Table of Contents:

• Overview
• What We Know
• Call-to-Action
• FAQ

This article was updated on Monday, June 23rd to reflect that the House Appropriations Subcommittee meeting has been postponed - we will share an updated time and date when it is made available.

Overview:

A bill is working through the House of Representatives that imposes a funding restriction on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), specifically targeting the importation of certain unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Key Provision:

• Funding Prohibition: CBP is prohibited from using any funds appropriated by this Act to admit into the United States aerosol-dispensing unmanned aircraft systems that are produced or manufactured in a "foreign adversary country."

Definition:

• A "foreign adversary country" is defined by reference to 10 U.S.C. § 4872(d)(2). This includes countries deemed as adversaries based on national security determinations, which currently includes nations such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, among others.

Intent:
The provision aims to prevent the entry of drone systems with potential dual-use (especially for agricultural spraying or chemical dispersal) from nations considered hostile to U.S. interests. It reflects national security concerns over foreign-made drones, especially those with capabilities that could be misused or pose surveillance risks.

What We Know:

A bill has recently passed subcommittee in the House and is now advancing to the House Homeland Security Committee for consideration. This committee meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 at 10am EDT, and is currently postponed - we will share updated time and date information once it is made available.

This type of progress through subcommittee is relatively rare and typically indicates strong momentum—if it reaches full committee, there’s a good chance it will pass the House. 

Our lobbying partner recommends three things:

1) We prioritize efforts in the Senate, where there is more opportunity to prevent the bill from advancing to a full vote. Specifically, we should focus on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which will likely be the key battleground if the bill clears the House.

Key contacts on this subcommittee (the email addresses here for each Chief of Staff):

Majority (Republican): 

• Katie Britt: (AL), Chair | sean_ross@britt.senate.gov
• Lisa Murkowski: (AK) | garrett_boyle@murkowski.senate.gov
  
• Shelley Moore Capito: (WV) | jt_jezierski@capito.senate.gov
• John Kennedy: (LA) | david_stokes@kennedy.senate.gov
• Cindy Hyde-Smith: (MS) | doug_davis@hydesmith.senate.gov
• Bill Hagerty: (TN) | adam_telle@hagerty.senate.gov
• Susan M. Collins: (ME), Ex Officio | steve_abbott@collins.senate.gov

Minority (Democratic): 

• Christopher Murphy: (CT), Ranking Member | allison_herwitt@murphy.senate.gov
• Patty Murray: (WA) | mindi_linquist@murray.senate.gov
• Jeanne Shaheen: (NH) | alison_macdonald@shaheen.senate.gov
• Gary C. Peters: (MI) | caitlyn_stephenson@peters.senate.gov
• Chris Van Hollen: (MD) | tricia_russell@vanhollen.senate.gov 

2) Leveraging a big farmer-focused voice (e.g. Farm Bureau). Caveat: this has to come through the states and elevate up to the national level. It’s recommended to reach out to local Farm Bureau groups.

3) We recommend the following call-to-action - it can be found here (or below).

Call-to-Action

We ask all advocates for the spray drone industry to reach out to Senators on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, especially if you have any personal, professional, or constituent connections. 

Your voice especially as a business or agriculture stakeholder can help highlight the real-world consequences of this provision. 

Please email the Senators listed above, or let us know if you have existing relationships or contacts in their offices. 

Below is example language to use when contacting congressional offices:

• Introduce yourself "Hi I'm John Smith and I run a spray drone operations business serving 100 farms in south Alabama."
• Over 90% of the spray drones our industry uses come from China.  A drastic cutoff will devastate our industry.
• Spray drones are an important tool for the agriculture industry to remain competitive globally. 10.3M acres were sprayed by drones in the US in 2024. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What does the bill specifically prohibit?
  • It prohibits CBP from admitting aerosol dispensing UAS made in foreign adversary countries, meaning CBP cannot use any of its FY 2026 appropriated funds to process or approve their importation.
    

• Which countries are considered “foreign adversary countries”?
  • Per 10 U.S.C. § 4872(d)(2), this includes China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other nations determined to pose a threat to U.S. national security
    
    

• Why is Congress proposing this restriction?
  • The provision is driven by national security concerns, specifically the dual use nature of these drones such as agricultural spraying or chemical dispersal and the potential for surveillance or misuse.

• What is the current status of the bill?
  • The bill has passed the House subcommittee and will be reviewed by the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. This indicates strong momentum toward passage in the House.

• When would this restriction take effect?
  • If passed, the restriction would apply to Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on October 1, 2025.

• How likely is this to pass?
  • While its passage in the subcommittee shows momentum, the real opportunity to stop or amend the bill lies in the Senate, particularly the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

• What are we doing to oppose this provision?
  • We are focusing advocacy efforts in the Senate, engaging with key members of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as other stakeholders on the hill and in the White House.

• Who are the key Senate contacts involved in this fight?
  • See the list above.

• How can we increase pressure and visibility on this issue?
  • We recommend activating state level voices, especially agriculture allies like state Farm Bureaus, to elevate concerns up to national leadership.

• What should our dealers and partners be doing?
  • We encourage engagement with state officials, amplify the potential economic and agricultural impact of the ban, and coordinate messaging through the American Spray Drone Coalition and other advocacy channels.