Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 119th H.R. 2939
H.R. 2939 · 119th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement

Drone Espionage Act has not moved since its introduction on Apr 17, 2025, with cosponsors split almost evenly between the parties

Sponsored by Kiggans, Jennifer A. R-VA · 14 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 8 Republicans
IntroducedApr 17, 2025
Reported—
Passed one chamber—
Passed both—
Law—
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 179 words.

Drone Espionage Act This 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.

Context
Committees
House Judiciary Committee
Policy area
Crime and Law Enforcement: 118 of 4,553 bills became law, 113th–118th (2.6%)
Sponsor
1 of 70 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
1: introduced in house · 44 words
Subjects
Digital mediaEspionage and treasonMilitary facilities and propertyMilitary operations and strategy
Latest action
Apr 17, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 1

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 1 in all.

Identical or companion · 1

See this link on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]