Bill Overview
Title: American Security Drone Act of 2021
Description: This bill bans the procurement or use by the federal government of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that are manufactured or assembled by certain entities, including entities subject to influence or control by China, with exceptions. The ban includes associated elements that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system. The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice are exempt from the restriction under specified circumstances. The bill sets forth further exemptions regarding the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Federal funds may not be used to procure certain UAS from a foreign entity, with exceptions. All executive agencies must account for existing inventories of UAS manufactured or assembled by a foreign entity in their personal property accounting systems. Inventory data related to UAS manufactured or assembled by a foreign entity may be tracked at a classified level. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall prescribe regulations or guidance to implement this bill's requirements pertaining to federal contracts. Government-issued purchase cards may not be used to procure any UAS from a foreign entity. The Office of Management and Budget shall (1) establish a government-wide policy for the procurement of UAS, taking into account information security; and (2) contract with a federally funded research and development center to study certain UAS-related issues.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in the manufacturing, supplying, or operating unmanned aircraft systems
Estimated Size: 200000
- The bill targets unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which could affect manufacturers and suppliers of these drones globally.
- Companies in China or influenced by China are specifically mentioned, suggesting they will be directly impacted by decreased demand from the US government.
- The bill influences the procurement policies of federal agencies, impacting their current and future operations involving UAS.
- It could affect US companies providing UAS services or components, as they may need to replace Chinese components with domestic or alternative suppliers.
- International manufacturers and suppliers (especially from China or those associated with them) are part of the global drone supply chain and will feel the ramifications of this bill.
- Foreign UAS entities might lose a significant market share if the US was a large client for them.
Reasoning
- The target population includes individuals involved in the manufacturing, supplying, and operating of UAS systems, focusing on those who may be impacted by changes in procurement due to this policy.
- The budget constraints suggest limited initial impact, as it primarily affects procurement processes within federal agencies and does not offer direct financial support or compensation to those affected.
- While the policy is likely to negatively impact companies and workers associated with Chinese UAS, it may be beneficial for domestic UAS manufacturers and their employees.
- The policy might cause a shift in procurement practices leading to adjustments in job roles, which could have varying impacts on well-being depending on the person's current job security and adaptability.
- Given the broad scope of UAS utilization across sectors, some stakeholders might not be directly impacted, hence showcasing no change in well-being.
Simulated Interviews
UAS Supplier Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy threatens our supply chain and could potentially decrease sales drastically since many of our clients are federal agencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 6 |
Drone Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The bill might stimulate more innovation in the domestic market as the demand for compliant software increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Federal Government Procurement Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adds layers of complexity to procurement processes, but it also aligns with security protocols I'm supportive of.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Drone Pilot for Surveying Company (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about how quickly my company can find alternatives and whether this will affect my role.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Farmer using drones for crop monitoring (Rural Kansas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If I have to replace my current UAS gear under this law, it might cost more than I'm ready to spend.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a necessary step for national security, although it doesn't come without implications for tech dependency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since I'm unaffected by federal regulations, this won't change my enjoyment of drones, but fewer options might hit the market.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Student in Aerospace Engineering (Austin, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's an opportunity to contribute to creating safer, domestic alternatives for the market.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
UAS Foreign Sales Representative (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy significantly threatens my job since federal contracts make up a large segment of our sales.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 6 |
Domestic Drone Manufacturer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could increase our market share domestically, as federal agencies will look to us to replace their existing fleet.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3500000 (Low: $3000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $1800000, High: $2200000)
Year 3: $1500000 (Low: $1300000, High: $1700000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $900000, High: $1100000)
Year 10: $500000 (Low: $400000, High: $600000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The long-term impact on domestic UAV manufacturing could lead to significant increase in employment and technological capabilities within the U.S.
- Security concerns regarding the use of foreign-manufactured UAVs being a key driver for the policy.
- The exemptions for key departments may limit the immediate impact but are necessary for operational continuity.
- The need for new regulatory frameworks could create additional administrative burdens.