Political Quotes

“This amendment is similar to one that I brought to the floor of the House 2 years ago. During that 2 years, there has been a lot of discussion about the use of unmanned aircraft, commonly referred to as drones, in the U.S. national airspace. The constitutional protections that are important to so many of us can be infringed upon without constant vigilance to prevent abuse of such drones. Until recently, it was believed that the use of drones in the United States airspace was limited to surveillance. That is no longer the case. To date, at least 17 police departments and sheriffs' offices across the country have filed certificates of authorization with the FAA to be able to use a drone. Police chiefs and sheriffs in districts around the country have applied to the FAA for a certificate of authorization to use a drone in the national airspace. Some departments might be using the drones for surveillance. However, others have announced their intention to take the drones they are currently using and attach a weapons platform to patrol their jurisdictions. Further, over the past few years, the Obama administration's policy regarding drones has been cryptic. For instance, it is still not clear whether the President believes that he has the authority to kill an American citizen on American soil. This amendment would put an end to that ambiguity. This amendment does not affect the use of armed drones in a war zone.…”