Aviation Minority Workforce Development Act of 2023

Subjects: Transportation and Public Works


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1163 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1163

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
to increase racial and gender minority access and representation in the 
              aviation workforce, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2023

  Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
to increase racial and gender minority access and representation in the 
              aviation workforce, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Minority Workforce 
Development Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM TO INCREASE RACIAL AND GENDER MINORITY ACCESS AND 
              REPRESENTATION IN THE AVIATION WORKFORCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to increase 
racial and gender minority access and representation in the aviation 
workforce.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this section to an 
eligible entity shall be used to--
            (1) facilitate the creation of programs that educate and 
        train students from under-represented racial and gender groups 
        to participate in the aviation workforce;
            (2) increase access to, and the availability of, resources 
        at existing aviation workforce programs for the express purpose 
        of increasing representation of racial and gender minorities, 
        including at minority serving institutions;
            (3) assist students from under-represented racial and 
        gender minorities with education, apprenticeship, internship, 
        transportation, and certification costs; and
            (4) increase outreach and recruitment to students from 
        racial and gender minorities who are interested in working in 
        the aviation industry.
    (c) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that not less than 40 
percent of the total amount of funds appropriated in each fiscal year 
to carry out this section are awarded to minority-serving institutions.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the first 
grant is awarded under the grant program under this section, and 
annually thereafter for as long as the Secretary is conducting such 
program, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a 
report that evaluates such program, including--
            (1) a description of the number of grants awarded;
            (2) the amount of each grant;
            (3) the activities funded under each grant; and
            (4) the effectiveness of such funded activities in meeting 
        the objective described in subsection (a).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $80,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``junior or community college'' in 
        section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1058(f)).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a minority-serving institution; and
                    (B) a consortium of 1 or more institutions of 
                higher education that has a partnership with 1 or more 
                of the following entities:
                            (i) A member of the aviation industry, such 
                        as a company or industry association.
                            (ii) A labor-management organization.
                            (iii) An aviation industry registered 
                        apprenticeship program.
                            (iv) A nonprofit organization dedicated to 
                        helping individuals gain employment in the 
                        aviation industry.
                            (v) A community college or a postsecondary 
                        vocational institution with experience in 
                        providing relevant education or training for 
                        individuals seeking employment in the aviation 
                        industry or a similar industry.
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution described in section 
        371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q(a)).
            (5) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term 
        ``postsecondary vocational institution'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
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