[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE COMMERCIAL UAS MODERNIZATION ACT

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, the UAS industry is booming in Oregon 
and nationwide, but our laws and regulations are stifling innovation 
instead of encouraging it, forcing American companies to look overseas 
to test new technology. We must not miss the opportunity to harness the 
benefits and utility of UAS technology, which will bring advances in 
safety and efficiency in nearly every sector of the economy.
  Today, I am introducing the Commercial UAS Modernization Act, which 
creates an interim framework that will promote American innovation in 
the rapidly growing field of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and will 
facilitate the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace 
System.
  While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of 
creating a regulatory framework for commercial UAS operation, the FAA's 
existing approach to UAS integration and regulation has been piecemeal 
at best. As a result, we are behind other countries in developing a 
regulatory regime that encourages growth of this burgeoning industry, 
and U.S. companies are being overtaken by competition in Canada, 
Europe, and Asia. This legislation offers a uniform and comprehensive 
approach that offers our drone industry a sensible path forward.
  The UAS industry expects to produce more than 100,000 U.S. jobs, with 
$82 billion in economic impact, within a decade after these regulations 
are complete. The potential social and economic benefits of this 
technology go far beyond package delivery and capturing photos and 
video footage. Around the world, UAS are being used to inspect critical 
infrastructure and conduct land surveys, fight forest fires and support 
emergency and disaster response, transport medical samples and 
supplies, analyze and manage crops, detect oil spills and predict 
volcanic eruptions, catch poachers, and deliver high-speed Internet to 
remote or underserved areas. Full integration of UAS into the national 
airspace could revolutionize the way entire sectors of our economy and 
governments function.
  The Commercial UAS Modernization Act provides a much-needed update to 
federal rules, making it clear that flying smartphones should not be 
regulated like Predator drones.

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