FCC Authorization Act of 1988 Pub. L. No. 100-594 (1988)
(3) among the basic purposes for the Amateur Radio Service is the provision of voluntary, noncommercial radio service, particularly emergency communications; and
(4) volunteer amateur radio emergency communications services have consistently and reliably been provided before, during, and after floods, tornadoes, forest fires, earthquakes, blizzards, train wrecks, chemical spills, and other disasters.
(b) It is the sense of Congress that —
(1) it strongly encourages and supports the Amateur Radio Service and its emergency communications efforts; and
(2) Government agencies shall take into account the valuable contributions made by amateur radio operators when considering actions affecting the Amateur Radio Service.