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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 118 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 118

   Calling on Federal 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 
    regarding the recent drone activity in New Jersey and New York.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 6, 2025

 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 Federal 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 
    regarding the recent drone activity in New Jersey and New York.

Whereas, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving 2024, residents of New Jersey 
        began reporting sightings of unidentified drones flying in the sky;
Whereas residents in at least 10 counties across New Jersey have reported 
        sightings of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and other drone-like 
        objects;
Whereas some witness reports suggest that certain drones were as large as small 
        cars or planes;
Whereas, on December 8, 2024, there were 49 reported drone sightings in a single 
        night in New Jersey;
Whereas, as of September 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had 
        registered approximately 1.7 million unmanned aircraft systems, more 
        than 70 percent of which are reportedly used for recreational purposes;
Whereas while drones and advancing technology provide significant benefits to 
        businesses and the economy, they may also be exploited for nefarious 
        purposes, including criminal and terrorist activities;
Whereas, on November 26, 2024, drones flying near a designated landing zone 
        prevented a medical helicopter from responding to a car crash victim in 
        Somerset County, New Jersey;
Whereas drones and other UAS have been spotted near sensitive sites such as 
        Picatinny Arsenal and Round Valley Reservoir, a critical component of 
        New Jersey's water supply;
Whereas, on December 13, 2024, Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York--
        operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey--was forced to 
        close its runways for approximately one hour due to drone activity in 
        the airspace;
Whereas drones and other unidentified aerial objects have also been reported in 
        multiple States in addition to New Jersey and New York;
Whereas, on January 28, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 
        stated that many of these drones were authorized and known to the 
        government; and
Whereas Press Secretary Leavitt further stated: ``After research and study, the 
        drones flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be 
        flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons.'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the efforts and dedication of State and 
        local law enforcement in addressing public concerns regarding 
        drone activity;
            (2) calls on the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation 
        Administration to provide transparency and release information 
        to the public regarding recent drone activity where possible;
            (3) urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation 
        Administration to conduct an immediate briefing to inform the 
        public about the current drone situation in New Jersey;
            (4) calls on Federal law enforcement agencies, led by the 
        Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland 
        Security, to collaborate with State and local law enforcement 
        in deploying resources to mitigate unauthorized drone activity; 
        and
            (5) requests that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation 
        Administration assess whether additional security measures are 
        necessary to protect critical infrastructure and public safety 
        from potential drone-related threats.
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