Sheila Jackson Lee: “As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1646, the ``Homeland Security…”

“As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1646, the ``Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act.'' I support this bipartisan legislation because it addresses the potential terrorist threat posed by small and medium-sized drones throughout our country. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Watson Coleman of New Jersey, for introducing this thoughtful and necessary legislation that will assist the Department of Homeland Security. The Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act would require the Department of Homeland Security to research how commercially available small and medium-sized drones could be used to perpetrate an attack. Agencies will be tasked with the responsibility of taking the lead for developing effective policies and guidance along with the proper protocols which will assist in preventing an attack perpetrated with a drone. Information regarding how to properly respond to the potential threats from these drones will be distributed to state and local law enforcement agencies to allow them to develop approaches to mitigate identified threats. The protocols that will be developed as a result of this legislation will assist every level of law enforcement in coordinated responses to a drone related emergency.…”