Bill Summary
The "Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act" is a piece of legislation aimed at preventing the export of technologies that could enhance Iran's unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). This act recognizes the Iranian regime's provision of drones to various adversaries, including terrorist organizations and the Russian military in its aggression against Ukraine.
Key provisions of the act include:
1. **Development of Strategies**: The Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with other federal authorities, is tasked with creating strategies to identify and prevent the illegal export of technologies to Iran that are used in UAS, particularly microelectronics such as microcontrollers and GPS modules.
2. **International Coordination**: The Secretary of State is required to develop a strategy for engaging with allied nations to ensure that export controls are aligned, thereby preventing the transfer of relevant technologies to Iran.
3. **Defense Options**: The Secretary of Defense must propose a range of options to counter Iran's ability to acquire these technologies, ensuring that the U.S. military can effectively respond if necessary.
4. **Reporting Requirements**: Both the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of State must submit unclassified reports to Congress detailing their strategies within specified timeframes.
Overall, the act underscores the U.S. government's commitment to curbing the proliferation of technologies that could bolster Iran’s defense capabilities, particularly in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles, which pose a threat to global security and stability.
Possible Impacts
The "Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act" has several implications for different groups of people. Here are three examples:
1. **Manufacturers and Technology Companies**: Companies that produce technologies relevant to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) may feel the impact of stricter export controls. They will need to ensure compliance with new regulations, which may require increased scrutiny of their supply chains and customers. Non-compliance could result in legal consequences, including fines or restrictions on their ability to do business internationally. This could lead to increased operational costs and potential shifts in business strategy, as companies may need to invest in compliance measures or pivot away from certain markets.
2. **U.S. Military and Defense Personnel**: The legislation mandates the Department of Defense to develop strategies to counter Iran's access to UAS technologies. This could lead to an increase in military readiness and operational changes as defense personnel may be tasked with implementing new tactics or technologies to mitigate threats posed by Iranian drones. Additionally, there may be a requirement for training on new equipment or strategies, impacting personnel deployment and resource allocation.
3. **International Relations and Diplomats**: The Act emphasizes cooperation with U.S. allies and partners in synchronizing export controls. Diplomats and policymakers will need to engage with foreign governments to align their export regimes with U.S. standards. This could lead to shifts in diplomatic relations, as allies may need to navigate their own domestic industries while balancing international security concerns. Furthermore, this collaboration may create tensions with countries that may not agree with or align with U.S. policies regarding Iran, affecting negotiations and bilateral relations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2505 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2505
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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) The Iranian regime has provided financial and material
support, including the provision of unmanned aircraft systems,
to United States adversaries, including terrorist organizations
such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad, and the Russian Federation as a part of its illegal war
of aggression against Ukraine.
(2) In 2022, the United States 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.
(3) On June 9, 2023, the Department of State, the
Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and the
Department of the Treasury issued a joint advisory to alert
persons and businesses globally to the threat of Iran's
unmanned aircraft systems and the need to take appropriate
steps to avoid or prevent any activities that would support the
further development of Iran's unmanned aircraft program.
(4) In recent years the United States enacted sanctions
targeting--
(A) the unmanned aircraft industry and missile
industry of Iran;
(B) entities, individuals, and vessels that played
a central role in facilitating and financing the
clandestine sale of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles;
and
(C) entities associated with the Iranian defense
ministry's procurement of critical components for
missiles and drones.
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) Iranian-made unmanned aircraft systems play a key role
in the Russian Federation's illegal war of aggression against
Ukraine, including attacks on civilian population centers and
critical infrastructure such as power plants and ports; 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 or using certain United States
software, technology, or production equipment, is not used to
support the Russian Federation's war of aggression against
Ukraine or used by Hamas to attack Israel, 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 Director of National Intelligence) shall
develop a strategy to prevent the illegal 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.
(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);
(ii) United States manufacturers of such
technologies; and
(iii) foreign manufacturers and
proliferators 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 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 Director of National Intelligence) shall
develop a strategy to prevent the export to Iran of
technologies from the United States and allied and partner
countries 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)).
(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 90 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 Director of
National Intelligence) 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) Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.
(G) 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, 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 Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs and the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
(2) 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.
Passed the House of Representatives September 2, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2505
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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.