AVs at Forefront of Duffy Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON – During Sean Duffy's Department of Transportation confirmation hearing today, autonomous vehicle policy was at the top of the list of issues for a bipartisan group of senators, as well as Secretary-Designate Duffy.
"Thank you to the members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for recognizing the need for greater focus on autonomous vehicle policy," AVIA CEO Jeff Farrah. "This hearing underscored the importance of this issue in Washington, and AVIA looks forward to working with Mr. Duffy and lawmakers to promote American leadership on autonomous vehicles."
During his opening remarks, Duffy said: “Transportation is entering an extraordinary new era. From eVTOLs, drones and autonomous vehicles to space travel, we are in a global race to out-innovate the rest of the world. If confirmed, we will craft clear regulations that balance safety, innovation, and cutting-edge technology.”
Chairman Ted Cruz opened the hearing pointing to autonomous vehicles as an example of transportation innovation: “Congress established the Department of Transportation in 1966 to ensure “the provision of fast, safe, efficient, and convenient transportation.” Consider what has happened since: In 1966, man had not yet set foot on the moon. Now, we are using drones in everyday life, riding in driverless cars, and sending private missions into space. A new era in transportation and infrastructure is here.”
Senator Marsha Blackburn also raised the importance of federal leadership on AVs and Rep. Duffy said in his reply that we “need clear rules that allow innovators to stay in America and develop products that are going to advance autonomous vehicles. Without clear rules or with a patchwork of rules state by state, I think we put ourselves behind those countries that allow for innovators to expand and grow. If I am confirmed, I want to work on rules that make sure there is clarity for innovators.”
Senator Todd Young stressed the importance of AV policy to support American leadership.
- Senator Young: “I have long been a proponent of continuing to encourage our innovators to go out there an keep innovating, but also to ensure that we are going to adopt a regulatory atmosphere that is friendly to autonomous vehicles. We see many other countries aiming to lead in this space, China, perhaps most notably, is catching up, and we will soon be surpassed if we don’t adopt pro-AV policies.”
- Sean Duffy: “This is not just a wonderful technology that has a potential of making our roads safer, but this is a national security issue. We can’t fall behind China or other countries as it comes to AV technology. Right now, we have a patchwork of laws from state to state. I believe there has to be a federal law by which all of these innovators abide by. I will always make sure safety is key, but after safety we want to give a wide runway for these companies.”
Senator Rosen highlighted AV innovators in Nevada in a question to Rep. Duffy and in his reply, Mr. Duffy again stated that AV rules are needed.
- Senator Rosen: “Nevada has been on the cutting edge with transportation technology. We host the only state-wide FAA-authorized drone test site. It is where various autonomous vehicle, smart transportation pilot projects, and a Hyperloop One test bed is there. How will you ensure the Department will continue to encourage creativity and innovation in our transportation sector?
- Sean Duffy: Transportation is innovative now…all of these new technologies will be data-driven, safety-driven, but I think we need to have rules and clear guardrails about how these innovators can expand and grow and create products here. I don’t want to see these Americans with these fantastic ideas that can revolutionize…autonomous vehicles pack up and go somewhere else. I want them in Nevada and other states around this country so the products and the technology and the manufacturing is ours.