Title: To require the Department of Defense to revise the system used for categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment within the Department of Defense (DOD) to initiate a process to review and revise the system used by DOD for categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, as described in Joint Publication 3-30 titled Joint Air Operations.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5202 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5202

  To require the Department of Defense to revise the system used for 
    categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2021

  Mr. Bacon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Department of Defense to revise the system used for 
    categorizing unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. REQUIRED REVISION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
              SYSTEMS CATEGORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment shall initiate a process to review and revise the system 
used by the Department of Defense for categorizing unmanned aircraft 
systems, as described in Joint Publication 3-30 titled ``Joint Air 
Operations''.
    (b) Required Elements for Revision.--In revising the 
characteristics associated with any of the five categories of unmanned 
aircraft systems in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall 
consider the effect a revision would have on--
            (1) the future capability and employment needs to support 
        current and emerging warfighting concepts;
            (2) advanced systems and technologies available in the 
        current commercial marketplace;
            (3) the rapid fielding of unmanned aircraft systems 
        technology; and
            (4) the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the 
        National Airspace System.
    (c) Consultation Requirements.--In carrying out the review required 
under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 
and Sustainment shall consult with--
            (1) the Secretaries of the Military Departments;
            (2) the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
            (3) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
    (d) Report Required.--Not later than March 1, 2022, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
describing the results of the review initiated under subsection (a), 
any revisions planned to the system used by the Department of Defense 
for categorizing unmanned aircraft systems as a result of such review, 
and a proposed implementation plan and timelines for such revisions.
                                 <all>