One congressman is moving to protect the soft underbelly of America’s critical infrastructure with a new bill.
Republican Tennessee Rep. Matt Van Epps unveiled a House version of Sen. Tom Cotton’s Critical Infrastructure Airspace Defense Act Tuesday, which aims to shield hospitals, power plants, water treatment sites, and dams from potential drone attacks. The bill would make grants available to private companies to purchase government-approved anti-drone technologies, and could even extend to data centers.
“The bill gives the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and others, the ability to determine which critical infrastructure facilities need these authorities,” Van Epps told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “This could include anything from critical water systems to power plants and potentially even data centers.”
“As Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated in a recent House Homeland Security Committee hearing, developing counter-drone capabilities is a top priority, especially when considering upcoming major events,” Van Epps said. “I agree, but the threat goes even further. America’s adversaries are increasingly turning to cheap, easily deployable drones to target the critical infrastructure that keeps our country running.”
“Our hospitals, power plants, water treatment facilities, and other critical infrastructure sites can’t remain sitting ducks for potential drone attacks,” Cotton said when he introduced the bill on April 23, according to a press release. “My bill will ensure these important sites are protected from all unauthorized drones.”
Republican Alabama Rep. Dale Strong voiced his concern that drone threats may be more pervasive than just infrastructure at budget hearing in early June, noting they could be used against civilians attending international events like the 2028 Olympics.
“Counter-UAS is, I think, the largest concern that I have on a daily basis,” Strong said on Friday at the House Homeland Security Committee. “And we look forward to seeing what that’s going to produce by 2028 when the Olympics are here.”
The bill would give give companies “authority to use counter-unmanned aircraft system technologies to private owners of critical infrastructure facilities, and for other purposes,” according to the Senate version of the bill.
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