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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The deployment of Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems |
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at the United States-Mexico border presents a complex challenge |
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requiring seamless coordination among federal, state, and local |
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entities; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the security of international borders is a |
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shared responsibility, states are not permitted to engage in UAS |
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detection or mitigation activities to counter credible threats; |
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current federal statutes only allow four federal departments, |
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Homeland Security, Justice, Defense, and Energy, to conduct |
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Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems operations for border security |
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purposes; states are also preempted from regulating aviation safety |
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and airspace use, which are under the exclusive domain of the |
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Federal Aviation Administration; and |
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WHEREAS, While federal agencies have highly developed |
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expertise in Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems, state and local |
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officials possess valuable on-the-ground knowledge and resources |
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that could enhance efforts to address the threat of UAS at the |
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border; the ability to respond to UAS threats would be greatly |
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enhanced through joint training opportunities, increased |
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information sharing, and the establishment of clear protocols for |
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rapid communication and coordination in response to UAS incidents; |
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in addition, states bordering other countries would need funding |
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for acquisition, operational, and training costs involved in |
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deploying anti-drone technology; and |
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WHEREAS, Federal law enforcement officials are advocating |
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for Congress to expand C-UAS authorities to state, local, tribal, |
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and territorial partners, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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has indicated support for the swift expansion of C-UAS authority to |
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these SLTT partners; moreover, the issue has given rise to proposed |
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legislation, including the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, |
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and Reauthorization Act (H.R.8610), which aims to create a pilot |
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program that would provide select state and covered law enforcement |
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agencies with some drone-mitigation powers; recent reports of |
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cartels threatening to target federal agents with explosive-laden |
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UAS underline the urgency of taking action; and |
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WHEREAS, The security of our borders is crucial to the safety |
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and well-being of all citizens, and the evolving nature of the UAS |
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threat demands the utmost efficiency and effectiveness in |
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coordination among federal, state, and local entities; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to enhance |
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coordination among federal, state, and local authorities in the |
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deployment of C-UAS technologies for border security; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, to the secretaries |
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of Homeland Security and Defense, and to all the members of the |
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Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this |
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resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to |
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the Congress of the United States of America. |
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