Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday blocked a bill that sought to bolster state and local authorities’ ability to track and investigate mysterious drones spotted in states like New Jersey and New York.
Paul argued the legislation would unnecessarily expand surveillance powers without clear evidence of a national security threat, according to The Hill.
The bill, supported by Senate Democrats, aimed to enhance coordination between local law enforcement, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address a surge in drone sightings.
However, Paul dismissed the urgency of the issue, stating, “The Biden administration keeps saying, well, it’s all normal stuff.”
Paul, who is expected to chair the Senate Homeland Security Committee, expressed reservations about rushing to grant “sweeping surveillance powers” without careful deliberation. “This body must not rush to grant sweeping surveillance powers without proper consideration and debate by the committees of jurisdiction,” Paul said during his remarks on the Senate floor.
He pointed out that federal agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have found no evidence that the drones pose an immediate threat to national security or public safety.
READ: House Homeland Security Chairman Demands Action On Unexplained Drone Sightings Across Northeast
“Why don’t we actually get to the truth of the matter of what actually exists and what the threat is before we propose legislation?” Paul questioned.
The bill, spearheaded by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), aimed to strengthen local law enforcement’s collaboration with the Department of Defense and the FAA. It was designed to address concerns raised by over 5,000 recent drone sightings across the Northeast and other parts of the country.
According to The Hill, Paul argued that existing federal authority already allows agencies to investigate and restrict drones in sensitive areas, such as commercial airspace, military bases, and high-profile events like the Super Bowl. “The federal government already has the authority to stop drones from flying into restricted airspace,” he said, emphasizing that additional legislation was premature.
READ: Florida Rep. Carlos Giménez Warns Of Growing National Security Threat From Drone Activity
The mysterious drone sightings have drawn significant media attention, particularly in the Northeast. While federal agencies maintain that the drones do not currently pose a significant threat, some lawmakers and officials argue that the phenomenon warrants closer scrutiny and better tracking measures.
Paul’s decision to block the bill highlights the ongoing tension between bolstering national security and safeguarding individual privacy. The debate over how to handle the increasing presence of drones in U.S. airspace is likely to continue as lawmakers balance competing priorities in the next Congress.
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