S 1809 119th Congress
Drone Espionage Act
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking or transmitting video of defense information, and for other purposes.
Official Title as Introduced Congress.gov
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Bill journey
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Introduction Congress.gov
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Introduced in Senate
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Introduced in Senate
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs. Hearings held.
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Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
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Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
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Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
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Reported to Senate
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View the complete bill journey as an accessible table
| Date and time | Record | Official detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IntroductionIntroduced | Introduced in the Senate. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionIntroduced in Senate | No additional detail supplied.IntroReferral · Library of Congress · Code 10000 | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionIntroduced in Senate | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs. Hearings held. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316. | No additional detail supplied.Calendars · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Senate | Congress.gov | |
| Official actionCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report. | No additional detail supplied.Committee · Library of Congress · Code 14000 | Congress.gov | |
| Text versionReported to Senate | A dated text-version record is available. | Congress.gov |
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Congressional Research Service
CRS summary
Drone Espionage ActThis 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.
Official documents
Text versions
- Reported to SenateFeb 9, 2026
- Introduced in SenateMay 20, 2025