The Recreational Drone Empowerment Act (H.R. 6460) seeks to expand the areas where recreational drones can be flown. Currently, drones can operate in Class B, C, D, and G airspaces under certain conditions. This bill proposes allowing recreational drones to also fly in specific Class E airspaces, which are controlled airspaces above Class G or those that extend from other airspace classes, with FAA authorization.
Supporters of the Recreational Drone Empowerment Act have highlighted its potential to increase recreational drone usage and innovation. They argue that expanding the permitted airspace for recreational drones could lead to greater opportunities for hobbyists and boost the drone industry by reducing regulatory barriers.
Critics of the bill have raised concerns about safety and privacy, suggesting that expanding drone operations into more controlled airspaces could lead to increased risks of air traffic interference and potential invasions of privacy. Some media outlets have also pointed out that the bill may lead to regulatory challenges for the FAA in managing airspace effectively.
There is a low risk of conflict of interest between the sponsor's donors and the bill's subject matter. The top donor industries for the sponsor, Tracey Mann, are Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government, with donations amounting to $37,500,000, $15,000,000, and $15,000,000 respectively. There are no direct overlaps detected between these industries and the subject matter of the bill, H.R. 6460: Recreational Drone Empowerment Act. Furthermore, the lobbying activity in this bill's policy area does not directly involve any of the sponsor's top donors. The highest lobbying activity comes from the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association with a total of $110,000. Therefore, based on the available data, there is no clear monetary trail that would suggest a conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL STONE SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL STONE, SAND AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATION | $110,000 |
| APPALACHIAN NATURAL GAS OPERATORS COALITION | LARRY PUCCIO, LLC | $75,000 |
| MAYNE PHARMA (USA), INC. | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD | $70,000 |
| STRATEGIC EDUCATION, INC. | THE DUBERSTEIN GROUP INC. | $60,000 |
| JETZERO | JETZERO | $50,000 |
| INTERACTIVE ADVERTISING BUREAU | AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD | $50,000 |
| THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO | DLA PIPER LLP (US) | $40,000 |
| ROCKET LAB USA INC. | DLA PIPER LLP (US) | $40,000 |
| AMVETS/AMERICAN VETERANS | AMVETS/AMERICAN VETERANS | $30,000 |
| ENDOCRINE SOCIETY | CAVAROCCHI RUSCIO DENNIS ASSOCIATES, L.L.C. | $30,000 |
| NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DE | SMITH GARSON | $20,000 |
| MICRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | OFF HILL STRATEGIES L.L.C. | $20,000 |
| EXALT YOUTH | PARK&K PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $6,000 |
| HEARST TELEVISION INC | BROOKS, PIERCE, MCLENDON, HUMPHREY & LEONARD, L.L.P. | undisclosed |
| BASE OPERATIONS | SIGNAL RIDGE STRATEGIES | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Tracey Mann, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
