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the Secretary, shall issue to the State of Arizona a 
Deed of Release to release all terms, conditions, res-
ervations, restrictions, and obligations contained in 
the Quitclaim Deed, including any and all rever-
sionary interest of the United States in Buckeye 
940. 
(2) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—The Deed of 
Release described in paragraph (1) shall be subject 
to such additional terms and conditions, consistent 
with such paragraph, as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate to protect the interests of the United 
States. 
(3) NO RESTRICTION ON USE OF PROCEEDS.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
State of Arizona may dispose of Buckeye 940 and 
any proceeds thereof, including proceeds already col-
lected by the State and held in a suspense account, 
without regard to any restriction imposed by the 
Quitclaim Deed or by section 155.7 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
(4) MINERAL RESERVATION.—The Deed of Re-
lease described in paragraph (1) shall include the re-
lease of all interests of the United States to the min-
eral rights on Buckeye 940 included in the Quit-
claim Deed. 
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SEC. 820. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM INTEGRITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate a review to 
identify and address aging information technology systems 
within the Administration. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify and inventory critical software and 
hardware systems of the Administration; 
(2) assess the vulnerabilities of such systems to 
degradation, errors (including human errors), and 
malicious attacks (including cyber attacks); and 
(3) identify upgrades to, or replacements for, 
such systems that are necessary to mitigate such 
vulnerabilities. 
(c) MITIGATION.—The Administrator shall take such 
action as may be necessary to mitigate the vulnerabilities 
identified under the review conducted under subsection 
(a). 
(d) LEVERAGING EXTERNAL EXPERTISE.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the actions carried out pur-
suant to this section shall— 
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(1) be consistent with the acquisition manage-
ment system established and updated pursuant to 
section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code; 
(2) incorporate input from industry, academia, 
or other external experts on information technology; 
and 
(3) identify technologies in existence or in de-
velopment that, with or without adaptation, are ex-
pected to be suitable to meet the technical informa-
tion technology needs of the Administration. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report detailing the results of the review required under 
subsection (a). 
(f) INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—After the Administrator 
completes the review under subsection (a), the in-
spector general of the Department of Transportation 
shall conduct an audit of the integrity of the infor-
mation technology systems of the Administration 
and assess the efforts of the Administration to ad-
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dress the Administration’s aging information tech-
nology systems. 
(2) REPORT.—The inspector general shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
audit carried out under this subsection. 
SEC. 821. BRIEFING ON RADIO COMMUNICATIONS COV-
ERAGE AROUND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall provide 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
briefing on the radio communications coverage within the 
airspace surrounding the Mena Intermountain Municipal 
Airport in Mena, Arkansas. 
(b) BRIEFING CONTENTS.—The briefing required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) The radio communications coverage within 
the airspace surrounding the Mena Intermountain 
Municipal Airport with the applicable Air Route 
Traffic Control Center. 
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(2) The altitudes at which radio communica-
tions capabilities are lost within such airspace. 
(3) Recommendations on changes that may in-
crease radio communications coverage below 4,000 
feet above ground level within such airspace. 
SEC. 822. STUDY ON CONGESTED AIRSPACE. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall initiate a study on the efficiency and 
efficacy of scheduled commercial air service transiting con-
gested airspace. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall exam-
ine— 
(1) various regions of congested airspace and 
the differing factors of such regions; 
(2) commercial air service; 
(3) military flight activity; 
(4) emergency response activity; 
(5) commercial space launch and reentry activi-
ties; 
(6) weather; and 
(7) air traffic controller staffing. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
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shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the results of the study and rec-
ommendations to reduce the impacts to scheduled air serv-
ice transiting congested airspace. 
SEC. 823. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FRANCHISE FUND. 
Title I of the Department of Transportation and Re-
lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (49 U.S.C. 
40113 note) is amended under the heading ‘‘Administra-
tive Services Franchise Fund’’ by striking ‘‘shall be paid 
in advance’’ and inserting ‘‘may be reimbursed after per-
formance or paid in advance’’. 
SEC. 824. USE OF BIOGRAPHICAL ASSESSMENTS. 
Section 44506(f)(2)(A) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(B)(ii)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)(B)’’. 
SEC. 825. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ENFORCEMENT. 
Section 42121(b)(5) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) ENFORCEMENT
OF
ORDER.—Whenever 
any person has failed to comply with an order issued 
under paragraph (3), the Secretary of Labor and the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
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tion shall consult with each other to determine the 
most appropriate action to be taken, in which— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Labor may file a 
civil action in the United States district court 
for the district in which the violation was found 
to occur to enforce such order, for which, in ac-
tions brought under this paragraph, the district 
courts shall have jurisdiction to grant all appro-
priate relief including, injunctive relief and com-
pensatory damages; and 
‘‘(B) the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration may assess a civil pen-
alty pursuant to section 46301.’’. 
SEC. 826. FINAL RULEMAKING ON CERTAIN MANUFAC-
TURING STANDARDS. 
Not later than December 16, 2023, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final 
rule for the notice of proposed rulemaking titled ‘‘Airplane 
Fuel Efficiency Certification’’ and published June 15, 
2022 (RIN 2120–AL54). 
SEC. 827. REMOTE DISPATCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44711(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
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(2) in paragraph (10) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) work as an aircraft dispatcher outside of 
a physical location designated as a dispatching cen-
ter or flight following center of an air carrier, except 
as provided under section 44747.’’. 
(b) AIRCRAFT DISPATCHING.—Chapter 447 of title 
49, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44747. Aircraft dispatching 
‘‘(a) AIRCRAFT DISPATCHING CERTIFICATE.—No 
person may serve as an aircraft dispatcher for an air car-
rier unless that person holds the appropriate aircraft dis-
patcher certificate issued by the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(b) PROOF OF CERTIFICATE.—Upon the request of 
the Administrator or an authorized representative of the 
National Transportation Safety Board, or other appro-
priate Federal agency, a person who holds such a certifi-
cate, and is performing dispatching shall present the cer-
tificate for inspection. 
‘‘(c) DISPATCH CENTERS AND FLIGHT FOLLOWING 
CENTERS.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Air carriers shall es-
tablish and maintain sufficient dispatch centers and 
flight following centers necessary to maintain oper-
ational control of each flight at all times. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Air carrier dispatch 
centers and flight following centers shall— 
‘‘(A) have a sufficient number of aircraft 
dispatchers at dispatch centers and flight fol-
lowing centers to ensure proper operational con-
trol of each flight at all times; 
‘‘(B) have the equipment necessary and in 
good repair to maintain proper operational con-
trol of each flight at all times; and 
‘‘(C) include appropriate physical and cy-
bersecurity protections, as determined by the 
Administrator. 
‘‘(3) LOCATION
LIMITATION.—No air carrier 
may dispatch aircraft from any location other than 
the designated dispatch centers or flight following 
centers of such air carrier. 
‘‘(d) EMERGENCY AUTHORITY
FOR REMOTE DIS-
PATCHING.—Notwithstanding subsection (c), an air car-
rier may dispatch aircraft from locations other than from 
designated dispatch centers or flight following centers for 
a limited period of time in the event of an emergency or 
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other event that renders a center inoperable. An air carrier 
may not dispatch aircraft under the emergency authority 
under this subsection for longer than 30 consecutive days 
without the approval of the Administrator.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44747. Aircraft dispatching.’’. 
SEC. 828. EMPLOYEE ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RE-
SPONSE PLANS AMENDMENT. 
Section 551 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 44903 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Administrator shall require’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator’’ and inserting ‘‘to submit’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘A part 121 
air carrier shall’’ and inserting ‘‘The Administrator 
shall require a part 121 air carrier to’’. 
SEC. 829. CREW MEMBER SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING. 
Section 44918(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘Neither’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (8), nei-
ther’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) AIR
CARRIER
ACCOMMODATION.—An air 
carrier with a crew member participating in the 
training program under this subsection shall provide 
a process through which each such crew member 
may obtain reasonable accommodations.’’. 
SEC. 830. FORMAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT 
POLICIES ON AIR CARRIERS AND FOREIGN 
AIR CARRIERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 417 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 41729. Formal sexual assault and harassment poli-
cies 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, each air carrier and 
foreign air carrier transporting passengers for compensa-
tion shall issue, in consultation with labor unions rep-
resenting personnel of the air carrier or foreign air carrier, 
a formal policy with respect to transportation sexual as-
sault or harassment incidents. 
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‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The policy required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) a statement indicating that no transpor-
tation sexual assault or harassment incident is ac-
ceptable under any circumstance; 
‘‘(2) procedures that facilitate the reporting of 
a transportation sexual assault or harassment inci-
dent, including— 
‘‘(A) appropriate public outreach activities; 
and 
‘‘(B) confidential phone and internet-based 
opportunities for reporting; 
‘‘(3) procedures that personnel should follow 
upon the reporting of a transportation sexual assault 
or harassment incident, including actions to protect 
affected individuals from continued sexual assault or 
harassment and to notify law enforcement when ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(4) procedures that may limit or prohibit, to 
the extent practicable, future travel with the air car-
rier or foreign air carrier by any passenger who 
causes a transportation sexual assault or harassment 
incident; and 
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‘‘(5) training that is required for all appropriate 
personnel with respect to the policy required under 
subsection (a), including— 
‘‘(A) specific training for personnel who 
may receive reports of transportation sexual as-
sault or harassment incidents; and 
‘‘(B) recognizing and responding to poten-
tial human trafficking victims, in the same 
manner as required under section 44734(a)(4). 
‘‘(c) PASSENGER INFORMATION.—An air carrier or 
foreign air carrier described in subsection (a) shall promi-
nently display, on the internet website of the air carrier 
or foreign air carrier and through the use of appropriate 
signage, a written statement that informs passengers and 
personnel of the procedure for reporting a transportation 
sexual assault or harassment incident. 
‘‘(d) STANDARD OF CARE.—Compliance with the re-
quirements of this section, and any policy issued there-
under, shall not determine whether the air carrier or for-
eign air carrier described in subsection (a) has acted with 
any requisite standard of care. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) PERSONNEL.—The term ‘personnel’ means 
an employee or contractor of an air carrier or for-
eign air carrier. 
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‘‘(2) SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The term ‘sexual as-
sault’ means the occurrence of an act that con-
stitutes any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by 
Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the vic-
tim lacks capacity to consent. 
‘‘(3) TRANSPORTATION
SEXUAL
ASSAULT
OR 
HARASSMENT INCIDENT.—The term ‘transportation 
sexual assault or harassment incident’ means the oc-
currence, or reasonably suspected occurrence, of an 
act that— 
‘‘(A) constitutes sexual assault or sexual 
harassment; and 
‘‘(B) is committed— 
‘‘(i) by a passenger or member of per-
sonnel of an air carrier or foreign air car-
rier against another passenger or member 
of personnel of an air carrier or foreign air 
carrier; and 
‘‘(ii) within an aircraft or in an area 
in which passengers are entering or exiting 
an aircraft.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘41729. Formal sexual assault and harassment policies.’’. 
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SEC. 831. INTERFERENCE WITH SECURITY SCREENING 
PERSONNEL. 
Section 46503 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘An individual’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) AIRPORT AND AIR CARRIER EMPLOYEES.—For 
purposes of this section, an airport or air carrier employee 
who has security duties within the airport includes an air-
port or air carrier employee performing ticketing, check- 
in, baggage claim, or boarding functions.’’. 
SEC. 832. MECHANISMS TO REDUCE HELICOPTER NOISE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall initiate a study to examine ways 
in which a State, territorial, or local government may miti-
gate the negative impacts of commercial helicopter noise. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall con-
sider— 
(1) the varying degree of commercial helicopter 
operations in different communities; and 
(2) actions that State, and local governments 
have taken, and authorities such governments have 
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used, to reduce the impact of commercial helicopter 
noise and the success of such actions. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
provide to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the findings of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 833. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 49 ANALYSIS.—The analysis for title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the item relat-
ing to subtitle IX and inserting the following: 
‘‘IX. 
MULTIMODAL 
FREIGHT 
TRANSPOR-
TATION............................................. 70101’’. 
(b) SUBTITLE I ANALYSIS.—The analysis for subtitle 
I of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to chapter 7. 
(c) SUBTITLE VII ANALYSIS.—The analysis for sub-
title VII of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to chapter 448 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘448. Unmanned Aircraft Systems................................................... 44801’’. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT.—Section 40109(b) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
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tions 40103(b)(1) and (2) of this title’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 40103(b)’’. 
(e) GENERAL PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.—Section 
40110(d)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘, as in 
effect on October 9, 1996’’ after ‘‘Policy Act’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘the Office 
of Federal Procurement Policy Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘division B of subtitle I of title 41’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘section 
27(e)(3)(A)(iv) of the Office of Federal Procurement 
Policy Act’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2105(c)(1)(D) of 
title 41’’. 
(f) 
GOVERNMENT-FINANCED
AIR
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—Section 40118(g)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘detection and reporting of 
potential human trafficking (as described in paragraphs 
(9) and (10)’’ and inserting ‘‘detection and reporting of 
potential severe forms of trafficking in persons and sex 
trafficking (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (11) 
and (12)’’. 
(g) FAA AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT CRIMINAL HIS-
TORY RECORD CHECKS.—Section 40130(a)(1)(A) of title 
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49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(42 
U.S.C. 14616)’’ and inserting ‘‘(34 U.S.C. 40316)’’. 
(h) SUBMISSIONS OF PLANS.—Section 41313(c)(16) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘will consult’’ and inserting ‘‘the foreign air carrier shall 
consult’’. 
(i) PLANS AND POLICY.—Section 44501(c) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) 
in 
paragraph 
(2)(B)(i), 
by 
striking 
‘‘40119,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘Subject to 
section 40119(b) of this title and regulations pre-
scribed under section 40119(b),’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subject to section 44912(d)(2) and regulations pre-
scribed under such section,’’. 
(j) USE AND LIMITATION OF AMOUNTS.—Section 
44508 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘40119,’’ each place it appears. 
(k) STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COM-
MERCE OR NATIONAL SECURITY.—Section 44718(h) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘ad-
verse impact on military operations and readiness’ and 
‘unacceptable risk to the national security of the United 
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(v) METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AU-
THORITY.—Section 49106 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘and 
section 49108 of this title’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(6)(C) by inserting ‘‘the’’ 
before ‘‘jurisdiction’’. 
(w) SEPARABILITY
AND
EFFECT
OF
JUDICIAL 
ORDER.—Section 49112(b) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(2) by striking ‘‘(2) Any action’’ and inserting 
‘‘Any action’’. 
SEC. 834. TRANSPORTATION OF ORGANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, shall convene a working 
group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘working group’’) 
to assist in developing best practices for transportation of 
an organ in the cabin of an aircraft operating under part 
121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and to iden-
tify regulations that hinder such transportation, if applica-
ble. 
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(b) COMPOSITION.—The working group shall be com-
prised of representatives from the following: 
(1) Air carriers operating under part 121 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) Organ procurement organizations. 
(3) Organ transplant hospitals. 
(4) Flight attendants. 
(5) Other relevant Federal agencies involved in 
organ transportation or air travel. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing the best prac-
tices described in subsection (a), the working group shall 
consider— 
(1) a safe, standardized process for acceptance, 
handling, management, and transportation of an 
organ in the cabin of such aircraft; and 
(2) protocols to ensure the safe and timely 
transport of an organ in the cabin of such aircraft, 
including through connecting flights. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the convening of the working group, such working 
group shall submit to the Secretary a report containing 
recommendations for the best practices described in sub-
section (a). 
(e) DEFINITION
OF ORGAN.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘organ’’— 
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(1) has the meaning given such term in section 
121.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) includes organ-related tissue. 
SEC. 835. REPORT ON APPLICATION APPROVAL TIMING. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report detailing the amount of time 
the application approval process takes for agricultural air-
craft operations under part 137 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
SEC. 836. STUDY ON AIR CARGO OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall initiate a study on the economic 
sustainability of air cargo operations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress the following: 
(1) Airport and cargo development strategies, 
including the pursuit of new air carriers and plans 
for physical expansion. 
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(2) Key historical statistics for passenger, cargo 
volumes, including freight, express, and mail cargo, 
and operations, including statistics distinguishing 
between passenger and freight operations. 
(3) A description of air cargo facilities, includ-
ing the age and condition of such facilities and the 
square footage and configuration of the landside and 
airside infrastructure of such facilities, and cargo 
buildings. 
(4) The projected square footage deficit of the 
cargo facilities and infrastructure described in para-
graph (3). 
(5) The projected requirements and square 
footage deficit for air cargo support facilities. 
(6) The general physical and operating issues 
and constraints associated with air cargo operations. 
(7) A description of delays in truck bays associ-
ated with the infrastructure and critical landside 
issues, including truck maneuvering and queuing 
and parking for employees and customers. 
(8) The estimated cost of developing new cargo 
facilities and infrastructure, including the identifica-
tion of percentages for development with a return on 
investment and without a return on investment. 
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(9) The projected leasing costs to tenants per 
square foot with and without Federal funding of the 
non-return on investment allocation. 
(10) A description of customs and general staff-
ing issues associated with air cargo operations and 
the impacts of such issues on service. 
(11) An assessment of the impact, cost, and es-
timated cost savings of using modern comprehensive 
communications and technology systems in air cargo 
operations. 
(12) A description of the impact of Federal reg-
ulations and local enforcement of interdiction and 
facilitation policies on throughput. 
(c) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
results of the study carried out under this section. 
SEC. 837. NEXT GENERATION RADIO ALTIMETERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with in-
dustry and other relevant government stakeholders, shall 
carry out an accelerated program to assist with the devel-
opment, testing, and certification of the standards and 
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technology necessary to ensure industry and the Adminis-
tration can certify, produce and meet the installation re-
quirements for next generation radio altimeters across all 
necessary aircraft by January 1, 2028. 
(b) GRANT
PROGRAM.—The Administrator may 
award grants for the purposes of research and develop-
ment, testing, and other activities necessary to ensure that 
next generation radio altimeter technology is developed, 
tested, certified, and installed on necessary aircraft by 
2028, including through public-private partnership grants 
(which shall include protections for necessary intellectual 
property with respect to any private sector entity testing, 
certifying, or producing next generation radio altimeters 
under the program carried out under this section) with 
industry to ensure the accelerated production and installa-
tion by January 1, 2028. 
(c) REVIEW AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the steps the Administrator has taken 
as of the date on which such report is submitted and any 
actions the Administrator plans to take, including as part 
of the program carried out under this section, to ensure 
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that next generation radio altimeter technology is devel-
oped, tested, certified, and installed by 2028. 
SEC. 838. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SAFETY AND 
SECURITY OF AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE. 
It is the sense of Congress that aviation provides es-
sential services critical to the United States economy and 
that it is important to ensure the safety and security of 
aviation infrastructure and protect such infrastructure 
from unlawful breaches with appropriate legal safeguards. 
SEC. 839. RESTRICTED CATEGORY AIRCRAFT MAINTE-
NANCE AND OPERATIONS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
have sole jurisdiction over the maintenance and operations 
of aircraft owned by civilian operators and type-certifi-
cated in the restricted category under section 21.25 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 840. REPORT ON TELEWORK. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives, and make publicly available 
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on a website of the Administration, a detailed report on 
any direct and indirect costs and inefficiencies associated 
with COVID-era telework policies at the Federal Aviation 
Administration. 
SEC. 841. CREWMEMBER PUMPING GUIDANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall issue guidance to 
part 121 air carriers relating to the expression of milk 
by crewmembers on an aircraft during noncritical phases 
of flight, consistent with the performance of the crew-
member’s duties aboard the aircraft. The guidance shall 
be equally applicable to any lactating crewmember. In de-
veloping the guidance, the Administrator shall— 
(1) consider multiple methods of expressing 
breast milk that could be used by crewmembers, in-
cluding the use of wearable lactation technology; and 
(2) ensure the guidance will not require an air 
carrier or foreign air carrier to incur significant ex-
pense, such as through— 
(A) the addition of an extra crewmember 
in response to providing a break; 
(B) removal or retrofitting of seats on the 
aircraft; or 
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(C) modification or retrofitting of an air-
craft. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CREWMEMBER.—The term ‘‘crewmember’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 1.1 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) CRITICAL PHASES OF FLIGHT.—The term 
‘‘critical phases of flight’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 121.542 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(3) PART 121.—The term ‘‘part 121’’ means 
part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(c) AVIATION SAFETY.—Nothing in this section shall 
limit the authority of the Administrator relating to avia-
tion safety under subtitle VII of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 842. AIRCRAFT INTERCHANGE AGREEMENT LIMITA-
TIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of Federal 
Aviation Administration shall conduct a study of foreign 
interchange agreements. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall address the 
following: 
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(1) Methods for updating regulations under 
part 121.569 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, for foreign interchange agreements. 
(2) Time limits for foreign aircraft interchange 
agreements. 
(3) Minimum breaks between foreign aircraft 
interchange agreements. 
(4) Limits for no more than 1 foreign aircraft 
interchange agreement between 2 airlines. 
(5) Limits for no more than 2 foreign aircraft 
on the interchange agreement. 
SEC. 843. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACADEMY 
AND FACILITY EXPANSION PLAN. 
(a) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
initiate the development of a plan to expand overall 
Federal Aviation Administration capacity relating to 
facilities, instruction, equipment, and training re-
sources to grow the number of developmental air 
traffic controllers enrolled per fiscal year and sup-
port increases in FAA air controller staffing to ad-
vance the safety of the national airspace system. 
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the plan 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
(A) the resources needed to support an in-
crease in the total number of developmental air 
traffic controllers enrolled at the FAA Acad-
emy; 
(B) the resources needed to lessen FAA 
Academy attrition per fiscal year; 
(C) how to modernize the education and 
training of developmental air traffic controllers, 
including through the use of new techniques 
and technologies to support instruction; 
(D) the equipment needed to support ex-
panded instruction, including air traffic control 
simulation systems, virtual reality, and other 
virtual training platforms; 
(E) projected staffing needs associated 
with FAA Academy expansion and the oper-
ation of education platforms, including the 
number of on-the-job instructors needed to edu-
cate and train additional developmental air traf-
fic controllers; 
(F) the costs of expanding Federal Avia-
tion Administration capacity at the existing air 
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traffic control academy (as described in para-
graph (1)(A)); 
(G) soliciting input from, and coordinating 
with, relevant stakeholders as appropriate, in-
cluding the exclusive bargaining representative 
of air traffic control specialists of the Federal 
Aviation Administration certified under section 
7111 of title 5, United States Code; and 
(H) other logistical and financial consider-
ations as determined by appropriate the Admin-
istrator. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
plan developed under subsection (a). 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
submission of the plan under subsection (b), the Adminis-
trator shall brief the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate on the plan, including the implementation of 
the plan. 
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SEC. 844. LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN CARGO AIRCRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The standards adopted by the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in 
part 1030 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and 
the requirements finalized by the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration from the notice of pro-
posed rulemaking titled ‘‘Airplane Fuel Efficiency Certifi-
cation’’, and published on June 15, 2022 (RIN2120- 
AL54) in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall not apply to any covered airplane before the date 
that is 5 years after January 1, 2028. 
(b) OPERATIONAL LIMITATION.—The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall limit the op-
eration of any covered airplane to domestic use or inter-
national operations, consistent with relevant international 
agreements and standards, that— 
(1) does not meet the standards and require-
ments described in subsection (a); and 
(2) received an original certificate of airworthi-
ness issued by the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration on or after January 1, 
2028. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED AIRPLANE.—The term ‘‘covered 
airplane’’ means an airplane that— 
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(A) is a subsonic jet that is a purpose-built 
freighter; 
(B) has a maximum takeoff mass greater 
than 180,000 kilograms but not greater than 
240,000 kilograms; and 
(C) has a type design certificated prior to 
January 1, 2023. 
(2) PURPOSE-BUILT
FREIGHTER.—The term 
‘‘purpose-built freighter’’ means any airplane that— 
(A) was configured to carry cargo rather 
than passengers prior to receiving an original 
certificate of airworthiness; and 
(B) is configured to carry cargo rather 
than passengers. 
SEC. 845. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION FOR ORIGINAL DE-
SIGNS OF AIRCRAFT FLOATS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall, as appropriate, coordinate 
with the Register of Copyrights to help, to the extent fea-
sible, aircraft float manufacturers receive design protec-
tions provided under section 1301 of title 17, United 
States Code. 
(b) AIRCRAFT FLOAT DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘aircraft float’’ means a device suitable for use on 
an airplane that meets the standards set forth in the tech-
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nical standard order related to Twin Seaplane Floats 
issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on July 31, 
2018 (TSO-C27a), or any successor standard. 
SEC. 846. DELIVERY OF CLEARANCE TO PILOTS VIA INTER-
NET PROTOCOL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct testing and 
an evaluation to determine the feasibility of the use, in 
air traffic control towers, technology for delivering clear-
ances via internet protocol to enable mobile device access 
for general aviation and on-demand Part 135 air carriers 
at airports that do not have Towered Data Link Services. 
(b) AIRPORT SELECTION.—The Administrator shall 
designate five airports for participation in the initial air-
port pilot program after consultation with the exclusive 
representatives of air traffic controllers certified under 
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, airport spon-
sors, aircraft and avionics manufacturers, MITRE, and 
aircraft operators and the designation should include air-
ports of different size and complexity. 
(c) PROGRAM OBJECTIVE.—The program shall ad-
dress and include safety, security, and operational require-
ments for mobile clearance delivery at airports and heli-
ports across the United States. 
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(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MOBILE CLEARANCE DELIVERY.—The term 
‘‘mobile clearance delivery’’ means providing access 
to departure clearance and clearance cancellation via 
Internet Protocol via applications to pilots while air-
craft are on the ground where traditional data link 
installations are not feasible or possible. 
(2) PART 135.—The term ‘‘Part 135’’ means 
part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) TOWER DATA LINK SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘tower data link services’’ means communications 
between controllers and pilots using controller-pilot 
data link communications. 
(4) SUITABLE
AIRPORT.—The term ‘‘suitable 
airport’’ shall include towered airports, non-towered 
airports, and heliports. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the mobile clearance delivery program becoming 
operational, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
safety, security, and operational performance of the mobile 
clearance services at airports pursuant to this section and 
recommendations on how best to improve the program. 
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SEC. 847. REPORT ON INDO-PACIFIC AIRPORTS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall 
submit to Congress a report on airports of strategic impor-
tance in the Indo-Pacific region that includes each of the 
following: 
(1) An identification of airports and air routes 
critical to national security, defense operations, 
emergency response, and continuity of government 
activities. 
(2) An assessment of the economic impact and 
contribution of airports and air routes to national 
and regional economies. 
(3) An evaluation of the connectivity and acces-
sibility of airports and air routes, including their im-
portance in supporting domestic and international 
travel, trade, and tourism. 
(4) An analysis of infrastructure and techno-
logical requirements necessary to maintain and en-
hance the strategic importance of identified airports 
and air routes. 
(5) An identification of potential vulnerabilities, 
risks, and challenges faced by airports and air 
routes of strategic importance, including cybersecu-
rity 
threats 
and 
physical 
infrastructure 
vulnerabilities. 
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(6) Any recommendations for improving the se-
curity, resilience, and efficiency of the identified air-
ports and air routes, including potential infrastruc-
ture investments and policy changes. 
SEC. 848. GAO STUDY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
GRANTS AT AIRPORTS. 
The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the implementation of grants provided 
to airports located in the Freely Associated States under 
section 47115(i) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 849. MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PAR-
TICIPATION. 
Section 157(b)(2) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 47113 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(D) PUBLISHING
DATA.—The Secretary 
of Transportation shall report on a publicly ac-
cessible website the uniform report of DBE 
awards—commitments and payments specified 
in part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, and the uniform report of ACDBE Par-
ticipation for non-car rental and car rental con-
cessions, for each airport sponsor beginning 
with fiscal year 2024.’’. 
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SEC. 850. STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COM-
MERCE OR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
Section 44718 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘on a publicly 
available website’’ after ‘‘public notice’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); 
(3) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated) by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) ENERGY
PROJECT.—The term ‘energy 
project’ has the meaning given such term in section 
183a(h) of title 10. 
‘‘(4) FOREIGN PRINCIPAL; AGENT OF A FOR-
EIGN PRINCIPAL.—The terms ‘foreign principal’ and 
‘agent of a foreign principal’ have the meaning given 
such terms in section 1 of the Foreign Agents Reg-
istration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611).’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) SPECIAL RULE FOR ENERGY PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who is required 
to submit an application for an energy project under 
this section shall include in such application a disclo-
sure of any relationship such person has with a for-
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eign principal or with an agent of a foreign prin-
cipal. 
‘‘(2) INACCURATE DISCLOSURE OF RELATION-
SHIP WITH FOREIGN PRINCIPAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Attor-
ney General of the United States and the head 
of any other relevant Federal agency, shall es-
tablish a process to evaluate the accuracy of a 
disclosure made under paragraph (1) and deter-
mine whether a person has violated such para-
graph. 
‘‘(B) INITIAL PENALTY FOR INACCURATE 
DISCLOSURE.—If the Secretary determines that 
a person has knowingly violated paragraph (1), 
such person shall be prohibited from submitting 
an application for an energy project under this 
section during the period beginning on the date 
on which the Secretary made the determination 
under subparagraph (A) and ending on the date 
that is 2 years after such determination. 
‘‘(C) PENALTIES FOR SUBSEQUENT INAC-
CURATE DISCLOSURES.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that a person knowingly violates para-
graph (1) after an initial violation under sub-
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paragraph (B), such person shall be perma-
nently prohibited from submitting an applica-
tion for an energy project under this section.’’. 
SEC. 851. EFFECT OF AIRLINE MERGERS FOR CONSUMERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit a report to Congress on the 
effect of airline mergers for consumers, including pas-
senger fares (including add-on fees), the number of routes, 
the number of nonstop routes eliminated, and the number 
of flight delays and cancellations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a report on the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a) to the following congressional com-
mittees: 
(1) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the Senate. 
SEC. 852. TASK FORCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN AVIATION 
SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
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Federal Aviation Administration shall convene a task force 
on human factors in aviation safety (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall consist of 
members appointed by the Administrator and having ex-
pertise in an operational or academic discipline that is rel-
evant to the analysis of human errors in aviation. The 
number of members shall be determined by the Adminis-
trator to ensure sufficient representation of relevant oper-
ational and academic disciplines. 
(c) DURATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Task Force 
shall be appointed for the length of the existence of 
the Task Force. 
(2) LENGTH OF EXISTENCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall 
have an initial length of existence of 2 years. 
(B) OPTION.—The Administrator may ex-
ercise an option to lengthen the duration of the 
existence of the Task Force for a period of 2 
years. 
(d) DISCIPLINES.—For purposes of subsection (b), 
disciplines may include air carrier operations, line pilot ex-
pertise, air traffic control, technical operations, aero-
nautical information, aircraft maintenance and mechanics 
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psychology, linguistics, human-machine integration, gen-
eral aviation operations, and organizational behavior and 
culture. 
(e) EXPERTISE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—No less than half of the 
members shall have expertise in aviation. 
(2) ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE.—The Task Force 
shall include members with expertise on human fac-
tors but whose experience and training are not in 
aviation specifically and who have not previously 
been engaged in work related to the Federal Avia-
tion Administration or the aviation industry. The 
Task Force shall also include pilot labor organiza-
tion, certificated mechanic labor organizations, and 
at least one member from an air traffic controller 
labor organization. 
(f) FEDERAL
AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION
MEM-
BERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 4 members 
may be employees of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration and National Transportation Safety Board, 
excluding representatives of the labor representatives 
of employees of the air traffic control system. Not 
more than 2 members may be employees of the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board. The Federal 
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Aviation Administration and the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board members shall be non-voting. 
(2) FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EM-
PLOYEES.—Any member who is an Federal Aviation 
Administration employee shall have expertise in safe-
ty. 
(g) DUTIES.—In coordination with the Research, En-
gineering, and Development Advisory Committee estab-
lished under section 44508 of title 49, United States Code, 
the Task Force shall— 
(1) not later than the date on which the Task 
Force is no longer in existence, produce a written re-
port that— 
(A) to the greatest extent possible, identi-
fies the most significant human factors and the 
relative contribution of such factors to aviation 
safety risk; 
(B) identifies new research priorities for 
research in human factors in aviation safety; 
(C) reviews existing products by other 
working groups related to human factors in 
aviation safety including the Commercial Avia-
tion Safety Team (CAST)’s work pertaining to 
flight crew responses to abnormal events; 
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(D) provides recommendations on potential 
revisions to any Federal Aviation Administra-
tion regulations and guidance pertaining to the 
certification of aircraft under part 25 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, including sec-
tions related to presumed pilot response times 
and assumptions about the reliability of pilot 
performance 
during 
unexpected, 
stressful 
events; 
(E) reviews rules, regulations, or standards 
regarding flight crew rest and fatigue, as well 
as maintenance personnel rest and fatigue, that 
are used by a sample of international air car-
riers, including those deemed to be more strin-
gent and less stringent than the current stand-
ards pertaining to United States air carriers, 
and identify risks to the National Airspace Sys-
tem from any such variation in standards 
across countries; 
(F) reviews pilot training requirements and 
recommend any revisions necessary to ensure 
adequate understanding of automated systems 
on aircraft; 
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(G) reviews approach and landing mis-
alignment and make any recommendations for 
improving these events; 
(H) identifies ways to enhance instrument 
landing system maintenance schedules; deter-
mines how a real-time smart system should be 
developed that informs the Air Traffic Control 
System, Airlines, and Airports about any 
changes in the state of runway and taxiway 
lights; and identifies how this system could be 
connected to the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion’s maintenance system; 
(I) analyzes, with respect to human errors 
related to aviation safety of part 121 air car-
riers— 
(i) fatigue and distraction during crit-
ical phases of work among pilots or other 
aviation personnel; 
(ii) tasks and workload; 
(iii) organizational culture; 
(iv) communication among personnel; 
(v) adherence to safety procedures; 
(vi) mental state of personnel; and 
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(vii) any other relevant factors that 
are the cause or potential cause of human 
error related to aviation safety; 
(J) includes a tabulation of the number of 
accidents, incidents, or aviation safety database 
entries received in which an item identified 
under subparagraph (I) was a cause or poten-
tial cause of human error related to aviation 
safety; and 
(K) includes a list of causes or potential 
causes of human error related to aviation safety 
about which the Administrator believes addi-
tional information is needed; and 
(2) if the Secretary exercises the option de-
scribed in subsection (c)(2)(B), not later than the 
date that is 2 years after the date of establishment 
of the Task Force, produce an interim report con-
taining the information described in paragraph (1). 
(h) METHODOLOGY.—To complete the report under 
subparagraphs (I) through (K) of subsection (g)(1), the 
Task Force shall consult with the National Transportation 
Safety Board and use all available data compiled and anal-
ysis conducted on safety incidents and irregularities col-
lected during the relevant fiscal year from the following: 
(1) Flight Operations Quality Assurance. 
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(2) Aviation Safety Action Program. 
(3) Aviation Safety Information Analysis and 
Sharing. 
(4) The Aviation Safety Reporting System. 
(5) Aviation safety recommendations and inves-
tigation findings of the National Transportation 
Safety Board. 
(6) Other relevant programs or sources. 
(i) APPLICABLE LAW.—Section 1013 of title 5, 
United States Code, shall not apply to the Task Force. 
SEC. 853. SENSE OF CONGRESS ENCOURAGING THE FAA TO 
WELCOME THE USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL 
VEHICLES. 
It is the sense of Congress that Congress encourages 
the Federal Aviation Administration to welcome the use 
of unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, to bolster and 
augment traditional manual inspection, survey, and main-
tenance operations, including operations that relate to 
electric transmission infrastructure, water quality and the 
presence of harmful algal blooms, transportation infra-
structure, national parks, and telecommunications infra-
structure. 
SEC. 854. EVALUATION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall, in consultation with industry stake-
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holders and the owners or operators of airports certified 
by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion, conduct an evaluation of a representative sample of 
the emergency plans in place at such airports. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the evaluation under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall assess, with 
respect to such airports, the following: 
(1) Electricity supply on normal operating pro-
cedures. 
(2) Resiliency plans for maintaining appropriate 
electricity supply to continue airport operations in 
the case a natural disaster disrupts the airport’s pri-
mary power source. 
(3) Backup electricity plans in the event a nat-
ural disaster disrupts, partially or completely, the 
airport’s primary power source. 
(4) A comparison of previous versions of the 
airport’s emergency response plans and how current 
and future airport emergency response plans may be 
similar or different than the emergency response 
plans of the past. 
(5) The overall impact of an airport losing its 
primary power source on communities surrounding 
the airport and any public health and safety risks 
that may result. 
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(c) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing the results of the evaluation 
conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 855. STUDY ON AIR CARGO OPERATIONS IN PUERTO 
RICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study on air cargo 
operations in Puerto Rico. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress the following: 
(1) The economic impact of waivers authorized 
by the Secretary of the Department of Transpor-
tation related to air cargo operations in Puerto Rico. 
(2) Recommendations for security measures 
that may be necessary to support increased air cargo 
operations in Puerto Rico. 
(3) Potential need for additional staff to safely 
accommodate additional air cargo operations. 
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(4) Airport infrastructure improvements that 
may be needed in the 3 international airports lo-
cated in Puerto Rico to support increased air cargo 
operations. 
(5) Alternatives to increase private stakeholder 
engagement and use of the 3 international airports 
in Puerto Rico to attract increased air cargo oper-
ations. 
(6) Possible national benefits of increasing air 
cargo operations in Puerto Rico. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress 
a report on the results of the study described in subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 856. PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT OVER 
RUSSIAN AIRSPACE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation, in consultation with the Secretary of State and 
other relevant Federal officials, shall— 
(1) amend NOTAM KICZ NOTAM A0005/22- 
Security, titled ‘‘United States of America Prohibi-
tion Against Certain Flights in specified areas of the 
Moscow (UUWV), Samara (UWWW) and Rostov-Na 
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Donu (URRV) Flight Information Regions (FIR))’’ 
to apply the prohibitions equally to air carriers and 
foreign air carriers landing in or taking off from an 
airport in the United States; 
(2) take other actions within the authorities of 
the Secretary to apply to foreign air carriers landing 
in, or taking off from, an airport in the United 
States prohibitions consistent with the prohibitions 
in the NOTAM referred to in paragraph (1); or 
(3) provide to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, a briefing, in a classi-
fied or unclassified setting, if the Secretary finds 
that the implementation of paragraph (1) or (2) is— 
(A) unnecessary; 
(B) not in the public interest; or 
(C) not consistent with the foreign policy 
priorities of the United States. 
(b) SUNSET.—Any prohibition implemented pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on which the 
NOTAM referred to in subsection (a) is rescinded. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed as putting any limitation on the authority 
of the Secretary of Transportation to implement any pro-
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hibition in addition or subsequent to a prohibition imple-
mented under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Each of the terms used in this 
section shall have the meanings given such terms in sec-
tion 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 857. GAO STUDY ON AVIATION WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on methods related 
to the recruitment, retention, employment, education, 
training, and well-being of the aviation workforce specifi-
cally within rural communities. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall col-
laborate with industry stakeholders and rural aviation fa-
cilities to ascertain the best policies for increasing partici-
pating in the aviation workforce community from individ-
uals from rural communities. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General shall submit the results of the study under sub-
section (a) to the appropriate congressional committees. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.—The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall take such ac-
tions as are reasonable to implement the recommendations 
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made by the Comptroller General from the study con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 858. ASSESSMENT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
TRANSPORTATION 
OF 
COUNTER-UAS SYSTEM OPERATIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General 
of the Department of Transportation shall assess all ac-
tions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration affect-
ing the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 
conduct counter-UAS system operations at the southern 
border of the United States from January 1, 2021, to such 
date of enactment. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The assessment under sub-
section (a) shall consider the following impacts: 
(1) Operational capabilities of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection in detecting and mitigating 
unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems. 
(2) Coordination efforts and information shar-
ing between the Federal Aviation Administration 
and U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding 
counter-UAS system operations. 
(3) Any other impacts or considerations the In-
spector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation determines relevant. 
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(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the com-
pletion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Inspec-
tor General of the Department of Transportation shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report detailing the findings of such assessment. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
COUNTER-UAS 
SYSTEM.—The 
term 
‘‘counter-UAS system’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(2) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 859. BRIEFING ON LIT VORTAC PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall provide a briefing 
on the Little Rock Port Authority Very High Frequency 
Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation 
Aid Project (LIT VORTAC) to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
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tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(b) BRIEFING CONTENTS.—The briefing required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) (1) The status of the efforts by the Federal 
Aviation 
Administration 
to 
relocate 
the 
LIT 
VORTAC. 
(2) The status of new flight planning of the re-
located VORTAC. 
(3) A description of and timeline for each re-
maining phase of the relocation project. 
SEC. 860. REIMBURSEMENT FOR FINANCIAL LOSSES DUE 
TO CERTAIN AIRPORT CLOSURES. 
(a) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 
days after the date on which a President takes office, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall provide notification to specified aviation entities lo-
cated at any airports that may be expected to close at any 
point during the term of such President due to temporary 
flight restrictions related to any residence of the President 
that is designated or identified to be secured by the United 
States Secret Service. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT REQUIRED.—Subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall pro-
vide financial reimbursement to specified aviation entities 
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in an amount equal to the direct and incremental financial 
losses incurred while an airport, or portion thereof, is 
closed solely due to the actions of the Federal Government 
as described in subsection (a). The Administrator shall 
provide reimbursement for such losses. 
(c) AUDIT REQUIRED.—The Administrator may not 
obligate or distribute reimbursement funding described in 
subsection (b) until an audit of the financial losses in-
curred by a specified aviation entity is completed by the 
Administrator. The Administrator may request that speci-
fied aviation entities provide documentation which the Ad-
ministrator determines is necessary to complete such 
audit. 
(d) INELIGIBLE COSTS.—In carrying out this section, 
the Administrator shall ensure that any loss incurred as 
a result of a violation of law, or through fault or neg-
ligence, of a specified aviation entity are not eligible for 
reimbursements 
(e) GOVERNMENT RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.—The 
United States Government shall not be liable for claims 
for financial losses resulting from airport closures de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(f) SPECIFIED AVIATION ENTITY DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘specified aviation entity’’ means— 
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(1) an airport sponsor that does not provide 
gateway operations; 
(2) a provider of general aviation ground sup-
port services; or 
(3) an impacted aviation tenant. 
SEC. 861. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN RUNWAY LENGTH RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary of Transportation may not require an airport to 
shorten the length or width of the airport’s runway, apron, 
or taxiway as a condition for the receipt of federal finan-
cial assistance if the airport directly supports a base of 
the United States Air Force or the Air National Guard 
at the airport, regardless of the stationing of military air-
craft. 
SEC. 862. STUDY ON PILOT SUPPLY ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on the shortage of 
pilots faced by air carriers. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Comptroller General shall address ways 
to overcome challenges to the pilot workforce. 
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SEC. 863. GAO STUDY ON FAA RESPONSIVENESS TO CON-
GRESS. 
(a) GAO STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on— 
(1) the level of responsiveness of the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration to a 
request for information from a Member of Congress, 
including a written congressional inquiry and staff-
ing a meeting at the request of such a Member; and 
(2) the average timeframe responses are pro-
vided to the requests described in paragraph (1). 
(b) ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Section 106 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(u) ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—The Ad-
ministrator shall annually brief the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on— 
‘‘(1) the efforts, activities, objectives, and plans 
of the Administration; and 
‘‘(2) the efforts of the Administration to engage 
with Congress and the public.’’. 
SEC. 864. GAO STUDY ON TRANSIT ACCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
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of the United States shall conduct a study, and make the 
results of such study publicly accessible, on transit access 
to airports. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review public 
transportation access to commercial service airports 
throughout the United States, including cost, disability ac-
cessibility, and other potential barriers for individuals. 
SEC. 865. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PILOTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPRENTICE.—The 
term 
‘‘apprentice’’ 
means a student enrolled at a flight school. 
(2) FLIGHT SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘flight school’’ 
means a flight academy certified under part 141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with flight schools and other industry stakeholders, 
shall establish an apprenticeship program with flight 
schools to establish a pipeline of qualified and interested 
individuals to become commercial pilots. 
(c) SELECTION.—Under the apprenticeship program 
established under subsection (b), each flight school partici-
pating in the apprenticeship program established under 
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subsection (b) may select up to 8 applicants to flight 
school to serve as apprentices each academic year. 
(d) CURRICULUM AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To graduate from an ap-
prenticeship program established under subsection 
(b), an apprentice shall satisfy any relevant require-
ments and minimum curriculum under part 141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations), including all curriculum under subpart 
C of such part. 
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this 
Act prevents a flight school from imposing additional 
requirements, such as modifying the terms of service 
of the apprenticeship program, on an apprentice tak-
ing part in an apprenticeship program established 
pursuant to this section. 
(e) OPTIONAL
PROGRAM.—A flight school may 
choose not to participate in an apprenticeship program es-
tablished under this section. 
(f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to implement this Act. 
(g) INCENTIVIZING RETIRED PILOTS.—The Sec-
retary shall take such actions as may be appropriate to 
develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired 
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military pilots, retiring airline pilots, and graduates of the 
apprenticeship program established under this section, to 
become instructors at flight schools, including through the 
development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain 
initial qualification or concurrent qualification as certified 
flight instructors under part 61 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
SEC. 866. WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that sufficient fire-
fighting resources are available to suppress wildfires and 
protect public safety and property, and notwithstanding 
any other provision of law or agency regulation, not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall promulgate an interim final rule under 
which— 
(1) 
an 
operation 
described 
in 
section 
21.25(b)(7) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall allow for the transport of firefighters to and 
from the site of a wildfire to perform ground wildfire 
suppression and designate the firefighters con-
ducting such an operation as essential crewmembers 
on board a covered aircraft operated on a mission to 
suppress wildfire; 
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(2) the aircraft maintenance, inspections, and 
pilot training requirements under part 135 of such 
title 14 may apply to such an operation, if deter-
mined by the Administrator to be necessary to main-
tain the safety of firefighters carrying out wildfire 
suppression missions; and 
(3) the noise standards described in part 36 of 
such title 14 shall not apply to such an operation. 
(b) SURPLUS
MILITARY
AIRCRAFT.—In promul-
gating any rule under subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall not enable any aircraft of a type that has been manu-
factured in accordance with the requirements of and ac-
cepted for use by any branch of the United States Military 
and has been later modified to be used for wildfire sup-
pression operations, unless such aircraft is later type-rated 
by the Administrator. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
TO FAA DOCU-
MENTS.—In promulgating an interim final rule under sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall amend FAA Order 
8110.56, Restricted Category Type Certification (dated 
February 27, 2006), as well as any corresponding policy 
or guidance material, to reflect the requirements of sub-
section (a). 
(d) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to limit the Administrator’s authority 
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to take action otherwise authorized by law to protect avia-
tion safety or passenger safety. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘covered 
aircraft’’ means an aircraft type-certificated in the 
restricted category under section 21.25 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, used for transporting 
firefighters to and from the site of a wildfire in 
order to perform ground wildfire suppression for the 
purpose of extinguishing a wildfire on behalf of, or 
pursuant to a contract with, a Federal, State, or 
local government agency. 
(2) FIREFIGHTERS.—The term ‘‘firefighters’’ 
means a trained fire suppression professional the 
transport of whom is necessary to accomplish a wild-
fire suppression operation. 
SEC. 867. AIR STATISTIC REPORTS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
ensure that the Bureau of Transportation Statistics re-
vises and maintains Technical Reporting Directive No. 31 
(14 CFR Part 234) to provide that the following events 
are not included within the air carrier codes specified in 
such Directive: 
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(1) Aircraft cleaning necessitated by such inci-
dents as the death of a passenger, excessive bleed-
ing, service animal (SVAN) soiling, and extensive 
debris left by customers. 
(2) Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, 
bird strike, foreign object debris (FOD), sabotage, 
and other similar causes. 
(3) Awaiting the arrival of connecting pas-
sengers or crew due to weather or local or National 
Airspace System logistics. 
(4) Awaiting the results of an unexpected alco-
hol test of a crewmember caused by the suspicion or 
accusation of a customer. 
(5) Awaiting gate space due to congestion not 
within the carrier’s control, including the utilization 
of common gates or uncontrollable gate returns re-
sulting from constraints of the National Airspace 
System. 
(6) A baggage or cargo loading delay caused by 
an outage of a bag system not controlled by a car-
rier, including wind affecting ramp conditions, late 
connecting bags resulting from an air traffic con-
troller delay, airport infrastructure failure, and simi-
lar causes. 
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(7) Cabin servicing or catering delays due to 
weather or wind. 
(8) Vendor computer outages, cybersecurity at-
tacks (provided that the carrier is in compliance 
with applicable cybersecurity regulations), or issues 
related to the use of airport-supplied communica-
tions equipment (such as common-use gates and ter-
minals, power outage, and lighting). 
(9) Availability of crew related to hours flown, 
rest periods, and on-duty times not caused by a car-
rier, including a delay of a crew replacement or re-
serve necessitated by a non-controllable event, and 
pilot or flight attendant rest related to weather, air 
traffic controller, or local logistics. 
(10) An unscheduled engineering or safety in-
spection. 
(11) Public health issues. 
(12) Fueling delays related to weather or air-
port fueling infrastructure issues, including the inop-
erability of a fuel farm or unusable fuel which does 
not meet specified requirements at delivery to an 
airport due to contamination in the supply chain. 
(13) Government systems that are inoperable or 
otherwise unable to receive forms which have been 
properly completed by an air carrier. 
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(14) Overheated brakes resulting from a safety 
incident, including those resulting from emergency 
procedures. 
(15) Mail from the U.S. Postal Service that was 
delayed in arrival. 
(16) Unscheduled maintenance, including air-
worthiness issues manifesting outside a scheduled 
maintenance program and that cannot be deferred 
or must be addressed before flight. 
(17) A medical emergency. 
(18) Positive passenger bag match flags that 
require removal of a bag in order to ensure security. 
(19) The removal of an unruly passenger. 
(20) Ramp service from a third-party con-
tractor, including servicing of potable water, lavatory 
servicing, and shortage of third-party ramp equip-
ment. 
(21) Snow removal or aircraft de-icing due to 
the occurrence of extreme weather despite adequate 
carrier resources, or the removal of snow on ramps. 
(22) An airport closure due to such factors as 
the presence of volcanic ash, wind or wind shear. 
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SEC. 868. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FAA ENGAGEMENT AND 
COLLABORATION WITH HBCUS AND MSIS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Aviation 
Administration should continue to partner with histori-
cally Black colleges and universities and minority-serving 
institutions to promote awareness of career opportunities 
and develop curriculum related to aerospace, aviation and 
air traffic control. 
SEC. 869. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDA-
TIONS OF FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA-
TION YOUTH ACCESS TO AMERICAN JOBS IN 
AVIATION TASK FORCE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration, shall submit to Congress a report on the imple-
mentation of the following recommendations of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration Youth Access to American 
Jobs in Aviation Task Force established under section 602 
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–254): 
(1) The recommendation to improve informa-
tion access about careers in aviation and aerospace. 
(2) The recommendation to collaboration across 
regions of the Federal Aviation Administration on 
outreach and workforce development programs. 
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(3) The recommendation to increase opportuni-
ties for mentoring, pre-apprenticeships, and appren-
ticeships in aviation. 
SEC. 870. IMPLEMENTATION OF DYNAMIC SCHEDULING 
AND MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN AIRSPACE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pilot program 
established under section 1093 of Public Law 117-263 (49 
U.S.C. 40103 note), the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of Defense, shall— 
(1) evaluate the impact on the operation of the 
national airspace system of process improvements in 
how the Department of Defense shares real-time up-
dates on the status of special activity airspace and 
special use airspace for activities described in para-
graph (1) of section 1093 of Public Law 117-263 
(49 U.S.C. 40103, note); and 
(2) ensure that such improvements make the 
Federal Aviation Administration able to use such 
status changes to effectively grant access to special 
activity airspace and special use airspace to civil op-
erators in the national airspace system. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND ASSESSMENT OF DY-
NAMIC AIRSPACE TOOLS AND SYSTEMS.— 
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(1) TESTS.—Under the pilot program referred 
to in subsection (a), and to complete the evaluations 
prescribed above, the Administrator and Secretary 
shall jointly test software and services that automate 
the means by which the Department of Defense 
shares changes in the status of special activity air-
space and special use airspace established by the 
Federal Aviation Administration for use by civil op-
erators in the national airspace system. 
(2) AUTOMATION.—The Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that the processes referred 
to in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1093 of Public 
Law 117-263 (49 U.S.C. 40103, note) are auto-
mated, adhere to advanced data protection protocols, 
and use tools and systems developed for this purpose 
that are in use by the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion and by civil operators in the national airspace 
system. 
(c) REPORT.—Not more than 365 days following the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary and the 
Administrator shall jointly submit a report to Congress 
on the impact of dynamic scheduling and management of 
special activity airspace and special use airspace, with spe-
cific information on— 
(1) impact on military training and readiness; 
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(2) impact on workload and accuracy of sharing 
status changes on airspace with the Federal Aviation 
Administration; and 
(3) impact on the operation of the national air-
space system including reductions in miles flown. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—The capabilities referred to in 
subsection (a) shall not interfere with— 
(1) the public’s right of transit consistent with 
national security; 
(2) the use of airspace necessary to ensure the 
safety of aircraft within the national airspace sys-
tem; or 
(3) the use of airspace necessary to ensure the 
efficient use of the national airspace system. 
SEC. 871. PROHIBITION ON PROCUREMENT OF FOREIGN- 
MADE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
is prohibited from entering into a contract or awarding 
a grant for the procurement of a small unmanned aircraft 
system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign 
entity. 
(b) EXEMPTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary is exempt 
from any restrictions under subsection (a) if the pro-
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curement is for the purposes of testing, evaluation, 
analysis, or training related to— 
(A) counter-unmanned aircraft systems, in-
cluding activities conducted under the Federal 
Aviation Administration’s Alliance for System 
Safety of UAS through Research Excellence 
Center of Excellence or by the UAS test sites 
under section 44803 of title 49, United States 
Code; or 
(B) the safe, secure, or efficient operation 
of the National Airspace System or mainte-
nance of public safety. 
(2) 
NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY 
BOARD EXEMPTION.—The National Transportation 
Safety Board, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, is exempt from any restrictions 
under subsection (a) if the procurement is necessary 
for the sole purpose of conducting safety investiga-
tions. 
(c) WAIVER.—The Secretary of Transportation (or 
the Secretary’s designee) may waive any restrictions under 
subsection (a) on a case by case basis by certifying in writ-
ing not later than 15 days after exercising such waiver 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation 
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and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that 
the procurement is required in the national interest of the 
United States. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary may not award a 
new grant for the procurement of an unmanned air-
craft system manufactured by a covered foreign enti-
ty. 
(2) EXISTING GRANT.—This section shall not 
apply to grants awarded before the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
FOREIGN
ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘covered foreign entity’’ means an entity— 
(A) included on the Consolidated Screening 
List or Entity List as designated by the Sec-
retary of Commerce; 
(B) domiciled in the People’s Republic of 
China or the Russian Federation; 
(C) subject to influence or control by the 
government of the People’s Republic of China 
or by the Russian Federation; or 
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