Meetings
The Massachusetts delegation met with the following Members and/or their staff:
Senator Edward Markey
Senator Markey is very interested and knowledgeable on Unmanned Vehicle Systems. He serves on the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee and its Subcommittees on Security and Transportation and Safety.
We requested that Boston, Massachusetts to be part of soon to be released FAA Counter-UAS Pilot Program as well as other items such as support for leadership in urban air mobility.
We were advised about the recent subcommittee hearing in June on transportation security. Massachusetts Port Authority state provided witness testimony focused on enforcement, technology, and collaboration/research, and requested that Massachusetts be included in the FAA announced pilot program for testing UAS detection systems at five yet-to-be chosen airports.
We were advised that with respect to UAS preemption that the Senator had submitted a letter to the FAA requesting clarity in small UAS rules. In regard to Remote ID, that the FAA should complete this vital ruling and that the interim of voluntary Remote ID is inadequate.
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Senator Warren serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and its Subcommittees on Airland, Personnel, and Strategic Forces.
She is interested in the AUVSI and the AUVSI New Chapter activities, such as the establishment of a test corridor for small UAS, urban air mobility and Counter-UAS.
Some questions we were posed included who in the local state legislature are helping to spearhead local initiatives. We took an action to provide local Governmental points of contact. She is also interested in consumer groups that are represented by our chapter, including academic and fire safety.
Representative William Keating – 9th District
Congressman Keating is very interested and knowledgeable about the Unmanned Vehicle Systems domain and sits on the House Armed Services Committee and its Subcommittees for Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities and Strategic Forces. He is a member of the Unmanned Systems Caucus.
The Massachusetts delegation together with the AUVSI Maritime Advisory Committee jointly met with Congressman Keating.
He was keen to learn of the unmanned vehicle systems initiatives in Massachusetts and was knowledgeable about the maritime activities in Woods Hole, Boston, and at local companies.
Representative Ayanna Pressley – 7th District
Congresswoman Pressley is interested in the impact of new technologies such as Unmanned Vehicle Systems on the workforce, both positively and negatively. She is interested in medical and healthcare uses for UAS or drones.
Representative Lori Trahan – 3rd District
Congresswoman Trahan is very interested in Unmanned Vehicle Systems and sits on the House Armed Services Committee and its Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee.
She is interested in workforce development and specifically how to increase the numbers of engineers and researchers in aerospace, and cyber defense. Are there mechanisms to initiate internship programs.
Congress Members and Staffers at AUVSI Science Fair
Science and Tech Fair
In the evening, a Science and Tech Fair was held in the Rayburn Building Foyer, 11 AUVSI member companies provided interactive, hands-on exhibits displaying unmanned technologies. Over 350 staff members and four congressional members attended the event.
Summary
In summary, we achieved our objectives of introducing the domain, the AUVSI and the New England chapter for our members. We received good feedback and requests for further information.
We look forward to participating again next year.
