Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik reintroduced the Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act, an initiative designed to bolster the U.S. drone industry, reduce reliance on foreign adversaries, and enhance national security.
Stefanik was joined by China Select Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) in reintroducing this critical legislation.
The Drones for First Responders (DFR) Act aims to address U.S. dependency on Communist Chinese-controlled drones, which currently make up 90% of the drones used by American first responders. This legislation seeks to implement new tariffs on Communist Chinese-controlled drones and use the revenue to fund a new grant program to allow first responders, critical infrastructure providers, and farmers to purchase drones manufactured by the U.S. and its allies.
“My legislation will establish a revenue neutral grant program to help Americans purchase drones securely made by the U.S. and our allies,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I’m proud to reintroduce the Drones for First Responders Act, which will increase the competitiveness of U.S. drone manufacturers and provide first responders with the secure, high-quality drones they need to protect and serve our communities in Upstate New York, the North Country, and across our nation."
“Chinese drones pose an unacceptable surveillance risk to our first responders, our infrastructure, and our national security. For too long, the CCP has exploited unfair trade practices to dominate the global drone market and flood the United States with spyware-laden technology. I’m proud to co-sponsor Rep. Stefanik’s Drones for First Responders Act, which takes a clear-eyed approach: penalize the CCP’s economic aggression and give Americans the tools they need to transition to secure, U.S.-made drones. This is about protecting our communities, rebuilding American manufacturing, and cutting off the CCP’s access to sensitive data.” said Chairman Moolenaar.
“The Chinese Communist Party is a clear and present threat to our national security and relying on their drones for our first responders is not only dangerous, but unacceptable,” said Congressman LaHood. “I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the Drones for First Responders Act to ensure safe and reliable equipment. This critical piece of legislation supports American drone manufacturing and protects our communities. The United States must stand firm against foreign threats while prioritizing American innovation.”
“The United States should not be reliant on Communist China for drones that are critical to our nation’s first responder operations,” said Congressman Wittman. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Drones for First Responders Act to enable our first responders to purchase secure drones, increase the competitiveness of American drone manufacturers, and enhance U.S. national security. We simply cannot cede control of the drone market to the Chinese Communist Party.”
“The DFR Act is a reasonable, strategic step toward reducing dependence on adversarial suppliers, without pulling the plug overnight on investments made into drone technology. This legislation delivers a smart, enforceable, timely incentive structure to strengthen our industrial base, enhance public safety, and ensure that our first responders, farmers, and infrastructure operators aren’t forced to choose between capability and security. Congress must act with urgency to pass the DFR Act and follow through with broader, sustained investment in secure, U.S.-aligned drone manufacturing,” said Michael Robbins, CEO of AUVSI.
"An alarming number of drones operated by U.S. first responders are made in China and controlled by the CCP. Using aggressive subsidies, direct government investment, and favorable regulations to undercut our national security interests, they are dominating the global drone market over U.S. manufacturers," said Jon Toomey, President of the Coalition for A Prosperous America (CPA). "Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Stefanik, CPA believes that tariffs tied with subsidies to incubate new manufacturing industries here in the U.S. is precisely the kind of policy Congress should be embracing.”
Key Provisions of the Drones for First Responders Act:
- Tariffs on Chinese Drones: The bill imposes new incrementally increasing tariffs on PRC drones, starting at 30% and increasing by 5% annually to counter China’s unfair trade practices and level the playing field for U.S. drone manufacturers.
- Grant Program: The bill establishes a revenue-neutral grant program that will help first responders, critical infrastructure providers, and farmers purchase drones manufactured and assembled in the U.S. or allied countries.
- Strengthened Rule of Origin: By 2030, drones imported into the U.S. must meet strengthened rules of origin, ensuring that critical components are not sourced from China.
Context and Background:
The People's Republic of China has made significant inroads into the global drone market using subsidies and favorable regulations to undercut U.S. drone manufacturers. PRC-based companies, such as DJI, have come under scrutiny from U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense, which has twice certified that DJI drones are advancing China’s military capabilities.
Moreover, both a 2017 Homeland Security Intelligence Bulletin and a 2024 CISA industry alert have highlighted the significant risks that Chinese-made drones pose to U.S. critical infrastructure and national security.
Congresswoman Stefanik originally introduced this legislation in May 2024.
Read the full text of the bill here.
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