Minnesota State Wire

Brad Finstad, Representative of Minnesota, said that new legislation is necessary to protect airspace and critical sites from the threats posed by unauthorized drones. The statement was made on X.

"Unauthorized drone activity poses a serious threat to public safety & airspace sovereignty," said Bradley Howard Finstad, U.S. Representative of Minnesota's 1st Congressional District (R). "I was proud to introduce legislation that will protect critical infrastructure sites from unlawful drone activity that compromises our national security."

Recent U.S. legislative efforts have been focused on implementing stricter drone regulations to address national security risks. Lawmakers are debating new enforcement powers and standards to prevent unauthorized drone flights near critical infrastructure, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were more than 2,300 reported unauthorized drone incidents near critical infrastructure in the United States in 2023. This statistic highlights growing safety and security concerns.

A 2024 Congressional Research Service report indicates that while federal law establishes baseline drone rules, many states have enacted stricter regulations around airports, power plants, and government sites. This has resulted in a patchwork of enforcement nationwide.

Finstad is a Republican U.S. Representative from Minnesota who serves on the House Agriculture and Homeland Security Committees. His focus areas include rural technology, agricultural innovation, and national security, according to Ballotpedia.