Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2730) to establish and ensure an inclusive and transparent Drone Advisory Committee.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2730

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the Sense of Congress that:

(1) Due to the ever-increasing use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the agriculture, forestry, and rangeland sectors, as well as the inherently different uses in less populated parts of the nation, membership of the Drone Advisory Committee established by the Federal Aviation Administration should, to the extent practicable, include direct representatives from county and tribal government, agriculture, forestry, and rangeland interests.

(2) Full transparency in the work of the Drone Advisory Committee is vital to ensuring the public can effectively participate and contribute to the development of sound Federal policies. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration should, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the work of the Drone Advisory Committee is shared with and easily accessible to the public and shall ensure transparency and openness in the manner in which the affairs of the Committee are conducted. SEC. 3. DRONE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP.

(1) In general.--The Federal Aviation Administration shall take appropriate steps to encourage direct representation of county and tribal governments as well as agriculture, forestry, rangeland sectors, and other rural interests on the Drone Advisory Committee.

(2) Public participation.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Administrator shall include public participation in the process of nominating individuals for membership on the Committee.

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Ms. NORTON. 2730.

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2730, the Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act, introduced by Senator Peters of Michigan.

The number of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, in the United States airspace has grown exponentially in recent years. The growth is expected to continue, as drones are deployed for more and more uses each year. Drones have become important tools to assist with everything from infrastructure inspection and lifesaving missions to delivering medical supplies and prescriptions.

As the Federal Aviation Administration continues its efforts to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System, the work of the Drone Advisory Committee, an FAA advisory committee that provides the agency with advice and recommendations on key drone integration issues, will continue to play an important role in such efforts.

The Drone Advisory Committee is currently comprised of executives from a cross-section of interested stakeholders, including academia, drone manufacturers and operators, aviation labor, and local governments, among others. While drones are increasingly being used in the agriculture, forestry, and rangeland sectors and by county and Tribal governments, these stakeholders are not represented adequately in the current committee makeup.

S. 2730 would, therefore, require the FAA to take appropriate steps to encourage the direct representation of county and Tribal governments, as well as agriculture, forestry, rangeland sectors, and other rural interests, on the Drone Advisory Committee. The bill will also require the FAA to include public participation in the process of nominating individuals for advisory committee membership going forward.

The efforts outlined in S. 2730 will not only include transparency and openness in how the Drone Advisory Committee's membership is constructed, but they will also help ensure the insights of stakeholders, with vast experience operating drones and perspectives regarding their integration, are reflected in the advisory committee's important work, ultimately informing future FAA decisionmaking.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I again rise in support of another great piece of bipartisan legislation, S. 2730, the Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act.

The Drone Advisory Committee is a long-term advisory committee that provides the Federal Aviation Administration with advice on key drone integration issues.

S. 2730 directs the FAA to ensure that there is broad participation on this committee that develops policies for unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, and their growing uses.

S. 2730 also directs the FAA to consider public opinion when nominating anyone to serve on the Drone Advisory Committee.

Imagine that, a government agency asking the public, who is intricately involved in issues related to drone technology and the ability to use drones in and around our public airspace--imagine having public opinion determine who should be best to serve.

This is another example where Republicans and Democrats have come together to offer solutions. It is sad we have to put them on paper, to put them into legislation sometimes; but here we are today, and I am glad it is happening.

Having committee participation from those in rural areas, especially, will help those in agribusiness, like in the 13th District of Illinois, my district, where agriculture is king and is so much a part of our local economy. They depend on drones.

The growing use of drones and unmanned aircraft in this field are affecting wide swaths of the country. When you look at my district, we have to start talking about some of the other drone issues that I and my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have worked on over the last few years that I have been blessed to serve in this institution.

It was an amendment I offered to a previous FAA reauthorization that allowed for microdrones to have a category in and of itself. We don't need this committee actively trying to influence what we would consider the hobby aircraft industry. If a drone is below 4.4 pounds, we believe anyone who wants to utilize this technology should have the opportunity to do so.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support S.

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Ms. NORTON.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to say in closing, I encourage all Members to support this bill.

I also want to say thank you to the colleagues that don't get a chance to come back here on January 3, like Mr. Cunningham and so many of my other friends. These are good people who served in a great institution where we worked together to make sure we made this country a better place. I thank them for their service.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, as is often the case, it is difficult for Congress to stay ahead of the technology that it must regulate.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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