Drones for First Responders Act

The Drones for First Responders Act would (1) impose a staged tariff on unmanned aircraft imported from China, (2) tighten rules so that future U.S. entries of unmanned aircraft must avoid Chinese-made components, and (3) create a new federal fund and grant program to help U.S. first responders, farmers, and critical infrastructure providers buy and use secure unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The intent is to reduce reliance on Chinese-made drones for critical services, boost domestic and allied production, and build resilient UAS supply chains while directing tariff revenue into grants for security-focused drone purchases and operations. Key aspects include escalating duties on Chinese-made unmanned aircraft, a long-run (2031) requirement that most key drone components not be manufactured in China, and a grant program funded by the new duties to support secure UAS adoption among first responders, agriculture, and critical infrastructure providers. The bill also defines who counts as a “covered foreign entity” and “foreign adversary country” and sets up a process for FAA-approved exemptions for certain UAS that meet not-all-China-origin criteria.