Capital District Times

On September 9, 2024, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik delivered remarks on the House Floor advocating for her bill, the Countering CCP Drones Act. The proposed legislation aims to restrict the use of Chinese-manufactured drones by state and local agencies, including police departments. According to Stefanik, this measure is essential for U.S. national security and will boost American drone manufacturing, reducing reliance on China and preventing surveillance of critical American infrastructure.

In her speech, Stefanik thanked several colleagues for their bipartisan support: "I want to thank Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chairman Latta, Ranking Member Pallone, and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their bipartisan support of this legislation." She also acknowledged Majority Leader Scalise for his role in bringing these bills to the floor.

Stefanik highlighted concerns over Chinese technology: "The Chinese Communist Party is working to undermine American sovereignty by forcing Americans to rely and depend on unsecure Communist Chinese technology." She pointed out that the CCP's "Made in China 2025" initiative has allowed Chinese-manufactured drones to dominate the market through aggressive subsidies and unfair trade practices.

She noted that DJI drones have flooded the U.S. market due to these policies: "Allowing artificially cheap DJI drones to monopolize our skies has decimated American drone manufacturing and given our greatest strategic adversary eyes in our skies." She emphasized that DJI drones pose significant risks to U.S. national security by collecting information on critical infrastructure.

Furthermore, Stefanik stated that DJI is listed as a Chinese Military Company by the U.S. Department of Defense because it supports the modernization efforts of the People’s Liberation Army: "Not only does DJI improve the equipment of our greatest strategic adversary... they also actively aid the CCP in carrying out genocidal crimes against ethnic minorities."

The Countering CCP Drones Act seeks to place DJI on the FCC’s Covered List, prohibiting new models from operating in America. This move aims to bolster U.S. drone companies' competitiveness and eliminate reliance on CCP-manufactured drones.

Stefanik concluded her remarks by urging colleagues to support her bill: "We have three months to reverse the course of these successes. The passage of my Countering CCP Drones Act is a critical step in that direction."