Drones for First Responders Act

Elise M. Stefanik

Republican · NY · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

3 cosponsors on record at Congress.gov. The named list is syncing into Govwatch and will appear here shortly — view on Congress.gov in the meantime.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

2025-06-06

Source: Congress.gov

Drones for First Responders Act This bill imposes additional duties (i.e., tariffs) and limitations on the importation of unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) and drone components sourced from China. Specifically, the bill imposes an additional duty on Chinese drones that incrementally increases from 30% (30 days after the bill's enactment) to $100 each plus 50% (four years after the bill's enactment and thereafter). Beginning in 2031, a drone may not enter the United States unless it is accompanied by a document required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish that the drone does not contain specified components (e.g., radios or cameras) manufactured in China. CBP must confirm the document's veracity. The Federal Aviation Administration must provide CBP with a list of drones that qualify for an exemption from the prohibition. Generally, drones may not enter the United States under an exemption if they are wholly manufactured by a covered foreign entity (e.g., a Chinese military company) or in a foreign adversary country (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran). The bill also (1) establishes the Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems for First Responders Fund within the Treasury, (2) requires revenues from tariffs imposed on Chinese drones to be deposited into the fund, and (3) authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to use the fund to make grants to first responders, farmers and ranchers, and providers of critical infrastructure for secure drones (i.e., drones that are not manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign entity or in a foreign adversary country).

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

• HR7894Truman Scholarship Clean House Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-07-02
• HR9203Student Protection and University Accountability Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-25
• HR2916To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes.
  Passed House · 2026-06-03
• HR5213No Federal Funds for Cashless Bail Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-04