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Governor Kathy Hochul is calling on Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act after drones grounded aircraft at Stewart Airport in New York’s Hudson Valley for over an hour. Hochul stated that the drone activity has “gone too far.”
“This bill would reform legal authorities to counter-UAS and strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones, and would extend counter-UAS activities to select state and local law enforcement agencies,” Hochul said in a statement. “Extending these powers to New York State and our peers is essential. Until those powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden Administration must step in by directing additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”
Drones have been appearing across the East Coast, in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. It’s unclear where they are coming from, though there are no indications that foreign actors are involved. Senator-elect Andy Kim (D-NJ) and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan have both posted videos of possible drone sightings.
The bill Hochul referenced, initially introduced by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), has bipartisan support. Co-sponsors include Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Sam Graves (R-MO), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Garret Graves (R-LA), and Seth Magaziner (D-RI). Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, has also supported the bill.
“It’s imperative that we not only make sure that the current authorities are extended to protect our national security, but also work together to responsibly reform the current legal authorities that provide federal agencies with critical tools to mitigate credible threats posed by UAS,” Pfluger said.
Magaziner, the subcommittee’s ranking member, echoed the sentiment. “The time has come for Congress to expand the authority of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to better utilize monitoring, tracking, and jamming technologies to protect critical areas, including our borders, large public events, prisons, and sensitive government facilities, while also ensuring the civil liberties of drone operators,” he said.
The growing concern over drone activity has caught national attention, with President-elect Donald Trump commenting on the issue. “Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
