Gallagher offers substitute amendment for H.R. 10304 in T&I markup
In a House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup on September 15, 2026, Rep. James Gallagher (R-CA) introduced and explained an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 10304, the Drone Safety Statement Modernization Act. The legislation requires small unmanned aircraft system manufacturers to present operators with updated safety information, airspace restriction details, and potential legal consequences upon first device activation. Gallagher highlighted two California incidents: a recreational drone colliding with a Super Scooper aircraft during the Palisades Fire, and a drone that grounded initial air attack on the Dixie Fire, which ultimately burned nearly one million acres. He noted the bill's bipartisan nature, crediting Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) for her expertise on protecting major events and noting upcoming Olympic hosting in California as additional motivation. The measure aims to boost recreational operators' aeronautical knowledge and reduce incursions into restricted airspace during emergencies.
Source: Congressman James Gallagher