Letter to Congress Supporting The Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (S. 4687)

To the Members of the United States Senate:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges the Senate to approve S. 4687, the “Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act,” important bipartisan legislation reported unanimously by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on August 3.

While unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provide substantial economic and national security benefits to the United States, UAS can also present significant risks to commercial activity including economic espionage, adverse effects on aviation safety, terrorist and criminal threats, and other illicit conduct.

S. 4687 would extend existing counter-UAS authorities as well as responsibly and gradually expand such authorities to effectively address UAS threats. These authorities are necessary to help protect private sector facilities and enable other commercial activity. Moreover, the Chamber appreciates that the legislation provides appropriate guardrails to provide for aviation safety, ensure privacy, enable continued federal regulation of the national airspace, and protect authorized commercial activity.

We urge the Senate to pass this important bipartisan legislation.   

Sincerely,

Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce