Review – HR 4590 Introduced – Codifying EO 14305

Back in July Rep Finstad (R,MN) introduced HR 4590, that would codify Executive Order 14305, Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty. That EO notes that it is “the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS.” No new spending is authorized.

Moving Forward

Finstad is not a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which this bill was assigned for primary consideration. This means that it is unlikely that there will be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. I suspect that the bill would not receive much support from Committee leadership as it would dilute the Committee’s efforts to pass a more comprehensive cUAS bill.

Three additional committees are also generally required to approve consideration of this bill before it moves to the House. The Energy and Commerce Committee would not be expected to  move forward any bill sponsored by the T&I committee as that Committee has advanced a bill (HR 5061) that would remove the E&C committee from oversight of cUAS activities. Thus, unless the Speaker overrides the objections of the E&C committee, this bill will not be able to move forward to the floor of the House.

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill and its underlying executive order, including a commentary on codifying executive orders, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-4590-introduced-codifying-eo-14305 - subscription required.

Review – HR 5061 Introduced – cUAS Authority

Back in August Rep Garbarino (R,NY) introduced HR 5061, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act. This bill is a comprehensive attempt to address issues related to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cUAS) activities. It includes amendments to, and an extension of, the cUAS authorities granted to DHS and DOJ under 6 USC 124n. No new spending is authorized.

HR 5061 is similar to HR 8610, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, that was introduced by Rep Green (R,TN) in June of 2024. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a business meeting on September 18^th, 2024 where HR 8610 was considered. The bill was amended and ordered reported favorably. The Committee’s Report was published on September 20^th, 2024. No further action was taken in the House.

Moving Forward

On September 3^rd, 2025, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a business meeting, where HR 5061 was considered. The Committee approved substitute language by a vote of 60 to 0 and ordered the bill reported favorably as amended. When the Committee’s report is published, the bill will be cleared for consideration by the full House (if the chairs of the two other committees assigned for consideration, Judiciary and Homeland Security, sign off on the consideration). I suspect that the bill would be considered under the House suspension of the rules process, where it would likely pass with strong bipartisan support.

 

For more details about the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-5061-introduced-cuas-authority - subscription required.

Another Markup Hearing – 9-3-25

This afternoon, the House added another markup hearing to the schedule for this week. Tomorrow the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a business meeting tomorrow to consider three items. One of those items is of interest here: HR 5061, the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2025. The Committee plans to consider substitute language for that bill.

Review - Bills Introduced – 8-29-25

Yesterday, with the House and Senate meeting in the last pro forma session of the summer recess, there were 23 bills introduced. Two of those bills will receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5061 Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act Garbarino, Andrew R. [Rep.-R-NY-2] 

HR 5062 Pipeline Security Act Johnson, Julie [Rep.-D-TX-32]

 

For more information on these bills, including legislative history for similar bills in the 118th, as well as a mention in passing of a bill providing for UAP whistleblower protections, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-8-29-25 - subscription required.