[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1620 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1620

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    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
    Resolved, 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.
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