119-hres118

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

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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