Drone activity has ‘gone too far,’ Biden must step in: Hochul – Washington Examiner


Drone activity has ‘gone too far,’ Biden must step in: Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is fed up with the mysterious drone sightings in her state that have begun to disrupt day-to-day operations.

She’s now calling on Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act after drones blocked any aircraft from taking off in Stewart Airport in New York’s Hudson Valley for an hour. Hochul said the drone activity has “gone too far.”

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“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,” she said in a statement.

“Extending these powers to New York State and our peers is essential,” she said. “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.”

Assorted drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems have been popping up all over the East Coast in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. It’s not just citizens seeing them. Sen.-elect Andy Kim (D-NJ) posted a video of his sighting of a possible drone, and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan did the same.

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Their origin is unknown, but it is believed that they do not originate from foreign sources.

The bill Hochul mentioned, first introduced by Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), was placed on the House’s Union Calendar Sept. 20 and has bipartisan support. Its 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, voiced his support for the bill earlier this month.

“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,” he said at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

Magaziner, ranking member of the subcommittee, concurred.

“The time has come for Congress to expand the authority of Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to better utilize monitoring, tracking, and single 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 drone activity has been splashed across the recent news cycle, with President-elect Donald Trump weighing in.

“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 in a Truth Social post.



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