Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, my amendment today is a probusiness, pro-innovation amendment. This would exempt any regulations that affect the safety of our National Airspace System. It is important to note that commercial drone operations are only possible because of FAA rules. Last August, the FAA's small UAS rule-- unmanned aerial systems rule--opened the door for small businesses to use unmanned systems easily and without cumbersome paperwork. The current inaction on the ``flights over people'' rule could limit UAS operations, such as news reporting, disaster relief, and public safety from becoming a reality. As a result, many businesses and the country could lose out on the full societal and economic benefits of UAS. Once UAS are fully integrated into the national airspace, the full benefits of these tools will help businesses to expand and our economy to grow--with a projected 100,000 jobs and over $82 billion in economic impact over the next decade. That is why this particular amendment is supported by the UAV Coalition as well as the Automated Vehicles Symposium. But we need action from regulatory authorities to fully integrate UAS into our airspace. Without my amendment, the SCRUB Act has the potential to stifle a growing industry and prevent the modernization of air traffic. I want to reiterate: UAS operators need guidance and regulations from the FAA so they can operate safely and without unnecessary paperwork. I urge the House to support my amendment. Mr.…”