Calling on law enforcement led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration to provide an immediate briefing to the public on the current drone situation in New Jersey and New York.

Bill: 118-hres-1620
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced: 2024-12-18
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-18
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1620 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 18, 2024 Mr. Gottheimer submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure , and Homeland Security , 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 RESOLUTION Calling on law enforcement led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration to provide an immediate briefing to the public on the current drone situation in New Jersey and New York.

Whereas weeks before Thanksgiving, New Jersey residents began seeing unidentified drones flying in the sky; Whereas residents in at least 10 counties across New Jersey have reported seeing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) (commonly referred to as drones ) and other drone-like objects; Whereas some reports by witnesses have even suggested that these drones were the size of small cars or planes; Whereas, on December 8, 2024, there were a reported 49 sightings in one night in New Jersey; Whereas, as of September 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration registered an estimated 1,700,000 unmanned aircraft systems, with more than 70 percent being reportedly used for recreational uses; Whereas while technology and drones can provide many positive benefits to our businesses and economy, they can also be used for nefarious purposes, including providing new capabilities for criminals, including terrorists; Whereas, on November 26, 2024, drones flying near a landing zone prevented a medical helicopter from picking up a person injured in a car crash in Somerset County, New Jersey; Whereas, in 2019, a drone was spotted 3,500 feet over Teterboro Airport, halting Newark Airport traffic; Whereas drones and other UAS have been spotted at Picatinny Arsenal and Round Valley Reservoir, the largest in New Jersey and a critical part of the State’s water supply; Whereas, on December 13, 2024, Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, which is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was shut down due to a drone sighting; and Whereas drones and other unidentified objects have been spotted in other States, such as New York, and Maryland: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the work and duty of State and local law enforcement in responding to the public; (2) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Authority to be transparent and provide information to the public where possible; (3) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Authority to provide an immediate briefing to the public on the current drone situation in New Jersey; (4) calls on Federal law enforcement agencies, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Authority, to work closely with State and local law enforcement to deploy assets that can take down unauthorized drones; and (5) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Authority to evaluate whether additional security measures are necessary to protect critical sites from potential drone-related threats.