Contact Congress about H.R. 4686: LIFT Act of 2025
The bill would move the country faster toward routine long-distance drone flights. It would also fund test projects for electric air taxi-style aircraft with state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, 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.
LIFT Act of 2025 is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Latest action on H.R. 4686: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects drone operators, eVTOL companies, and governments that want to test new aircraft services. It could also affect communities near test sites, other airspace users, U.S. aircraft makers, and foreign suppliers. Federal agencies would have to write rules, review applications, manage grants, and share some pilot project information.
Why this matters: This bill could make long-distance drone flights and electric air taxi-style aircraft show up sooner in real life. It aims to make approvals faster and rules clearer while still requiring safety measures. The tradeoff is that short deadlines and AI-assisted reviews could raise questions about oversight, public trust, and how well local concerns are handled.
Key provisions in H.R. 4686
- The Transportation Secretary must move quickly on long-distance drone rules. A proposed rule is due within 30 days after the bill becomes law, and a final rule is due within 6 months.
- The Secretary must set safety and performance measures for BVLOS drone flights within 30 days. BVLOS means the drone flies beyond where the pilot can see it. Within 180 days, the Secretary must also find extra rule barriers and recommend fixes to the White House science office.
- The Secretary must review international rules for drones over the high seas in U.S.-managed airspace. The review must look at whether these drones can fly without being treated like crewed aircraft under the Chicago Convention, an international aviation agreement. The Secretary must report findings and possible law changes to Congress.
- The Secretary must deploy AI tools within 120 days to help review drone waivers under Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 rules. The tools must help judge risk, find similar past cases, and spot areas that may be ready for broader rules.
- The AI tools must follow federal guidance for government use of artificial intelligence. That guidance is Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-25-21.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 4686
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. 4686
- What is H.R. 4686?
- The bill would move the country faster toward routine long-distance drone flights. It would also fund test projects for electric air taxi-style aircraft with state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 4686?
- 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. 4686?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 4686 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
