Official U.S. Senate records or announcements

Sen. Rand Paul Blocks Senate Democrats' Bill to Track Drones in New Jersey Over Privacy Concerns

Dec 18, 2024, 09:05 PM

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked a bill in the U.S. Senate that aimed to grant state and local authorities the resources to track drones. The legislation was proposed in response to recent drone sightings over New Jersey, New York, and other states. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) had pushed for the bill, arguing that the federal government cannot respond to all drone incidents alone. Senate Democrats attempted to pass the bill through unanimous consent, but Paul objected, expressing concerns over privacy violations and government overreach, stating that it was premature to rush into granting 'sweeping surveillance powers' without clear evidence of a threat. The bill's failure to pass means that Congress will not act on the issue before the end of the year.