Mark Green says drone sightings emphasize need to pass his bipartisan counter-drone bill

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green on Monday claimed the unexplained drone sightings that have erupted in New York and New Jersey recently has revitalized the need to pass his bipartisan Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act.

Green introduced the legislation in June, alongside House Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen, and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler.

Unidentified drone sightings surged in the northeast last month, and continue this month, but federal officials have claimed the drones do not pose a threat to Americans, despite not knowing where they come from.

Green's office highlighted the need for a better federal response to the sightings in recent interviews, and chastised the Biden administration for not coordinating a meeting with lawmakers as requested. 

"Don’t create fear––but listen, the fact of the matter is some of these things are unidentified," Green told Fox News' Sean Hannity last week. "We have to get the resources there, they have the capability—the [Department of Homeland Security] and [Defense Department]—they have the authorities. And we’re about to extend the authorities. I have a bill right now in Congress to give local law enforcement the ability to shoot down these drones. Right now, they don’t have the authorities from the [Federal Aviation Administration].” 

Green also criticized how easy it would be for a foreign entity to use the drones for nefarious purposes.

"A key concern of mine that should concern us all is the ease with which a terrorist or other malicious actor can buy a cheap, commercially available drone and use it to carry and drop explosive payloads over a football stadium ... targeting and killing Americans," he wrote on X last week. "That’s why my bill would help empower state and local law enforcement agencies to mitigate the risks posed by unauthorized drones flying over such sites."

New York and New Jersey senators have called for a federal briefing on the drones this month.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.