II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1292 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the Federal student 

loan limits for students in flight education and training programs. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 26, 2023 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr. SULLIVAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase 

the Federal student loan limits for students in flight 

education and training programs. 

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 ‘‘Flight Education Ac5 cess Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN LIMITS FOR 

2 STUDENTS IN FLIGHT EDUCATION AND 

3 TRAINING PROGRAMS. 

4 Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

5 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (p)— 

7 (A) by striking ‘‘Each institution’’ and in8 serting the following: 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each institution’’; 

10 (B) in paragraph (1) (as designated by 

11 subparagraph (A)), by inserting before the pe12 riod at the end the following: ‘‘and, shall, with 

13 respect to Federal Direct Stafford Loans and 

14 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans 

15 made after the date of enactment of the Flight 

16 Education Access Act to an eligible student (as 

17 defined in subsection (r)), comply with the re18 quirements of paragraph (2)’’; and 

19 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES.—At or prior 

21 to the disbursement of a Federal Direct Stafford 

22 Loan or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan 

23 after the date of enactment of the Flight Education 

24 Access Act to an eligible student (as defined in sub25 section (r)), the following shall be disclosed: 


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1 ‘‘(A) The principal amount of the loan, the 

2 stated interest rate on the loan, the number of 

3 required monthly payments to be made on the 

4 loan (which shall be based on a standard repay5 ment plan), and the estimated number of 

6 months before the start of the repayment period 

7 for the loan (based on the expected date on 

8 which the repayment period is to begin or the 

9 deferment period is to end, as applicable). 

10 ‘‘(B) The estimated balance to be owed by 

11 the borrower on such loan (including, if applica12 ble, the estimated amount of interest to be cap13 italized) as of the scheduled date on which the 

14 repayment period is to begin or the deferment 

15 period is to end, as applicable, and an estimate 

16 of the projected monthly payment. 

17 ‘‘(C) An estimate of the aggregate amount 

18 the borrower will pay for the loan, including the 

19 total amount of monthly payments made over 

20 the life of the loan plus the amount of any 

21 charges for the loan, such as an origination 

22 fee.’’; and 

23 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

24 ‘‘(r) INCREASE IN LOAN LIMITS FOR STUDENTS IN

25 FLIGHT EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

2 provision of this Act, the loan limits for Federal Di3 rect Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsub4 sidized Stafford Loans made after the date of enact5 ment of the Flight Education Access Act with re6 spect to eligible students shall be subject to this sub7 section. 

8 ‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 ‘‘(A) ELIGIBLE STUDENT.—The term ‘eli10 gible student’ means a student who is enrolled 

11 in an eligible undergraduate flight education 

12 and training program. 

13 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE UNDERGRADUATE FLIGHT

14 EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.—The 

15 term ‘eligible undergraduate flight education 

16 and training program’ means an undergraduate 

17 flight education and training program that of18 fers training for applicants seeking a commer19 cial pilot certificate and— 

20 ‘‘(i) during the period beginning on 

21 the date of enactment of the Flight Edu22 cation Access Act and ending on the date 

23 on which 3 years of data has been collected 

24 pursuant to paragraph (3)(D), that meets 


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1 all the applicable requirements of this Act; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(ii) beginning on the date on which 

4 3 years of data has been collected pursuant 

5 to paragraph (3)(D), that meets all the ap6 plicable requirements of this Act and has 

7 a completion rate averaged over a 3-year 

8 period, as calculated under paragraph 

9 (3)(D) that is equal to or greater than 70 

10 percent. 

11 ‘‘(C) UNDERGRADUATE FLIGHT EDU12 CATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.—The term 

13 ‘undergraduate flight education and training 

14 program’— 

15 ‘‘(i) has the meaning given the term 

16 by the Secretary, in consultation with the 

17 Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad18 ministration; 

19 ‘‘(ii) shall include a flight education 

20 and training program offered by an eligible 

21 institution that is accredited by an accred22 iting agency recognized by the Secretary, 

23 that— 


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1 ‘‘(I) awards undergraduate cer2 tificates or associate or bachelor de3 grees; and 

4 ‘‘(II) provides pilot training in 

5 accordance with part 141 of title 14, 

6 Code of Federal Regulations, or any 

7 successor regulation; and 

8 ‘‘(iii) shall not include a flight edu9 cation and training program certified 

10 under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal 

11 Regulations, or any successor regulation. 

12 ‘‘(3) LOAN LIMITS FOR ELIGIBLE UNDER13 GRADUATE FLIGHT EDUCATION AND TRAINING PRO14 GRAMS.— 

15 ‘‘(A) LIMITS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

16 WHO ARE DEPENDENT STUDENTS.— 

17 ‘‘(i) ANNUAL LIMITS.—The maximum 

18 annual amount of Federal Direct Unsub19 sidized Stafford Loans an eligible student 

20 who is a dependent student may borrow in 

21 any academic year (as defined in section 

22 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be— 

23 ‘‘(I) in the case of an eligible stu24 dent at an eligible institution who has 

25 not successfully completed the first 


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1 year of an eligible undergraduate 

2 flight education and training pro3 gram— 

4 ‘‘(aa) $20,500, if such stu5 dent is enrolled in such a pro6 gram whose length is at least one 

7 academic year in length; or 

8 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en9 rolled in such a program that is 

10 less than one academic year, the 

11 maximum annual loan amount 

12 that such student may receive 

13 may not exceed the amount that 

14 bears the same ratio to the 

15 amount specified in item (aa) as 

16 the length of such program meas17 ured in semester, trimester, quar18 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

19 academic year; 

20 ‘‘(II) in the case of an eligible 

21 student at an eligible institution who 

22 has successfully completed the first 

23 year of an eligible undergraduate 

24 flight education and training program 


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1 but has not yet successfully completed 

2 the remainder of such program— 

3 ‘‘(aa) $31,500; or 

4 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en5 rolled in such a program that is 

6 less than one academic year, the 

7 maximum annual loan amount 

8 that such student may receive 

9 may not exceed the amount that 

10 bears the same ratio to the 

11 amount specified in item (aa) as 

12 the length of such program meas13 ured in semester, trimester, quar14 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

15 academic year; 

16 ‘‘(III) in the case of a student at 

17 an eligible institution who has suc18 cessfully completed the first year and 

19 second years of an eligible under20 graduate flight education and training 

21 program but has not yet successfully 

22 completed the remainder of such pro23 gram— 

24 ‘‘(aa) $32,500; or 


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1 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en2 rolled in such a program that is 

3 less than one academic year, the 

4 maximum annual loan amount 

5 that such student may receive 

6 may not exceed the amount that 

7 bears the same ratio to the 

8 amount specified in item (aa) as 

9 the length of such program meas10 ured in semester, trimester, quar11 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

12 academic year; and 

13 ‘‘(IV) in the case of a student at 

14 an eligible institution who has suc15 cessfully completed the first, second, 

16 and third years of an eligible under17 graduate flight education and training 

18 program but has not yet successfully 

19 completed the remainder of such pro20 gram— 

21 ‘‘(aa) $22,500; or 

22 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en23 rolled in such a program that is 

24 less than one academic year, the 

25 maximum annual loan amount 


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1 that such student may receive 

2 may not exceed the amount that 

3 bears the same ratio to the 

4 amount specified in item (aa) as 

5 the length of such program meas6 ured in semester, trimester, quar7 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

8 academic year. 

9 ‘‘(ii) AGGREGATE LIMITS.—The max10 imum aggregate amount of Federal Direct 

11 Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible 

12 student who is a dependent student may 

13 borrow shall be $111,000. 

14 ‘‘(B) LIMITS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS

15 WHO ARE INDEPENDENT STUDENTS.— 

16 ‘‘(i) ANNUAL LIMITS.—The maximum 

17 annual amount of Federal Direct Unsub18 sidized Stafford Loans an eligible student 

19 who is an independent student may borrow 

20 in any academic year (as defined in section 

21 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be— 

22 ‘‘(I) in the case of an eligible stu23 dent at an eligible institution who has 

24 not successfully completed the first 

25 year of an eligible undergraduate 


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1 flight education and training pro2 gram— 

3 ‘‘(aa) $24,500, if such stu4 dent is enrolled in such a pro5 gram whose length is at least one 

6 academic year in length; or 

7 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en8 rolled in such a program that is 

9 less than one academic year, the 

10 maximum annual loan amount 

11 that such student may receive 

12 may not exceed the amount that 

13 bears the same ratio to the 

14 amount specified in item (aa) as 

15 the length of such program meas16 ured in semester, trimester, quar17 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

18 academic year; 

19 ‘‘(II) in the case of an eligible 

20 student at an eligible institution who 

21 has successfully completed the first 

22 year of an eligible undergraduate 

23 flight education and training program 

24 but has not yet successfully completed 

25 the remainder of such program— 


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1 ‘‘(aa) $35,500; or 

2 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en3 rolled in such a program that is 

4 less than one academic year, the 

5 maximum annual loan amount 

6 that such student may receive 

7 may not exceed the amount that 

8 bears the same ratio to the 

9 amount specified in item (aa) as 

10 the length of such program meas11 ured in semester, trimester, quar12 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

13 academic year; 

14 ‘‘(III) in the case of a student at 

15 an eligible institution who has suc16 cessfully completed the first year and 

17 second years of an eligible under18 graduate flight education and training 

19 program but has not yet successfully 

20 completed the remainder of such pro21 gram— 

22 ‘‘(aa) $37,500; or 

23 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en24 rolled in such a program that is 

25 less than one academic year, the 


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1 maximum annual loan amount 

2 that such student may receive 

3 may not exceed the amount that 

4 bears the same ratio to the 

5 amount specified in item (aa) as 

6 the length of such program meas7 ured in semester, trimester, quar8 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

9 academic year; and 

10 ‘‘(IV) in the case of a student at 

11 an eligible institution who has suc12 cessfully completed the first, second, 

13 and third years of an eligible under14 graduate flight education and training 

15 program but has not yet successfully 

16 completed the remainder of such pro17 gram— 

18 ‘‘(aa) $27,500; or 

19 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en20 rolled in such a program that is 

21 less than one academic year, the 

22 maximum annual loan amount 

23 that such student may receive 

24 may not exceed the amount that 

25 bears the same ratio to the 


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1 amount specified in item (aa) as 

2 the length of such program meas3 ured in semester, trimester, quar4 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

5 academic year. 

6 ‘‘(ii) AGGREGATE LIMITS.—The max7 imum aggregate amount of Federal Direct 

8 Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible 

9 student who is an independent student 

10 may borrow shall be $137,500. 

11 ‘‘(C) LIMITS FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS RE12 CEIVING FEDERAL DIRECT STAFFORD LOANS.— 

13 ‘‘(i) ANNUAL LIMITS.—The maximum 

14 annual amount of Federal Direct Stafford 

15 Loans an eligible student may borrow in 

16 any academic year (as defined in section 

17 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall, subject 

18 to subsection (q)(1), be— 

19 ‘‘(I) in the case of an eligible stu20 dent at an eligible institution who has 

21 not successfully completed the first 

22 year of an eligible undergraduate 

23 flight education and training pro24 gram— 

25 ‘‘(aa) $11,000; or 


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1 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en2 rolled in such a program that is 

3 less than one academic year, the 

4 maximum annual loan amount 

5 that such student may receive 

6 may not exceed the amount that 

7 bears the same ratio to the 

8 amount specified in item (aa) as 

9 the length of such program meas10 ured in semester, trimester, quar11 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

12 academic year; 

13 ‘‘(II) in the case of an eligible 

14 student at an eligible institution who 

15 has successfully completed the first 

16 year of an eligible undergraduate 

17 flight education and training program 

18 but has not yet successfully completed 

19 the remainder of such program— 

20 ‘‘(aa) $18,000; or 

21 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en22 rolled in such a program that is 

23 less than one academic year, the 

24 maximum annual loan amount 

25 that such student may receive 


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1 may not exceed the amount that 

2 bears the same ratio to the 

3 amount specified in item (aa) as 

4 the length of such program meas5 ured in semester, trimester, quar6 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

7 academic year; 

8 ‘‘(III) in the case of a student at 

9 an eligible institution who has suc10 cessfully completed the first year and 

11 second years of an eligible under12 graduate flight education and training 

13 program but has not yet successfully 

14 completed the remainder of such pro15 gram— 

16 ‘‘(aa) $19,000; or 

17 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en18 rolled in such a program that is 

19 less than one academic year, the 

20 maximum annual loan amount 

21 that such student may receive 

22 may not exceed the amount that 

23 bears the same ratio to the 

24 amount specified in item (aa) as 

25 the length of such program measVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1292.IS S1292

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1 ured in semester, trimester, quar2 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

3 academic year; and 

4 ‘‘(IV) in the case of a student at 

5 an eligible institution who has suc6 cessfully completed the first, second, 

7 and third years of an eligible under8 graduate flight education and training 

9 program but has not yet successfully 

10 completed the remainder of such pro11 gram— 

12 ‘‘(aa) $13,000; or 

13 ‘‘(bb) if such student is en14 rolled in such a program that is 

15 less than one academic year, the 

16 maximum annual loan amount 

17 that such student may receive 

18 may not exceed the amount that 

19 bears the same ratio to the 

20 amount specified in item (aa) as 

21 the length of such program meas22 ured in semester, trimester, quar23 ter, or clock hours bears to one 

24 academic year. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) AGGREGATE LIMITS.—The max2 imum aggregate amount of Federal Direct 

3 Stafford Loans an eligible student may 

4 borrow shall be $65,000. 

5 ‘‘(D) DATA COLLECTION ON, AND CAL6 CULATION OF, COMPLETION RATES.— 

7 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 

8 shall annually calculate the completion rate 

9 of each undergraduate flight education and 

10 training program at each eligible institu11 tion based on the information collected 

12 under clause (ii). 

13 ‘‘(ii) COLLECTION OF INFORMA14 TION.—The Secretary shall annually col15 lect information, for each academic year, 

16 on— 

17 ‘‘(I) the total number of students 

18 enrolled in an undergraduate flight 

19 education and training program at an 

20 eligible institution; and 

21 ‘‘(II) those students who com22 plete such program— 

23 ‘‘(aa) who earn a private pi24 lot’s certificate for an airplane 

25 category rating with a single-enVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1292.IS S1292

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1 gine class rating while enrolled in 

2 such program; or 

3 ‘‘(bb) who at the time of en4 rollment, possess such a certifi5 cate. 

6 ‘‘(iii) CALCULATION OF COMPLETION

7 RATE.—To calculate the completion rate 

8 described in clause (i), the Secretary 

9 shall— 

10 ‘‘(I) consider as having com11 pleted, those students who earn a pri12 vate pilot’s certificate for an airplane 

13 category rating with a single-engine 

14 class rating, or who at the time of en15 rollment possess such a certificate, 

16 and complete the undergraduate flight 

17 education and training program at an 

18 eligible institution— 

19 ‘‘(aa) that predominantly 

20 awards associate degrees, within 

21 200 percent of the normal time 

22 for completion; 

23 ‘‘(bb) that predominantly 

24 awards bachelor degrees, within 


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1 150 percent of the normal time 

2 for completion; and 

3 ‘‘(cc) that predominantly 

4 awards undergraduate certifi5 cates, within 200 percent of the 

6 normal time for completion; 

7 ‘‘(II) consider as not having com8 pleted, those students who earn a pri9 vate pilot’s certificate for an airplane 

10 category rating with a single-engine 

11 class rating, or who at the time of en12 rollment possess such a certificate, 

13 and who transfer out of the under14 graduate flight education and training 

15 program to another program at the el16 igible institution that is not an under17 graduate flight education and training 

18 program or to a program that is not 

19 an undergraduate flight education and 

20 training program at another eligible 

21 institution; and 

22 ‘‘(III) not include in the calcula23 tion, any student who— 

24 ‘‘(aa) is a foreign national; 


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1 ‘‘(bb) earns a private pilot’s 

2 certificate for an airplane cat3 egory rating with a single-engine 

4 class rating and transfers out of 

5 the undergraduate flight edu6 cation and training program to 

7 another undergraduate flight 

8 education and training program 

9 at a different eligible institution; 

10 or 

11 ‘‘(cc) is enrolled in an un12 dergraduate flight education and 

13 training program and never earns 

14 a private pilot’s certificate for an 

15 airplane category rating with a 

16 single-engine class rating. 

17 ‘‘(E) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 

18 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary 

19 shall require each undergraduate flight 

20 education and training program that en21 rolls students who receive assistance under 

22 this part to provide the data described in 

23 this subparagraph that is necessary for the 

24 completion of the reporting requirements 

25 described in this subparagraph. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) FORM OF DATA COLLECTION.— 

2 The Secretary shall prescribe the form and 

3 format of the data required to be provided 

4 under this subparagraph and include, at a 

5 minimum, the following data elements: 

6 ‘‘(I) Student data elements nec7 essary to calculate student enrollment, 

8 persistence, retention, transfer, and 

9 completion rates. 

10 ‘‘(II) Information disaggregated 

11 by gender, race, ethnicity, and socio12 economic status. 

13 ‘‘(iii) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not 

14 later than 9 months after the date of en15 actment of the Flight Education Access 

16 Act and biennially thereafter, the Secretary 

17 shall submit a report to the Committee on 

18 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 

19 the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, 

20 Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 

21 the Committee on Education and the 

22 Workforce of the House of Representa23 tives, and the Committee on Transpor24 tation and Infrastructure of the House of 

25 Representatives, analyzing and assessing 


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1 the data collected pursuant to this sub2 paragraph and conforming to the require3 ments of this subparagraph that shall in4 clude the following: 

5 ‘‘(I) An assessment of the effec6 tiveness of the requirements under 

7 this subsection. 

8 ‘‘(II) Information on enrollment, 

9 persistence, retention, transfer, com10 pletion, utilization of Federal financial 

11 aid, and unmet financial need, includ12 ing information on applicable institu13 tions. 

14 ‘‘(III) Information on the gender, 

15 race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic sta16 tus of students enrolled in an under17 graduate flight education and training 

18 program.’’. 

19 SEC. 3. GAO REPORT. 

20 Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 

21 of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

22 shall— 

23 (1) examine and review the implementation of 

24 this Act and the amendments made by this Act, 

25 which review shall include— 


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1 (A) the number of participating institu2 tions offering undergraduate flight education 

3 and training programs (as defined in section 

4 455(r) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

5 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(r)), as amended by this Act); 

6 (B) the number of students enrolled in 

7 such undergraduate flight education and train8 ing programs, and demographic data regarding 

9 such students; 

10 (C) the level of such students’ participation 

11 in the loan program under part D of title IV of 

12 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

13 1087a et seq.), including demographic data as 

14 appropriate; and 

15 (D) feedback from participating institu16 tions regarding the implementation of this Act 

17 and the amendments made by this Act; 

18 (2) develop recommendations to the Depart19 ment of Education on any changes that should be 

20 made to improve the implementation of this Act and 

21 the amendments made by this Act; and 

22 (3) prepare and submit a report on the findings 

23 and recommendations under paragraphs (1) and (2) 

24 to— 


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1 (A) the Committee on Health, Education, 

2 Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on 

3 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

4 Senate; and 

5 (B) the Committee on Education and the 

6 Workforce and the Committee on Transpor7 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep8 resentatives. 

9 SEC. 4. FLIGHT EDUCATION PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNER10 SHIP GRANT. 

11 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

12 (1) EDUCATIONAL PARTNER.—The term ‘‘edu13 cational partner’’ means— 

14 (A) a local educational agency (as defined 

15 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec16 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

17 7801)); 

18 (B) a State educational agency (as defined 

19 in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec20 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

21 7801)); 

22 (C) an institution of higher education (as 

23 defined in section 102 of the Higher Education 

24 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) with an eligible 

25 undergraduate flight education and training 


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1 program or looking to establish such a pro2 gram; 

3 (D) the Bureau of Indian Education; 

4 (E) an Alaska Native Corporation; 

5 (F) a nonprofit organization; or 

6 (G) a consortium of at least 2 of the enti7 ties described in subparagraphs (A) through 

8 (F). 

9 (2) ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘eligi10 ble partnership’’ means a collaboration between at 

11 least 1 workforce partner and at least 1 educational 

12 partner. 

13 (3) ELIGIBLE UNDERGRADUATE FLIGHT EDU14 CATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘eligi15 ble undergraduate flight education and training pro16 gram’’ has the meaning given the term in section 

17 455(r) Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

18 1087e(r)). 

19 (4) HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGEN20 CY.—The term ‘‘high-need local educational agency’’ 

21 has the meaning given the term in section 200 of the 

22 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021). 

23 (5) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The 

24 term ‘‘minority-serving institution’’ means an insti25 tution described in any of paragraphs (1) through 


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1 (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act 

2 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 

3 (6) SECRETARY.—Except as otherwise provided, 

4 the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Edu5 cation. 

6 (7) WORKFORCE PARTNER.—The term ‘‘work7 force partner’’ means— 

8 (A) a labor organization representing air9 craft pilots; 

10 (B) an entity that trains pilots; 

11 (C) an entity that employs pilots; 

12 (D) a trade association, nonprofit organi13 zation, or other entity representing the interests 

14 of an entity described in subparagraph (A), (B), 

15 or (C); or 

16 (E) a consortium of at least 2 of the enti17 ties described in subparagraphs (A) through 

18 (D). 

19 (b) GRANT PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary, 

20 in consultation with Secretary of Transportation, shall 

21 award grants to eligible partnerships to— 

22 (1) support the education of future airline and 

23 commercial pilots; 

24 (2) diversify the pilot training workforce by in25 creasing the number and percentage of pilots from 


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1 underrepresented or non-traditional populations, 

2 low-income populations, and rural populations; and 

3 (3) generate interest and support for a career 

4 as an airline and commercial pilot. 

5 (c) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible partnership that de6 sires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an 

7 application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 

8 and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 

9 may require. 

10 (d) PRIORITIES.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants under 

12 this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less 

13 than 25 percent of the funds made available to carry 

14 out this section for any fiscal year are awarded to 

15 eligible partnerships that consist of— 

16 (A) a minority-serving institution with an 

17 eligible undergraduate flight education and 

18 training program or looking to establish such a 

19 program; 

20 (B) a high-need local educational agency; 

21 or 

22 (C) a consortium of entities described in 

23 subparagraphs (A) and (B). 

24 (2) EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 

25 (1), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of funds 


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1 made available under such paragraph if the Sec2 retary does not receive a sufficient number of appli3 cations of sufficient quality. 

4 (e) USES OF FUNDS.—An eligible partnership that 

5 receives a grant under this section shall use the grant 

6 funds for 1 or more of the following activities: 

7 (1) A scholarship program for current or pro8 spective flight education students at an eligible un9 dergraduate flight education and training program. 

10 (2) Operating an outreach or development pro11 gram in a local educational agency, particularly a 

12 high-need local educational agency, for elementary 

13 school, middle school, and high school students to— 

14 (A) introduce such students to the pilot 

15 profession and aviation experiences; and 

16 (B) recruit students from low-income, 

17 rural, underrepresented, or non-traditional pop18 ulations to the aviation profession. 

19 (3) Provide startup grants to institutions of 

20 higher education, particularly minority-serving insti21 tutions, to start or expand aviation programs that 

22 serve underrepresented communities. 

23 (f) MATCHING FUNDS.— 

24 (1) MATCH.—In order to receive a grant under 

25 this section, an eligible partnership shall demVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1292.IS S1292

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•S 1292 IS

1 onstrate that the workforce partner in the partner2 ship will provide matching funds, in cash or through 

3 an in-kind contribution, from Federal, State, local, 

4 or private sources, in an amount equal to 25 percent 

5 of the funds provided under such grant. 

6 (2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may waive the 

7 matching funds requirement under paragraph (1), 

8 on a case-by-case basis, upon a showing of excep9 tional circumstances or financial difficulties in the 

10 eligible partnership. 

11 (g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary, in con12 sultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall re13 serve not more than 5 percent of the funds made available 

14 to carry out this section to provide technical assistance 

15 to— 

16 (1) applicants seeing to become an eligible part17 nership; and 

18 (2) eligible partnerships that have been award19 ed grants under this section. 

20 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

21 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

22 $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 

23 2027. 


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1 SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

2 Nothing in this Act, or an amendment made by this 

3 Act, shall be construed to repeal, amend, supersede, or af4 fect any pilot training or qualification provision under ex5 isting law. 

6 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

7 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec8 retary of Education, in addition to any amounts otherwise 

9 available, to carry out the amendments made by this Act 

10 $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2033. 

11 Such funds shall be available until expended. 

Æ 


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