Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes programs within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the use of drones and other small, unmanned aircraft systems when inspecting, repairing, or constructing road, electric grid, water, or other critical infrastructure.

Highlights:

• Establishes programs within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the use of drones and other small, unmanned aircraft systems when inspecting, repairing, or constructing road infrastructure, electric grid, water, or other critical infrastructure (Sec. 2-3).

• Requires the DOT to award a total of $100 million in grants for fiscal years 2023-2024 to state, tribal, and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, or regional groups of those entities to purchase or otherwise use drones to (Sec. 2-3):

• Increase efficiency;

• Reduce costs;

• Improve worker safety; and

• Reduce carbon emissions when carrying out inspections, repairs and construction.

• Requires grant recipients use domestically manufactured drones that are made by companies not subject to Chinese influence or control (Sec. 2-3).

• Requires the DOT to award grants to certain institutions of higher education for training students for careers using drones and related technologies (Sec. 2-3).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text