I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2428 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 

to improve the preparation and representation of certain students in 

aviation-related fields, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 30, 2023 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 

Ms. LEE of California, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. CASTEN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CARSON, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. 

WILSON of Florida, Ms. NORTON, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Ms. CROCKETT, and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a 

grant program to improve the preparation and representation of certain students in aviation-related fields, and 

for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Minorities in Aviation 

5 Education Act of 2023’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. BESSIE COLEMAN AVIATION EDUCATION PROGRAM. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 

3 shall establish the Bessie Coleman Aviation Education 

4 Program to provide grants to eligible entities to improve 

5 the preparation and representation of students, particu6 larly women and minorities, in aviation-related fields. 

7 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—A grant awarded 

8 under this section may only be used for activities that in9 crease exposure and access to aviation-related education 

10 and jobs through such means as— 

11 (1) internships, apprenticeships, or scholarships 

12 that offer students experience in the aviation indus13 try; 

14 (2) programs that introduce students to un15 manned aircraft systems (as the term is defined in 

16 section 44801 of title 49, United States Code); 

17 (3) career exploration and educational programs 

18 that teach technical skills used in aviation mainte19 nance, or to improve existing such programs; and 

20 (4) programs to increase the recruitment and 

21 retention of underrepresented minorities in postsec22 ondary aviation degree programs. 

23 (c) APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking a 

25 grant under this section shall submit an application 

26 to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 


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1 containing such information as the Secretary may 

2 require, including a description of how grant funds 

3 will be used to increase exposure and access to avia4 tion-related education and jobs. 

5 (2) PRIORITY.—In reviewing and selecting ap6 plications for grants under this section, the Sec7 retary shall give priority to applicants that propose 

8 to use grant funds to encourage the participation of 

9 women, minorities, and individuals in rural and 

10 urban areas in the aviation industry. 

11 (3) PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—An 

12 eligible entity may enter into a partnership agree13 ment with an institution of higher education, a non14 profit organization, or another entity, to carry out 

15 activities with a grant awarded under this section. 

16 (d) GRANT AMOUNT.—The maximum amount of a 

17 grant awarded under this section in a fiscal year shall be 

18 $500,000. 

19 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

20 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti21 ty’’ means— 

22 (A) a local educational agency; 

23 (B) a State educational agency; and 

24 (C) a State or local government. 


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•HR 2428 IH

1 (2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

2 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

3 meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 

4 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 

5 (3) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 

6 ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 

7 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec8 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

9 (4) STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 

10 ‘‘State educational agency’’ has the meaning given 

11 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec12 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

13 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

14 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

15 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 

16 2026, and 2027. 

Æ 


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