American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9430
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T17:11:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9430: American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026
Purpose
The legislation aims to reduce U.S. law enforcement reliance on unmanned aircraft systems (drones) from certain foreign countries, promote domestic drone manufacturing, improve law enforcement security, and direct tariff revenues toward these goals.
Key Provisions
- Grant Eligibility Conditions: Starting in fiscal year 2027, law enforcement agencies must certify they will stop acquiring drones from covered foreign countries after January 1, 2027, and phase out existing ones by January 1, 2031, to qualify for certain Department of Justice grants.
- Buyback Program: Creates a program under the Attorney General to pay state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies for surrendering foreign-made drones or critical components, with priority for actively used systems; funds cover compensation, administration, and secure disposal.
- Procurement Grants: Authorizes grants through the Department of Justice for acquiring non-foreign drones, including training, maintenance, and integration, with preference for U.S.-made systems or those from allies without foreign components.
- Manufacturing Facility Grants: Establishes a competitive program under the Secretary of Commerce to fund construction, expansion, or modernization of U.S. facilities for drones and components, requiring adaptability for Department of Defense use and coordination with defense needs.
- Funding Source: Authorizes $1.5 billion from Section 301 tariff revenues, allocated as $150 million each for the buyback and procurement programs (available for 5 years, with unspent amounts rescinded for deficit reduction) and $1.2 billion for manufacturing grants.
- Oversight and Reporting: Requires reports from the Attorney General on buyback and grant activities, and from the Secretary of Commerce on manufacturing progress and defense applications.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new certification and compliance requirements for existing Department of Justice grant programs, establishes three new grant and buyback initiatives, and redirects tariff revenues for domestic industry support without altering core trade laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities and funding for the Department of Justice (grant oversight, buybacks) and Department of Commerce (manufacturing support), while involving the Department of Defense in compatibility reviews.
- Citizens and Law Enforcement: Provides financial support for agencies to transition to secure drones, potentially enhancing public safety operations but requiring operational changes by 2031.
- International Relations: Reduces dependence on drones from covered foreign countries, which may affect supply chains and diplomatic ties with those nations.
- Domestic Industry: Boosts U.S. manufacturing through targeted grants, with requirements for defense adaptability.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies.
- Private entities in the drone manufacturing sector.
- The Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, and Department of Defense.
- U.S. taxpayers, through use of tariff revenues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill relies on congressional spending authority to condition grants and allocate funds, raising potential questions about federal oversight of local law enforcement operations. It emphasizes national security priorities in technology procurement and domestic production.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Issa, Darrell [R-CA-48], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Barrett, Tom [R-MI-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Drone Manufacturing Dominance Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (11 pages)