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To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends federal espionage law to specifically prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information. The bill modifies section 793 of title 18 of the United States Code, which protects classified national defense information from unauthorized disclosure. The amendment adds 'video' to the list of recording methods already prohibited under espionage law, alongside photographic negatives and other means. The bill clarifies that capturing defense information via video recording is a federal crime. The amendment applies wherever photographic methods are already prohibited under current espionage statutes.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
13 cosponsors
- Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE)
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO)
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA)
- Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] (D-NC)
- Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8] (R-AZ)
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY)
- Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] (R-FL)
- Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7] (R-PA)
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA)
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA)
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH)
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA)
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA)
Actions (2)
- Apr 17, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Apr 17, 2025 Introduced in House
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2025
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Drone Espionage Act”.
SEC. 2. TAKING OR TRANSMITTING VIDEO OF DEFENSE INFORMATION PROHIBITED.
Section 793 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting “video,” after “photographic negative,” each place such term appears. <all>
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