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Army is the executive 
        agent of the Department of Defense for programs, projects, and 
        activities to counter small unmanned aircraft systems, groups 
        1, 2, and 3 (known as ``Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
        for Unmanned Aircraft Groups 1, 2, and 3'' and in this section 
        referred to collectively as the ``Counter-Small Unmanned 
        Aircraft Systems Program'').
            (2) Functions.--The functions of the Secretary as executive 
        agent shall be as follows:
                    (A) To develop the strategy required by subsection 
                (c).
                    (B) To carry out such other activities to counter 
                threats to United States forces worldwide from small 
                unmanned aircraft systems as the Secretary of Defense 
                and the Secretary of the Army consider appropriate.
            (3) Structure.--The Secretary as executive agent shall 
        carry out the functions specified in paragraph (2) through such 
        administrative structures as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Strategy To Counter Threats From Small Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of the Army, as executive agent for the 
Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, shall develop and 
submit to relevant committees of Congress a strategy for the Armed 
Forces to effectively counter threats from small unmanned aircraft 
systems worldwide.
    (d) Report on Executive Agent Activities.--
            (1) Report required.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, 
        as executive agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft 
        Systems Program, shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description and assessment of the structure 
                and activities of the executive agent as established 
                and put in place by the Secretary, including any 
                obstacles hindering the effective discharge of its 
                functions and activities, including limitations in 
                authorities or policy.
                    (B) Recommendations for legislative or 
                administration action for any changes to statutes, 
                policies, or plans that may be required in order to 
                optimize the use by the Armed Forces of counter-small 
                unmanned aircraft systems.
                    (C) An assessment of the implementation of the 
                strategy required by subsection (c), and a description 
                of any updates to the strategy that are required in 
                light of evolving threats to the Armed Forces from 
                small unmanned aircraft systems.
    (e) Report on Threat From Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--
            (1) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        submittal of the strategy required by subsection (c), the 
        Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees 
        of Congress a report that sets forth a direct comparison 
        between the threats United States forces worldwide face from 
        small unmanned aircraft systems and the capabilities of the 
        United States to counter such threats. The report shall be 
        submitted in classified form.
            (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall prepare the report 
        required by paragraph (1) in coordination with the Director of 
        National Intelligence, other appropriate officials of the 
        intelligence community, and such other officials in the United 
        States Government as the Secretary considers appropriate.
            (3) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) An evaluation and assessment of the current and 
                evolving threat being faced by United States forces 
                worldwide from small unmanned aircraft systems.
                    (B) A description of the counter-small unmanned 
                aircraft systems acquired by the Department of Defense 
                as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and an 
                assessment whether such systems are adequate to meet 
                the current and evolving threat described in 
                subparagraph (A).
    (f) Independent Assessment of Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems Program.--
            (1) Assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the submittal 
        of the strategy required by subsection (c), the Secretary of 
        Defense shall seek to enter into a contract with a federally 
        funded research and development center to conduct an assessment 
        of the efficacy of the Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
        Program.
            (2) Elements.--The assessment conducted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall include the following:
                    (A) An identification of metrics to assess progress 
                in the implementation of the strategy required by 
                subsection (c), which metrics shall take into account 
                the threat assessment required for purposes of 
                subsection (e).
                    (B) An assessment of progress, and key challenges, 
                in the implementation of the strategy using such 
                metrics, and recommendations for improvements in the 
                implementation of the strategy.
                    (C) An assessment of the extent to which the 
                Department of Defense is coordinating adequately with 
                other departments and agencies of the United States 
                Government, and other appropriate entities, in the 
                development and procurement of counter-small unmanned 
                aircraft systems for the Department.
                    (D) An assessment of the extent to which the 
                designation of the Secretary of the Army as executive 
                agent for the Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
                Program has reduced redundancies and increased 
                efficiencies in procurement of counter-small unmanned 
                aircraft systems.
                    (E) An assessment whether United States 
                technological progress on counter-small unmanned 
                aircraft systems is sufficient to maintain a 
                competitive edge over the small unmanned aircraft 
                systems technology available to United States 
                adversaries.
            (3) Report.--Not later than one year after entry into the 
        contract referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting 
        forth the results of the assessment required under the 
        contract.
    (g) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select 
                Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the 
                Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House 
                of Representatives.
            (2) The term ``congressional defense committees'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, 
        United States Code.
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