Cotton Introduces Bill to Safeguard American Military Assets from Foreign Adversaries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
April 30, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Safeguard American Military Assets from Foreign Adversaries

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to safeguard America's most sensitive military assets from foreign adversaries. The Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act presumes any foreigner from a country of concern caught photographing or tracking American military material acts with intent to harm the United States. This follows multiple recent arrests of foreign nationals accused of photographing highly sensitive American military bases.

"Foreign nationals photographing sensitive military assets are only doing so for one reason, to spy on the United States. My bill would hold these criminals accountable," said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Visual Protection of Strategic Assets Act would:

• Create a rebuttable presumption that a national of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea who photographs, videos, or tracks a high-value strategic asset did so with intent to injure the United States or advantage a foreign nation.
• Strengthen penalties for photographing high-value strategic assets at Tier-1 installations, imposing up to 10 years in prison with a 5-year mandatory minimum for citizens or nationals of countries of concern.
• Require the Department of War to maintain a public list of high-value assets and Tier-1 installations and install clear signage warning that photography and surveillance of these assets are strictly prohibited.
• Ensure that any covered foreign adversary convicted under the new rules faces immediate visa revocation and removal proceedings.

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