Bill Text: NJ AR173 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2024-12-19 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR173 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AR173-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman LOUIS D. GREENWALD
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia, Assemblymen Barlas and Inganamort
SYNOPSIS
Urges federal government to investigate unidentified drones operating in NJ airspace.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the federal government to conduct an investigation into the sightings of unidentified drones operating in New Jersey airspace.
Whereas, For several weeks countless New Jersey residents, law enforcement officials, and even military personnel have witnessed unidentifiable unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, flying nightly over this State; and
Whereas, As of December 12, 2024, the mysterious drones have been sighted and reported in a large portion of the State, across more than a dozen counties, often flying near critical infrastructure and military installations; and
Whereas, One of the first locations where individuals sighted the unidentifiable drones was near President-elect Trump's residence at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County, raising alarm among local residents; and
Whereas, The federal government maintains that officials have not been able to corroborate any of the reported visual sightings, that there is no evidence suggesting a national security or public safety threat, and that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully; and
Whereas, The federal government's position is in direct opposition to recent statements made by military officials confirming multiple sightings of drones entering airspace above military installations, and observations of drones in other locations made, and in many cases recorded, by countless local and State officials, including legislators, law enforcement personnel, and residents across this State; and
Whereas, The volume of drone sightings, nature of the areas in which they seem to fly most commonly, and manner in which the flights appear to be spreading across the State is alarming residents and causing fear and unrest, as this mystery continues unabated with no apparent end in sight; and
Whereas, Due to the supremacy of federal authority of the airspace over the State of New Jersey by the Federal Aviation Administration, State and local law enforcement officials and Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness officials are extremely limited in their ability to investigate and respond to this increasingly disturbing phenomenon and to provide an informed response to frightened State residents; and
Whereas, The federal government has an obligation to safeguard the security of the residents of New Jersey against a potential national security threat; and
Whereas,
This State calls upon the federal government to ensure a rigorous and ongoing
investigation into this matter and to provide relevant and necessary
information to State officials in a timely way to protect the security and well-being
of the residents of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature of New Jersey respectfully urges the federal government to conduct a rigorous and ongoing investigation into the presence of unidentified drones in New Jersey airspace and to provide relevant and necessary information to State officials.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Office of the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the federal government to ensure that a rigorous and ongoing investigation is conducted into the presence of unidentified drones that have been operating in this State. These mysterious drones have been sighted and reported in a large portion of the State, across more than a dozen counties, flying near critical infrastructure, sensitive military installations, and even President-elect Trump's residence at Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County. The volume of drone sightings, nature of the areas in which they seem to fly most commonly, and manner in which the flights appear to be spreading across the State is alarming residents and causing fear and unrest. The federal government should investigate the appearance of these drones and provide relevant and necessary information to State officials in a timely way to protect the security and well-being of New Jersey residents.
