H.R. 934: Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Chinese Spy Balloon Assessment Act, aims to address national security concerns related to a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that was shot down over the United States in February 2023. The main provisions of the bill are as follows:

Report Submission

The Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report within 90 days after the enactment of the bill. This report must be provided to the Committees on Armed Services of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Content of the Report

The report will cover several key areas:

Effects on Military Installations: The report will include a description of any impacts on military installations resulting from the surveillance conducted by the balloon.
Analysis of Technology and Materials: It will also provide an analysis of any technology and materials that were recovered from the balloon. This includes identifying the country of origin for these materials and technology, if possible.

Report Format

The report must be submitted in an unclassified format, which means it will be accessible to the public. However, it may include an annex that contains classified information for security reasons.

Definition of Military Installation

For the purposes of this bill, a "military installation" is defined according to section 2801 of title 10 of the United States Code, which typically refers to places where military operations or activities are conducted.

Overall Purpose

The overall purpose of this legislation is to ensure that the effects of foreign surveillance on U.S. national security are thoroughly evaluated and reported, particularly in the context of potential threats posed by adversarial nations.