# What This Bill Actually Does

This bill is about getting the federal government organized to develop drone and advanced air mobility technology—think delivery drones, flying taxis, and other aircraft that don't have pilots. Right now, different government agencies are working on these technologies separately without much coordination. This bill creates a unified plan to bring everyone together and speed up development while also making sure these systems are safe and secure.

The bill establishes an interagency working group made up of NASA, the Department of Transportation, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies to coordinate research and development efforts. They'll create a strategic plan for how the U.S. should approach this technology, identify gaps in current research, and make sure taxpayer money isn't being wasted on duplicate projects. The working group will also look at supply chain security—basically making sure we're not too dependent on foreign-made drones and aircraft components, which could be a national security problem.

Beyond coordination, the bill directs multiple federal agencies to invest in specific research areas. NASA will work on advanced air mobility systems, the National Science Foundation will fund research institutes focused on drone technology, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology will develop safety standards and manufacturing guidelines. The Federal Aviation Administration gets funding to research how to safely integrate drones into regular airspace and to support university research centers. The Department of Homeland Security will focus on detecting and countering dangerous drones, while the Department of Energy will research battery and power systems needed for electric aircraft.

For everyday people, this matters because it could eventually mean faster package delivery, emergency response drones that reach accident scenes quicker, agricultural drones that help farmers, and new transportation options in cities. However, the bill also recognizes real concerns—it emphasizes research into cybersecurity, privacy protection, and safety standards to prevent misuse. The bill runs through 2033, giving these agencies over a decade to develop and test these technologies responsibly before they become common in American skies.

National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development Act

Lucas, Frank D.

National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development ActThis bill establishes programs and requirements to support domestic&nbsp;research and development of unmanned aircraft systems (e.g., drones) and advanced air mobility (e.g., new aircraft models that&nbsp;transport passengers, goods, and services more efficiently or to areas that are difficult to reach).For example, the bill establishes an interagency working group to coordinate federal efforts and develop a strategic plan to support this technology. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the procurement and use of foreign-made technology by the federal government.&nbsp;In addition, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must establish a program to create institutes that support interdisciplinary research into this technology through public-private partnerships.&nbsp;The National Institute of Standards and Technology&nbsp;must also support these institutes and develop technical standards for this technology, such as security standards.&nbsp;The National Science Foundation must support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and training about this technology, such as though grants to educational institutions and nonprofits.The bill also directs several agencies to research the potential of this technology and how it can be integrated into their programs and activities, including NASA, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration.The bill specifically prohibits using any funds that are authorized under this bill to purchase, acquire, or operate technology from North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, or any other foreign country of concern, other than to further research and development of U.S. technology.&nbsp;