Grant program to ensure first responders, farmers and ranchers, and critical infrastructure providers have secure unmanned aircraft systems

(a) Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems Trust Fund (1) Establishment There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the Secure Unmanned Aircraft Systems Trust Fund (in this section referred to as the Trust Fund), consisting of— (A) amounts transferred to the Trust Fund under paragraph (2); and (B) any amounts that may be credited to the Trust Fund under paragraph (3). (2) Transfer of amounts (A) In general The Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Trust Fund, from the general fund of the Treasury, for fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equivalent to the amount received into the general fund during that fiscal year and attributable to duties imposed and collected by the United States under headings 9903.87.01 and 9903.87.02 of the HTS and in accordance with U.S. note 31 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTS, as added by section 3(a). (B) Frequency of transfers The Secretary shall transfer amounts required by subparagraph (A) to the Trust Fund not less frequently than quarterly. (3) Investment of amounts (A) Investment of amounts The Secretary shall invest such portion of the Trust Fund as is not required to meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States. (B) Interest and proceeds The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Trust Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Trust Fund. (4) Use of amounts (A) In general Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to carry out the grant program established under subsection (b). (B) Availability of amounts Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be available for obligation and expenditure during the fiscal year during which the amounts were transferred or credited to the Trust Fund and the fiscal year thereafter. (C) Reports required Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on amounts disbursed from the Trust Fund in the preceding year. (b) Grant program (1) In general Beginning not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish and carry out a program to provide grants— (A) to first responders, farmers and ranchers, and providers of critical infrastructure to— (i) purchase or lease secure unmanned aircraft systems; (ii) support operational capabilities of such systems by the grant recipient; and (iii) support the program management capability of the grant recipient to use such systems; and (B) to entities that manufacture components for unmanned aircraft systems in the United States— (i) for workforce development; and (ii) to otherwise increase the capacity to manufacture such components in the United States. (2) Consultation In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) consult with the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to developing criteria for reviewing applications for grants submitted on behalf of farmers and ranchers; and (B) consult with the Secretary of Transportation with respect to providing grants to providers of critical infrastructure. (3) Priority for grants Of the amounts in the Trust Fund in any fiscal year— (A) not more than 60 percent of such amounts shall be made available for grants to first responders under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); (B) not more than 20 percent of such amounts shall be made available for grants to farmers and ranchers under that subparagraph; (C) not more than 20 percent of such amounts shall be made available for grants to providers of critical infrastructure under that subparagraph; and (D) not more than 10 percent of such amounts shall be made available for grants to entities that manufacture components for unmanned aircraft systems in the United States under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph. (4) Review of applications (A) Deadline (i) In general Except as provided in clause (iii), the Secretary shall approve or deny an application for a grant under the program established under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the date the Secretary receives the application. (ii) Allocation timing Amounts available for providing grants under the program established under paragraph (1) shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date the Secretary receives the application. (iii) Additional time needed for review If the Secretary determines that, because an excessive number of applications have been filed at one time, the Secretary needs additional time to process the applications, the Secretary may extend the deadline under clause (i) for not more than 45 days. (B) Effect of denial Denial of an application for a grant under the program established under paragraph (1) shall not preclude the applicant from resubmitting the application with additional documentation or submitting a new application at a later date. (5) Report required Not later than 1 year after the date on which the program is established under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the program in the year preceding submission of the report, including a description of all grants provided under the program during that year and the amounts of such grants.