Bill > HCR2024

This Concurrent Resolution highlights Arizona's significant contributions to national security and defense, acknowledging its military bases and the resulting aerospace and defense industry growth that generates substantial revenue and jobs. It emphasizes that as military spending decreases, Arizona must actively seek ways to sustain and expand its support for these sectors by leveraging its existing strengths, including congressional and state leadership, military expertise, a skilled workforce, and favorable geography and climate. Specifically, the resolution calls for Arizona to aggressively pursue high-priority requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense and to compete for selection as one or more of the six national test ranges mandated by the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which aims to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, into shared national airspace. Establishing such a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) national test range in Arizona is expected to attract further research, development, and operations in UAS technology for both national security and civil aviation purposes, ultimately boosting the state's economy and paving the way for the future of safe, integrated air traffic.