S. 159 · 114th Congress
A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program.
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 114th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
R
McCainSponsor2 cosponsors · 2 R
2 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
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.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jan 13, 2015
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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's Unmanned Aircraft System Program.
Latest action (Jan 13, 2015): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jan 13, 2015
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.