The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform Act, enacted in 2012, created a gradual process for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones, into the national airspace. In addition to military purposes, drones have a variety of applications, from weather monitoring and bridge inspection to border patrol and search-and-rescue operations; however, government agencies and others must first obtain authorization from the FAA for their use. As drone technology has advanced and costs have dropped, private-sector demand for these devices has increased. In February 2015, the FAA proposed new rules that would allow commercial drones to fly during…

On July 16, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted, 18 to 12, an amendment to the Agriculture appropriations bill that would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to seek public comment on a proposed rule relating to the treatment of captive marine mammals. Marine mammal welfare is regulated under the 1966 Animal Welfare Act, and some of the current rules date back to the 1980s. In the mid-1990s, USDA began negotiating with the industry on an updated rule that would set minimum standards for the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of such animals. It wasn’t until 2012, however, that…