Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act
This bill requires plans to prevent Iran from acquiring certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a strategy to supplement the existing U.S. sanctions regime against Iran by preventing the export to Iran of certain technologies (including microcontrollers, voltage regulators, and microprocessors) that can be used in the development and employment of UAS.
The Department of State must develop a strategy to engage with European and Asian allies and partners to prevent the export of these technologies to Iran by such allies and partners.
The Department of Defense must develop a range of options that may be employed by the U.S. Armed Forces to counter or deny the ability of Iran to acquire these technologies, computer-aided design software, and computer numerical control machines.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1809 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1809
To require the development of strategies and options to prevent the
export to Iran of certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft
systems, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2023
Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Phillips,
and Ms. Tenney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the development of strategies and options to prevent the
export to Iran of certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft
systems, 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 ``Block the Use of Transatlantic
Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation initiated
a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
(2) The Russian Federation's war of aggression against
Ukraine first began in 2014.
(3) In response to the Russian Federation's brutal war of
aggression against Ukraine, the United States, and allies and
partners of the United States, have enacted punitive sanctions
against the Russian Federation, further limiting the access of
the Russian Federation to critical technologies that could
support such war of aggression.
(4) Since February 2022, the Russian Federation has
bombarded Ukrainian infrastructure and locations actively used
by civilians, using both cruise missiles and self-detonating
unmanned aircrafts packed with explosives during these waves of
attacks.
(5) Following these attacks, weapons used by the Russian
Federation have been thoroughly analyzed and it has been
discovered that the Russian Federation is increasingly using
unmanned aircraft systems produced and sold by Iran.
(6) In November 2022, it was reported that the Russian
Federation and Iran made a deal wherein Iran would produce
hundreds of unmanned aircrafts for the Russian Federation.
(7) Unmanned aircraft systems produced by Iran and used in
Ukraine by the Russian Federation, including unmanned aircraft
downed in Ukraine, were found to have been made with components
designed and built by United States and European companies and
later transferred to Iranian entities despite sanctions as a
result of the dual use properties of such components.
(8) The Biden Administration has established an interagency
task force to investigate how United States and Western-made
technology has been incorporated into unmanned aircraft systems
produced by Iran and take appropriate steps in response.
(9) On January 6th, 2023, the Biden Administration enacted
new sanctions targeting the unmanned aircraft industry and
missile industry of Iran, designating seven individuals in
leadership positions with Qods Aviation Industries and the
Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) controlling the end use of dual use technology and
highly ubiquitous parts thereof in the global market is
difficult for manufacturers and government regulators alike;
(2) the United States, along with the allies and partners
of the United States, must continue to support Ukraine in the
Ukrainian fight for freedom, independence, and democracy; and
(3) the United States, along with the allies and partners
of the United States, must ensure that technology designed or
produced by United States entities is not used to support the
Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine,
particularly in the case of unmanned aircraft systems produced
by Iran.
SEC. 4. STRATEGIES TO PREVENT EXPORT TO IRAN OF CERTAIN TECHNOLOGIES
RELATED TO UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.
(a) Department of Commerce Strategy.--
(1) Strategy required.--The Secretary of Commerce (in
consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Defense, and the heads of the elements of the intelligence
community) shall develop a strategy to supplement the existing
sanctions regime of the United States against Iran by
preventing the export to Iran by United States persons
regarding technologies used or that may be used in the design,
development, production, or operational employment of unmanned
aircraft systems by Iran, including the following
microelectronics:
(A) Microcontrollers.
(B) Voltage regulators.
(C) Digital signal controllers.
(D) GPS modules.
(E) Microprocessors.
(F) Circuit board components.
(2) Elements.--The strategy under paragraph (1) shall
include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) A process for the Secretary of Commerce (in
coordination with the Secretaries and heads specified
in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify--
(i) current and emerging technologies used
or that may be used by Iran in the design,
development, production, or operational
employment of unmanned aircraft systems
(including critical components thereof); and
(ii) United States manufacturers of such
technologies.
(B) A process for the Secretary of Commerce (in
coordination with the Secretaries and heads specified
in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify third-party
distributors and resellers of the technologies
specified in subparagraph (A)(i) that, through the use
of intermediaries with no or nominal operations or
assets, or through other mechanisms, contrive to
circumvent sanctions and export controls for such items
with respect to Iran.
(C) A methodology for the Secretary of Commerce to
proactively engage the United States manufacturers
identified pursuant to the process under subparagraph
(A)(ii), to provide such manufacturers with timely
updates to the list of third-party distributors and
resellers identified pursuant to the process under
subparagraph (B).
(3) Submission.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees the strategy
under paragraph (1).
(4) Form.--The report required by subsection (a)(1) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but portions of the report
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may contain a classified
annex, so long as such annex is provided separately from the
unclassified report.
(b) Department of State Strategy.--
(1) Strategy required.--The Secretary of State (in
coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
Defense, and the heads of the elements of the intelligence
community) shall develop a strategy to engage with European and
Asian allies and partners of the United States regarding
technologies which are used, or may be used, by Iran in the
design, development, production, or operational employment of
unmanned aircraft systems (including the microelectronics
listed in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (a)(1)),
to prevent the export of such technologies to Iran by such
allies and partners.
(2) Elements.--The strategy under paragraph (1) shall
include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(A) A process for the Secretary of State (in
consultation with the relevant Secretaries and heads
specified in paragraph (1)) to proactively identify
foreign manufacturers of the technologies referred to
in such paragraph.
(B) A process for the Secretary of State to engage
with any ally or partner of the United States regarding
technologies which have been incorporated into an
unmanned aircraft system produced by Iran, for the
purpose of synchronizing the export control regime of
such ally or partner with the United States export
controls developed by the Secretary of Commerce
pursuant to the strategy under subsection (a) with
respect to such technology.
(3) Submission.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees the strategy under
paragraph (1).
(4) Form.--The report required by subsection (b)(1) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but portions of the report
described in paragraphs (1) and (2) may contain a classified
annex, so long as such annex is provided separately from the
unclassified report.
(c) Requirement for Secretary of Defense To Develop Range of
Options.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense (in
coordination with the Secretary of State and the heads of the
elements of the intelligence community) shall develop a range
of options that may be employed by the Armed Forces of the
United States to counter or otherwise deny Iran the ability to
acquire technologies used, or that may be used, in the design,
development, production, or operational employment of unmanned
aircraft systems by Iran, including the following technologies:
(A) Microcontrollers.
(B) Voltage regulators.
(C) Digital signal controllers.
(D) GPS modules.
(E) Microprocessors.
(F) Circuit board components.
(G) Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
(H) Computer numerical control machines.
(2) Briefing.--Not later than 45 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide
to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the
options developed under paragraph (1).
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(A) The Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on Armed Services, the Committee on Ways and Means, and
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Finance,
and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of
the Senate.
(2) Intelligence community.--The term ``intelligence
community'' has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the
National Security Act of 1957 (50 U.S.C. 3003).
(3) Unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system.--The terms
``unmanned aircraft'' and ``unmanned aircraft system'' have the
meanings given those terms in section 130i of title 10, United
States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 0.
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