Prepared Opening Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
“Defending Against Drones: Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities”
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Good morning, all.
Today’s hearing will highlight the challenges faced by state and local law enforcement when they encounter drones that pose threats to public safety.
In 2018, most of us serving on this committee, including myself and Ranking Member Durbin, voted to grant advanced counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) authorities to the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) for public safety functions.
These authorities have been extended temporarily eight times since they were originally signed into law in 2018, which is a testament to their importance.
The counter drone authorities granted to DOJ and DHS in 2018 left state and local law enforcement out of the framework, but the threats they face are the same.
As the threat of dangerous drone use continues to expand and evolve, Congress must find a way to equip law enforcement with vital tools while preserving civil liberties.
These principles are not incompatible.
Notably, the drone industry itself has been asking for clear rules and responsibly deployed counter drone authorities by state and local law enforcement for years.
Safer skies are better for everyone, including the amateur drone hobbyist.
Over the years, Congress has heard a lot from the federal government on this issue, but today we’ll hear state law enforcement officers tell us their part of this story.
The law enforcement professionals here today have unique perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges when it comes to the criminal use of drones.
These include correctional facilities, where organized crime groups bombard prisons with contraband like dangerous weapons, drugs, cell phones and tools to aid escape.
Illegal drone incursions force prisons around the country to lock down at the expense of those who seek rehabilitation, education and other programming while serving their sentences.
Drones are also a massive threat at our southern border, where cartels use them to conduct surveillance on U.S. law enforcement, to smuggle dangerous drugs into our communities and as weapons of war.
We can’t wait until a creative criminal or terrorist succeeds in a mass casualty attack before we act.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and federal law enforcement can’t be everywhere at once.
But, expanded law enforcement authorities must come with oversight and accountability.
Our witnesses today will tell you they are not afraid of oversight or accountability.
They’ve already taken oaths to defend the Constitution, as well as their communities.
I’m about to play a one-minute video displaying some of the creative and disturbing ways criminals use drones.
As it currently stands, there’s very little our state and local law enforcement professionals can do about them, and that needs to change.
-30-