H.R. 8697 — Guard the Skies Act

This section authorizes members of the National Guard to take counter-unmanned aircraft actions to protect certain facilities and assets. It amends section 210G of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require coordination with the Secretary of Defense before the Department of Homeland Security issues guidance or implements counter-UAS measures that could affect National Guard missions requested by a state governor for a National Special Security Event (as defined in section 2001 of the Homeland Security Act). It also adds a new section 130j to title 10, United States Code, permitting the Secretary of Defense to authorize National Guard members—when ordered to duty under title 10 or 32 and assigned duties under section 130i—to conduct such actions notwithstanding specified federal criminal and aviation statutes. The section further amends section 12304(b) of title 10 to authorize the President to order members of the Selected Reserve and certain Individual Ready Reserve members to active duty for these National Guard missions, and amends section 502(f)(2) of title 32 to include support for such actions among authorized drills and field exercises.