‘They Keep Our Community Safe’: Lou Correa Encourages Drone Usage For Homeland Security Operations

6 days ago

During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) spoke in support of using drones for Homeland Security operations.

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Transcript

00:00At this time, I would like to recognize the ranking member for the Subcommittee on Border

00:06Security and Enforcement, the gentleman from the great state of California, Mr. Correa,

00:11for his opening statement.

00:13Thank you, Chairman Guest and Chairman Strong, for holding this most important hearing today.

00:17I want to thank our guests today as well.

00:21Thank you very much.

00:23Important hearing today on the use of unmanned aircraft systems across the HS.

00:29Today we're going to hear about how drones are used by the Department of Homeland Security

00:33to strengthen disaster response, border security, and keep Americans safe.

00:40It's important to hear from our partners under field, where the rubber meets the road, as

00:44well as those developing these critical technologies about what we in Congress can do to support

00:51federal, state, and local partners in this effort.

00:56And I believe we also need to continue to support research in new and emerging technologies

01:01like drones.

01:04With the terrible environmental disasters happening almost on a daily basis across the

01:08country, we must support our frontline partners with the tools that you need to do your jobs

01:15and keep our communities safe.

01:18Now I must say that I am concerned to see the administration moving to dismantle FEMA

01:25and to reduce the resources available for disaster response.

01:30Our partners in the field are facing greater challenges in delivering aid to those who

01:35need it the most on a timely basis.

01:39This hearing is timely as we continue to explore how we can better equip those in the front

01:45lines, especially as our resources continue to shrink under this administration.

01:52From the California wildfires to hurricanes and flooding in Florida and North Carolina,

01:58drones can help frontline personnel respond quickly and effectively to these situations.

02:05For example, drones can help first responders find the quickest route to respond to a disaster

02:12and assist with search and rescue missions.

02:15And as we saw during the terrible fires in Pasadena earlier this year, they can also

02:21provide first responders and the public with real-time information.

02:28And once disasters are contained, they can also help with damage assessment and identifying

02:34safe routes.

02:37Technologies such as drones not only help with disaster response, but they also keep

02:42our communities safe.

02:44And drones can enhance public safety by providing real-time situation awareness.

02:51They can also help law enforcement monitor and respond to illicit activities at the border,

02:56such as drug trafficking.

03:00And as we can see, drones also have an important role in enhancing public safety.

03:06This is why I introduced the bipartisan legislation earlier this year, the Drone Act of 2025,

03:14which would allow law enforcement to use federal grants to purchase and operate drones.

03:21In my discussions with law enforcement and emergency responders, it is clear that drones

03:26play a big and bigger role in saving lives.

03:32But as useful as the drones for law enforcement and first responders may be, we also need

03:38to prepare for those that use them against us.

03:43As ranking member of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, I've heard that

03:47cartels will use drones to carry drugs across the border and surveil men and women of DHS

03:56at the front lines.

03:58Last year, the top general for U.S. Northern Command testified in the Senate Armed Services

04:03Committee that drone incursions along our southern border likely exceed 1,000 per month.

04:13The threats posed by drones at our border increase the need to understand how DHS uses

04:19drones and is it set up sufficiently well to encounter and stop these drones.

04:26And I hope the committee will continue to do its good work so that our frontline officers

04:31can continue to be equipped to do the best job that they can protecting American citizens.

04:38It's also vital that the federal government collaborate with research centers, the private

04:43sector, with venture capitalists to develop and adopt cost-effective innovative technologies

04:50such as drones and counter-drone systems to help confront the challenges that are essentially

04:59on top of us now.

05:01We in Congress must continue to work together to create constructive opportunities for DHS,

05:09our state and local partners, to utilize new technologies to effectively respond to disasters,

05:17to save lives, to protect national security, to help trade, travel, and keep our communities

05:24safe.

05:25I look forward to this hearing today, look forward to taking notes from our witnesses

05:30about the recommendations you all may have regarding drones, countering drones, and protecting

05:38American lives.

05:39Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and with that I yield back.

‘They Keep Our Community Safe’: Lou Correa Encourages Drone Usage For Homeland Security Operations

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