HR 6620 Introduced – UAS Threat Assessment

Back in July Rep. Richmond (D,LA) introduced HR 6620, the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act. The bill requires data collection and analysis activities about the threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The bill would require the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) within 120 days to {§2(a)}:

• Request additional information from other agencies of the Federal Government, State and local government agencies, and the private sector relating to threats of unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging threats associated with such new technologies;

• Develop and disseminate a security threat assessment regarding unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging threats associated with such new technologies;

• Establish a secure reporting infrastructure for reporting information on emerging threats, such as the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems

Within one year of the bill being adopted, OIA would be required to report to Congress on the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems.

No monies are authorized by this bill.

Moving Forward

This bill will be considered by the House Homeland Security Committee tomorrow. I suspect that the bill will receive bipartisan support. If this bill does come to the floor of the House before the end of the session (probable) it will almost certainly be considered under the suspension of the rules process with minimal debate, no amendments and would require a supermajority to pass.

I really doubt that if this bill were considered in the House that it would make it to the floor of the Senate before the 115^th Senate adjourns for good in December.

Commentary

This is another one of those motherhood and apple pie bills that allows congress critters to feel good about ‘doing something’ without raising any controversies or spending any money. Unfortunately, it will accomplish virtually nothing.

Oh yes, the bill includes an attempt to cover the important tech buzz words in §2(b)(3):

“establish and utilize, in conjunction with the Chief Information Officer of the Department and other relevant entities, a secure communications and information technology infrastructure, including data-mining and other advanced analytical tools, in order to access, receive, and analyze data and information in furtherance of the responsibilities under this section, including by establishing a voluntary mechanism whereby critical infrastructure owners and operators may report information on emerging threats, such as the threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems.”

They missed ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘blockchain’; maybe they can add those tomorrow.