H.R. 8189

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8189 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8189

To prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating certain 
unmanned ground vehicle systems, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 2, 2026

Ms. Stefanik introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating certain 
unmanned ground vehicle systems, 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 ``American Security Robotics Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON THE PROCUREMENT AND OPERATION OF COVERED 
UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE SYSTEMS.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered nation.--The term ``covered nation'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 4872(f) of title 10, United 
States Code.
(2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign 
entity'' means an entity that is--
(A) domiciled in a covered nation;
(B) subject to the influence or control of the 
government of a covered nation, as determined by the 
Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of 
Defense; or
(C) a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity 
described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(3) Covered unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term 
``covered unmanned ground vehicle system'' means an unmanned 
ground vehicle system manufactured or assembled by a covered 
foreign entity.
(4) Executive agency.--The term ``executive agency'' has 
the meaning given the term in section 133 of title 41, United 
States Code.
(5) Unmanned ground vehicle system.--The term ``unmanned 
ground vehicle system'' means a system that includes--
(A) a mechanical device, including a remote 
surveillance vehicle, autonomous patrol technology, 
mobile robotics, or a humanoid robot, that--
(i) is capable of locomotion, navigation, 
or movement on the ground; and
(ii) operates at a distance from a human 
operator or supervisor based on commands or in 
response to sensor data or any combination 
thereof;
(B) the payload of the mechanical device described 
in subparagraph (A); and
(C) any external device used to control the 
mechanical device described in subparagraph (A).
(b) Prohibition on Procurement of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle 
Systems.--Except as provided under subsection (e), the head of an 
executive agency may not procure any covered unmanned ground vehicle 
system.
(c) Prohibition on Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle 
Systems.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in subsection (e), 
beginning on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, no executive agency may operate a 
covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(2) Applicability to contracted services.--The prohibition 
under paragraph (1) applies to any covered unmanned ground 
vehicle system being used by an executive agency through a 
contract for the services of the covered unmanned ground 
vehicle system.
(d) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Procurement or 
Operation of Covered Unmanned Ground Vehicle Systems.--Except as 
provided in subsection (e), beginning on the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, no Federal funds awarded 
through a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or otherwise made 
available, may be used to procure or in connection with the operation 
of a covered unmanned ground vehicle system.
(e) Exemption to Prohibitions.--
(1) In general.--The head of an agency described in 
paragraph (2) is exempt from the prohibitions under subsections 
(b), (c), and (d) if--
(A) the procurement or operation of the covered 
unmanned ground vehicle system is in the national 
interest of the United States; and
(B)(i) the sole purpose for the procurement or 
operation is--
(I) research, evaluation, training, 
testing, or analysis for electronic warfare, 
information warfare operations, cybersecurity, 
or the development of unmanned ground vehicle 
system or counter-unmanned ground vehicle 
system technology; or
(II) conducting counter-terrorism or 
counterintelligence activities, protective 
missions, or Federal criminal or national 
security investigations, including forensic 
examinations; or
(ii) the covered unmanned ground vehicle system, as 
procured or as modified after procurement but before 
operational use--
(I) can no longer transfer data to, or 
download data from, a covered foreign entity; 
and
(II) poses no national security 
cybersecurity risk as determined by the head of 
the agency.
(2) Agencies described.--The agencies described in this 
paragraph are--
(A) the Department of Homeland Security;
(B) the Department of Defense;
(C) the Department of State; and
(D) the Department of Justice.
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