Contact Congress about H.R. 3459: Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023

The FAA would have to write rules for commercial drones that fly beyond the pilot’s sight. The bill also creates new FAA drone teams and keeps some temporary approval paths open while those rules are written.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023 is a House bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects drone makers, drone operators, and the FAA staff who approve drone flights. It could also affect companies and public agencies that want to use drones for delivery, inspections, farming, emergency response, or other longer-distance work. Communities under low-flying drone routes could feel effects too, but the bill does not directly set rules for noise, privacy, or local control.

Why this matters: Today, many commercial drone flights beyond the pilot’s sight depend on limited approvals instead of a full national rulebook. This bill would push the FAA to create clearer rules and faster approval paths. That could help drone businesses and public agencies plan new services. It could also raise concerns about how the FAA balances speed, safety, privacy, noise, and local impacts.

Key provisions in H.R. 3459

• The FAA would have firm deadlines for commercial drones that fly beyond the pilot’s sight. It must propose a rule within 6 months and finish it within 2 years after the bill becomes law.
• The new drone rule must measure risk in a clear way. It must look at air and ground risks, including drone size, weight, speed, energy, location, and detect-and-avoid systems that help drones avoid crashes.
• The FAA must create pilot rules for beyond-line-of-sight flights. Those rules must account for how much the drone flies on its own.
• Small drone makers could use a simpler approval path. They could file a declaration saying they meet FAA-accepted safety standards instead of getting full type certification, production certification, or a special airworthiness certificate.
• Some larger drones could get a special airworthiness certificate. This would apply to drones up to 1,320 pounds and 100 miles per hour, would skip full type and production certification, and would generally allow flights below 400 feet.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 3459

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 3459

What is H.R. 3459?

The FAA would have to write rules for commercial drones that fly beyond the pilot’s sight. The bill also creates new FAA drone teams and keeps some temporary approval paths open while those rules are written.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 3459?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 3459?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 3459?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.