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H.R. 2939: Drone Espionage Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-04-17 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Drone Espionage Act

Plain summary

Drone Espionage Act This bill makes it a federal crime under the Espionage Act to engage in certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting video of national defense information. The term national defense information means information or other material that is related to national defense. The Espionage Act prohibits certain activities related to obtaining, receiving, or transmitting national defense information that could harm the United States or aid a foreign nation. Under current law, the prohibitions only apply if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by certain means, such as a sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blueprint, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document, writing, or note. Under current law, a violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. This bill makes the criminal prohibitions under the Espionage Act applicable if national defense information is obtained, received, or transmitted by means of video. Under this bill, a violator is subject to the same penalties as under existing law—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Drone Espionage Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] · 13 cosponsors

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Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr2939 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills