II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2244 

To create opportunities for women in the aviation industry. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 18, 2017 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. DUCKWORTH) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To create opportunities for women in the aviation industry. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Promoting Women in 

5 the Aviation Workforce Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) Women make up over 50 percent of the na9 tional workforce, but are significantly underrep10 resented in the aviation industry. Women represent 

11 only 2 percent of airline mechanics, 4 percent of 


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1 flight engineers, 5 percent of repairmen, 26 percent 

2 of air traffic controllers, 18 percent of flight dis3 patchers, and 6 percent of pilots. 

4 (2) Twelve percent of students enrolled in 

5 AABI-accredited programs are women. 

6 (3) Women have made tremendous contribu7 tions to aviation while under steep adversity. Coura8 geous women like Blanche Scott, Amelia Earhart, 

9 Bessie Coleman, Ada Brown, and so many others 

10 paved the way for women in aviation and engineer11 ing. Their leadership shall be valued and remem12 bered as we continue to grow the influence of women 

13 in aviation. 

14 (4) Programs like the annual ‘‘Girls in Aviation 

15 Day’’ established by Women in Aviation Inter16 national in September 2015 help young women be 

17 introduced to the different opportunities that are 

18 open to women in the aviation and aerospace indus19 try. Support for these efforts will go a long way in 

20 supporting women’s aspirations in these fields. 

21 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WOMEN IN AVIA22 TION. 

23 It is the sense of Congress that the aviation industry 

24 should explore all opportunities, including pilot training, 

25 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics eduVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:12 Dec 19, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2244.IS S2244

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1 cation, and mentorship programs, to encourage and sup2 port female students and aviators to pursue a career in 

3 aviation. 

4 SEC. 4. SUPPORTING WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE AVIA5 TION FIELD. 

6 (a) ADVISORY BOARD.—To encourage women and 

7 girls to enter the field of aviation, the Administrator of 

8 the Federal Aviation Administration shall create and fa9 cilitate the Women in Aviation Advisory Board (referred 

10 to in this section as the ‘‘Board’’), with the objective of 

11 promoting organizations and programs that are providing 

12 education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruit13 ment of women into the aviation industry. 

14 (b) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall consist of mem15 bers whose diverse background allows them to contribute 

16 balanced points of view and ideas regarding the strategies 

17 and objectives set forth in section 4(f). 

18 (c) SELECTION.—Not later than 9 months after the 

19 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ap20 point members of the Board, including representatives 

21 from the following: 

22 (1) Major airlines and aerospace companies. 

23 (2) Nonprofit organizations within the aviation 

24 industry. 

25 (3) Aviation business associations. 


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1 (4) Engineering business associations. 

2 (5) United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air 

3 Patrol. 

4 (d) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be 

5 appointed to the Board for the duration of the existence 

6 of the Board. 

7 (e) COMPENSATION.—Board members shall serve 

8 without compensation. 

9 (f) DUTIES.—Not later than 18 months after the 

10 date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall present a 

11 comprehensive plan for strategies the Administration can 

12 take, which include the following objectives: 

13 (1) Identifying industry trends that directly or 

14 indirectly discourage women from pursuing careers 

15 in aviation, including— 

16 (A) possible differences between women 

17 minority groups; and 

18 (B) possible differences between women 

19 who live in rural, suburban, and urban areas. 

20 (2) Coordinating the functions of airline compa21 nies, nonprofit organizations, and aviation and engi22 neering associations to facilitate support for women 

23 pursuing careers in aviation. 


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1 (3) Creating opportunities to expand existing 

2 scholarship opportunities for women in the aviation 

3 industry. 

4 (4) Enhancing aviation training, mentorship, 

5 education, and outreach programs that are exclusive 

6 to women. 

7 (g) REPORTS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

9 the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 

10 shall submit a report to— 

11 (A) the Committee on Transportation and 

12 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 

13 and 

14 (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

15 and Transportation of the Senate. 

16 (2) AVAILABILITY ONLINE.—The Administrator 

17 shall make the report publicly available online and in 

18 print. 

Æ 


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