WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued a statement on efforts by Iran to influence the election: 

“I applaud the administration for providing regular public notifications of foreign efforts to influence our elections, including this hack-and-leak attempt by Iran. Since early July, we’ve received nearly a half-dozen updates on adversaries’ intentions and plans to influence the upcoming election.

“With Russia’s 2016 playbook out in the open, it’s no surprise that other malign actors would seek to follow suit. Our adversaries understand that there is an opportunity to exploit the pace and intensity of political campaigns by offering hacked or otherwise misappropriated materials to malicious ends. That’s why our Committee’s exhaustive report on Russian interference included a bipartisan recommendation that campaigns should ‘reject the use of foreign original material.’ With fewer than 50 days to go until Election Day, I continue to urge all Americans to be aware of, and stand guard against, efforts by foreign adversaries to influence your votes.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after the Biden administration successfully carried out a deal to bring home individuals wrongfully detained in Russia: 

“The sham arrest and conviction of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was a devastating blow to freedom of the press across the globe. Today, thanks to the work of the Biden-Harris administration, Evan is free along with former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Virginia resident and pro-democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza and 12 others who were wrongfully detained by Russia for too long in yet another testament to the cruelty and cowardice of Vladimir Putin. I am grateful to President Biden and our allies abroad for their efforts to rectify a gross injustice and put an end to the nightmare for these brave individuals and their respective loved ones. I look forward to continue working with this administration to free those who remain unjustly held, including American schoolteacher Marc Fogel.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Rick Scott announced the introduction of the bipartisan Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act.The legislation would blacklist dangerous Chinese drone companies Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) Technologies, Autel Robotics, and other CCP-linked drone industry participants and cut them off from U.S. telecommunication infrastructure by including these companies on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Covered List, which identifies telecommunication equipment that poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. The legislation also creates a short-term Department of Transportation grant program, specifically designed for first responders, to replace any existing Chinese drones and purchase American-made ones. Senators Scott and Warner also filed this legislation as an amendment to the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act. 

Sen. Mark Warner said, “Drones have tremendous potential to support agriculture, make our communities safer, and grow our economy. Yet without further intervention, the drone industry could be susceptible to massive intervention from the Communist Party of China, directly threatening our national security and economy. I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to restore American leadership in the drone industry and ensure that the CCP can’t wreak havoc by spying on Americans or otherwise disrupting key functions of drone technology.”

Sen. Rick Scott said, “Drones made in Communist China pose a significant threat to our freedoms and security and cannot be allowed to continue operating in American skies. Companies based in Communist China are at the will of Xi’s evil regime, meaning one of the United States’ greatest adversaries has total access to every bit of data collected by devices. It should terrify every single American that the Chinese Communist Party, known for spying, stealing and espionage, could have access to footage of Americans, their land, their businesses and their families without their knowledge. I was glad to successfully pass my and Senator Warner’s American Security Drone Act to stop the use of drones made by companies in adversarial nations, like Communist China’s DJI, in the United States Government and military, which is critical to protecting our national security. Now, we must pass the Countering CCP Drones and Supporting Drones for Law Enforcement Act as a necessary next step to eliminate the threats we face from Communist China and further protect the security of the United States and every American family.”

A copy of the legislation is available here.  

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WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), joined by U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), introduced legislation to develop a strategy and global approach to ensure that the U.S., its allies and global partners can count on a diverse and secure end-to-end supply of critical minerals.

Critical minerals, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, are necessary inputs for technologies that play critical roles in our national security, including military equipment and defense systems, as well as emerging technologies such as electric vehicles and storage for our power grid. However, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) currently dominates the mining, processing, and manufacturing of the majority of these minerals. U.S. dependence on the PRC for the procurement of these critical minerals raises substantial economic and national security concerns. To combat the dominance of the PRC, this legislation would ensure a secure supply of these minerals.

“The global demand for critical minerals continues to grow at exponential rates, and it is crucial that the U.S. identify secure sources of these minerals so that we can count on them for national security and critical infrastructure applications,” said Chairman Warner. “Currently, China dominates the critical mineral industry and is actively working to ensure that the U.S. does not catch up. The U.S. must, alongside allies, take meaningful steps to protect and expand our production and procurement of these critical minerals. This legislation will serve as a roadmap for the U.S. to counter China’s dominance in this sector.”

“Our national security interests are heavily dependent on critical minerals, which are vital for modern technology and national defense. The U.S. must have a comprehensive response to China’s dominion over the global critical mineral industry. With our consensus package, Senator Warner and I hope to free our nation's supply chains from China’s industrial monopoly,” said Vice Chairman Rubio.

Specifically the legislation would enhance diplomatic and financial tools to support public and private sectors in securing and processing these minerals by:

• Streamlining diplomatic efforts for securing minerals;
• Establishing diplomatic support for private sector investments abroad;
• Enhancing financial tools of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM);
• Creating a fund to assist investments in critical minerals;
• Enhancing public-private information sharing on manipulative adversary practices;
• Creating a public website to assist private sector companies in navigating government resources and financial support; and
• Expanding allied partnerships to secure critical minerals.

The legislation would also work to increase U.S. procurement of critical minerals in order offset China’s ability to manipulate and monopolize the market, including by:

• Requiring a report on the use of and need for new or expanded authorities to increase domestic production and procurement;
• Requiring an assessment on imposing duties on imported minerals, in particular from China; and
• Requiring a whole-of-government effort to develop workforce training programs to advance end-to-end critical mineral capabilities.

This is latest step that the Senate Intelligence Committee leaders have taken to counter China’s dominance in this key sector. Last year, Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Rubio hosted government officials and domestic industry leaders for a roundtable discussion on access to critical minerals. During that roundtable, industry leaders asked for more robust government support in identifying unfair and corrupt practices by foreign adversaries. Specifically, private sector companies attempting to secure critical mineral projects abroad have faced PRC efforts to spread disinformation to foreign host governments about U.S. companies, steal U.S. company IP, and sabotage U.S. company contracts. As a result of that meeting, earlier this year, Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Rubio introduced legislation to improve information sharing between the Intelligence Community and U.S. companies in order to mitigate foreign adversaries’ efforts to thwart U.S. involvement in projects relating to energy generation and storage, including in the critical minerals industry.

Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Rubio have also led efforts to secure supply chains and reduce U.S. reliance on the PRC for critical minerals through increased government support to U.S. private sector companies that are investing and operating in critical mineral projects.

Text of the bill is available here.

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WASHINGTON –Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), and Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Enabling New Agile Buying-power and Leveraging Enhancements in Intelligence Community (ENABLE IC) Acquisitions Act, which would enable the IC to streamline acquisition processes and give priority to small business concerns and nontraditional defense contractors: 

“Our adversaries are rapidly advancing their technological capabilities, and so must we,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation helps ensure that the Intelligence Community has the support, funding, and flexibility it needs to acquire and integrate the most cutting-edge emerging technologies to protect our national security.”

“There are important advancements in intelligence products being made in the private sector, but our intelligence agencies must fight bureaucratic delays throughout the acquisition process,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would give our Intelligence Community the flexibility it needs to speed up the acquisition of cutting-edge technologies and leverage American innovation across the country to get the most capable tools into the hands of our intelligence collectors and analysts.”

 “Our Intelligence Community works hard every day to protect our nation without any recognition or glory, but they are also fighting our own government with the amount of time it takes to process newer technology,” said Sen. Lankford. “The bad actors and foreign adversaries who are coming after us every day are not going to wait around while our Intelligence Community waits on bureaucratic delays. Our nation must have the ability to stop whatever new technology is being used against us without unnecessary delays.”

“Ensuring our Intelligence Community can get timely access to state-of-the-art products and tools will strengthen our national security and help us maintain an edge over adversaries,” said Sen. Kelly. “By cutting unnecessary red tape, our bill provides new acquisition options, further drives national security innovation, and ensures the U.S. is always one step ahead.”

Background:

In light of global threats to national security, acquisition leaders in the Intelligence Community must be able to explore the use of private capital partnerships to secure technological advantages for the intelligence community through the identification, development, and transfer of promising technologies to full-scale programs capable of meeting IC requirements.

This legislation would create a fund to assist in transitioning useful IC products from the research and development phase to the contracting and production phase, with priority given to small business concerns and nontraditional defense contractors. It would also enable the IC to use streamlined acquisition processes and enhances existing authorities to facilitate exchanges between the private sector and the IC.

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WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on Congressional passage of the supplemental foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the Indo-Pacific:

“For the last two years, U.S. aid has been indispensable in helping Ukraine stave off Russia’s unlawful, brutal attacks. Without risking the life of a single American or NATO soldier, Ukraine has imposed enormous losses on Russia’s military, preserved democracy over autocracy, and thwarted Putin’s imperial ambitions. Today, the Senate has once again acted to stand with our NATO allies and keep our word to Ukrainians. It never should have taken this long, but I’m tremendously relieved that Congress has finally passed this critical aid and averted a potentially historic, catastrophic failure.

“At the same time, the bill takes square aim at several other pressing national security concerns. By including the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, it takes long overdue steps to curb the flow of fentanyl into our country. It delivers support to Israel and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. To counter the rise of China, it secures aid for our partners in the Indo-Pacific and compels the divestiture of TikTok from its parent company, ByteDance, which is legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party. Across Europe, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and at home, this legislation makes critical investments in keeping Americans safe and protecting our trust and position on the global stage. I look forward to President Biden’s signature.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), joined by Intel Committee members Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), James Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and James Lankford (R-OK), sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth detailing the need for the Department of Defense (DoD) and specifically the Army to ensure consistent, resilient power sources for critical missions and operations in remote environments, including areas like Guam.

“In light of the heightened energy needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and growing threats from our adversaries, we write to urge DoD, and especially, the Department of the Army, to bolster the protection and resilience of our critical infrastructure. In particular, we encourage the Army to consider all energy supply sources, such as advanced civil nuclear technology, for critical mission demands and increased resilience for U.S. bases,” the senators wrote.

Highlighting the importance of securing U.S. leadership in the investment and deployment of nuclear energy and reactors, the senators stressed the need to counter the advancement of our foreign adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China.

“It is critical that the United States lead in the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors to secure our own critical infrastructure with resilient, continuous power, especially for DoD mission critical operations in remote and austere environments.  The United States must also ensure, alongside our partners and allies, that our adversaries do not monopolize control of nuclear fuel supply chains and new nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) – where contracts can span sixty to one hundred years – to exert undue geopolitical and economic influence, set nefarious global standards around nuclear technology, and control supply chains for critical sources of energy,” they continued. 

The senators asked that the DoD and Army continue to brief the Intelligence Committee on future energy deployment plans.

The senators concluded, “We encourage DoD, and the Army, to fulfill Congressional intent to explore deployment of secure, continuous, reliable power to critical infrastructure and mission critical operations. We request the Army to brief our staff on future deployment plans, including the Army’s pilot microreactor program, and the Army’s plans for expeditiously deploying SMRs to power larger installations and facilities. DoD and the Army will be important leaders in the coming decades in ensuring the energy security of the U.S. and our ability to outcompete our adversaries in advanced technology domains that underpin the U.S. defense enterprise.”

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Austin and Secretary Wormuth,

In light of the heightened energy needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and growing threats from our adversaries, we write to urge DoD, and especially, the Department of the Army, to bolster the protection and resilience of our critical infrastructure. In particular, we encourage the Army to consider all energy supply sources, such as advanced civil nuclear technology, for critical mission demands and increased resilience for U.S. bases.

Our adversaries, namely the People’s Republic of China and Russia, have recognized the criticality of civil nuclear energy. As a result, they are investing vast state resources in developing and deploying the next generation of nuclear reactors while actively pursuing long-term global contracts for nuclear energy.

It is critical that the United States lead in the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors to secure our own critical infrastructure with resilient, continuous power, especially for DoD mission critical operations in remote and austere environments.  The United States must also ensure, alongside our partners and allies, that our adversaries do not monopolize control of nuclear fuel supply chains and new nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) – where contracts can span sixty to one hundred years – to exert undue geopolitical and economic influence, set nefarious global standards around nuclear technology, and control supply chains for critical sources of energy. 

The Fisal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reflects substantial bipartisan support in Congress for advanced nuclear reactors. For example, the bill requires DoD to consider advanced civil nuclear technologies for certain facilities, including in Guam. The NDAA also provides support for DoD’s Project Pele, which is intended to design, build, and demonstrate a mobile nuclear microreactor on a military installation. Critically, the bill includes bipartisan legislation intended to secure a reliable domestic nuclear fuel supply chain for today’s nuclear reactors and advanced reactors.

We encourage DoD, and the Army, to fulfill Congressional intent to explore deployment of secure, continuous, reliable power to critical infrastructure and mission critical operations. We request the Army to brief our staff on future deployment plans, including the Army’s pilot microreactor program, and the Army’s plans for expeditiously deploying SMRs to power larger installations and facilities. DoD and the Army will be important leaders in the coming decades in ensuring the energy security of the U.S. and our ability to outcompete our adversaries in advanced technology domains that underpin the U.S. defense enterprise.

Thank you for your attention to this letter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

WASHINGTON – Today, after the House voted 352-65 to pass the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement:

“We are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok – a platform with enormous power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance remains legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party. We were encouraged by today’s strong bipartisan vote in the House of Representatives, and look forward to working together to get this bill passed through the Senate and signed into law.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024, legislation aimed at restoring the U.S.’s position as a leader in international standards-setting for emerging technologies.

For decades, the United States led the world in developing new technologies, which allowed our country to set the rules of the road when it came to those technologies’ global standards. However, in recent years, Chinese companies backed by the Communist Party of China have overtaken the U.S., which has allowed the Chinese government to influence standards in ways that further their own interests.

“In recent years, the Communist Party of China has asserted their dominance in the global technology space, and as their status has risen, our authority and influence has fallen,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation clearly outlines steps we must take to reestablish our leadership and ensure that we are doing all we can to set the global standards for critical and emerging technologies.”

“The Communist Chinese Party has made it their mission to undermine the U.S. and our interests around the globe by exploiting our deficiencies,” said Sen. Blackburn. “As they ramp up their efforts to dominate global standards for emerging technologies, the U.S. must be a global leader in innovation, and that includes setting standards that reflect our interests and values.”

Standards-setting bodies make critical decisions not only relating to technical specifications, but also relating to values, such as openness, safety, and accessibility, embedded in emerging technologies.

Specifically, the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act would:

• Require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to submit a report to Congress that identifies current U.S. participation in standards development activities for AI and other CETs;
• Create an easy-to-access web portal to help stakeholders navigate and actively engage in international standardization efforts. The portal would include a list of relevant standards and information about how to participate in standardization activities related to AI and other CETs;
• Establish a pilot program to award $10 million in grants over 4 years to support the hosting of standards meetings for AI and other CETs in the U.S.;
• Create a report to Congress, after the third year of the program, that identifies grant recipients, provides a summary of expenses, assesses the effectiveness of the program to grow the number of standards meetings in the U.S, and shows the geographic distribution of event attendees.

“The United States must continue to lead global technical standardization. IEEE-USA supports Senator Warner's and Senator Blackburn's Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024 to enable necessary increased stakeholder access to the standards development process, especially for those who may not have the resources to fully engage in the development activities. Enabling access for underrepresented actors increases the diversity of voices and ensures democratization of the process, thus strengthening the open markets in which the U.S. is highly competitive,” said Keith Moore, President, IEEE-USA.

“Cisco is engaged in the proper development and deployment of AI across all aspects of the ecosystem, and we firmly believe U.S. leadership is fundamental in the development of global standards for AI and other critical technologies. This legislation will not only foster U.S. participation in standards-setting bodies but also help create a policy environment that unlocks the benefits of responsible and trustworthy use of AI. We applaud the bipartisan efforts of Senators Warner and Blackburn and look forward to engaging them and other stakeholders on this important issue,” said Nicole Isaac, Vice President, Global Public Policy, Government Affairs, Cisco.

“We applaud Senators Warner and Blackburn for introducing the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act, which can better position standards development organizations and standards participants for success,” said Morgan Reed, President of ACT | The App Association. “A strong, yet nimble approach to technical standards development is a foundational imperative for ACT | The App Association’s members as they create tomorrow’s innovations. Nurturing open and global participation in standardization activities, especially when hosted in the United States, can address shared technical challenges while advancing American technology leadership.  This legislation represents a decisive step in the right direction. We look forward to working with the sponsors to ensure the language best achieves Congress’ goals as the bill moves forward.”

“XRA is proud to support the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024. Emerging technologies like XR drive economic growth and help the U.S. address strategic challenges like workforce development, industrial productivity, and healthcare delivery. Foreign governments, particularly competitors of the U.S., see immersive technology and other emerging technologies as their chance to shape the future of computing and grow their economic influence. These competitors are actively engaged in the development of technical standards and governance frameworks and understand that early leadership in these bodies yield long-term advantage. Unfortunately, the United States Government’s participation in these critical international standards bodies has not kept pace," says the XR Association’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Joan O’Hara. “This legislation will strengthen the United States’ leadership role in the development, adoption, and governance of critical emerging technologies like XR.”

Full text of the legislation is available here. A one-page summary of the legislation is available here. 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s appointment of Tom Perriello of Virginia as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. Warner and Kaine have consistently pressed the Administration to appoint a Special Envoy for Sudan to coordinate and lead diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the horrific violence and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Nearly 4.8 million people have been internally displaced due to the conflict in Sudan—resulting in one of the largest internal displacement crises in the world. An estimated 10,000 civilians have been killed, and approximately 25 million people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

“The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan has left millions of civilians in need of urgent assistance. I am glad to see the Biden Administration appoint my friend Tom Perriello as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan,” said Sen. Warner. “I know that Tom’s diplomatic experience will better our efforts in the region to deliver immediate humanitarian aid and prioritize the safety of civilians who have been displaced by incessant violence. Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and I look forward to working with him to continue our efforts to support the Sudanese people.” 

“The rapidly worsening crisis in Sudan urgently necessitates the delivery of humanitarian assistance and meaningful steps to protect civilians. I’m pleased President Biden appointed Tom Perriello as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan to help see those priorities through,” said Sen. Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC). “Tom has the experience and skills needed to lead our strong diplomatic efforts in Sudan. Virginia is home to a large Sudanese diaspora, and I expect he will bring these perspectives with him in this new role. I look forward to working closely with him.”

In December, Warner and Kaine sent a letter urging the Administration to avoid further delays in the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan. Since the drastic rise in violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last year, Warner and Kaine have led efforts to increase assistance and protect civilians in the region. Immediately following the outbreak of violence, the senators called for increased humanitarian access and assistance. They also applauded the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) December announcement that it will extend the re-registration period for Temporary Protected Status for migrants from Sudan, which they urged in May. Last year, Warner spoke out about the violence in Sudan and hosted a virtual town hall for Sudanese Americans. Kaine pushed the Administration to ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Sudan and urged both sides to commit to a permanent ceasefire. He held an event in Richmond with members of Virginia’s Sudanese American community to hear their concerns and discuss ways he can be helpful to address the conflict.

Perriello was appointed as U.S. Special Representative for the State Department’s second Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review by President Barack Obama. He also served as Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He previously worked for the United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone and at the International Center for Transitional Justice in Kosovo, Darfur, and Afghanistan.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Sens. Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock (both D-GA) in urging the Biden Administration to continue U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure the immediate release of hostages, stop the violence in Gaza, provide access for desperately needed humanitarian assistance, and deescalate tensions across the Middle East.

“Since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which Hamas abducted more than 200 civilians — including babies, young children, and the elderly — the United States has played a vital leading role in efforts to secure the release of Americans and Israelis held in Gaza,” the senators wrote to President Biden.

“On November 24th, an agreement brokered with your leadership by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt secured the release of 105 hostages — all women and children — in tandem with a seven-day ceasefire. … Now 130 days since the October 7th massacre, two million Gazan civilians remain displaced in extreme danger and deprivation while hostages held by Hamas remain in life-threatening captivity,” the senators continued. “We therefore write to express our urgent support for your Administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages in tandem with a restored mutual ceasefire in Gaza.

“We recognize that it is in Israel’s vital national interest that Hamas — a brutal terrorist organization — be removed from power in Gaza. We continue to support Israel’s pursuit of that objective,” the senators affirmed. “We also recognize that without a break in the fighting, humanitarian conditions for civilians in Gaza will become even more catastrophic and thousands more innocents — including many children — will die.”

The senators acknowledged, “such a diplomatic achievement will require the agreement of the warring parties, and that its terms remain under negotiation… In our judgment, it is in our urgent national interest – and the urgent humanitarian interest of millions of innocent civilians — that these negotiations succeed.”

In addition to Sens. Warner, Kaine, Ossoff, and Warnock, the letter was cosigned by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Mr. President,

Since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which Hamas abducted more than 200 civilians — including babies, young children, and the elderly — the United States has played a vital leading role in efforts to secure the release of Americans and Israelis held in Gaza.

U.S. diplomacy has also been essential to efforts to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and to reaching a pause in hostilities in November of last year.

On November 24th, an agreement brokered with your leadership by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt secured the release of 105 hostages — all women and children — in tandem with a seven-day ceasefire. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas provided a vital window for humanitarian aid to reach nearly two million Gazan civilians displaced by the war, while the return to safety of those hostages — including a four-year-old American girl, Abigail Idan — gave hope to the families of others abducted by Hamas that strong U.S.-led diplomacy could secure their freedom.

Now 130 days since the October 7th massacre, two million Gazan civilians remain displaced in extreme danger and deprivation while hostages held by Hamas remain in life-threatening captivity.

We therefore write to express our urgent support for your Administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages in tandem with a restored mutual ceasefire in Gaza.

We recognize that such a diplomatic achievement will require the agreement of the warring parties, and that its terms remain under negotiation. In our judgment, it is in our urgent national interest – and the urgent humanitarian interest of millions of innocent civilians — that these negotiations succeed.

We recognize that it is in Israel’s vital national interest that Hamas — a brutal terrorist organization — be removed from power in Gaza. We continue to support Israel’s pursuit of that objective.

We also recognize that without a break in the fighting, humanitarian conditions for civilians in Gaza will become even more catastrophic and thousands more innocents — including many children — will die.

Without an agreement that secures their release, the prospects are dim for the survival of hostages who remain alive.

Without the space created for regional diplomacy by a restored ceasefire, the political conditions for durable peace and security will remain unreachable, and escalating regional conflict will continue to threaten U.S. national security.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Drone Evaluation to Eliminate Cyber Threats Act of 2024 (DETECT Act), legislation directing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop cybersecurity guidelines for the federal government’s use of drones.

Drones have the ability to collect sensitive information, and as they become more common, the security of this technology is of increasing importance. The DETECT Act would address cybersecurity concerns by directing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a set of guidelines. Following an implementation period, these guidelines would be binding on the federal government’s use of civilian drones, the private sector may voluntarily use these guidelines in their own operations.

“Drones and unmanned systems have the capability to transform the way we do business, manage our infrastructure, and deliver life-saving medicine, and as drones become a larger part of our society, it’s crucial that we ensure their safety and security,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation will establish sensible cybersecurity guidelines for drones used by the federal government to ensure that sensitive information is protected while we continue to invest in this new technology.” 

“As the capabilities of drones continue to evolve and be utilized by both the federal government and the private sector, it’s critically important that they operate securely,” said Sen. Thune. “This common-sense legislation would require the federal government to follow stringent cybersecurity guidelines and protocols for drones and unmanned systems.”

Specifically, The DETECT Act:

•  Directs NIST to develop guidelines covering cybersecurity for civilian drones;
• Directs OMB to test the guidelines by requiring one federal agency to implement them on a pilot basis;
• Directs OMB, after the conclusion of the test period described above, to require every agency with civilian drones to implement politics and principles based on the NIST guidelines;
• Directs OMB to issue guidance to agencies governing the reporting of security vulnerabilities discovered in drones used by the agencies;
• Requires contactors who supply civilian drones or drone-related services to the federal government to report any security vulnerabilities discovered;
• Directs the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to promulgate any necessary regulation to carry the forgoing contractor requirements into effect;
• Forbids agencies from acquiring drones that do not meet the guidelines referenced above, subject to a waiver process under certain circumstances.

Sens. Warner and Thune have been strong supporters of the domestic production of unmanned systems, including driverless cars, drones, and unmanned maritime vehicles, and have taken steps to ensure that domestic production of drones is both safe and keeping up with global competitors. Last year, the senators introduced the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act, legislation that would clear the way for drones to be used for commercial transport of goods across the country. Sen. Warner also championed legislation to prohibit federal dollars from being used to procure or operate drones from countries or companies identified as posing a national security threat, which was ultimately included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024.

"As the use of drones for multiple types of important operations –critical infrastructure inspection, public safety, agriculture, drone delivery, and more– has grown significantly in recent years, the need for cybersecurity standards for these critical mission tools has become evident,” said Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International. “To ensure safety and security, the U.S. must lead in this area. AUVSI thanks Senators Warner and Thune for their leadership in protecting our nation from cyber risks and supporting American leadership in advanced aviation.”

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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