Drones for First Responders Act

Key Points

• The bill imposes escalating tariffs on Chinese-made drones, starting at 30% and rising each year to a final rate of $100 per unit plus 50% after four years. These tariffs are on top of any existing duties already applied to Chinese goods.
• Revenue from the new tariffs goes into a dedicated fund that provides grants to first responders (60%), farmers and ranchers (20%), and critical infrastructure providers (20%) to buy drones not made in China or other adversary countries.
• Starting January 1, 2031, the bill bans any drone from entering the U.S. if it contains key Chinese-made components like flight controllers, cameras, radios, operating software, or data storage devices.
• Congress finds that over 90% of drones used by U.S. first responders are made in China, creating what the bill calls an unacceptable national security risk. The bill aims to shift the supply chain to domestic and allied manufacturers.
• Grant applications must be reviewed within 90 days, and priority goes to applicants in states or localities that have already banned Chinese-origin drones. The Department of Homeland Security oversees the grant program.