Seaport Security Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9229 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9229

   To protect seaports from unmanned aircraft systems, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 9, 2026

Mr. Patronis (for himself and Mr. Haridopolos) introduced the following
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in
 addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 protect seaports from 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 ``Seaport Security Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) drone technology has the potential to revolutionize
        commerce, military operations, law enforcement, and numerous
        industries throughout the United States;
            (2) drone technology also presents a significant potential
        danger to public safety and national security;
            (3) drone technology is increasingly being deployed for
        criminal purposes, including drug trafficking, human
        trafficking, smuggling, and illegal reconnaissance;
            (4) seaports in the United States are a potential target
        for unmanned aircraft and drones;
            (5) a drone attack on a seaport would pose a serious threat
        to the national and economic security of the United States;
            (6) there are over 300 seaports in the United States which
        collectively handle 2.6 billion tons of cargo and 26 million
        cruise ship passengers each year; and
            (7) current Federal law does not provide sufficient
        protection for seaports from drone attacks.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AT SEAPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
            (1) in section 31(b)--
                    (A) by striking ``and `special''' and inserting
                ```special''';
                    (B) by inserting ```unmanned aircraft', and
                `unmanned aircraft system''' before ``have the
                meanings''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``, 44801,'' before ``and 46501'';
            (2) in section 40A(c)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as
                paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 40B. Operation of unauthorized unmanned aircraft over seaports
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            ``(2) Covered airspace.--The term `covered airspace'
        means--
                    ``(A) the airspace above a seaport extending from
                the surface up to 1,000 feet above ground level; and
                    ``(B) any additional lateral or vertical airspace
                designated by the Administrator, as necessary to
                protect maritime infrastructure at a seaport.
            ``(3) Multi-day cruise passengers.--The term `multi-day
        cruise passengers' means individuals who embark on a cruise
        itinerary from a seaport lasting more than one calendar day
        requiring overnight accommodations aboard the vessel.
            ``(4) Seaport.--The term `seaport' means all piers,
        wharves, docks, and similar structures adjacent to any waters
        subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to which a
        vessel may be secured, including areas of land, water, or land
        and water under and in immediate proximity to such structures,
        buildings on or contiguous to such structures, and the
        equipment and materials on such structures or in such
        buildings, and which handle at least one million tons of
        commercial or military cargo annually or routinely process
        multi-day cruise passengers.
    ``(b) Prohibited Operations.--Except as authorized under subsection
(c), no person may operate an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft
system within covered airspace.
    ``(c) Authorized Operations.--The prohibition in subsection (b)
shall not apply to operations--
            ``(1) conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, the
        Department of Defense, or any other Federal agency under
        statutory authority;
            ``(2) conducted by State or local law enforcement with
        prior notification to the Federal Aviation Administration and
        the Coast Guard;
            ``(3) conducted by a seaport, or a contracted entity, for
        operational, safety, or security purposes with notice to the
        Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard;
            ``(4) authorized under a waiver issued by the
        Administrator; or
            ``(5) necessary to respond to an emergency involving an
        immediate threat to human life or property, provided that the
        operator notifies the Federal Aviation Administration and the
        Coast Guard as soon as practicable.
    ``(d) Interference With Port Security.--No person may operate an
unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system in a manner that
interferes with, interrupts, or degrades the security, operations,
communications, or navigational systems of a seaport, regardless of
altitude.
    ``(e) Enforcement.--The Federal Aviation Administration and
seaports are authorized to detect, mitigate, seize, and disable any
unmanned aircraft operating in covered airspace (other than unmanned
aircraft operating in accordance with subsection (c)).
    ``(f) Civil Penalties.--A person who violates this section shall be
subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 per violation, and the
unmanned aircraft involved may be seized or forfeited.
    ``(g) Criminal Penalties.--A person who willfully violates
subsection (b) or (d)--
            ``(1) shall be subject to a fine under this title,
        imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both; and
            ``(2) if the violation is committed with the intent to
        surveil, damage, disrupt, or facilitate criminal or terrorist
        activity, shall be subject to a fine under this title,
        imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.
    ``(h) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue regulations to
implement this section, including designation of covered airspaces and
appropriate notification procedures.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 2 of
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:

``40B. Operation of unauthorized unmanned aircraft over seaports.''.
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