RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Steps in “Drone Response Strategy” 

Above: Gottheimer discusses the current federal responses to drones. 

MAHWAH, NJ — Today, December 16, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) next steps in his “Drone Response Strategy.” 

Gottheimer also announced his legislation, the RADAR Act, is now bipartisan, being recently joined by Representative Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). This legislation expands federal grants for our local law enforcement to make radar systems more available to state and local police. 

A recording of the announcement can be found here.

“Let me say this clearly: I believe the people I represent and, as I’ve been saying for some time now, the people in New Jersey and around the country deserve answers. They deserve transparency from their government,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I assure you, I will continue working around the clock, speaking with federal officials, local law enforcement, and our Governor, to get as much information as I can out to the public.”

Gottheimer’s New Action Includes: 

• First, Gottheimer is introducing legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on the FBI, DHS, and FAA to publicly brief on what they know about the drones – showing what they can and taking questions.
• Second, Gottheimer has set up a new page on his website for New Jersey residents to share information and tips on their latest drone sightings. Gottheimer will share this information with the FBI, DHS, FAA, the intelligence community, and local law enforcement to ensure they review it.
• Third, Gottheimer is pushing to establish a new Drone Air Traffic Control System, similar to those used for airplanes, to help establish a system to ensure that unauthorized, unlicensed drones aren’t flying in places they shouldn’t be.
• Finally, Gottheimer is pushing legislation to equip law enforcement with the resources they need to help track drone activity, coordinate with their federal partners, and take out drones that shouldn’t be in the air.
  • This includes the bipartisan RADAR Act, which will expand federal grants for our local law enforcement to make radar systems more available to state and local police.
  • This legislation was recently joined by Representative Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11).

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard from scores of my constituents, including members of local law enforcement, regarding drone sightings in my county and around the state. As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I’ve also been in regular touch with the leading law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies, including the FBI, DHS, and the FAA, and let me say this clearly: I believe the people I represent and, as I’ve been saying for some time now, the people in New Jersey and around the country deserve answers. They deserve transparency from their government. 

I won’t let the government insult the American people, and claim they aren’t seeing things they are seeing with their own two eyes. Is it possible that some of the sightings are airplanes or helicopters, or enthusiasts putting up their drones to mess with people? Sure. But, you’re telling me thousands of sightings are? That just doesn’t add up. Even DHS finally reversed course and the Secretary of Homeland Security admitted that yesterday, when he said, “there is no question that people are seeing the drones.” 

When folks, including law enforcement, see unusually large drones overhead, they’re not all making it up. It’s one thing if these are small recreational drones you get for the holidays to take pictures at the beach or at a wedding — but according to reports, people appear to be seeing massive drones.  

Today, I’m announcing the next steps of my “Drone Response Strategy.” First, later today, I’ll be introducing a resolution calling on the FBI, DHS, and FAA — the lead agencies, to publicly brief on what they know about the drones – not a paper statement, but a proper public session where they review what they know and take questions. 

The FBI, DHS, and the Department of Defense have told us that, based on their analysis and tracking systems, there is no imminent public threat. And, based on my briefings with them, and my conversations with our police officers, I feel confident that that’s the case. That said, we still don’t have a good explanation for the sudden surge of drone sightings. Are they all unregistered, unlicensed, and unauthorized to be where they are? Are they collecting data, doing reconnaissance, or just joyriding? All I know is that families here in Jersey don’t know, and that’s creating a massive vacuum of uncertainty and anxiety. That’s unacceptable. All the federal officials in charge should more clearly brief the public. Right now, there’s too many folks giving different information — the responsible agencies should properly brief.

I’ll tell you this: we can’t have drones flying over military bases, where apparently, they’ve been spotted, over reservoirs, police stations, airports, homes, or over critical infrastructure. The federal agencies responsible for monitoring drone activity are not being transparent, and it seems like they are telling us different things every day. It’s confusing to the public, and to state and local law enforcement who receive the brunt of the incoming concerns. 

Second, I continue to receive calls, questions, and information about drone sightings here in northern New Jersey. Also, there are postings of sightings all over the Internet – some of them true and others, I’m concerned, are being posted to scare people. The key is getting the best information over to the proper federal agencies responsible for sightings in an organized manner to help them get to the bottom of this and communicate with the public. I’m setting up a new page on my website today where people from New Jersey can share information and tips on their latest drone sightings. I plan to share this information with the FBI, DHS, FAA, the intelligence community, and local law enforcement. The site is Gottheimer.House.Gov/Drones. 

I have an intelligence committee briefing this week, and I plan to share the content I receive. If it turns out that these sightings are nothing to worry about, then the FBI, DHS, and other relevant agencies should immediately communicate that, and I know folks will sleep better knowing that — it’s all about more transparency and more information, and that’s what I am asking for.

Third, I’ll be pushing to establish a new Drone Air Traffic Control System, just like we have for airplanes. With all of the recent drone activity, and more expected with package delivery, and other commercial uses in the future, there should be a tracking system that law enforcement and others can access.

As drone use continues to surge, we need to give local and state law enforcement a radar system to track drones, and ensure that, for larger and nonrecreational drones, we have a system to ensure that unauthorized, unlicensed drones aren’t flying in places they shouldn’t be. Jersey, or any state for that matter, cannot be the wild west of drones. People shouldn’t have to worry about what’s overhead. Again, I’m not talking about small drones you’d get for Christmas and fly on the beach. I’m talking about drones that are unregistered and unauthorized.

Finally, I will continue to push my legislation that equips our law enforcement, who are the best in the world, with the resources they need to help track drone activity, coordinate with their federal partners, and take out drones that shouldn’t be in the air. The bipartisan RADAR Act, which Representative Nicole Malliotakis just joined and is cosponsoring with me, will expand federal grants for our local law enforcement to make radar systems more available to state and local police. This will help ensure that only the drones that should be in the air — are in the air. We must ensure federal, state, and local governments have the resources they need to detect and counter drone threats should they arise.

I assure you, I will continue working around the clock, speaking with federal officials, local law enforcement and our Governor, to get as much information as I can out to the public. 

Together, with the new actions I am announcing today, we will protect our communities and ensure that in the greatest country in the world, our best days are and always continue to be ahead of us.

God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

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