H.R. 4753

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4753 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4753

To amend the Arms Export Control Act to address arms export controls 
for certain unmanned aircraft systems and items, and for other 
purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. Zinke (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Arms Export Control Act to address arms export controls 
for certain unmanned aircraft systems and items, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Leading Exports of Aerial Drones Act 
of 2025'' or the ``LEAD Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. ARMS EXPORT CONTROLS FOR COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND 
ITEMS.

(a) Arms Export Control Act.--
(1) Section 38.--Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act 
(22 U.S.C. 2778) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(m) Covered Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Items.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes of transfers of defense 
articles and defense services under this Act, covered unmanned 
aircraft systems and items--
``(A) shall be treated as manned aircraft systems 
items; and
``(B) shall not be considered launch vehicles, 
missile technology, or missile equipment subject to 
controls or export restrictions for purposes of 
adherence by the United States to the Missile 
Technology Control Regime.
``(2) Definition of covered unmanned aircraft systems and 
items.--In this subsection, the term `covered unmanned aircraft 
systems and items' means unmanned aircraft systems and related 
items that--
``(A) are controlled under the International 
Traffic in Arms Regulations and enumerated in the 
Missile Technology Control Regime Annex; and
``(B) are designed to be reusable.''.
(2) Chapter 7.--Chapter 7 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2797 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 73B the following:

``SEC. 73C. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS 
AND ITEMS.

``It is the policy of the United States to treat covered unmanned 
aircraft systems and items (as defined in section 38(m)(2)(B)) as 
manned aircraft systems and items for purposes of implementing the 
Missile Technology Control Regime.''.
(b) International Traffic in Arms Regulations.--
(1) United states munitions list.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
shall amend section 121.1 of title 22, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to provide that covered unmanned aircraft systems 
and items--
(A) are subject to the same export control 
provisions as manned aircraft systems and items and 
that, for purposes of part 121 of such title, shall be 
reviewed under the same criteria and guidelines as 
manned aircraft systems and items; and
(B) are distinct from launch vehicles, missile 
technology, and missile equipment and are subject to 
separate export control provisions and that, for 
purposes of part 121 of such title, shall be reviewed 
under criteria specific to their technological and 
operational characteristics.
(2) Missile technology control regime.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
shall amend section 120.23 of title 22, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to provide that, for purposes of implementing the 
Missile Technology Control Regime, the United States shall 
treat covered unmanned aircraft systems and items--
(A) separately from missile technology, including 
for purposes of co-production and co-development 
agreements with allies and partners; and
(B) as manned aircraft systems and items that shall 
not be subject to controls, missile technology reviews, 
or export restrictions for purposes of adherence by the 
United States to the Missile Technology Control Regime.
(3) Definitions.--In this section:
(A) Covered unmanned aircraft systems and items.--
The term ``covered unmanned aircraft systems and 
items'' has the meaning given that term in subsection 
(m)(2) of section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2778), as added by subsection (a).
(B) Missile; missile technology control regime.--
The terms ``missile'' and ``Missile Technology Control 
Regime'' have the meanings given those terms in section 
74(a) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
2797c(a)).
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