# 119-hr-4686: LIFT Act of 2025

119-hr-4686, LIFT Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA); status in_committee (as of 2026-07-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4686
- As of: 2026-07-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4686
- Congress: 119
- Title: LIFT Act of 2025
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-07-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2] (R-VA)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-19

## Summary

**Expands Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations to accelerate commercial and public use.** The bill would also fast-track electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) pilot projects and require AI tools to speed waiver reviews and spot rulemaking needs. - Requires the Department of Transportation to propose a BVLOS rule within 30 days and finalize it within 6 months, and to set BVLOS safety and performance metrics. This pushes a clear timeline for broader BVLOS approvals for operators and manufacturers. - Creates an eVTOL integration pilot program that offers grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to test medical, cargo, rural, and advanced air mobility uses. The program sets 90-day proposal windows and sunsets three years after the first pilot becomes operational. - Directs the Secretary to deploy AI within 120 days to assist Part 107 waiver reviews, identify mitigation measures, and flag recurring approval patterns for potential rulemaking. It also requires a study and report on international navigation barriers for UAS over the high seas. Information from pilots must be shared with defense and homeland security agencies as appropriate.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1] (R-MN), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6] (R-FL), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6] (R-IN), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] (R-TX), 2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA), 2025-07-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mills, Cory [R-FL-7] (R-FL), 2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster drone rules and approvals: benefit, medium. If enacted, DOT would propose rules to allow routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight drone flights within 30 days. A final rule would be due within 6 months of enactment. DOT would set BVLOS safety and performance metrics within 30 days. Within 180 days, DOT would list barriers and send recommendations…
- Grants to test electric air taxis: benefit, medium. If enacted, DOT would create a pilot grant program for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services. DOT would issue a public request for proposals within 90 days of enactment. Proposals would be due 90 days later and must include a private eVTOL partner. DOT could select projects within…
- Study on drone flights over high seas: benefit, low. If enacted, DOT would study how to let drones operate over the high seas under U.S. control without manned aircraft navigation rules. DOT would identify legal and operational barriers. DOT would send Congress a report with findings and any needed legislative recommendations.
- Priority for U.S.-made drones in airspace: mixed, medium. If enacted, DOT would prioritize integrating drones made in the United States over foreign-made drones, as allowed by law. This would guide integration choices but would not provide funding or change buying rules.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5401: Pay Our Troops Act of 2026
- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4686 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4686)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-5401: Pay Our Troops Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5401)
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1502)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4686 (as of 2026-07-19).