STUDY OF UTILITY OF OH-58D HELICOPTER IN DETECTION OF CROSS-BORDER INTRUSIONS BY DRUG SMUGGLERS

SEC. 1008. STUDY OF UTILITY OF OH-58D HELICOPTER IN DETECTION OF CROSS-BORDER INTRUSIONS BY DRUG SMUGGLERS (a) Study Required.— The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study on the feasibility and effectiveness of using the OH-58D Scout helicopters for detecting, monitoring, and conducting surveillance of the ground movements of drug smugglers along the southwest border of the United States. In carrying out such study, the Secretary shall consider in particular the following matters: (1) The suitability of the OH-58D helicopter for performing the missions described in the first sentence. (2) The feasibility of having personnel of the Army National Guard operate and maintain OH-58D helicopters when such personnel are not in Federal service. (b) Interagency Coordination.— The Secretary shall carry out the study required by subsection (a) in consultation with the Commissioner of the United States Customs Service. (c) Submission of Report.— The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study required by subsection (a) not more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary shall include in the report the conclusions of the Secretary based on the study together with such comments and recommendation as the Secretary considers appropriate.