Bills Introduced – 11-1-23

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 77 bills introduced. One of those bills may receive additional attention in this blog:

HR 6143 To provide for drone security. Gallagher, Mike [Rep.-R-WI-8] 

I will be watching this bill for language and definitions that would include cybersecurity requirements for UAS within the scope of the legislation. I suspect, however, that this is another anti-Chinese-drone bill.

Mention in Passing

I would like to mention another bill that was introduced yesterday, since it addresses another on of my personal interests, the expansion of commercial spaceflight operations:

HR 6131 To amend title 51, United States Code, to update government oversight of commercial space activities, and for other purposes. Babin, Brian [Rep.-R-TX-36] 

As commercial space flight activities continue to expand, it is inevitable and proper that government oversight of such activities to protect public safety and ensure equitable access is going to expand as well. But, this is going to require that Congress ensures that the regulating agency, currently the FAA, expands its internal network of spaceflight expertise to keep abreast of developments in the sector. Perhaps it is time to consider whether that agency’s responsibility to regulate operations in the national airspace should expand beyond the atmosphere, or whether a new agency is required.