PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5260)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 2, 2011

Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to aviation smuggling to extend its coverage of aircraft to ultralight vehicles, as defined by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Subjects attempting or conspiring to commit aviation smuggling to specified criminal penalties.

Directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering of the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify DOD equipment and technology that could also be used by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to detect and track the illicit use of ultralight aircraft near the international border between the United States and Mexico.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] · D–NM

Committees

  • Finance Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5260)

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5260, S5260-5261)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1485 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1485 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1485 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1485 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources