565 
safety test. Such test shall be administered electroni-
cally by the Administrator or a person designated by 
the Administrator.’’; and 
(7) in subsection (h)— 
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1) 
through (6) as paragraphs (2) through (7), re-
spectively; and 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as 
so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(1) is recognized by the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration;’’. 
(b) USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR 
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.—Section 350 of the FAA Re-
authorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 44809 note) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 
(3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (3) (as 
so redesignated) the following: 
‘‘(2) operated by an elementary school or sec-
ondary school for educational or research pur-
poses;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)—
566 
(A) in paragraph (2) by inserting ‘‘an ele-
mentary school, or a secondary school,’’ after 
‘‘with respect to the operation of an unmanned 
aircraft system by an institution of higher edu-
cation,’’; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘ele-
mentary school’ has the meaning given to that term 
by section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(19)). 
‘‘(4) SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The term ‘sec-
ondary school’ has the meaning given to that term 
by section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(45)).’’. 
SEC. 607. AIRPORT SAFETY AND AIRSPACE HAZARD MITI-
GATION AND ENFORCEMENT. 
Section 44810(h) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
SEC. 608. APPLICATIONS FOR DESIGNATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44810(c) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, and any 
other location the Administrator determines appropriate’’ 
after ‘‘Data’’.
567 
(b) APPLICATIONS
FOR
DESIGNATION.—Section 
2209 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 
2016 (49 U.S.C. 44802 note) is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘, including 
temporarily,’’ after ‘‘restrict’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(C)(iv) by striking 
‘‘Other locations that warrant such restrictions’’ and 
inserting ‘‘State correctional facilities’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) DEADLINES.— 
‘‘(1) Not later than March 1, 2024, the Admin-
istrator shall publish a notice of proposed rule-
making to carry out the requirements of this section. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 16 months after publishing 
the notice of proposed rulemaking under paragraph 
(1), the Administrator shall issue a final rule.’’. 
SEC. 609. BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT RULEMAKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a notice of 
proposed rulemaking establishing performance-based air-
worthiness criteria and risk-based operational regulations 
for unmanned aircraft systems operated beyond visual line 
of sight that are intended to operate primarily at or below 
400 feet above ground level.
568 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall— 
(1) establish a means to accept proposed— 
(A) airworthiness standards for unmanned 
aircraft; 
(B) standards for associated elements of 
unmanned aircraft; and 
(C) qualification standards for remote pi-
lots operating unmanned aircraft beyond visual 
line of sight; 
(2) enable the ability for unmanned aircraft to 
be operated for agricultural purposes including re-
search; 
(3) establish a process by which the Adminis-
trator may approve or accept third party compliance 
services in support of the safe integration of un-
manned aircraft systems into the national airspace 
system; 
(4) establish protocols, as appropriate, for 
networked information exchange, including network- 
based remote identification in support of beyond vis-
ual line of sight operations; and 
(5) ensure the safety of manned aircraft oper-
ating in the national airspace system.
569 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Administrator may leverage previously gathered 
data, information, and efforts of the Administration to fi-
nalize rulemaking as required under this section. 
(d) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS STAND-
ARDS.—In carrying out subsection (b)(1)(A), the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) define the operational environments for 
which airworthiness is needed to ensure aviation 
safety; 
(2) establish an airworthiness category or cat-
egories for unmanned aircraft to be eligible for a 
special airworthiness certificate; and 
(3) establish a process to approve standards, 
means of compliance, and declarations of compli-
ance. 
(e) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS 
STANDARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 
(b)(1)(B), the Administrator shall establish a proc-
ess to accept or approve the associated elements of 
an unmanned aircraft that, when considered collec-
tively with other associated elements and an un-
manned aircraft, meet an acceptable performance- 
based safety standard.
570 
(2) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
establishing 
the 
process under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall consider the ways associated elements of an 
unmanned aircraft system interact with other associ-
ated elements and unmanned aircraft. 
(f) REMOTE PILOT QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 
(b)(1)(C), the Administrator shall establish quali-
fications and standards, or a means to accept pro-
posed qualifications and standards, for remote pilots 
operating unmanned aircraft systems. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Administrator shall account for the 
varying levels of automation of unmanned aircraft 
systems. 
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to allow for the estab-
lishment of type-ratings that apply specifically and 
exclusively to an aircraft manufactured by 1 manu-
facturer. 
(g) INTERIM APPROVALS.—Before the date on which 
the Administrator issues a final rule under this section, 
the Administrator shall use the process described in sec-
tion 44807 of title 49, United States Code, to authorize
571 
unmanned aircraft system operations conducted beyond 
visual line of sight. 
(h) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 16 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
issue a final rule establishing the regulations required 
under this section. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS.—The term ‘‘asso-
ciated elements’’ means any component of an un-
manned aircraft system, not permanently affixed to 
the unmanned aircraft, required for the remote pilot 
to operate such aircraft safely and efficiently in the 
national airspace system. 
(2) BEYOND
VISUAL
LINE
OF
SIGHT.—The 
term ‘‘beyond visual line of sight’’ means a distance 
at which the remote pilot in command of an un-
manned aircraft system cannot see the unmanned 
aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than 
corrective lenses. 
(3) UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT; UNMANNED
AIR-
CRAFT
SYSTEM.—The terms ‘‘unmanned aircraft’’ 
and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the meaning 
given such terms in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code.
572 
SEC. 610. UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration may enter into agree-
ments for purposes of— 
(1) testing and refining UTM capabilities and 
services to inform the development of UTM stand-
ards in subsection (b); 
(2) authorizing UTM service providers that 
meet the requirements described in subsection (b) to 
provide UTM services to better enable advanced un-
manned aircraft systems operations, including— 
(A) beyond visual line of sight operations; 
(B) 
aircraft-to-aircraft 
communications; 
and 
(C) operations in which an individual acts 
as remote pilot in command of more than 1 un-
manned aircraft at the same time; and 
(3) fostering the safe integration of unmanned 
aircraft systems using UTM capabilities and services 
within the national airspace system. 
(b) STANDARDIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall publish requirements or 
guidance associated with UTM, including—
573 
(A) the types of operations requiring, or 
benefitting from, the use of UTM capabilities 
and services described in subsection (a), includ-
ing beyond visual line of sight operations; 
(B) areas of operation or categories of air-
space requiring, or benefitting from, the use of 
UTM capabilities and services; 
(C) performance-based technical standards 
for UAS operations using UTM capabilities and 
services; and 
(D) application program interfaces that en-
able UTM service suppliers to integrate UTM 
capabilities and services into other systems for 
use by users of the national airspace system, in-
cluding unmanned aircraft system operators. 
(2) INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION.—In car-
rying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall 
seek to harmonize, to the extent practicable and ad-
visable, UTM standards with standards produced by 
recognized industry standards organizations or other 
peer civil aviation authorities. 
(3) FEEDBACK OF CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall solicit feedback
574 
from stakeholders on the most recently published 
UTM concept of operations of the Administration. 
(4) FINALIZATION
OF
CONCEPT
OF
OPER-
ATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish 
a final version of the UTM concept of operations of 
the Administration. 
(c) STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall establish a means 
by which the Administrator can enter into cooperative 
agreements, contracts, other transaction agreements, and 
other appropriate mechanisms with appropriate persons, 
partnerships, and consortia to enable qualified third-par-
ties to design, build, develop, fund, and manage UTM. 
(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 
(1) BEYOND
VISUAL
LINE
OF
SIGHT
OPER-
ATIONS.—Nothing in this section shall be construed 
to prevent or prohibit beyond visual line of sight op-
erations through the use of technologies other than 
UTM capabilities and services. 
(2) AIRSPACE.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to alter the authority under section 40103 
of title 49, United States Code. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Ad-
575 
ministrator 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 progress made by the Administration de-
tailing the implementation and requirements of this sec-
tion and any applicable timelines to completion. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE PERSONS.—The term ‘‘appro-
priate persons’’ means a Federal, State, local, Trib-
al, or territorial governmental entity, or a person. 
(2) UTM.—The term ‘‘UTM’’ means the man-
ner in which the Administration will support oper-
ations for unmanned aircraft systems operating in 
low-altitude airspace. 
SEC. 611. RADAR DATA PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) SENSITIVE RADAR DATA FEED PILOT PRO-
GRAM.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Defense, and other heads of relevant Federal agencies, 
shall establish a pilot program to make airspace data feeds 
containing classified or controlled unclassified information 
available to qualified users, in conjunction with subsection 
(b).
576 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator and the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies and in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense, shall establish a process to authorize qualified enti-
ties to receive airspace data feeds containing classified in-
formation related to air traffic within the national airspace 
system and use such information in an agreed upon man-
ner to— 
(1) provide— 
(A) air traffic management services; and 
(B) unmanned aircraft system traffic man-
agement services; or 
(2) to test technologies that may enable or en-
hance the provision of the services described in para-
graph (1). 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after estab-
lishing the pilot program under subsection (a), and annu-
ally thereafter, the Administrator shall brief the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the findings 
of the Administrator related to the pilot program estab-
lished under this section. 
(d) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective 
on October 1, 2028.
577 
(e) DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED USER.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘qualified user’’ means an entity authorized 
to receive airspace data feeds containing classified or con-
trolled unclassified information pursuant to subsection 
(b). 
SEC. 612. ELECTRONIC CONSPICUITY STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study of technologies and 
methods that may be used by operators of unmanned air-
craft systems to detect and avoid manned aircraft that 
may lawfully operate below 500 feet above ground level 
and that are— 
(1) not equipped with a transponder or auto-
matic dependent surveillance-broadcast out equip-
ment; or 
(2) otherwise not electronically conspicuous. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 
consult with— 
(1) representatives from— 
(A) unmanned aircraft systems manufac-
turers and operators; 
(B) general aviation operators; 
(C) aerial applicators; and
578 
(D) helicopter operators, including State 
and local governments; and 
(2) any other person the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 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 describing the results of such study. 
SEC. 613. REMOTE IDENTIFICATION ALTERNATIVE MEANS 
OF COMPLIANCE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall review and evaluate the final 
rule titled ‘‘Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft’’, 
issued on January 15, 2021, to determine the feasibility 
and advisability of whether unmanned aircraft manufac-
turers and operators can meet the intent of such final rule 
through alternative means of compliance, including 
through network–based remote identification. 
(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
579 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the study under subsection (a). 
SEC. 614. PART 107 WAIVER IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall adopt a performance– and 
risk–based approach in reviewing requests for certificates 
of waiver under section 107.200 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(b) STANDARDIZATION OF WAIVER APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall improve the process es-
tablished to submit requests for certificates of waiv-
er described in subsection (a). 
(2) FORMAT.—In carrying out paragraph (1), 
the Administrator may not require the use of open- 
ended descriptive prompts that are required to be 
filled out by an applicant, except to provide appli-
cants the ability to provide the Administration with 
information for an unusual or irregular operation. 
(3) DATA.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Administrator shall leverage data 
gathered from previous requests for certificates 
of waivers.
580 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out 
subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall safe-
ly use— 
(i) big data analytics; and 
(ii) machine learning. 
(c) CONSIDERATION OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IN-
TEREST.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining whether to 
issue a certificate of waiver under section 107.200 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(A) consider whether the waiver applicant 
has control over access to all real property on 
the ground within the area of operation; and 
(B) recognize and account for the safety 
enhancements of such controlled access. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to direct the Adminis-
trator to consider the lack of control over access to 
all real property on the ground within an area of op-
eration, or a lack of property interest in such area 
of operation, as negatively affecting the safety of the 
operation intended to be conducted under such cer-
tificate of waiver. 
(d) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF WAIVERS.—
581 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
publish all certificates of waiver issued under section 
107.200 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, on 
the website of the Administration, including, with re-
spect to each issued certificate of waiver— 
(A) the terms, conditions, and limitations; 
and 
(B) the class of airspace and any restric-
tions related to operating near airports or heli-
ports. 
(2) PUBLICATION.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Administrator shall ensure that published 
information is made available in a manner that pre-
vents inappropriate disclosure of proprietary infor-
mation. 
(e) PRECEDENTIAL USE OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED 
WAIVERS.— 
(1) WAIVER
APPROVAL
PRECEDENT.—Except 
as provided in paragraph (3), if the Administrator 
determines, using criteria for a particular waiver, 
that an application for a certificate of waiver issued 
under section 107.200 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, is substantially similar (or is comprised 
of elements that are substantially similar) to an ap-
plication for a certificate of waiver that the Adminis-
582 
trator has previously approved, the Administrator 
may streamline, as appropriate, the approval of ap-
plications with substantially similar conditions and 
limitations as a previously approved application. 
(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
paragraph (1) shall be construed to preclude an ap-
plicant for a certificate of waiver from applying to 
modify a condition, or remove a limitation of, such 
certificate. 
(f) MODIFICATION OF WAIVERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish an expedited review process for a request to 
modify or renew certificates of waiver previously 
issued under section 107.200 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, as appropriate. 
(2) USE
OF
REVIEW
PROCESS.—The review 
process established under paragraph (1) shall be 
used to review certificates of waiver that cover oper-
ations that are substantially similar in all material 
facts to operations covered under a subsequently 
issued certificate of waiver. 
SEC. 615. ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RISK AND RISK ASSESS-
MENT METHODOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
583 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish acceptable 
levels of risk, and develop a risk assessment methodology 
associated with such levels of risk, to enable unmanned 
aircraft system operations conducted— 
(1) under waivers issued to part 107 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) pursuant to section 44807 of title 49, 
United States Code; or 
(3) pursuant to future regulations promulgated 
by the Administrator, as appropriate. 
(b) ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RISK.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall establish accept-
able levels of risk for unmanned aircraft system operations 
in the national airspace system and a method for assessing 
the operational risk of a proposed operation in accordance 
with such acceptable level. 
(c) RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY.—In carrying 
out subsections (a) and (b), the Administrator shall de-
velop a risk assessment methodology to allow remote pilots 
in command operating unmanned aircraft systems pursu-
ant to subsection (a) to determine the risk associated with 
a specific operation, and mitigate such a risk, as nec-
essary. 
(d) RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY CONSIDER-
ATIONS.—In establishing the risk assessment methodology
584 
described under this section, the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
(1) the time of day of the operation; 
(2) the population density of the area of oper-
ation; 
(3) the class of airspace and such requirements 
necessary for airspace users to legally operate in 
each class of airspace; 
(4) the proximity to infrastructure, to the ex-
tent that proximity mitigates risk to other operators 
of the national airspace system; 
(5) the nature of the detect and avoid mitiga-
tion measures of an unmanned aircraft system; and 
(6) the attributes and characteristics of the un-
manned aircraft of the unmanned aircraft system, 
including the— 
(A) size; 
(B) visibility; 
(C) maximum takeoff weight; 
(D) maximum indicated airspeed; and 
(E) payload. 
(e) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make 
the risk assessment methodology established under this 
section available to the public on an appropriate website 
of the Administration.
585 
(f) DEFINITIONS OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND UN-
MANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—In this section, the terms 
‘‘unmanned aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ 
have the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 616. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. 
(a) GUIDANCE UPDATES.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall publish un-
manned aircraft system-specific guidance and implementa-
tion procedures. Such guidance and implementation proce-
dures shall— 
(1) provide guidance to streamline environ-
mental assessments at a programmatic level, as the 
Administrator considers appropriate, for an un-
manned aircraft system operator’s network of oper-
ations within a defined geographical region, includ-
ing within and over approved commercial or indus-
trial sites closed or restricted to the public; 
(2) provide guidance for nationwide pro-
grammatic approaches for large scale distributed un-
manned aircraft system operations whereby a Pro-
grammatic Environmental Assessment or Environ-
mental Impact Statement can be leveraged for sub-
586 
sequent related actions to ensure efficient environ-
mental review; 
(3) consider additional Categorical Exclusions 
based on previously prepared and finalized Environ-
mental Assessments or in consultation with the 
Council on Environmental Quality; 
(4) prioritize proposed projects or activities that 
may— 
(A) offset or limit the impacts of non-zero 
emission activities; 
(B) offset or limit the release of environ-
mental pollutants to soil or water; or 
(C) demonstrate other factors to the ben-
efit of the environment as determined by the 
Administrator; 
(5) contain intra-agency process improvements 
to avoid providing conflicting safety and environ-
mental feedback to operators; 
(6) contain standards and criteria for engaging 
specialized third parties to support the Administra-
tion’s preparation and review of documentation re-
lating to the requirements of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
to ensure streamlined timelines for complex reviews; 
and
587 
(7) any other modifications the Administrator 
considers necessary within the stated environmental 
objectives of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal 
priority to maintain global leadership in aviation in-
novation. 
(b) BRIEFING.—No later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
plan of the Administration to implement subsection (b), 
including each of the considerations specified in the sub-
section, and an explanation for any consideration the Ad-
ministrator does not intend to implement. 
(c) CONCURRENT REVIEWS.—If the Administrator 
determines that the review of an unmanned aircraft sys-
tem’s design, construction, maintenance and operational 
sustainability, airworthiness approval, or operational ap-
proval requires environmental assessment, including re-
quirements under the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Administrator shall, 
to the maximum extent practicable, conduct such reviews 
and analyses concurrent with one another.
588 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as prohibiting, restricting or other-
wise limiting the authority of the Secretary of Transpor-
tation or the Administrator from implementing or com-
plying with the requirements of the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 
any related requirements to ensure the protection of the 
environment and aviation safety. 
(e) ASSOCIATED
UAS CERTIFICATION
STAND-
ARDS.— 
(1) OPTION TO SUSPEND NOISE CERTIFICATION 
REQUIREMENT
PENDING
STANDARDS
DEVELOP-
MENT.—Notwithstanding the requirements of sec-
tion 44715 of title 49, United States Code, the Ad-
ministrator may waive the determination of compli-
ance with part 36 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations, for an applicant seeking an unmanned air-
craft system type and airworthiness certification, 
provided the Administrator has developed appro-
priate noise measurement procedures for such sys-
tems and the Administrator has received the noise 
measurements results based on such procedures 
from the applicant. 
(2) DEVELOPMENT
OF
CRITERIA.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this
589 
Act, the Administrator shall develop and establish 
substantive criteria and standards metrics used by 
the Administrator to determine whether to approve 
or disapprove the airworthiness of an unmanned air-
craft pursuant to part 36 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(3) SUBSTANTIVE
CRITERIA
AND
STANDARDS 
METRICS.—In establishing the substantive criteria 
and standards metrics as required under paragraph 
(2), the Administrator shall include such criteria and 
metrics related to the airworthiness of unmanned 
aircraft for the following: 
(A) Noise impacts. 
(B) Visual impacts. 
(4) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall 
publish in the Federal Register and post on a 
website of the Federal Aviation Administration the 
criteria and metrics established pursuant to para-
graph (2). 
(f) DEFINITION
OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEM.—In this section, the term ‘‘unmanned aircraft sys-
tem’’ has the meaning given such term in section 44801 
of title 49, United States Code.
590 
SEC. 617. CARRIAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. 
(a) NEAR-TERM APPROVALS.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall coordi-
nate with the Administrator of the Pipeline and Haz-
ardous Materials Safety Administration to revise processes 
in effect on the date of enactment of this Act for the car-
riage of hazardous materials by unmanned aircraft sys-
tems to provide that— 
(1) special conditions, waivers, or other require-
ments necessary to enable the carriage of hazardous 
materials shall be incorporated into the existing reg-
ulatory and operator certification processes of the 
Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned air-
craft operations in which the aircraft— 
(A) weighs less than 100 pounds; and 
(B) is capable of carrying less than 10 
pounds gross weight of limited quantity cargo; 
and 
(2) the existing special permitting process or 
other existing processes carried out by the Adminis-
trator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safe-
ty Administration shall be initiated as early as prac-
ticable, and in conjunction with the existing regu-
latory and operator certification processes of the
591 
Federal Aviation Administration, for unmanned air-
craft operations in which the unmanned aircraft— 
(A) weighs 100 pounds or more; or 
(B) is capable of carrying 10 pounds or 
more gross weight of limited quantity cargo. 
(b) RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall revise requirements, guidance, 
standards, or other policy materials governing the 
carriage of hazardous materials to allow for the car-
riage of a de minimis amount of hazardous materials 
by an unmanned aircraft. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) whether a hazardous material is a con-
sumer commodity; 
(B) requirements for common carriage and 
private carriage; 
(C) whether the transportation of a de 
minimis volume, weight, or amount of a haz-
ardous material would pose an unreasonable 
risk to health and safety or property; 
(D) whether the volume, weight, or amount 
of a hazardous material is large enough to per-
592 
mit the transportation of a commercially mean-
ingful volume, weight, or amount; and 
(E) the altitude at which unmanned air-
craft operations are conducted. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(A) PETITION.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a process for a person to petition to estab-
lish or revise a de minimis amount or a haz-
ardous material. 
(B) PERIODIC
UPDATES.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(i) periodically review, as necessary, 
de minimis amounts of hazardous mate-
rials established under paragraph (1); 
(ii) determine whether such amounts 
of Hazardous materials should be revised, 
based on operational and safety data or 
other factors; and 
(iii) assess whether to establish a de 
minimis amount for a hazardous material 
for which a de minimis volume, weight, or 
amount has previously not been estab-
lished. 
(c) SAVING CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to—
593 
(1) limit the authority of the Secretary, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
or the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration from implementing 
requirements under existing authorities to ensure 
the safe carriage of hazardous materials by aircraft; 
and 
(2) confer upon the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration the authorities of the 
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Mate-
rials Safety Administration, as described in part 175 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and chapter 
51 of title 49, United States Code. 
(d) EXEMPTION.—The authorities of the Adminis-
trator related to the transportation, packaging, marking, 
or description of hazardous materials in section 106(g)(1) 
of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to the ex-
tent necessary to enact the requirements of this section. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In the section: 
(1) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(2) CONSUMER COMMODITY.—The term ‘‘con-
sumer commodity’’ has the meaning given such term
594 
in section 171.8 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
SEC. 618. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM USE IN WILDFIRE 
RESPONSE. 
(a) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS IN WILDFIRE 
RESPONSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordina-
tion with the United States Forest Service and any 
other Federal entity or contracted operator the Ad-
ministrator considers appropriate, shall develop a 
plan on the use of unmanned aircraft systems by 
public entities in wildfire response efforts, including 
research, wildfire detection, mitigation, and suppres-
sion. 
(2) PLAN
CONTENTS.—The plan under sub-
section (a) shall provide recommendations to— 
(A) identify and designate areas of public 
land with high potential for wildfires in which 
public entities may conduct unmanned aircraft 
system beyond visual line of sight operations as 
part of wildfire response efforts, including wild-
fire detection, mitigation, and suppression;
595 
(B) develop a process to facilitate the safe 
and efficient operation of unmanned aircraft 
systems beyond the visual line of sight in wild-
fire response efforts in areas designated under 
paragraph (A), including the waiver process 
under section 91.113 or section 107.31 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, for public en-
tities that use unmanned aircraft systems for 
aerial wildfire detection, mitigation, and sup-
pression; and 
(C) improve coordination between the rel-
evant Federal agencies and public entities on 
the use of unmanned aircraft systems in wild-
fire response efforts. 
(3) PLAN
SUBMISSION.—Upon completion of 
the plan under subsection (a), the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall submit 
such plan to, and provide a briefing for, the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ates. 
(4) PUBLICATION.—Upon submission of the 
plan under subsection (a), the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall publish such
596 
plan on a publicly available website of the Adminis-
tration. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall only apply to 
unmanned aircraft systems that are— 
(1) operated by, or on behalf of, a public entity; 
(2) operated in airspace covered by a wildfire- 
related temporary flight restriction under section 
91.137 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(3) under the operational control of, or other-
wise are being operationally coordinated by, an au-
thorized aviation coordinator responsible for coordi-
nating disaster relief aircraft within the airspace 
covered by such temporary flight restriction. 
(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall seek to enter into the necessary agree-
ments to provide a liaison of the Administration to the 
National Interagency Fire Center to facilitate the use of 
manned and unmanned aircraft in wildfire response ef-
forts, including wildfire detection, mitigation, and suppres-
sion. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to confer upon the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration the authorities of the Administra-
tion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on
597 
wildfire response under section 611 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5196). 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) PUBLIC ENTITY.—The term ‘‘public entity’’ 
means— 
(A) a Federal agency; 
(B) a State government; 
(C) a local government; 
(D) a Tribal government; and 
(E) a territorial government. 
(2) PUBLIC
LAND.—The term ‘‘public land’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 205 of 
the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670k). 
(3) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(4) WILDFIRE.—The term ‘‘wildfire’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 2 of the Emer-
gency Wildfire Suppression Act (42 U.S.C. 1856m). 
SEC. 619. PILOT PROGRAM FOR UAS INSPECTIONS OF FAA 
INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
598 
tation shall establish and initiate a pilot program to sup-
plement appropriate inspection and oversight activities of 
the department with unmanned aircraft systems for the 
purposes of increasing employee safety, enhancing data 
collection, increasing the accuracy of inspections, reducing 
costs, and other purposes the Secretary considers to be 
in the broader interests of good government. 
(b) GROUND-BASED AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
Under the program required in subsection (a), the Admin-
istrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
evaluate the use of unmanned aircraft systems to inspect 
ground-based aviation infrastructure that may require vis-
ual inspection in hard-to-reach areas, including— 
(1) navigational aids; 
(2) air traffic control towers; 
(3) radar facilities; 
(4) communication facilities; and 
(5) other air traffic control facilities. 
(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out the pilot pro-
gram established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
consult with the labor union certified under section 7111 
of title 5, United States Code, to represent personnel re-
sponsible for the inspection of the ground-based aviation 
infrastructure described in subsection (b).
599 
(d) COVERED FOREIGN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEM.—The Secretary may not carry out an inspection 
under this section using an unmanned aircraft system 
manufactured by— 
(1) an entity included on the Consolidated 
Screening list or Entity List as designated by the 
Secretary of Commerce; 
(2) an entity domiciled in the People’s Republic 
of China or the Russian Federation; or 
(3) an entity, or a subsidiary or affiliate of an 
entity, that is subject to influence or control by— 
(A) the Government of the People’s Repub-
lic of China; 
(B) the Chinese Communist Party; or 
(C) the Russian Federation. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the 
termination of the pilot program under this section, the 
Secretary shall provide 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 briefing on the status and results 
of the pilot program established under subsection (a), in-
cluding— 
(1) cost saving;
600 
(2) a description of how unmanned aircraft sys-
tems were used to supplement existing inspection, 
data collection, or oversight activities of Department 
employees, including the number of operations and 
types of activities performed; 
(3) efficiency or safety improvements, if any, 
associated with the use of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems to supplement conventional inspection, data 
collection, or oversight activities; 
(4) the fleet of unmanned aircraft systems 
maintained by the Department of Transportation for 
the program, or an overview of the services used as 
part of the pilot program; and 
(5) recommendations for improving the use or 
efficacy of unmanned aircraft systems to supplement 
the Department’s conventional inspection, data col-
lection, or oversight activities. 
(f) SUNSET AND INCORPORATION INTO STANDARD 
PRACTICE.— 
(1) SUNSET.—The pilot program established 
under subsection (a) and the reporting requirement 
under subsection (f) shall terminate on the date that 
is 50 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) INCORPORATION
INTO
STANDARD
PRAC-
TICE.—Upon termination of the pilot program, the
601 
Secretary shall assess the results of the pilot pro-
gram under this section and determine whether to 
permanently incorporate the use of unmanned air-
craft systems into the regular inspection, data collec-
tion, and oversight activities of the Department. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 
months after the termination of the pilot program 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary 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 on the final results of the pilot pro-
gram and the actions taken by the Administrator 
pursuant to paragraph (2). 
SEC. 620. DRONE INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTION GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a drone infrastructure inspection 
grant program to make grants to governmental entities 
to facilitate the use of eligible small unmanned aircraft 
systems to support more efficient inspection, operation, 
construction, maintenance, modernization, and repair of 
an element of critical infrastructure to improve worker 
safety related to critical infrastructure projects.
603 
(d) SELECTION
OF APPLICANTS.—In awarding a 
grant under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize ap-
plications that propose to— 
(1) carry out a critical infrastructure project in 
a variety of communities, including urban, suburban, 
rural, tribal, or any other type of community; and 
(2) address a safety risk in the inspection, oper-
ation, construction, maintenance, or repair of an ele-
ment of critical infrastructure. 
(e) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as to interfere with an agreement between a 
governmental entity and a labor union, including require-
ments under section 5333(b) of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the first grant is provided under this section, the 
Secretary 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 that evaluates the program 
carried out under this section, including— 
(1) a description of the number of grants 
awarded; 
(2) the amount of each grant; 
(3) the activities funded under this section; and
604 
(4) the effectiveness of such funded activities in 
meeting the objectives described in subsection (a). 
(g) FUNDING.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out using a grant under 
this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the 
total project cost. 
(B) WAIVER.—The Secretary may increase 
the Federal share requirement under subpara-
graph (A) to up to 75 percent for a project car-
ried out using a grant under this section by a 
governmental entity if such entity— 
(i) submits a written application to 
the Secretary requesting an increase in the 
Federal share; and 
(ii) demonstrates that the additional 
assistance is necessary to facilitate the ac-
ceptance and full use of a grant under this 
section, such as alleviating economic hard-
ship, meeting additional workforce needs, 
or such other uses that the Secretary de-
termines to be appropriate.
605 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Out 
of amounts authorized to be appropriated under sec-
tion 106(k) of title 49, United States Code, the Sec-
retary shall make available to carry out this sec-
tion— 
(A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(D) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(E) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(h) 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 
(D) is a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
(2) CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 
‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning given such
606 
term in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructures 
Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). 
(3) 
ELEMENT
OF
CRITICAL
INFRASTRUC-
TURE.—The term ‘‘element of critical infrastruc-
ture’’ means a critical infrastructure facility or 
asset, including public bridges, tunnels, roads, high-
ways, dams, electric grid, water infrastructure, com-
munication systems, pipelines, or other related facili-
ties or assets, as determined by the Secretary. 
(4) ELIGIBLE
SMALL
UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘eligible small unmanned air-
craft system’’ means a small unmanned aircraft sys-
tem manufactured or assembled by a company that 
is domiciled in the United States and is not a cov-
ered foreign entity. 
(5) GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘gov-
ernmental entity’’ means— 
(A) a State, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of 
the United States, or a political subdivision 
thereof; 
(B) a unit of local government; 
(C) a Tribal Government; 
(D) a metropolitan planning organization; 
or
607 
(E) a consortia of more than 1 of the enti-
ties described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(D). 
(6) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘project’’ means a 
project for the inspection, operation, maintenance, 
repair, modernization, or construction of an element 
of critical infrastructure, including mitigating envi-
ronmental hazards to such infrastructure. 
(7) SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT; UNMANNED 
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The terms ‘‘small unmanned 
aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 
49, United States Code. 
SEC. 621. DRONE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a drone education and training grant 
program to make grants to educational institutions for 
workforce training for eligible small unmanned aircraft 
systems. 
(b) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—Amounts from a 
grant under this section shall be used in furtherance of 
activities authorized under sections 631 and 632 of the
608 
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 40101 
note). 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an educational institution shall submit 
an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Out of 
amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 
106(k) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary shall 
make available to carry out this section— 
(1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
(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;
609 
(C) subject to influence or control by the 
government of the People’s Republic of China 
or by the Russian Federation; or 
(D) is a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 
(2) EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘educational institution’’ means an institution of 
higher education (as defined in section 101 of the 
High Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that 
participates in a program authorized under sections 
631 and 632 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note). 
(3) ELIGIBLE
SMALL
UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘eligible small unmanned air-
craft system’’ means a small unmanned aircraft sys-
tem manufactured or assembled by a company that 
is domiciled in the United States and is not a cov-
ered foreign entity. 
(4) SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT; UNMANNED 
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The terms ‘‘small unmanned 
aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 
49, United States Code.
610 
SEC. 622. DRONE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM STUDY. 
(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 of the effective-
ness of the Collegiate Training Initiative Program for Un-
manned Aircraft Systems, established pursuant to section 
632 of the FAA Reauthorization Act 2018 (49 U.S.C. 
40101 note). 
(b) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
describing— 
(1) the findings of the study; and 
(2) any recommendations to improve and ex-
pand the Collegiate Training Initiative Program for 
Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 
SEC. 623. UAS INTEGRATION OFFICE. 
The Executive Director of the UAS Integration Of-
fice of the Federal Aviation Administration shall— 
(1) support, and provide substantive rec-
ommendations for, rulemaking proceedings, in co-
ordination with other relevant services and offices 
and the Assistant Administrator of Rulemaking and 
Regulatory Improvement, regarding the integration
611 
of unmanned aircraft systems into the national air-
space system; 
(2) 
support, 
and 
make 
substantive 
rec-
ommendations to inform, the review and adjudica-
tion of submissions under the processes established 
under section 44807 of title 49, United States Code, 
as amended by section 605; 
(3) 
support, 
and 
make 
substantive 
rec-
ommendations to inform, the development, modifica-
tion, and acceptance or approval of relevant con-
sensus standards, means of compliance, and declara-
tions of compliance related to unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
(4) ensure the timely consideration of airworthi-
ness and operational determinations related to un-
manned aircraft systems by relevant offices of the 
Administration; 
(5) consult, advise, coordinate with, and make 
substantive recommendations to relevant lines of 
business and staff offices of the Administration to 
support the activities of the Administration and effi-
ciently carry out the duties described in this section; 
(6) hire full-time equivalent employees, as nec-
essary, to build expertise within the UAS Integration
612 
Office to assess unmanned aviation technologies and 
related operational risk mitigation; and 
(7) engage in any other activities determined 
necessary by the Executive Director or the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration, to ful-
fill the duties described in this section. 
SEC. 624. TERMINATION OF ADVANCED AVIATION ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE. 
The Secretary of Transportation may not renew the 
charter of the Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee 
(chartered by the Secretary on June 10, 2022). 
SEC. 625. UNMANNED AND AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
termination of the Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee 
pursuant to section 624, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall establish an Unmanned and 
Autonomous Flight Advisory Committee (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall provide 
the Administrator advice on policy- and technical-level 
issues related to unmanned and autonomous aviation oper-
ations and activities, including, at a minimum, the fol-
lowing:
613 
(1) The safe integration of unmanned aircraft 
systems and autonomous flight operations into the 
national airspace system, including feedback on— 
(A) the certification and operational stand-
ards of highly automated aircraft, unmanned 
aircraft, and associated elements of such air-
craft; 
(B) coordination of procedures for oper-
ations in controlled airspace; and 
(C) communication protocols. 
(2) The use cases of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems, including evaluating and assessing the poten-
tial benefits of using unmanned aircraft systems. 
(3) The development of processes and meth-
odologies to address safety concerns related to the 
operation of unmanned aircraft systems, including 
risk assessments and mitigation strategies. 
(4) Unmanned aircraft system training, edu-
cation, and workforce development programs, includ-
ing evaluating aeronautical knowledge gaps in the 
unmanned aircraft system workforce, assessing the 
workforce needs of unmanned aircraft system oper-
ations, and establishing a strong pipeline to ensure 
a robust unmanned aircraft system workforce.
614 
(5) The analysis of unmanned aircraft system 
data and trends. 
(6) Unmanned aircraft system infrastructure, 
including the use of existing aviation infrastructure 
and the development of necessary infrastructure. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of not more than 12 members. 
(2) REPRESENTATIVES.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall include at least 1 representative of each 
of the following: 
(A) Small unmanned aircraft system com-
mercial operators. 
(B) Small unmanned aircraft system man-
ufacturers. 
(C) Manufacturers of unmanned aircraft 
weighing 55 pounds or more pursuing or hold-
ing a certificate for design or production of 
such unmanned aircraft. 
(D) Counter-unmanned aircraft system 
manufacturers. 
(E) Federal Aviation Administration ap-
proved unmanned aircraft system service sup-
pliers.
615 
(F) Unmanned aircraft system test sites 
under section 44803 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(G) An unmanned aircraft system physical 
infrastructure network provider. 
(H) Community advocates. 
(I) Certified labor organizations rep-
resenting commercial airline pilots, air traffic 
control specialists employed by the Administra-
tion, certified aircraft maintenance technicians, 
certified aircraft dispatchers, and aviation safe-
ty inspectors. 
(J) Operators pursuing or holding a cer-
tificate for the operation of an unmanned air-
craft weighing 55 pounds or more. 
(d) REPORTING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee 
shall submit to the Secretary an annual report of the 
activities, findings, and recommendations of the 
Committee. 
(2) CONGRESSIONAL
REPORTING.—The Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
616 
and Transportation of the Senate the reports re-
quired under paragraph (1). 
(e) DEFINITION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘unmanned aircraft’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 626. NEXTGEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 
EXPANSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall take such actions as may be necessary to ex-
pand the membership of the NextGen Advisory Committee 
chartered by the Secretary on June 15, 2022, and any 
subsequent chartered committees, to include a representa-
tive from the unmanned aircraft system industry and a 
representative from the powered-lift industry. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The representatives required 
under subsection (a) shall have the following qualifica-
tions, as applicable: 
(1) Demonstrated expertise in the design, man-
ufacture, and operation of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems. 
(2) Demonstrated experience in the develop-
ment or implementation of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems policies and procedures.
617 
(3) Demonstrated commitment to advancing the 
safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into 
the national airspace system. 
SEC. 627. TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION INTEGRITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 40103(b) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(5)(A) In issuing a temporary flight restriction, the 
Administrator shall— 
‘‘(i) ensure there is a specific and articulable 
safety or security basis for the size, scope, and dura-
tion of such restriction; 
‘‘(ii) immediately distribute a notice of the tem-
porary flight restriction via the Notice to Air Mis-
sions system; and 
‘‘(iii) detail in the notice required under clause 
(ii)— 
‘‘(I) the safety basis for the restriction; 
and 
‘‘(II) how a covered person may lawfully 
and expeditiously operate an aircraft within the 
restriction. 
‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered person’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) a public safety agency;
618 
‘‘(ii) a first responder; 
‘‘(iii) an accredited news representative; or 
‘‘(iv) any other person as determined appro-
priate by the Administrator.’’. 
SEC. 628. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the purpose of the joint Department of De-
fense-Federal Aviation Administration executive 
committee (referred to in this subsection as ‘‘Execu-
tive Committee’’) on conflict and dispute resolution 
as described in Section 1036(b) of the Duncan Hun-
ter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417) is to resolve dis-
putes on the matters of policy and procedures be-
tween the Department of Defense and the Federal 
Aviation Administration relating to airspace, aircraft 
certifications, aircrew training, and other issues, in-
cluding the access of unmanned aerial systems of the 
Department of Defense to the national airspace sys-
tem; 
(2) by mutual agreement of Executive Com-
mittee leadership, operating with the best of inten-
tions, the current scope of activities and membership 
of the Executive Committee has exceeded the origi-
619 
nal intent of, and tasking to, the Executive Com-
mittee; and 
(3) the expansion described in paragraph (2) 
has resulted in an imbalance in the oversight of cer-
tain Federal entities in matters concerning civil avia-
tion safety and security. 
(b) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) CHARTER REVISION.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall seek to revise the charter of the Executive 
Committee to reflect the scope, objectives, member-
ship, and activities described in such section 1036(b) 
in order to achieve the increasing, and ultimately 
routine, access of unmanned aircraft systems (as de-
fined in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code) into the national airspace system. 
(2) SUNSET.—Not earlier than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall seek to sunset Executive Committee activities 
by joint agreement of the Administrator and the 
Secretary of Defense.
620 
SEC. 
629. 
REVIEW 
OF 
REGULATIONS 
TO 
ENABLE 
UNESCORTED UAS OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Defense, conduct a review of require-
ments necessary to permit an unmanned aircraft systems 
(excluding small unmanned aircraft systems) operated by 
a Federal agency or an armed service to be operated in 
the national airspace system, including outside of re-
stricted airspace, without being escorted by a manned air-
craft. 
(b) 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 on the results of the review, including findings and 
recommendations on regulatory and statutory changes 
that can be made to enable the operations described under 
subsection (a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions under section 
44801 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to this 
section.
621 
SEC. 630. UAS OPERATIONS OVER HIGH SEAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—An unmanned aircraft system op-
eration that begins and ends within the United States or 
the territorial waters of the United States, shall not be 
considered international flight regardless of whether the 
unmanned aircraft system enters international airspace. 
(b) DEFINITION
OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEM.—In this section, the term ‘‘unmanned aircraft sys-
tem’’ has the meaning given such term in section 44801 
of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 631. BEYOND BEYOND. 
(a) FAA BEYOND PROGRAM EXTENSION.—The 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall extend the BEYOND program of the Administration 
as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of 
this Act (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Program’’) 
and the existing agreements with State, local, and Tribal 
governments entered into under the Program until such 
date, as specified in subsection (b). 
(b) FAA BEYOND PROGRAM EXPANSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall expand the Program to additional locations and 
test the use of new and emerging aviation concepts 
and technologies, including concepts and tech-
nologies unrelated to unmanned aircraft systems, to
622 
evaluate and inform Administration policies, rule-
making, and guidance related to the safe integration 
of such concepts and technologies into the national 
airspace system. 
(2) SCOPE.—In expanding the Program under 
this subsection, the Administrator shall address ad-
ditional factors, including— 
(A) increasing automation in civil aircraft, 
including unmanned aircraft systems and new 
or emerging aviation technologies; 
(B) operations of such systems and tech-
nologies, including beyond visual line of sight; 
and 
(C) the social and economic impacts of 
such operations. 
(3) CONTINUATION.—The Administrator shall 
carry out the expanded Program required under this 
subsection until such time that the Administrator 
determines the Program is no longer necessary or 
useful. 
SEC. 632. UAS INTEGRATION STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall implement the recommenda-
tions made by—
623 
(1) the Comptroller General of the United 
States to the Secretary of Transportation contained 
in the report titled ‘‘Drones: FAA Should Improve 
Its Approach to Integrating Drones into the Na-
tional Airspace System’’ issued in January 2023 
(GAO–23–105189); and 
(2) the inspector general of the Department of 
Transportation to the Administrator contained in 
the audit report titled ‘‘FAA Made Progress 
Through Its UAS Integration Pilot Program, but 
FAA and Industry Challenges Remain To Achieve 
Full UAS Integration’’ issued in April 2022 (Project 
ID: AV2022027). 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall pro-
vide a briefing to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate annually on the status of the activities de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
SEC. 633. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR KNOW 
BEFORE YOU FLY CAMPAIGN. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Admin-
istrator $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028, out of funds made available under section 106(k)
624 
of title 49, United States Code, for the Know Before You 
Fly educational campaign or similar public informational 
efforts intended to broaden unmanned aircraft systems 
safety awareness. 
SEC. 634. PUBLIC AIRCRAFT DEFINITION. 
Section 40125(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking the first instance of ‘‘or’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(including data collection on 
civil aviation systems undergoing research, develop-
ment, test, or evaluation at a test range (as such 
term is defined in section 44801)), infrastructure in-
spections, or any other activity undertaken by a gov-
ernmental entity that the Administrator determines 
is inherently governmental’’ after ‘‘biological or geo-
logical resource management’’. 
SEC. 635. PROTECTION OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a process 
to allow applicants to request temporary prohibitions of 
unmanned aircraft operations in close proximity to an eli-
gible large public gathering for a specified period of time. 
(b) APPLICATION PROCEDURES.—
625 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In making a determination 
whether to grant or deny an application for a des-
ignation, the Administrator shall consider— 
(A) aviation safety; 
(B) protection of persons and property on 
the ground; 
(C) national security; or 
(D) homeland security. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The application proce-
dures under this section shall allow eligible petitions 
to apply for a prohibition individually or collectively. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
LARGE
GATHERINGS.—Large 
public gatherings eligible for application under this 
section shall— 
(A) have an estimated attendance of great-
er than 20,000 people; 
(B) be primarily outdoors; 
(C) have defined and static geographical 
boundaries; and 
(D) be advertised in the public domain. 
(4) ELIGIBLE PETITIONERS.—Applicants eligi-
ble to submit petitions for consideration in sub-
section (a) shall be a credentialed law enforcement 
organization or public safety organization otherwise
626 
recognized by a Federal, State, local, Tribal, or ter-
ritorial governmental entity. 
(c) REVIEW PROCESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall pro-
vide for a timely determination on an application 
submitted under subsection (a) to allow for the pub-
lic to be notified of a prohibition in advance of the 
public gathering. 
(2) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—The Admin-
istrator shall make every practicable effort to make 
a determination on an application submitted under 
subsection (a) not later than 7 days before the ex-
pected start date of the large public gathering. 
(d) PUBLIC INFORMATION.—Temporary prohibition 
designated under subsection (a) shall be published by the 
Federal Aviation Administration in a publicly accessible 
manner, in English and other non-English languages, at 
least 2 days before the large public gathering. 
(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section may 
be construed as prohibiting the Administrator from au-
thorizing operation of an aircraft, including an unmanned 
aircraft system, over, under, or within a specified distance 
from that large public gathering designated under sub-
section (b).
627 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘un-
manned aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have 
the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 
49, United States Code. 
Subtitle B—Advanced Air Mobility 
SEC. 651. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘powered-lift aircraft’’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘‘powered-lift’’ in section 1.1 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 652. POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT RULEMAKINGS. 
(a) FINAL RULEMAKING.—Not later than 13 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall publish a 
final rule for a special Federal aviation regulation estab-
lishing procedures for certifying powered-lift pilots and 
providing operational rules for powered-lift aircraft. 
(b) FUTURE RULEMAKING.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall initiate a rulemaking activity providing for a perma-
nent pathway for the— 
(1) performance-based certification of powered- 
lift aircraft; 
(2) certification of powered-lift airmen; and 
(3) operation of powered-lift aircraft in com-
mercial service and air transportation.
628 
(c) RULEMAKING CONSIDERATIONS.— 
(1) CONTENTS OF RULEMAKINGS.—In the de-
velopment of the rulemakings required under sub-
sections (a) and (b), the Administrator shall— 
(A) provide for any aircraft type certifi-
cated by the Administrator— 
(i) a practical pathway for pilot quali-
fication and operations; and 
(ii) performance-based requirements 
for energy reserves and other range- and 
endurance-related requirements that reflect 
the capabilities and intended operations of 
the aircraft; 
(B) provide for a combination of pilot 
training requirements, including simulators, to 
ensure the safe operation of powered-lift air-
craft; 
(C) grant an individual with an existing 
commercial airplane (single- or multi-engine) or 
helicopter pilot certificate the authority to serve 
as pilot-in-command of a powered-lift aircraft in 
commercial operation following the completion 
of a Federal Aviation Administration-approved 
pilot type rating for such type of aircraft;
629 
(D) to the maximum extent practicable, 
align powered-lift pilot qualifications with sec-
tion 2.1.1.4 of the International Civil Aviation 
Organization’s Annex 1; 
(E) consider the adoption of the rec-
ommendations contained in document 10103 of 
the International Civil Aviation Organization 
for powered-lift operations, as appropriate; and 
(F) consult with the Secretary of Defense 
with regard to— 
(i) the U.S. Air Force Agility Prime 
Program and powered-lift aircraft evalu-
ated and deployed for military purposes, 
including the F35B program; 
(ii) the commonalities and differences 
between powered-lift aircraft types and the 
handling qualities of such aircraft; and 
(iii) the pathways for pilots to gain 
proficiency and earn the necessary ratings 
required to act as a pilot in command of 
powered-lift aircraft. 
(2) 
CONSIDERATIONS
FOR
FUTURE 
RULEMAKINGS.—In 
the 
development 
of 
the 
rulemakings required under subsection (b), the Ad-
ministrator shall—
630 
(A) consider and plan for unmanned and 
remotely piloted powered-lift aircraft systems, 
and the associated elements of such aircraft, 
through the promulgation of performance-based 
regulations; 
(B) consider and plan for alternative fuel 
types and propulsion methods, including review-
ing the performance-based nature of parts 33 
and 35 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(C) work to harmonize the certification 
and operational requirements of the Federal 
Aviation Administration with the certification 
and operational requirements of civil aviation 
authorities with bilateral safety agreements in 
place with the United States, to the extent har-
monization does not negatively impact domestic 
manufacturers and operators; and 
(D) inform such rulemakings based on op-
erations and efforts that occur as a result of 
the special Federal aviation regulation pursuant 
to subsection (b). 
(d) INTERIM APPLICATION OF RULES AND PRIVI-
LEGES IN LIEU OF RULEMAKING.—Beginning 21 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, if a final rule has 
not been published pursuant to subsection (a)—
631 
(1) rules in effect on such date that apply to 
the operation and the operator of rotorcraft or fixed- 
wing aircraft under subchapters F, G, H, and I of 
chapter 1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall be— 
(A) deemed to apply to— 
(i) the operation of a powered-lift air-
craft in the national airspace system; and 
(ii) the operator of such a powered-lift 
aircraft; and 
(B) applicable as determined by the oper-
ator of an airworthy powered-lift aircraft in 
consultation with the Administrator and con-
sistent with sections 91.3 and 91.13 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) upon the completion of a type rating for a 
specific powered-lift aircraft, airmen that hold a 
pilot or instructor certification with airplane cat-
egory ratings in any class or rotorcraft category rat-
ings in the helicopter class shall be deemed to have 
privileges of a powered-lift rating for that aircraft. 
(e) TERMINATION OF INTERIM RULES AND PRIVI-
LEGES.—Subsection (d) shall cease to have effect 1 month 
after the effective date of a final rule issued pursuant to 
subsection (a).
632 
SEC. 653. POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT ENTRY INTO SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall, in consultation with exclu-
sive bargaining representatives of air traffic controllers 
certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, 
take such actions as may be necessary to safely integrate 
powered-lift aircraft into the national airspace system, in-
cluding in controlled airspace, and learn from any efforts 
to adopt and update related policy and guidance. 
(b) AIR TRAFFIC POLICIES FOR ENTRY INTO SERV-
ICE.—Not later than 24 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator shall update air traffic 
orders and policies, to the extent necessary, and address 
air traffic control system challenges in order to allow for— 
(1) the use of existing air traffic procedures, 
where safe, by powered-lift aircraft; and 
(2) the approval of letters of agreement between 
air traffic control system facilities and powered-lift 
operators and infrastructure operators to minimize 
the amount of active coordination required for safe 
recurring powered-lift aircraft operations, as appro-
priate. 
(c) LONG-TERM AIR TRAFFIC POLICIES.—Based on 
the implementation of subsection (b), the Administrator 
shall—
633 
(1) continue to update air traffic orders and 
policies; 
(2) to the extent necessary, develop powered-lift 
specific procedures for airports, heliports, and 
vertiports; 
(3) evaluate the human factors impacts on con-
trollers associated with managing powered-lift air-
craft operations, consider the impact of additional 
operations on air traffic controller staffing, and 
make necessary changes to staffing, procedures, reg-
ulations, and orders; and 
(4) consider the use of third-party service pro-
viders to manage increased operations in controlled 
airspace to support and supplement the work of air 
traffic controllers. 
SEC. 654. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PREPARATION FOR 
ENTRY INTO SERVICE OF POWERED-LIFT AIR-
CRAFT. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration should work with 
manufacturers, prospective operators of powered-lift air-
craft, and other stakeholders, to enable the safe entry of 
such aircraft into commercial service following the publica-
tion of the final special Federal Aviation Administration 
rulemaking titled ‘‘Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Cer-
634 
tification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Re-
lated to Rotorcraft and Airplanes’’, including by reviewing 
and providing feedback to such manufacturers and opera-
tors on draft pilot training, operations, and maintenance 
manuals after the publication of the draft special Federal 
Aviation Administration rulemaking and prior to the pub-
lication of a final rule, as appropriate. 
SEC. 
655. 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
SUPPORTING 
VERTICAL 
FLIGHT. 
(a) UPDATES
TO
REGULATIONS
FOR
CONSIST-
ENCY.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall update part 1 and part 157 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, and other regulations as nec-
essary to implement the amendments made by section 
401. 
(b) UPDATE TO HELIPORT DESIGN STANDARDS.— 
The Administrator shall update the Advisory Circular 
150/5390–2, titled ‘‘Heliport Design’’ to— 
(1) increase the inclusion of performance-based 
guidance, including around aircraft fuel type and 
propulsion method; 
(2) update guidance to consider risk mitigations 
and hazards associated with different aircraft fuel 
types and propulsion methods;
635 
(3) affirm the general permissibility of vertical 
takeoff and landing capable aircraft to use a heliport 
when such heliport can safely accommodate the 
physical and operating characteristics of such air-
craft; and 
(4) include vertiport as a subclass of heliport. 
(c) ENGINEERING BRIEF ON VERTIPORT DESIGN.— 
The Administrator may update the version of Engineering 
Brief 105, titled ‘‘Vertiport Design’’ in effect on the date 
of enactment of this Act, prior to issuing an update to 
Advisory Circular 150/5390–2, as required under sub-
section (b). 
(d) ENGINEERING BRIEF SUNSET.—The Adminis-
trator shall revoke Engineering Brief 105, titled 
‘‘Vertiport Design’’, on the earlier of— 
(1) the date on which Advisory Circular 150/ 
5390–2 is updated under subsection (b); or 
(2) 5 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(e) GUIDANCE, FORMS, AND PLANNING.—The Ad-
ministrator shall— 
(1) ensure airport district offices of the Admin-
istration have sufficient guidance and policy direc-
tion regarding the Administration’s heliport and 
vertiport design guidance not later than 18 months
636 
after the date of enactment of this Act and update 
such guidance routinely; 
(2) determine if updates to Administration 
Form 7460 and Form 7480 are necessary and take 
such actions, as appropriate; and 
(3) ensure that the methodology and underlying 
data sources of the Administration’s Terminal Area 
Forecast include commercial operations conducted 
by aircraft regardless of propulsion type or fuel type. 
SEC. 656. CHARTING OF AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall increase efforts to update 
and keep current the Airport Master Record of the Admin-
istration, including by establishing a streamlined process 
by which the owners and operators of public and private 
aviation facilities with nontemporary, nonintermittent op-
erations are encouraged to keep the information on such 
facilities current. 
(b) BRIEFING.—The Administrator shall brief the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
plans of the Administrator to update and keep current the 
Airport Master Record for private and public airports, hel-
iports, and vertiports.
637 
SEC. 657. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY WORKING GROUP. 
Section 2 of the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination 
and Leadership Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘, particularly 
passenger-carrying aircraft,’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1) by striking subpara-
graph (D) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) operators of airports, heliports, and 
vertiports, and fixed-base operators;’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘1 year’’ and inserting ‘‘18 
months’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘or that 
may impede maturation’’ after ‘‘AAM indus-
try’’; 
(C) in paragraph (7) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(D) in paragraph (8) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) processes and programs that can be lever-
aged to improve the efficiency of Federal reviews re-
quired for infrastructure development, including for 
electrical capacity projects.’’; 
(4) in subsection (g)—
638 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘working group’’ and inserting 
‘‘Secretary of Transportation’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) summarizing any dissenting views and 
opinions of a participant of the working group de-
scribed in subsection (c)(3); and’’; 
(5) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘that 
transports people and property by air between 
two points in the United States using aircraft 
with advanced technologies, including electric 
aircraft or electric vertical take-off and landing 
aircraft,’’ and inserting ‘‘comprised of urban air 
mobility and regional air mobility using manned 
or unmanned aircraft’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (7); 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (9);
639 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following: 
‘‘(5) POWERED-LIFT
AIRCRAFT.—The term 
‘powered-lift aircraft’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘powered-lift’ in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(6) REGIONAL AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘re-
gional air mobility’ means the movement of people or 
property by air between 2 points using an airworthy 
aircraft that— 
‘‘(A) has advanced technologies, such as 
distributed propulsion, vertical take-off and 
landing, powered-lift, non-traditional power sys-
tems, or autonomous technologies; 
‘‘(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of 
greater than 1,320 pounds; and 
‘‘(C) is not urban air mobility.’’; 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so 
redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(8) URBAN AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘urban 
air mobility’ means the movement of people or prop-
erty by air between 2 intracity or intercity points 
using an airworthy aircraft that— 
‘‘(A) advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical take-off and land-
640 
ing, powered-lift, nontraditional power systems, 
or autonomous technologies; and 
‘‘(B) a maximum takeoff weight of greater 
than 1,320 pounds.’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) VERTIPORT.—The term ‘vertiport’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 47102 of 
title 49, United States Code.’’; 
(6) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection 
(j); and 
(7) by inserting after subsection (h) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) CONSIDERATIONS FOR TERMINATION OF WORK-
ING GROUP.—In deciding whether to terminate the work-
ing group under subsection (h), the Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
consider other interagency coordination activities associ-
ated with AAM, or other new or novel users of the national 
airspace system, that could benefit from continued wider 
interagency coordination.’’. 
SEC. 658. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE 
PILOT PROGRAM EXTENSION. 
Section 101 of division Q of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2023 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)—
641 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by inserting 
‘‘, as well as the use of existing airport and 
heliport infrastructure that may require 
modifications to safely accommodate AAM 
operations,’’ after ‘‘vertiport infrastruc-
ture’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (iii) by striking 
‘‘vertiport’’ and inserting ‘‘locations 
for’’; 
(II) in clause (iv) by inserting 
‘‘and guidance’’ after ‘‘any stand-
ards’’; 
(III) in clause (v) by striking 
‘‘vertiport infrastructure’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘urban air mobility and regional 
air mobility operations’’; and 
(IV) in clause (x) by inserting 
‘‘or the modification of existing avia-
tion infrastructure’’ after ‘‘operation 
of a vertiport’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B) by inserting ‘‘the 
Department of Defense, the National Guard,’’ 
before ‘‘or’’; and
642 
(C) in paragraph (6)(B)— 
(i) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(ii) in clause (ii) by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) a description of— 
‘‘(I) initial community engage-
ment efforts and responses from the 
public on the planning and develop-
ment efforts of eligible entities related 
to urban air mobility and regional air 
mobility operations; 
‘‘(II) how eligible entities are 
planning for and encouraging early 
adoption of urban air mobility and re-
gional air mobility operations; 
‘‘(III) what role each level of gov-
ernment plays in the process; and 
‘‘(IV) whether such entities rec-
ommend specific regulatory or guid-
ance actions be taken by the Secretary 
of Transportation or other Federal
643 
agencies in order to support such 
early adoption.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘years 2023 and 2024’’ 
and inserting ‘‘years 2023 through 2026’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the period ‘‘out of 
funds made available under section 106(k) of 
title 49, United States Code’’; 
(3) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘2024’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2026’’ each place it appears; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY; AAM; REGIONAL 
AIR MOBILITY; URBAN AIR MOBILITY; VERTIPORT.— 
The terms ‘advanced air mobility’, ‘AAM’, ‘regional 
air mobility’, ‘urban air mobility’, and ‘vertiport’ 
have the meaning given such terms in section 2(j) of 
the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leader-
ship Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10).
644 
Subtitle C—Other Provisions 
SEC. 681. REPORT ON NATIONAL SPACEPORTS POLICY. 
Section 580(c)(3) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (Public Law 115–254) is amended by striking 
‘‘2024’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
SEC. 682. INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUC-
TURE IMPROVEMENT PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish a 
pilot program to issue grants to operators of launch and 
reentry sites for projects to construct, repair, maintain, 
or improve transportation infrastructure and facilities at 
such sites. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS.—The Sec-
retary may enter into agreements under this section to 
issue a grant to an operator only if the operator— 
(1) has submitted an application to the Sec-
retary in such form, at such time, and containing 
such information as prescribed by the Secretary; 
(2) demonstrates to the Secretary’s satisfaction 
that the project for which the application has been 
submitted is for an eligible purpose under subsection 
(c); and 
(3) agrees to maintain such records relating to 
the grant as the Secretary may require and to make
645 
such records available to the Secretary or the Comp-
troller General of the United States upon request. 
(c) PERMITTED USE OF PILOT PROGRAM GRANTS.— 
An operator may use a grant provided under this sub-
section for a project to construct, repair, maintain, or im-
prove infrastructure and facilities that— 
(1) are located at, or adjacent to, a launch or 
reentry site; and 
(2) directly enable or support transportation 
safety or covered transportation activities. 
(d) PILOT PROGRAM GRANTS.— 
(1) GRANT
FORMULA.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, at the beginning of each 
fiscal year after fiscal year 2024, the Secretary shall 
issue a grant to an operator that qualifies for the 
pilot program under subsection (b) an amount equal 
to the sum of— 
(A) $250,000 for each licensed launch or 
reentry operation conducted from the applicable 
launch or reentry site or at any adjacent Fed-
eral launch range in the previous fiscal year; 
and 
(B) $100,000 for each launch or reentry 
operation conducted under a permit from the 
applicable launch or reentry site or at any adja-
646 
cent Federal launch range in the previous fiscal 
year. 
(2) MAXIMUM GRANT.—Except as provided in 
subsection (e)(5), a grant issued to an operator 
under this subsection shall not exceed $2,500,000 
for a fiscal year. 
(3) ADJACENCY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In issuing a grant to 
an operator under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall determine whether a launch or reentry site 
is adjacent to a Federal launch range. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Only 1 operator may 
receive an amount under paragraph (1) for 
each licensed or permitted launch or reentry op-
eration described in such subparagraph. 
(C) MULTIPLE
LAUNCH
OR
REENTRY 
SITES OPERATED BY 1 OPERATOR.—If an oper-
ator holds a license to operate more than 1 
launch site or more than 1 reentry site that are 
adjacent to a Federal launch range, the Sec-
retary shall consider such launch or reentry 
sites as 1 launch or reentry site for purposes of 
subparagraph (A). 
(e) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF STATE, 
LOCAL, OR PRIVATE MATCHING.—
647 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue a 
supplemental grant to an operator, subject to the re-
quirements of this paragraph. 
(2) DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR
MATCHING.—If a 
qualified entity provides an operator an amount 
equal to or greater than the amount of a grant pro-
vided in a fiscal year under subsection (d) (for the 
explicit purpose of matching such grant), the Sec-
retary may issue a supplemental grant to the oper-
ator that is equal to 25 percent of such grant in the 
following fiscal year. 
(3) ADDITIONAL NON-FEDERAL MATCHING.—If 
a qualified entity provides an operator an amount 
equal to or greater than two times the amount of a 
grant provided in a fiscal year to the operator under 
subsection (d) (for the explicit purpose of matching 
such grant), the Secretary may issue a supplemental 
grant to the operator that is equal to 50 percent of 
such grant in the following fiscal year. 
(4) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) MATCH TIMING.—The Secretary may 
issue a supplemental grant under paragraph (2) 
or (3) only if an amount provided by a qualified 
entity is provided to the operator in the same
648 
fiscal year as the grant issued under subsection 
(d). 
(B) 
NON-DUPLICATION
OF
MATCHING 
GRANTS.—If the Secretary issues a supple-
mental grant to the operator of a launch site 
under paragraph (3), the Secretary may not 
issue a supplemental grant under paragraph (2) 
to the same operator in the same fiscal year. 
(5) NON-APPLICATION
OF
GRANT
CEILING.— 
The limitation on a grant amount under subsection 
(d)(2) shall not apply to supplemental grants issued 
under this subsection. 
(f) FUNDING.— 
(1) PILOT
PROGRAM
GRANT
FUNDS.—The 
grants issued under this section shall be issued from 
funds made available out of amounts available under 
section 106(k) of title 49, United States Code. 
(2) MAXIMUM ANNUAL LIMIT ON PILOT PRO-
GRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The total amount of all 
grants issued under this section shall not ex-
ceed $20,000,000 in any fiscal year. 
(B) GRANT
REDUCTION.—In complying 
with subparagraph (A), the Secretary—
649 
(i) may proportionally reduce the 
amount of, or decline to issue, a supple-
mental grant under subsection (e); and 
(ii) if the reduction under clause (i) is 
insufficient, shall proportionally reduce 
grants issued under subsection (d). 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
TRANSPORTATION
ACTIVITY.— 
The term ‘‘covered transportation activity’’ means 
the movement of people or property to, from, or 
within a launch site and the necessary or incidental 
activities associated with such movement through 
the use of— 
(A) a vehicle (as defined in section 4 of 
title 1, United States Code); 
(B) a vessel (as defined in section 3 of title 
1, United States Code); 
(C) a railroad (as defined in section 20102 
of title 49, United States Code); 
(D) an aircraft (as defined in section 
40102 of title 49, United States Code); or 
(E) a pipeline facility (as defined in section 
60101 of title 49, United States Code). 
(2) LAUNCH; LAUNCH SITE; LAUNCH VEHICLE; 
REENTRY
SITE; REENTRY
VEHICLE.—The terms
650 
‘‘launch’’, ‘‘launch site’’, ‘‘launch vehicle’’, ‘‘reentry 
site’’, and ‘‘reentry vehicle’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 50902 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
(3) OPERATOR.—The term ‘‘operator’’ means a 
person licensed by the Secretary to operate a launch 
or reentry site. 
(4) QUALIFIED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘qualified 
entity’’ means a State, local, territorial, or Tribal 
government or private sector entity, or any combina-
tion thereof. 
(h) PILOT PROGRAM SUNSET.—This section shall 
cease to be effective on October 1, 2028. 
SEC. 683. AIRSPACE ACCESS FOR HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT. 
(a) HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT TESTING.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, in 
coordination with any other Federal agency the Adminis-
trator determines appropriate, shall ensure that there is 
a process in which manufacturers and operators of high- 
speed aircraft can engage in flight testing of such high- 
speed aircraft, which may include the establishment of 
high speed testing corridors in the national airspace sys-
tem.
651 
(b) STUDY
ON
HIGH-SPEED
AIRCRAFT
OPER-
ATIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall, after con-
sultation with aircraft manufacturers, institutions of 
higher learning, the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Sec-
retary of Defense, and any other agencies the Ad-
ministrator determines appropriate, conduct a study 
to assess actions necessary to facilitate the safe op-
eration and integration of high-speed aircraft into 
the national airspace system. 
(2) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall— 
(A) assess various altitudes and operating 
conditions of high-speed aircraft in Class E air-
space above the upper boundary of Class A air-
space and the resulting aircraft noise levels at 
the surface; 
(B) include the development of a frame-
work and timeline to establish the appropriate 
regulatory requirements to conducting high- 
speed aircraft flights; 
(C) identify the data required to develop 
certification, flight standards, and air traffic re-
652 
quirements for the deployment and integration 
of high-speed aircraft; 
(D) assess cross-agency equities related to 
high-speed aircraft technologies and flight; and 
(E) survey global high-speed aircraft-re-
lated regulatory and testing developments or ac-
tivities. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—As part of the study 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall issue 
recommendations to update, if feasible, regulations 
for certification, flight standards and air traffic 
management. 
(c) 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 on the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a), including the recommendations under sub-
section (b)(3), to facilitate the safe operation and integra-
tion of high-speed aircraft in the national airspace system. 
(d) STUDY AND RULEMAKING ON HIGH ALTITUDE 
CLASS E AIRSPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS.— 
(1) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 12 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
653 
trator, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and 
relevant stakeholders, including industry and aca-
demia, shall identify the minimum altitude above the 
upper boundary of Class A airspace at or above 
which flights operating with speeds above Mach 1 
generate sonic booms that are inaudible at the sur-
face under prevailing atmospheric conditions. 
(2) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date on which the Administrator identifies the 
minimum altitude described in paragraph (1), the 
Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register 
a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend sections 
91.817 and 91.818 of title 14, Code of Federal Reg-
ulations, and such other regulations as appropriate, 
to permit flight operations with speeds above Mach 
1 at or above the minimum altitude identified under 
paragraph (1) without specific authorizations, pro-
vided that such flight operations— 
(A) show compliance with airworthiness re-
quirements; 
(B) do not cause a measurable sonic boom 
over pressure to reach the surface; and
654 
(C) have ordinary instrument flight rules 
clearances necessary to operate in controlled 
airspace. 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘high- 
speed aircraft’’ means an aircraft operating at speeds in 
excess of Mach 1, which shall include supersonic and 
hypersonic aircraft. 
SEC. 684. ICAO ACTIVITIES ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall prioritize engagement with 
the International Civil Aviation Organization and con-
tribute to or lead the development of international stand-
ards and recommended practices to improve aviation safe-
ty and support the entry-into-service of new forms of avia-
tion. 
(b) PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall contribute to or lead 
International Civil Aviation Organization efforts with re-
spect to the development of landing and take-off noise 
standards for supersonic aircraft. 
SEC. 685. AIP ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN SPACEPORT IN-
FRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Transportation may make 
a grant under subchapter I of chapter 471 of title 49,
655 
United States Code, to an airport sponsor to reconstruct, 
repave, or rehabilitate the full length and width of a run-
way, including connecting taxiways, if the runway is exist-
ing on the date of enactment of this Act if— 
(1) the runway is at an airport that is also a 
launch site or reentry site operated by a person cer-
tified under section 50905 of title 51, United States 
Code; 
(2) the runway is greater than 12,000 feet long 
and not less than 200 feet wide; and 
(3) the airport sponsor certifies to the Secretary 
that the full length and width of the runways and 
taxiways are required to support activities at the 
launch site. 
(b) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective 
on September 30, 2028. 
SEC. 686. COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH AND REENTRY STA-
TISTICS. 
Section 329(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘aeronautical’’ 
and inserting ‘‘aerospace’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘civil aero-
nautics’’ and inserting ‘‘civil aerospace’’;
656 
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) collect and disseminate information on 
commercial space launch and reentry operations 
(other than that collected and disseminated by the 
National Transportation Safety Board under chapter 
11) including, at a minimum, information on the 
number of launches or reentries licensed by the Sec-
retary, the number of space flight participants, the 
number of payloads, and the mass of payloads, orga-
nized by class of orbit;’’. 
SEC. 687. REPORT ON CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
on the infrastructure needs at Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration-licensed horizontal and vertical launch sites located 
in rural communities.
657 
SEC. 688. AIRSPACE INTEGRATION FOR SPACE LAUNCH 
AND REENTRY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the Sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) a safe and efficient national airspace system 
that successfully supports existing users and inte-
grates new entrants is of the utmost importance; 
(2) both commercial aviation and space launch 
and reentry operations are vital to United States 
global leadership, national security, and economic 
opportunity; 
(3) aircraft hazard areas are necessary during 
space launch and reentry operations to ensure public 
safety; and 
(4) the Administrator of Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration should prioritize the development and 
deployment of technologies to improve visibility of 
space launch and reentry operations within Adminis-
tration computer systems and minimize operational 
workload to air traffic controllers associated with 
routing traffic during spaceflight launch and reentry 
operations. 
(b) SPACE LAUNCH AND REENTRY AIRSPACE INTE-
GRATION TECHNOLOGY.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2024 
through 2028, or until such time as the Administrator de-
658 
termines that the project has reached an operational sta-
tus, for the Administrator to expedite the development, ac-
quisition, and deployment of technologies or capabilities 
to aid in space launch and reentry integration, which may 
include technologies recommended by the Airspace Access 
Priorities Aviation Rulemaking Committee in 2019, sys-
tems to enable the integration of launch and reentry data 
directly onto air traffic controller displays, and automated 
systems to enable near real-time planning and dynamic re-
routing of commercial aircraft during and following com-
mercial space launch and reentry operations, with the ob-
jective of operational readiness not later than December 
31, 2026. 
TITLE VII—PASSENGER 
EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 701. ADVERTISEMENTS AND SOLICITATIONS FOR PAS-
SENGER AIR TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) FULL FARE ADVERTISING.—Section 41712 of 
title 49, United States Code, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) FULL FARE ADVERTISING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall not be an unfair or 
deceptive practice under subsection (a) for a covered 
entity to state in an advertisement or solicitation for
659 
passenger air transportation the base airfare for 
such air transportation if the covered entity clearly 
and separately discloses— 
‘‘(A) the government-imposed taxes and 
fees associated with the air transportation; and 
‘‘(B) the total cost of the air transpor-
tation. 
‘‘(2) FORM OF DISCLOSURE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the information described in para-
graphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) shall be disclosed in 
the advertisement or solicitation in a manner 
that clearly presents the information to the con-
sumer. 
‘‘(B) INTERNET
ADVERTISEMENTS
AND 
SOLICITATIONS.—For purposes of paragraph 
(1), with respect to an advertisement or solicita-
tion for passenger air transportation that ap-
pears on a website, the information described in 
paragraphs (1)(A) and (1)(B) may be disclosed 
through a link or pop-up, as such terms may be 
defined by the Secretary, in a manner that is 
easily accessible and viewable by the consumer. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
660 
‘‘(A) BASE AIRFARE.—The term ‘base air-
fare’ means the cost of passenger air transpor-
tation, excluding government-imposed taxes and 
fees. 
‘‘(B) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘cov-
ered entity’ means an air carrier, including an 
indirect air carrier, foreign carrier, ticket agent, 
or other person offering to sell tickets for pas-
senger air transportation or a tour, or tour 
component, that must be purchased with air 
transportation.’’. 
(b) LIMITATION ON STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.— 
Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (b) may 
be construed to affect any obligation of a person that sells 
passenger air transportation to disclose the total cost of 
such air transportation, including government-imposed 
taxes and fees, prior to purchase of such air transpor-
tation. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue final regulations to carry out the amend-
ment made by subsection (a). 
(d) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section may be construed to limit or otherwise affect the 
authority of the Secretary to regulate the disclosure of air
661 
carrier-imposed fees, or alter the requirements under part 
399 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as such part 
relates to air carrier-imposed fees. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section, and the amend-
ment made by this section, shall take effect on the date 
that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 702. MODERNIZATION OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT 
SUBMISSIONS. 
Section 42302 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 42302. Consumer complaints 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain an accessible website through the 
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection to accept the 
submission of complaints from airline passengers re-
garding air travel service problems; and 
‘‘(2) take appropriate actions to notify the pub-
lic of such accessible website. 
‘‘(b) NOTICE TO PASSENGERS ON THE INTERNET.— 
An air carrier or foreign air carrier providing scheduled 
air transportation using any aircraft that as originally de-
signed has a passenger capacity of 30 or more passenger 
seats shall include on the accessible website of the car-
rier—
662 
‘‘(1) the accessible website, e-mail address, or 
telephone number of the air carrier for the submis-
sion of complaints by passengers about air travel 
service problems; and 
‘‘(2) the accessible website maintained pursuant 
to subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) USE OF ADDITIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE TECH-
NOLOGIES.—The Secretary shall periodically evaluate the 
benefits of using mobile phone applications or other widely 
used technologies to— 
‘‘(1) provide additional or alternative means for 
air passengers to submit complaints; and 
‘‘(2) provide such additional or alternative 
means as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(d) AIR AMBULANCE PROVIDERS.—Each air ambu-
lance provider shall include the accessible website, or a 
link to such accessible website, maintained pursuant to 
subsection (a) and the contact information for the Avia-
tion Consumer Advocate established by section 424 of the 
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 42302 note) 
on— 
‘‘(1) any invoice, bill, or other communication 
provided to a passenger or customer of such pro-
vider; and
663 
‘‘(2) the accessible website and any related mo-
bile device application of such provider.’’. 
SEC. 703. CODIFICATION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION PRO-
VISIONS. 
(a) PASSENGER RIGHTS.—Subchapter I of chapter 
417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 41727. Passenger rights 
‘‘(a) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall require each air carrier and foreign air carrier to 
submit a summarized 1-page document that describes the 
rights of passengers in air transportation, including guide-
lines for the following: 
‘‘(1) Compensation (regarding rebooking op-
tions, refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight delays 
of various lengths. 
‘‘(2) Compensation (regarding rebooking op-
tions, refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight diver-
sions. 
‘‘(3) Compensation (regarding rebooking op-
tions, refunds, meals, and lodging) for flight can-
cellations. 
‘‘(4) Compensation for mishandled baggage, 
wheelchairs, mobility aids and other assistive de-
vices, including delayed, damaged, pilfered, or lost
664 
baggage, wheelchairs, mobility aids and other assist-
ive devices. 
‘‘(5) Voluntary relinquishment of a ticketed 
seat due to overbooking or priority of other pas-
sengers. 
‘‘(6) Involuntary denial of boarding and forced 
removal for whatever reason, including for safety 
and security reasons. 
‘‘(b) FILING
OF SUMMARIZED GUIDELINES.—Not 
later than 90 days after each air carrier and foreign air 
carrier submits the 1-page document to the Secretary 
under subsection (a), each such air carrier and foreign air 
carrier shall make available such 1-page document in a 
prominent location on its website.’’. 
(b) AIRLINE PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES BILL 
OF RIGHTS.—Subchapter I of chapter 417 of title 49, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 41728. Airline passengers with disabilities bill of 
rights 
‘‘(a) AIRLINE
PASSENGERS
WITH
DISABILITIES 
BILL OF RIGHTS.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
develop a document, to be known as the ‘Airline Pas-
sengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights’, using plain lan-
guage to describe the basic protections and responsibilities
665 
of air carriers and foreign air carriers, their employees and 
contractors, and people with disabilities under section 
41705. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT.—In developing the Airline Pas-
sengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall include, at a minimum, plain lan-
guage descriptions of protections and responsibilities pro-
vided in law related to the following: 
‘‘(1) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
be treated with dignity and respect. 
‘‘(2) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive timely assistance, if requested, from properly 
trained air carrier, foreign air carrier, and con-
tractor personnel. 
‘‘(3) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
travel with wheelchairs, mobility aids, and other as-
sistive devices, including necessary medications and 
medical supplies, including stowage of such wheel-
chairs, aids, and devices. 
‘‘(4) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive seating accommodations, if requested, to ac-
commodate a disability 
‘‘(5) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
receive announcements in an accessible format.
666 
‘‘(6) The right of passengers with disabilities to 
speak with a complaint resolution officer or to file 
a complaint with an air carrier, a foreign air carrier, 
or the Department of Transportation. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The development of 
the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights 
under subsections (a) and (b) shall not be construed as 
expanding or restricting the rights available to passengers 
with disabilities on the day before the date of the enact-
ment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115–254) pursuant to any statute or regulation. 
‘‘(d) CONSULTATIONS.—In developing the Airline 
Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall consult with stakeholders, 
including disability organizations and air carriers, foreign 
air carriers, and their contractors. 
‘‘(e) DISPLAY.—Each air carrier and foreign air car-
rier shall include the Airline Passengers with Disabilities 
Bill of Rights— 
‘‘(1) on a publicly available internet website of 
the carrier; and 
‘‘(2) in any pre-flight notifications or commu-
nications provided to passengers who alert the car-
rier in advance of the need for accommodations re-
lating to a disability.
667 
‘‘(f) TRAINING.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Air carriers, foreign air 
carriers, and contractors of such carriers shall sub-
mit to the Secretary plans that ensure that employ-
ees of such carriers and their contractors receive 
training on the protections and responsibilities de-
scribed in the Airline Passengers with Disabilities 
Bill of Rights. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review such 
plans to ensure the plans address the matters de-
scribed in subsection (b).’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for 
chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 41726 the 
following: 
‘‘41727. Passenger rights. 
‘‘41728. Airline passengers with disabilities bill of rights.’’. 
(d) CONFORMING REPEALS.—Sections 429 and 434 
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 
42301 note; 41705 note) and the item relating to such 
sections in the table of contents in section 1(b) of such 
Act are repealed. 
SEC. 704. EXTENSION OF AVIATION CONSUMER PROTEC-
TION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 411 of the FAA Modernization and Reform 
Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 note) is amended—
668 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) ticket agents and travel management com-
panies;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2028’’; and 
SEC. 705. REMOVAL OF OUTDATED REFERENCES TO PAS-
SENGERS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) SOVEREIGNTY AND USE OF AIRSPACE.—Section 
40103(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘handicapped individuals’’ and inserting ‘‘indi-
viduals with disabilities’’. 
(b) SPECIAL PRICES FOR FOREIGN AIR TRANSPOR-
TATION.—Section 41511(b)(4) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘handicap’’ and inserting 
‘‘disability’’. 
(c) DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH 
DISABILITIES.—Section 41705 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended in the heading by striking ‘‘handi-
capped individuals’’ and inserting ‘‘individuals 
with disabilities’’.
669 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 41705 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘41705. Discrimination against individuals with disabilities.’’. 
SEC. 706. EXTENSION OF AVIATION CONSUMER ADVOCATE 
REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
Section 424(e) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 42302 note) is amended by striking 
‘‘2023’’ and inserting ‘‘2028’’. 
SEC. 707. AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 439 of the FAA Reau-
thorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 41705 note) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE ON THE AIR TRAVEL NEEDS 
OF PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES’’ and in-
serting ‘‘AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1) by striking subpara-
graph (G) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(G) Manufacturers of wheelchairs, includ-
ing powered wheelchairs, and other mobility 
aids.’’; and
670 
(3) in subsection (g) by striking ‘‘2023’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2028’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1(b) of the 
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–254) 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 439 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘Sec. 439. Air Carrier Access Act advisory committee.’’. 
SEC. 708. PASSENGER EXPERIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish an advisory committee to advise the Sec-
retary and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration in carrying out activities relating to the im-
provement of the passenger experience in air transpor-
tation customer service. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Secretary shall appoint the 
members of the advisory committee, which shall be com-
prised of at least 1 representative of each of— 
(1) mainline air carriers; 
(2) air carriers with a low-cost or ultra-low-cost 
business model; 
(3) regional air carriers; 
(4) large hub airport sponsors and operators; 
(5) medium hub airport sponsors and operators; 
(6) small hub airport sponsors and operators; 
(7) nonhub airport sponsors and operators; 
(8) ticket agents;
671 
(9) representatives of intermodal transportation 
companies that operate at airports; 
(10) airport concessionaires; 
(11) nonprofit public interest groups with ex-
pertise in consumer protection matters; 
(12) senior managers of the Administration’s 
Air Traffic Organization; 
(13) aircraft manufacturers; 
(14) entities representing individuals with dis-
abilities; 
(15) certified labor organizations representing 
aviation workers, including— 
(A) Federal Aviation Administration em-
ployees; 
(B) airline pilots working for air carriers 
operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations; 
(C) flight attendants working for air car-
riers operating under part 121 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations; and 
(D) other customer facing airline and air-
port workers; 
(16) other organizations or industry segments 
as determined by the Secretary; and
672 
(17) other Federal agencies that directly inter-
face with passengers at airports. 
(c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the advisory com-
mittee under this section shall be filled in a manner con-
sistent with subsection (b). 
(d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the advisory 
committee under this section shall serve without pay but 
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(e) CHAIR.—The Secretary shall designate an indi-
vidual among the individuals appointed under subsection 
(b) to serve as Chair of the advisory committee. 
(f) DUTIES.—The duties of the advisory committee 
shall include— 
(1) evaluating ways to improve the comprehen-
sive passenger experience, including— 
(A) transportation between airport termi-
nals and facilities; 
(B) baggage handling; 
(C) wayfinding; 
(D) the security screening process; and 
(E) the communication of flight delays and 
cancellations;
673 
(2) evaluating ways to improve efficiency in the 
national airspace system affecting passengers; 
(3) evaluating ways to improve the cooperation 
and coordination between the Department of Trans-
portation and other Federal agencies that directly 
interface with aviation passengers at airports; 
(4) responding to other taskings determined by 
the Secretary; and 
(5) providing recommendations to the Secretary 
and the Administrator, if determined necessary dur-
ing the evaluations considered in paragraphs (1) 
through (4). 
(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
containing— 
(1) consensus recommendations made by the 
advisory committee since such date of enactment or 
the previous report, as appropriate; and 
(2) an explanation of how the Secretary has im-
plemented such recommendations and, for such rec-
ommendations not implemented, the Secretary’s rea-
son for not implementing such recommendation. 
(h) DEFINITION.—The definitions in section 40102 
of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to this section.
674 
(i) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective 
on October 1, 2028. 
(j) TERMINATION OF DOT ACCESS ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE.—The ACCESS Advisory Committee of the De-
partment of Transportation shall terminate on the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 709. STREAMLINING OF OFFLINE TICKET DISCLO-
SURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall take such action as may be necessary to 
update the process by which an air carrier or ticket agent 
is required to fulfill disclosure obligations in ticketing 
transactions for air transportation not completed through 
a website. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The process updated under 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) include means of referral to the applicable 
air carrier website with respect to disclosures related 
to air carrier optional fees and policies; 
(2) include a means of referral to the website 
of the Department of Transportation with respect to 
any other required disclosures to air transportation 
passengers;
675 
(3) make no changes to air carrier or ticket 
agent obligations with respect to— 
(A) section 41712(c) of title 49, United 
States Code; or 
(B) subsections (a) and (b) of section 
399.84 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations 
(or any successor regulations); and 
(4) require disclosures referred to in para-
graphs (1) and (2) to be made in the manner exist-
ing prior to the date of enactment of this Act upon 
passenger request. 
(c) AIR CARRIER DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘air carrier’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 710. TICKET AGENT REFUND OBLIGATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall issue a final rule to revise section 399.80 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to clarify the re-
fund obligations of ticket agents. 
(b) CONDITIONS.—In issuing the final rule under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall clarify that a ticket 
agent shall provide a refund only when such ticket agent 
possesses, or has access to, the funds of a passenger.
676 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘ticket 
agent’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 711. UPDATING PASSENGER INFORMATION REQUIRE-
MENT REGULATIONS. 
(a) ARAC TASKING.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall task the Avia-
tion Rulemaking Advisory Committee with— 
(1) reviewing passenger information require-
ment regulations under section 121.317 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulation, and such other related 
regulations as the Administrator determines appro-
priate; and 
(2) making recommendations to update and im-
prove such regulations. 
(b) FINAL REGULATION.—Not later than 6 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final 
regulation revising section 121.317 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, and such other related regulations 
as the Administrator determines appropriate, to— 
(1) update such section and regulations to in-
corporate exemptions commonly issued by the Ad-
ministrator;
677 
(2) reflect civil penalty inflation adjustments; 
and 
(3) incorporate such updates and improvements 
recommended by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory 
Committee that the Administrator determines appro-
priate. 
SEC. 712. MOBILITY AIDS ON BOARD IMPROVE LIVES AND 
EMPOWER ALL. 
(a) PUBLICATION OF CARGO HOLD DIMENSIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall require air carriers to publish 
on a prominent and easily accessible place on the 
public website of the air carrier, information describ-
ing the relevant dimensions and other characteristics 
of the cargo holds of all aircraft types operated by 
the air carrier, including the dimensions of the cargo 
hold entry, that would limit the size, weight, and al-
lowable type of cargo available. 
(2) PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary shall allow an air carrier to protect the con-
fidentiality of any trade secret or proprietary infor-
mation submitted in accordance with paragraph (1), 
as appropriate.
678 
(b) REFUND REQUIRED FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAVELING 
WITH WHEELCHAIR.—In the case of a qualified individual 
with a disability traveling with a wheelchair who has pur-
chased a ticket for a flight from an air carrier, but who 
cannot travel on the aircraft for such flight because the 
wheelchair of such qualified individual cannot be phys-
ically accommodated in the cargo hold of the aircraft, the 
Secretary shall require such air carrier to offer a refund 
to such qualified individual of any previously paid fares, 
fees, and taxes applicable to such flight. 
(c) EVALUATION OF DATA REGARDING DAMAGED 
WHEELCHAIRS.—Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) evaluate data regarding the type and fre-
quency of incidents of the mishandling of wheel-
chairs on aircraft and delineate such data by— 
(A) types of wheelchairs involved in such 
incidents; and 
(B) the ways in which wheelchairs are mis-
handled, including the type of damage to wheel-
chairs (such as broken drive wheels or casters, 
bent or broken frames, damage to electrical 
connectors or wires, control input devices,
679 
joysticks, upholstery or other components, loss, 
or delay of return); 
(2) determine whether there are trends with re-
spect to the data evaluated under paragraph (1); 
and 
(3) make available on the public website of the 
Department of Transportation, in an accessible 
manner, a report containing the results of the eval-
uation of data and determination made under para-
graphs (1) and (2) and a description of how the Sec-
retary plans to address such results. 
(d) FEASIBILITY
OF IN-CABIN WHEELCHAIR RE-
STRAINT SYSTEMS.— 
(1) ROADMAP.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a publicly available strategic 
roadmap that describes how the Department of 
Transportation and the United States Access Board, 
respectively, shall, in accordance with the rec-
ommendations from the National Academies of 
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Transpor-
tation Research Board Special Report 341—
680 
(A) establish a program of research, in col-
laboration with the Rehabilitation Engineering 
and Assistive Technology Society of North 
America, the assistive technology industry, air 
carriers, original equipment manufacturers, na-
tional disability and disabled veterans organiza-
tions, and any other relevant stakeholders, to 
test and evaluate an appropriate selection of 
WC19-compliant wheelchairs and accessories in 
accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration crashworthiness and safety per-
formance criteria, including the issues and con-
siderations set forth in such Special Report 
341; and 
(B) sponsor studies that assess issues and 
considerations, including those set forth in such 
Special Report 341, such as— 
(i) the likely demand for air travel by 
individuals who are nonambulatory if such 
individuals could remain seated in their 
personal wheelchairs in flight; and 
(ii) the feasibility of implementing 
seating arrangements that would accommo-
date passengers in wheelchairs in the main 
cabin in flight.
681 
(2) STUDY.—If determined to be technically 
feasible by the Secretary, not later than 2 years 
after making such determination, the Secretary shall 
commence a study to assess the economic and finan-
cial feasibility of air carriers and foreign air carriers 
implementing seating arrangements that accommo-
date passengers with wheelchairs (including power 
wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and scooters) in 
the main cabin during flight. Such study shall in-
clude an assessment of— 
(A) the cost of such seating arrangements, 
equipment, and installation; 
(B) the demand for such seating arrange-
ments; 
(C) the impact of such seating arrange-
ments on passenger seating and safety on air-
craft; 
(D) the impact of such seating arrange-
ments on the cost of operations and airfare; 
and 
(E) any other information determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the study under paragraph (2) is 
completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
682 
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a publicly available report describing the results 
of the study conducted under paragraph (2), to-
gether with any recommendations the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 40102 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(2) DISABILITY; QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WITH 
A DISABILITY.—The terms ‘‘disability’’ and ‘‘quali-
fied individual with a disability’’ have the meanings 
given such terms in section 382.3 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations (as in effect on date of en-
actment of this Act). 
(3) WHEELCHAIR.—The term ‘‘wheelchair’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 37.3 of title 
49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on 
date of enactment of this Act), including power 
wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and scooters.
683 
SEC. 713. PRIORITIZING ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCESSI-
BILITY FOR AVIATION CONSUMERS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall provide 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 dis-
ability-related aviation consumer complaints filed with the 
Department of Transportation, and shall make each an-
nual report publicly available. 
(b) SCOPE OF REPORT.—In each report required 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall include, at min-
imum, a description of the following: 
(1) The number of disability-related aviation 
consumer complaints filed with the Department of 
Transportation during the calendar year preceding 
the year in which such report is submitted. 
(2) The nature of such complaints, such as re-
ported issues with— 
(A) an air carrier; 
(B) mishandling of passengers with a dis-
ability, including mishandling of a wheelchair, 
mobility aid, or other accessibility equipment of 
a passenger by an air carrier;
684 
(C) the condition or availability of accessi-
bility equipment or materials operated by an air 
carrier; 
(D) the accessibility of in-flight services, 
including accessing and utilizing onboard lava-
tories, for passengers with a disability; 
(E) difficulties experienced by passengers 
with a disability in communicating with an air 
carrier employee; 
(F) difficulties experienced by passengers 
with a disability in being moved, handled, or 
otherwise assisted; 
(G) an air carrier changing the flight 
itinerary of a passenger with a disability with-
out the consent of such passenger; 
(H) difficulties experienced by passengers 
with a disability traveling with a service animal; 
and 
(I) any other issues the Secretary of 
Transportation determines appropriate. 
(3) The review process for such complaints. 
(4) The average amount of days before the De-
partment initiated a formal review of such com-
plaints.
685 
(5) The average amount of days until such 
complaints were resolved by the Department. 
(6) The number of such complaints that re-
sulted in dismissal, a civil monetary penalty, or 
other injunctive relief. 
(7) Of the complaints that were found to violate 
section 41705 of title 49, United States Code— 
(A) the number of such complaints for 
which a formal enforcement order was issued; 
and 
(B) the number of such complaints for 
which a formal enforcement order was not 
issued. 
(8) The number of disability-related aviation 
consumer complaints filed with the Department of 
Transportation involving airport staff or other mat-
ters under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation 
Administration that were referred to the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(9) The number of disability-related aviation 
consumer complaints filed with the Department of 
Transportation involving Transportation Security 
Administration staff that were referred to the 
Transportation Security Administration or the De-
partment of Homeland Security.
686 
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary shall 
submit annually to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate the report required under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided, the terms used in this section have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 40102 of title 49, 
United States Code, or section 382.3 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable. 
(2) AIR
CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ 
means an air carrier conducting passenger oper-
ations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
(3) PASSENGER WITH A DISABILITY.—The term 
‘‘passenger with a disability’’ has the meaning given 
the term ‘‘qualified individual with a disability’’ in 
section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
SEC. 714. AIRCRAFT ACCESSIBILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall initiate a program to study and evaluate im-
687 
provements to transport category aircraft accessibility, in-
cluding— 
(1) determining whether and, if so, how per-
sonal wheelchairs, including manual and powered 
wheelchairs, can be safely secured in the passenger 
seating areas of an aircraft certificated under part 
25 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(2) considering the safe evacuation processes 
for such aircraft, including individuals who use man-
ual and powered wheelchairs; and 
(3) determining how various types or aircraft 
described in paragraph (1) can safely and efficiently 
be retrofit for accessible lavatories. 
(b) REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall provide 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 on the findings of the study 
and evaluation described in subsection (a) and rec-
ommendations to address the findings of such study and 
evaluation.
688 
SEC. 715. ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES, SOFTWARE APPLI-
CATIONS, AND KIOSKS FOR INDIVIDUALS 
WITH DISABILITIES. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in direct 
consultation with the United States Architectural and 
Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, prescribe reg-
ulations setting forth minimum standards to ensure that 
individuals with disabilities are able to access kiosks, soft-
ware applications, and websites in a manner that is equal-
ly as effective as individuals without disabilities, with a 
substantially equivalent ease of use. Such standards shall 
be consistent with the standards set forth in the Web Con-
tent Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA of the Web Ac-
cessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium 
or any subsequent version. 
SEC. 716. REVIEW OF METHODS TO REPORT FLIGHT DELAY 
AND CANCELLATION STATISTICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No later than 1 year 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 conduct a review of the 
means of reporting flight delay and cancellation statistics 
to the Secretary and the accuracy of such data. 
(b) COORDINATION REQUIREMENT.—In conducting 
the review required in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
689 
coordinate and collaborate with air carriers (as such term 
is defined in section 40102 of title 49, United States 
Code) to assist in conducting the review and providing rec-
ommendations on improving the means of reporting flight 
delay and cancellation statistics to the Secretary and the 
accuracy of such data. 
SEC. 717. REIMBURSEMENT FOR INCURRED COSTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall direct all air carriers providing scheduled pas-
senger interstate or intrastate air transportation to estab-
lish policies regarding reimbursement for lodging, trans-
portation between such lodging and the airport, and meal 
costs incurred due to a flight cancellation or significant 
delay directly attributable to the air carrier. 
(b) DEFINITION OF SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘significantly delayed’’ means, with 
respect to air transportation, the departure or arrival at 
the originally ticketed destination associated with such 
transportation has changed— 
(1) in the case of air transportation within the 
United States, by 3 or more hours; or 
(2) in the case of air transportation to or from 
a location outside the United States, by 6 or more 
hours.
690 
SEC. 718. AIRLINE OPERATIONAL RESILIENCY PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall require a covered carrier to develop and regu-
larly update an operational resiliency strategy to prevent 
or limit the impact of future flight disruptions on pas-
sengers. 
(b) OPERATIONAL RESILIENCY STRATEGY.—In each 
operational resiliency strategy developed under subsection 
(a), a covered carrier shall include a description of— 
(1) the potential impact of severe weather and 
other reasonably anticipated disruptive events on the 
operations of the carrier and how the carrier seeks 
to prevent or limit the impact of such events on pas-
sengers; 
(2) the potential impact of severe weather 
events and other reasonably anticipated disruptive 
events on— 
(A) staffing models and the preparedness 
of the current workforce of the carrier to ad-
dress such conditions; and 
(B) the current information and technology 
systems of the carrier, including crew sched-
uling systems, and the preparedness of such 
systems to continue operations after such an 
event or disruption;
691 
(3) the preparedness of the carrier to maintain 
operations and limit or prevent the impact of other 
potential disruptive events identified by the carrier; 
(4) the extent to which the carrier addresses 
known cybersecurity risks to prevent potential flight 
disruptions; and 
(5) any other issues the Secretary determines 
appropriate to protect consumers and maintain the 
operational stability of the airline industry. 
(c) PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION.—The Secretary 
shall develop a method to protect the confidentiality of any 
trade secret or proprietary information submitted in an 
operational resiliency strategy under subsection (b). 
(d) EVALUATION.— 
(1) AUDIT.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall initiate an audit to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the operational resil-
iency strategies developed under this section by cov-
ered air carriers. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after com-
pletion of the audit conducted under paragraph (1), 
the Comptroller General shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on
692 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate a report on the findings of the audit. 
(e) COVERED CARRIER.—In this section, the term 
‘‘covered carrier’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 259.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
successor regulations). 
SEC. 719. FAMILY SEATING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to estab-
lish a policy directing air carriers that assign seats, or 
allow individuals to select seats in advance of the date of 
departure of a flight, to sit each young child adjacent to 
an accompanying adult, to the greatest extent practicable, 
if adjacent seat assignments are available at any time 
after the ticket is issued for each young child and before 
the first passenger boards the flight. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON FEES.—The notice of proposed 
rulemaking described in subsection (a) shall include a pro-
vision that prohibits an air carrier from charging a fee, 
or imposing an additional cost beyond the ticket price of 
the additional seat, to seat each young child adjacent to 
an accompanying adult within the same class of service. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Notwithstanding the 
requirement in subsection (a), nothing in this section may
693 
be construed to allow the Secretary to impose a change 
in the overall seating or boarding policy of an air carrier 
that has an open or flexible seating policy in place that 
generally allows adjacent family seating as described 
under this section. 
(d) YOUNG CHILD.—In this section, the term ‘‘young 
child’’ means an individual who has not attained 14 years 
of age. 
SEC. 720. SEAT DIMENSIONS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall— 
(1) initiate a rulemaking activity based on the 
regulation described in section 577 of the FAA Re-
authorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 42301 note); 
and 
(2) if the Administrator decides not to pursue 
the rulemaking described in paragraph (1), the Ad-
ministrator shall brief the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate on the justifica-
tion of such decision.
694 
SEC. 721. IMPROVED TRAINING STANDARDS FOR ASSIST-
ING PASSENGERS WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS. 
(a) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
develop requirements for minimum training standards for 
airline personnel or contractors who assist wheelchair 
users who must board or deplane using an aisle chair or 
other boarding device. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The training standards devel-
oped under subsection (a) shall require, at a minimum, 
that airline personnel or contractors who assist passengers 
who use wheelchairs who must board or deplane using an 
aisle chair or other boarding device— 
(1) complete refresher training within 18 
months and be recertified on the job within 18 
months by a superior in order to remain qualified 
for providing aisle chair assistance; and 
(2) be able to successfully demonstrate each of 
following skills in hands-on training sessions before 
being allowed to board or deplane a passenger using 
an aisle chair or other boarding device: 
(A) How to safely use the aisle chair, or 
other boarding device, including the use of all 
straps, brakes, and other safety features.
695 
(B) How to assist in the transfer of pas-
sengers to and from their wheelchair, the aisle 
chair, and the aircraft’s passenger seat, either 
by physically lifting the passenger or deploying 
a mechanical device for the lift or transfer. 
(C) How to effectively communicate with, 
and take instruction from, the passenger. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider, at a 
minimum— 
(1) whether to require air carriers and foreign 
air carriers to partner with national disability orga-
nizations and disabled veterans organizations rep-
resenting individuals with disabilities who use wheel-
chairs and scooters in developing and reviewing 
training; and 
(2) whether individuals able to provide boarding 
and deplaning assistance for passengers with limited 
or no mobility should receive training incorporating 
procedures from medical professionals on how to 
properly lift these passengers. 
(d) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under 
this section.
696 
(e) PENALTIES.—The Secretary may assess a civil 
penalty in accordance with section 46301 of title 49, 
United States Code, to any air carrier or foreign air car-
rier who fails to meet the requirements established under 
the final rule under subsection (d). 
SEC. 722. TRAINING STANDARDS FOR STOWAGE OF WHEEL-
CHAIRS AND SCOOTERS. 
(a) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
develop minimum training standards related to stowage of 
wheelchairs and scooters used by passengers with disabil-
ities on aircraft. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The training standards devel-
oped under subsection (a) shall require, at a minimum, 
that personnel and contractors of air carriers and foreign 
air carriers who stow wheelchairs and scooters on air-
craft— 
(1) complete refresher training within 18 
months and be recertified on the job within 18 
months by a superior in order to remain qualified 
for handling and stowing wheelchairs and scooters; 
and 
(2) be able to successfully demonstrate the each 
of following skills in hands-on training sessions be-
697 
fore being allowed to handle or stow a wheelchair or 
scooter: 
(A) How to properly handle and configure, 
at a minimum on a common design for power 
and manual wheelchairs and scooters for stow-
age on each aircraft type operated by the air 
carrier or foreign air carrier. 
(B) How to properly review any wheelchair 
or scooter information provided by the pas-
senger or the wheelchair or scooter manufac-
turer. 
(C) How to properly load, secure, and un-
load wheelchairs and scooters, including how to 
use any specialized equipment for loading or 
unloading, on each aircraft type operated by the 
air carrier or foreign air carrier. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the rulemaking 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider, at a 
minimum whether to require air carriers and foreign air 
carriers to partner with wheelchair or scooter manufactur-
ers, national disability and disabled veterans organizations 
representing individuals who use wheelchairs and scooters, 
and aircraft manufacturers, in developing training. 
(d) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue
698 
a final rule pursuant to the rulemaking conducted under 
this section. 
(e) PENALTIES.—The Secretary may assess a civil 
penalty in accordance with section 46301 of title 49, 
United States Code, to any air carrier or foreign air car-
rier who fails to meet the requirements established under 
the final rule under subsection (d). 
SEC. 723. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS. 
Section 41705(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking paragraph (1), and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) not later than 120 days after the re-
ceipt of any complaint of a violation of this sec-
tion or a regulation prescribed under this sec-
tion, investigate such complaint; and 
‘‘(B) provide, in writing, to the individual 
that filed the complaint and the air carrier or 
foreign air carrier alleged to have violated this 
section or a regulation prescribed under this 
section, the determination of the Secretary with 
respect to— 
‘‘(i) whether the air carrier or foreign 
air carrier violated this section or a regula-
tion prescribed under this section;
699 
‘‘(ii) the facts underlying the com-
plaint; and 
‘‘(iii) any action the Secretary is tak-
ing in response to the complaint.’’. 
SEC. 724. STANDARDS. 
(a) AIRCRAFT ACCESS STANDARDS.— 
(1) STANDARDS.— 
(A) ADVANCE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE-
MAKING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall issue an advanced notice 
of proposed rulemaking regarding standards to 
ensure that the aircraft boarding and deplaning 
process is accessible, in terms of design for, 
transportation of, and communication with, in-
dividuals with disabilities, including individuals 
who use wheelchairs. 
(B) 
NOTICE
OF
PROPOSED
RULE-
MAKING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the advanced notice of proposed rule-
making under subparagraph (A) is completed, 
the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed 
rulemaking regarding standards addressed in 
subparagraph (A).
700 
(C) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the notice of proposed 
rulemaking under subparagraph (B) is com-
pleted, the Secretary shall issue a final rule. 
(2) COVERED AIRPORT, EQUIPMENT, AND FEA-
TURES.—The standards prescribed under paragraph 
(1)(A) shall address, at a minimum— 
(A) boarding and deplaning equipment; 
(B) improved procedures to ensure the pri-
ority cabin stowage for manual assistive devices 
pursuant to section 382.67 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations; and 
(C) improved cargo hold storage to prevent 
damage to assistive devices. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—For purposes of the rule-
making under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
consult with the Access Board and any other rel-
evant department or agency to determine appro-
priate accessibility standards. 
(b) IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT RULEMAKING.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in accordance with the November 22, 2016, 
resolution of the Department of Transportation ACCESS 
Committee and the consensus recommendation set forth
701 
in the Term Sheet Reflecting Agreement of the Access 
Committee Regarding In-Flight Entertainment. 
(c) NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING ON IN-CABIN WHEEL-
CHAIR
RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS
AND
ENPLANING
AND 
DEPLANING STANDARDS.— 
(1) TIMING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after completion of the report required by sec-
tion 712(d)(3), and if such report finds eco-
nomic and financial feasibility of air carriers 
and foreign air carriers implementing seating 
arrangements that accommodate individuals 
with disabilities using wheelchairs (including 
power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and 
scooters) in the main cabin during flight, the 
Secretary shall conduct a negotiated rulemaking 
on new type certificated aircraft standards for 
seating arrangements that accommodate such 
individuals in the main cabin during flight or 
an accessible route to a minimum of 2 aircraft 
passenger seats for passengers to access from 
personal assistive devices of such individuals. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—The negotiated rule-
making under subparagraph (A) shall include 
participation of representatives of—
702 
(i) air carriers; 
(ii) aircraft manufacturers; 
(iii) national disability organizations; 
(iv) aviation safety experts; and 
(v) mobility aid manufacturers. 
(2) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING.—Not 
later than 1 year after the completion of the nego-
tiated rulemaking required under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rule-
making regarding the standards described in para-
graph (1). 
(3) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the notice of proposed rulemaking 
under paragraph (2) is completed, the Secretary 
shall issue a final rule regarding the standards de-
scribed in paragraph (1). 
(4) CONSIDERATIONS.—In the negotiated rule-
making and rulemaking required under this sub-
section, the Secretary shall consider— 
(A) a reasonable period for the design, cer-
tification, and construction of aircraft that meet 
the requirements; 
(B) the safety of all persons on-board the 
aircraft, including necessary wheelchair stand-
ards and wheelchair compliance with Federal
703 
Aviation Administration crashworthiness and 
safety performance criteria; and 
(C) the costs of design, installation, equi-
page, and aircraft capacity impacts, including 
partial fleet equipage and fare impacts. 
(d) VISUAL
AND
TACTILELY
ACCESSIBLE
AN-
NOUNCEMENTS.—The Advisory Committee established 
under section 439(g) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 41705 note) shall examine technical solu-
tions and the feasibility of visually and tactilely accessible 
announcements on-board aircraft. 
(e) AIRPORT FACILITIES.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall, in direct consultation with the Access Board, pre-
scribe regulations setting forth minimum standards under 
section 41705 of title 49, United States Code, that ensure 
all gates (including counters), ticketing areas, and cus-
tomer service desks covered under such section at airports 
are accessible to and usable by all individuals with disabil-
ities, including through the provision of visually and 
tactilely accessible announcements and full and equal ac-
cess to aural communications. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
704 
(1) ACCESS BOARD.—The term ‘‘Access board’’ 
means the Architectural and Transportation Bar-
riers Compliance Board. 
(2) AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 40102 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(3) INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY.—The term 
‘‘individual with a disability’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(4) FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘foreign 
air carrier’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 40102 of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 725. SEATING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR QUALIFIED IN-
DIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) ADVANCED
NOTICE
OF
PROPOSED
RULE-
MAKING.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Trans-
portation shall issue an advanced notice of proposed 
rulemaking regarding seating accommodations for 
any qualified individual with a disability. 
(2) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING.—Not 
later than 2 years after the date on which the ad-
vanced notice of proposed rulemaking under para-
705 
graph (1) is completed, the Secretary shall issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking regarding seating ac-
commodations for any qualified individual with a 
disability. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the advanced 
notice of proposed rulemaking required in subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary shall consider the following: 
(1) The scope and anticipated number of quali-
fied individuals with a disability who— 
(A) may need to be seated with a com-
panion to receive assistance during a flight; or 
(B) should be afforded bulkhead seats or 
other seating considerations. 
(2) The types of disabilities that may need seat-
ing accommodations. 
(3) Whether such qualified individuals with a 
disability are unable to obtain, or have difficulty ob-
taining, such a seat. 
(4) The scope and anticipated number of indi-
viduals assisting a qualified individual with a dis-
ability who should be afforded an adjoining seat pur-
suant to section 382.81 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations.
706 
(5) Any notification given to qualified individ-
uals with a disability regarding available seating ac-
commodations. 
(6) Any method that is adequate to identify 
fraudulent claims for seating accommodations. 
(7) Any other information determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
(c) ACCREDITED SERVICE ANIMAL TRAINING PRO-
GRAMS AND AUTHORIZED REGISTRARS.—Not later than 
6 months after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary shall publish on the website of the Department 
of Transportation and maintain a list of— 
(1) accredited programs that train service ani-
mals; and 
(2) authorized registrars that evaluate service 
animals. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON SERVICE ANIMAL RE-
QUESTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary 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 on requests for air travel with serv-
ice animals, including—
707 
(1) during the reporting period, how many re-
quests to board an aircraft with a service animal 
were made; and 
(2) the number and percentage of such re-
quests, categorized by type of request, that were re-
ported by air carriers or foreign air carriers as— 
(A) granted; 
(B) denied; or 
(C) fraudulent. 
(e) TRAINING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall, in consultation with the Air Carrier Ac-
cess Act Advisory Committee, issue guidance regard-
ing improvements to training for airline personnel 
(including contractors) in recognizing when a quali-
fied individual with a disability is traveling with a 
service animal. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The guidance issued 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) take into account respectful engage-
ment with and assistance for individuals with a 
wide range of visible and non-visible disabilities; 
(B) provide information on—
708 
(i) service animal behavior and wheth-
er the service animal is appropriately har-
nessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered; and 
(ii) the various types of service ani-
mals, such as guide dogs, hearing or signal 
dogs, psychiatric service dogs, sensory or 
social signal dogs, and seizure response 
dogs; and 
(C) outline the rights and responsibilities 
of the handler of the service animal. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 40102 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(2) FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘foreign 
air carrier’’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 40102 of title 49, United States Code. 
(3) QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUAL
WITH
A
DIS-
ABILITY.—The term ‘‘qualified individual with a dis-
ability’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(4) SERVICE ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘service ani-
mal’’ has the meaning given that term in section 
382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
709 
SEC. 726. PROVISION OF DRINKING WATER TO PAS-
SENGERS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall issue such regulations as are necessary to re-
quire air carriers and foreign air carriers to provide com-
plementary drinking water to passengers on all domestic 
and international flights with a scheduled duration of 1 
hour or more. 
SEC. 727. GAO REPORT ON MASS FLIGHT CANCELLATION 
EVENT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a report on the actions 
of the Department of Transportation during the period be-
ginning 2 weeks before July 4th, 2023, and ending two 
weeks after July 4th, 2023, that resulted in substantial 
flight calculations during such period. 
(b) EXAMINATION.—In developing the report under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller general shall examine— 
(1) all actions the Secretary of Transportation 
and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration took to mitigate flight disruptions and 
flight cancellations during such period; and
710 
(2) any actions not taken by the Secretary or 
the Administrator that may have mitigated flight 
disruptions and cancellations during such period. 
Subtitle B—Air Traffic 
SEC. 741. TRANSFERS OF AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEMS ACQUIRED 
WITH AIP. 
Section 44502(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘in a non-
contiguous State’’ after ‘‘An airport’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (C) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) a Medium Intensity Approach Light-
ing System with Runway Alignment Indicator 
Lights.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
requirement 
under 
paragraph (1) that an eligible air traffic system or 
equipment be purchased in part using a Government 
airport aid program, airport development aid pro-
gram, or airport improvement project grant shall not
711 
apply if the system or equipment is installed at an 
airport that is categorized as a basic or local general 
aviation airport under the most recently published 
national plan of integrated airport systems under 
section 47103.’’. 
SEC. 742. NEXTGEN PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter 
as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion determines appropriate, the Administrator shall con-
vene Administration officials to evaluate and expedite the 
implementation of NextGen programs and capabilities. 
(b) NEXTGEN PROGRAM PRIORITIZATION.—In allo-
cating amounts appropriated pursuant to section 48101(a) 
of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall give priority to the following activities: 
(1) Performance-based navigation. 
(2) Data communications. 
(3) Terminal flight data manager. 
(4) Aeronautical information management. 
(c) PERFORMANCE-BASED NAVIGATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall fully implement performance-based navigation 
procedures for all terminal and enroute routes, in-
712 
cluding approach and departure procedures for cov-
ered airports. 
(2) SPECIFIC PROCEDURES.—Pursuant to para-
graph (1), the Administrator shall prioritize the fol-
lowing performance-based navigation procedures: 
(A) Trajectory-based operations. 
(B) Optimized profile descents. 
(C) Multiple airport route separation. 
(D) Established on required navigation 
performance. 
(E) Converging runway display aids. 
(3) PERFORMANCE-BASED
NAVIGATION
BASE-
LINE EQUIPAGE REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall issue such 
regulations as may be required, and publish applica-
ble advisory circulars, to establish the equipage base-
line appropriate for aircraft to safely use perform-
ance-based navigation procedures. 
(d) DATA COMMUNICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall fully implement the use of data communica-
tions. 
(2) SPECIFIC CAPABILITIES.—In carrying out 
subsection (a) and this subsection, the Administrator
713 
shall prioritize the following data communications 
capabilities: 
(A) Ground-to-ground message exchange 
for surface aircraft operations and runway safe-
ty at airports. 
(B) Automated message generation and re-
ceipt. 
(C) Message routing and transmission. 
(D) Direct communications with aircraft 
avionics. 
(E) Implementation of data communica-
tions at all Air Route Traffic Control Centers. 
(F) The Future Air Navigation System. 
(e) TERMINAL FLIGHT DATA MANAGER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall replace the traffic flow management system 
with the flow data management system at covered 
airports. 
(2) ELECTRONIC FLIGHT STRIPS.—In carrying 
out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall imple-
ment electronic flight strips, at a minimum, at the 
air traffic control towers of covered airports and all 
terminal radar approach control and air route traffic 
control centers.
714 
(f) AERONAUTICAL
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall fully modernize the aeronautical information 
management systems of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration to improve the functionality, useability, 
durability, and reliability of such systems used in the 
national airspace system. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Administrator shall— 
(A) improve the distribution of critical 
safety information to pilots, air traffic control, 
and other relevant aviation stakeholders; 
(B) fully develop and implement the Enter-
prise Information Display System; and 
(C) notwithstanding a centralized aero-
nautical information management system, re-
structure the back-up systems of aeronautical 
information management systems to be inde-
pendent and self-sufficient from one another. 
(g) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO MEET DEADLINE.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION OF CONGRESS.—If the Ad-
ministrator determines that the Administration has 
not or will not meet a deadline established under
716 
deadline will not or was not met until such time as 
the Administrator has completed the required work 
under such subsection. 
(h) NEXTGEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSULTA-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall con-
sult and task the NextGen Advisory Committee with 
providing recommendations on ways to expedite, 
prioritize, and fully implement NextGen programs to 
realize the operational benefits of such programs. 
(2) 
CONSIDERATIONS.—In 
providing 
rec-
ommendations under paragraph (1), the NextGen 
Advisory Committee shall consider— 
(A) air traffic throughput of the national 
airspace system; 
(B) daily operational performance, includ-
ing delays and cancellations; and 
(C) the potential need for performance- 
based operational metrics related to NextGen 
programs. 
(i) SUNSET OF NEXTGEN BRAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall terminate the use of the term ‘‘Next Genera-
tion Air Transportation System’’ or ‘‘NextGen’’ to
717 
describe any air traffic control modernization pro-
gram of the Administration. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to— 
(A) terminate any program of the Admin-
istration, including a program that has pre-
viously been represented as being a component 
of the Next Generation Air Transportation Sys-
tem or NextGen in budgetary submission or 
document of the Administration; or 
(B) prohibit the Administrator from main-
taining materials that relate to or reference 
programs that have previously been represented 
as being a component of the Next Generation 
Air Transportation System or NextGen. 
(j) COVERED AIRPORTS DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered airports’’ means the 40 airports in the 
United States with the highest number of annual aircraft 
operations, as of the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 743. AIRSPACE ACCESS. 
(a) COALESCING AIRSPACE.— 
(1) REVIEW OF NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM.— 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, in coordination with the Sec-
718 
retary of Defense, shall conduct a comprehensive re-
view of the airspace of the national airspace system, 
including special use airspace. 
(2) STREAMLINING AND EXPEDITING ACCESS.— 
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall identify methods to streamline, expedite, and 
provide greater flexibility of access to certain cat-
egories of airspace for users of the national airspace 
system who may not regularly have access to such 
airspace. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 3 months 
after the completion of review the under subsection 
(a), 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 Sen-
ate a report describing the findings of such review 
and any recommendations and proposed actions to 
improve access to airspace of the national airspace 
system for the users of such system. 
(2) CONTENTS.—In the report submitted under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall include, at a 
minimum, the following:
719 
(A) An identification of current challenges 
and barriers faced by airspace users in access-
ing certain categories of airspace, including spe-
cial use airspace. 
(B) An evaluation of existing procedures, 
regulations, and requirements that may impede 
or delay access to certain categories of airspace 
for certain users of the national airspace sys-
tem. 
(C) Recommendations for streamlining and 
expediting the airspace access process, including 
potential regulatory changes, technological ad-
vancements, and enhanced coordination among 
relevant stakeholders and Federal agencies. 
(D) A proposal for implementing a flexible 
framework that allows for temporary access to 
certain categories of airspace, including special 
use airspace, by users of the national airspace 
system who do not have regular access to such 
airspace. 
(E) An assessment of the impact airspace 
access improvements may have on safety, effi-
ciency, and economic opportunities for airspace 
users, including— 
(i) military operators;
720 
(ii) commercial operators; and 
(iii) general aviation operators. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION AND FOLLOW-UP.— 
(A) ACTION PLAN.—Based on the findings, 
recommendations, and proposals submitted in 
the report under this subsection, the Adminis-
trator shall develop an action plan for imple-
menting any recommendations and proposals 
necessary to improve airspace access. 
(B) 
COORDINATION
AND
COLLABORA-
TION.—In developing the action plan under 
subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall co-
ordinate with relevant stakeholders, including 
airspace users and the Secretary of Defense, to 
ensure— 
(i) effective implementation of the ac-
tion plan; and 
(ii) ongoing collaboration in address-
ing airspace access challenges. 
(C) PROGRESS
REPORTS.—The Adminis-
trator shall provide to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate periodic progress reports in the form of
721 
briefings on the implementation of the action 
plan developed under this paragraph, including 
updates on the adoption of streamlined proce-
dures, technological enhancements, and any 
regulatory changes necessary to improve air-
space access and flexibility. 
SEC. 744. AIRSPACE TRANSITION COMPLETION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall ensure that respon-
sibility for the Newark, New Jersey radar sector is moved 
to the Philadelphia terminal radar approach control facil-
ity. 
(b) STAFFING.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator may not— 
(1) require the temporary or permanent move-
ment of any personnel from the New York terminal 
radar approach control facility to the Philadelphia 
terminal radar approach control facility, but may so-
licit such personnel to volunteer to temporarily or 
permanently facilitate the move required under sub-
section (a); or 
(2) reduce the target staffing level of the New 
York terminal radar approach control facility.
722 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and every 
60 days thereafter, the Administrator and the head of the 
collective bargaining unit representing air traffic control-
lers shall brief the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate on the status of the move required under sub-
section (a) until such time as the Newark, New Jersey 
radar sector is under the full responsibility of the Philadel-
phia terminal radar approach control facility. 
SEC. 745. FAA CONTRACT TOWERS. 
(a) OPERATIONAL READINESS INSPECTIONS.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall update applicable regulations, standards, and 
guidance on operational readiness inspections related to 
the Federal Aviation Administration Contract Tower pro-
gram to provide airport sponsors acting in good faith with 
7 years to complete such inspections after receiving a ben-
efit-to-cost ratio of air traffic control services for an air-
port. 
(b) FCT CONTROLLER AIRSPACE AWARENESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator
723 
shall authorize the use of advanced technology at 
Federal Aviation Administration contract towers to 
enhance air traffic controller situational awareness. 
(2) EQUIPMENT STANDARDS.—In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall establish 
standards and criteria identical to such standards 
and criteria applicable to Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration air traffic controllers for the use of advanced 
technology in air traffic control towers. 
(3) RECURRENCY TRAINING.—In carrying out 
this subsection, the Administrator, in coordination 
with Federal Aviation Administration contract tower 
contractors, shall establish an appropriate training 
program to periodically train air traffic controllers 
employed by such contractors to ensure proper inte-
gration and use of advanced technologies at Federal 
Aviation Administration contract towers. 
(c) LIABILITY INSURANCE.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with industry experts in-
cluding Federal Aviation Administration contract tower 
contractors and aviation insurance providers, shall— 
(1) assess existing liability limits for contract 
tower contractors established by the Secretary; and
724 
(2) determine whether such limits should be up-
dated. 
SEC. 746. FAA CONTRACT TOWER WORKFORCE AUDIT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
Department of Transportation shall initiate an audit of 
the workforce needs of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion Contract Tower Program. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the audit required 
under subsection (a), the inspector general shall, at a min-
imum— 
(1) review the assumptions and methodologies 
used in assessing the source of Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration contract towers staffing to determine 
the adequacy of staffing levels at such towers; 
(2) determine whether there is a need to estab-
lish an air traffic controller training program to 
allow Federal Aviation Administration contract 
tower contractors to conduct— 
(A) initial training of air traffic controllers 
employed by such contractors; or 
(B) on-the-job training of such controllers; 
(3) assess whether establishing pathways to 
allow Federal Aviation Administration contract 
tower contractors to use the air traffic technical
725 
training academy of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration, or other means such as higher educational 
institutions, to provide initial technical training for 
air traffic controllers employed by such contractors 
could help address the workforce needs of the FAA 
contract tower program; and 
(4) consult with the exclusive bargaining rep-
resentative of the air traffic controllers certified 
under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the com-
pletion of the audit under subsection (a), the inspector 
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 a report on the findings of such audit and 
any recommendations as a result of such audit. 
SEC. 747. AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall develop perform-
ance metrics with which the Administrator can assess the 
operation of safety-critical communication, navigation, 
and surveillance aviation infrastructure within the na-
tional airspace system.
726 
(b) PERFORMANCE METRICS NECESSARY TO REMAIN 
IN SERVICE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—After developing the per-
formance metrics under subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator shall carry out an assessment to determine 
which applicable aviation infrastructure are to re-
main in operational service. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In making an assess-
ment under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall 
take into consideration the following: 
(A) The expected lifespan of such aviation 
infrastructure. 
(B) The number and type of mechanical 
failures of such aviation infrastructure. 
(C) The average annual costs of maintain-
ing such aviation infrastructure over a 5-year 
timespan and whether such costs exceed the 
amount to replace such aviation infrastructure. 
(D) The availability of replacement parts 
or labor capable of maintaining such aviation 
infrastructure. 
(E) Any other factors the Administrator 
determines are necessary. 
(c) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make 
the performance metrics established under subsection (b)
727 
available to the public through the website of the Adminis-
tration, or other appropriate methods of publication, and 
shall ensure that any information made available to the 
public under this subsection is made available in a manner 
that— 
(1) does not provide identifying information re-
garding an individual or entity; 
(2) prevents inappropriate disclosure of propri-
etary information; and 
(3) does not disclose information that may pose 
a cybersecurity risk. 
SEC. 748. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER SAFETY. 
In designing, adopting a design, or constructing an 
air traffic control tower based on a previously adopted de-
sign, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall ensure that the safety of the national airspace 
system, the safety of employees of the Administration, the 
operational reliability of air traffic control towers, and the 
costs of such towers are the primary consideration in such 
design, adoption, or construction. 
SEC. 749. AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES DATA REPORTS. 
Section 45303(g)(2)(A) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘8 years’’ and inserting ‘‘14 
years’’.
728 
SEC. 750. CONSIDERATION OF SMALL HUB CONTROL TOW-
ERS. 
In selecting projects for the replacement of federally 
owned air traffic control towers from funds made available 
pursuant to title VIII of division J of the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58) under the 
heading ‘‘Federal Aviation Administration—Facilities and 
Equipment’’, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall consider selecting projects at small 
hub commercial service airports with control towers that 
are at least 50 years old. 
SEC. 751. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER REPLACEMENT 
PROCESS REPORT. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall submit to 
Congress a report on the process by which air traffic con-
trol tower facilities are chosen for replacement. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required under sub-
section (a) shall contain— 
(1) the process by which air traffic control 
tower facilities are chosen for replacement, including 
which divisions of the Administration control or are 
involved in the replacement decision making process;
729 
(2) the criteria the Administrator uses to deter-
mine which air traffic control tower facilities to re-
place, including— 
(A) the relative importance of each such 
criteria; 
(B) why the Administrator uses each such 
criteria; and 
(C) the reasons for the relative importance 
of each such criteria; 
(3) what types of investigation the Adminis-
trator carries out to determine if an air traffic con-
trol tower facility should be replaced; 
(4) a timeline of the replacement process for an 
individual air traffic control tower facility replace-
ment; 
(5) the list of facilities established under sub-
section (c), including the reason for selecting each 
such facility; and 
(6) any other information the Administrator 
considers relevant. 
(c) LIST
OF REPLACED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 
TOWER FACILITIES.—The Administrator shall establish, 
maintain, and publish on the website of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration a list of the following:
730 
(1) All air traffic control tower facilities re-
placed within the previous 10-year period. 
(2) Any such facilities in the process of being 
replaced. 
SEC. 752. FAA CONTRACT TOWER PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a pilot 
program to convert up to 3 high-activity contract towers 
under the Federal Aviation Administration Contract 
Tower Program under section 47124 of title 49, United 
States Code, to visual flight rule towers staffed by the Ad-
ministration. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In selecting facilities to participate in 
the pilot program under subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall give priority to towers that— 
(1) had over 200,000 in annual tower oper-
ations in calendar year 2022 or a small hub airport 
with more than 900,000 passenger enplanements in 
calendar year 2021; 
(2) have controls towers that are either owned 
by the Administration or are constructed to Admin-
istration standards; and
731 
(3) operate within a complex air space, includ-
ing space used by air carriers, for general aviation, 
and by military aircraft. 
(c) CONTROLLER RETENTION.—The Administrator 
shall appoint to the position of air traffic controller all 
air traffic controllers employed as a Federal contract 
tower operator and assigned to the air traffic control tower 
pilot program as of the date of enactment of this Act so 
long as such operator— 
(1) meets the qualifications contained in section 
44506(f)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code; and 
(2) has all other pre-employment qualifications 
required by law. 
SEC. 753. AGREEMENTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL OPER-
ATION OF AIRPORT FACILITIES. 
Section 47124(b)(3)(C) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(viii) Air traffic control towers at 
airports with safety or operational prob-
lems related to the lack of an existing 
tower. 
‘‘(ix) Air traffic control towers at air-
ports with projected commercial and mili-
tary increases in aircraft or flight oper-
ations.
732 
‘‘(x) Air traffic control towers at air-
ports with a variety of aircraft operations, 
including a variety of commercial and mili-
tary flight operations’’. 
Subtitle C—Small Community Air 
Service 
SEC. 771. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE REFORMS. 
(a) 
REDUCTION
IN
SUBSIDY
CAP.—Section 
41731(a)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) had an average subsidy per pas-
senger— 
‘‘(i) of less than $1,000 during the 
most recent fiscal year beginning before 
October 1, 2026, as determined in sub-
paragraph (D) by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(ii) of $500 or less during the most 
recent fiscal year beginning on or after Oc-
tober 1, 2026; and’’. 
(b) RESTRICTION ON LENGTH OF ROUTES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 41732(a)(1) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
‘‘less than 650 miles from an eligible place (unless 
such airport or eligible place are located in a non- 
contiguous State)’’ after ‘‘hub airport’’.
733 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The amendment made by 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to an eligible place 
that is served by an air carrier selected to receive es-
sential air service compensation under subchapter II 
of chapter 417 of title 49, if— 
(A) such service is in effect upon the date 
of enactment of this Act; and 
(B) such service is provided by the same 
air carrier that provided service on the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(3) SUNSET.—Paragraph (2) shall cease to 
have effect after September 30, 2028. 
(c) APPLICANT SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS.—Sec-
tion 41733(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘giving substantial weight to’’ 
and inserting ‘‘including’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(3) in subparagraph (F) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) the total compensation proposed by the air 
carrier for providing scheduled air service under this 
section.’’.
734 
(d) COST SHARE.— 
(1) SECTION
41737.—Section 41737(a)(1) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (E) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(F) require that, for a contract to provide air 
service that is entered into or renewed under this 
subchapter after September 30, 2026, the Govern-
ment’s share of the compensation is 95 percent.’’. 
(2) SECTION 41731.—Section 41731 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c) by inserting ‘‘and sec-
tion 41737(a)(1)(F)’’ after ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’; 
and 
(B) in subsection (d) by inserting ‘‘and 
section 
41737(a)(1)(F)’’ 
after 
‘‘Subsection 
(a)(1)(B)’’. 
(e) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that route structures to rural airports serve a critical 
function to our Nation by connecting many of our military 
installations to major regional airline hubs.
735 
SEC. 772. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AUTHORIZATION. 
Section 41742(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘$155,000,000 for fiscal year 
2018’’ an all that follows through ‘‘$172,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘$332,000,000 for fiscal year 
2024, $312,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, $300,000,000 
for fiscal year 2026, $265,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, 
and $252,000,000 for fiscal year 2028’’. 
SEC. 773. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM REFORM AND AUTHORIZATION. 
(a) SAME PROJECTS LIMIT.—Section 41743(c)(4)(B) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘10-year’’ and inserting ‘‘6-year’’. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—Section 41743(c)(5) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) 
by 
redesignating 
subparagraphs 
(B) 
through (G) as subparagraphs (C) through (H), re-
spectively; and 
(2) by adding after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing— 
‘‘(B) the community has demonstrated 
support from at least 1 air carrier to provide 
service;’’. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—Section 41743(e)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2028’’.
736 
SEC. 774. GAO STUDY ON INCREASED COSTS OF ESSENTIAL 
AIR SERVICE. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study of the change in costs of the 
essential air service program under sections 41731 
through 41742 of title 49, United States Code. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall— 
(1) assess trends in costs of the essential air 
service program under sections 41731 through 
41742 of title 49, United States Code, over the 10- 
year period ending on the date of enactment of this 
Act; 
(2) review potential causes for the increased 
cost of the essential air service program, including— 
(A) labor costs; 
(B) fuel costs; 
(C) aging aircraft costs; 
(D) air carrier opportunity costs; and 
(E) airport costs; and 
(3) assess the effects of the COVID–19 pan-
demic on the costs of the essential air service pro-
gram under sections 41731 through 41742 of title 
49, United States Code. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
737 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report on the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 775. RESPONSE TIME FOR APPLICATIONS TO PROVIDE 
ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall take such ac-
tions as are necessary to respond with an approval or de-
nial of any application filed by an applicant to provide es-
sential air service under subchapter II of chapter 417 of 
title 49, United States Code, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable no later than 6 months after receiving such appli-
cation. 
SEC. 776. GAO STUDY ON CERTAIN AIRPORT DELAYS. 
The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on flight delays in the States of New 
York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and the possible 
causes of such delays. 
SEC. 777. REPORT ON RESTORATION OF SMALL COMMU-
NITY AIR SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Depart-
ment of Transportation shall enter into the appropriate 
arrangements with the National Academies to conduct a
738 
study on the loss of commercial air service in small com-
munities in the United States and options to restore such 
service. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), that National Academies shall— 
(1) assess the reduction of scheduled commer-
cial air service to small communities over a 5-year 
period ending on the date of enactment of this Act, 
to include small communities that have lost all 
scheduled commercial air service; 
(2) review economic trends that have resulted in 
reduction or loss of scheduled commercial air service 
to such communities; 
(3) review the economic losses of such commu-
nities who have suffered a reduction or loss of sched-
uled commercial air service; 
(4) identify the causes that prompted air car-
riers to reduce or eliminate scheduled commercial air 
service to such communities; 
(5) assess the impact of changing aircraft eco-
nomics; and 
(6) identify recommendations that can be imple-
mented by such communities or Federal, State, or 
local agencies to aid in the restoration or replace-
ment of scheduled commercial air service.
739 
(c) CASE STUDIES.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the National Academies shall 
assess not fewer than 7 communities that have lost com-
mercial air service or have had commercial air service sig-
nificantly reduced in the past 15 years, including— 
(1) Williamsport Regional Airport; 
(2) Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport; 
and 
(3) Chautauqua County Jamestown Airport. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the National Academies shall 
submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 
of the Senate a report containing— 
(1) the results of the study described in sub-
section (a); and 
(2) recommendations to Congress and commu-
nities on action that can be taken to improve or re-
store scheduled commercial service to small commu-
nities. 
TITLE VIII—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 801. DIGITALIZATION OF FAA PROCESSES. 
(a) IDENTIFICATION.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of
740 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall identify and 
catalog programs, activities, or processes that require 
paper-based information exchange between— 
(1) external entities and the Administration; or 
(2) offices within the Administration. 
(b) DIGITALIZATION.—On an ongoing basis, and as 
appropriate, the Administrator shall transition the paper- 
based processes identified under subsection (a) to proc-
esses that support secure digital information submission, 
exchange, collaboration, and approval. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after com-
pleting the required identification and catalog in sub-
section (a), the Administrator 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 pro-
grams, activities, and processes identified under sub-
section (a) and such programs, activities, and processes 
that have been identified for transition under subsection 
(b). 
SEC. 802. FAA TELEWORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration— 
(1) may establish telework policies for employ-
ees that allow for the Administration to reduce the
741 
office footprint and associated expenses of the Ad-
ministration, increase workforce retention, and pro-
vide flexibilities that the Administrator believes in-
creases efficiency and effectiveness of the Adminis-
tration, while requiring that any such policy— 
(A) does not adversely impact the mission 
of the Administration; 
(B) does not reduce the safety and effi-
ciency of the national airspace system; 
(C) for any employee that is designated as 
an officer or executive in the Federal Aviation 
Administration Executive System or a political 
appointee (as such term is defined in section 
106 of title 49, United States Code)— 
(i) maximizes time at a duty station 
for such employee, excluding official travel; 
and 
(ii) may include telework provisions as 
determined appropriate by the Adminis-
trator, commensurate with official duties 
for such employee; 
(D) provides for on-the-job training oppor-
tunities for Administration personnel that are 
not less than such opportunities available in 
2019;
742 
(E) reflects the appropriate work status of 
employees based on the job functions of such 
employee; 
(F) optimizes the work status of inspec-
tors, investigators, and other personnel per-
forming safety-related functions to ensure time-
ly completion of safety oversight activities; 
(G) provides for personnel, including such 
personnel performing work related to aircraft 
certification and flight standards, who are re-
sponsible for actively working with regulated 
entities, external stakeholders, or other mem-
bers of the public to be— 
(i) routinely available on a predictable 
basis for in-person and virtual communica-
tions with external persons; and 
(ii) not hindered from meeting with, 
visiting, auditing, or inspecting facilities or 
projects of regulated persons due to any 
telework policy; and 
(H) provides offices of the Administration 
opportunities for in-person dialogue, collabora-
tion, and ideation for all employees;
743 
(2) ensures that locality pay for an employee of 
the Administrator accurately reflects the telework 
status and duty station of such employee; 
(3) may not establish a telework policy for an 
employee of the Administration unless such em-
ployee will be provided with secure network capacity, 
communications tools, necessary and secure access 
to appropriate agency data assets and Federal 
records, and equipment sufficient to enable such em-
ployee to be fully productive; and 
(4) not later than 2 years after the date of en-
actment of this Act, shall evaluate and address any 
telework policies in effect on the day before such 
date of enactment to ensure that such policies meet 
the requirements of paragraph (1). 
(b) CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 1 year 
thereafter, the Administrator shall brief the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate on any telework policies 
currently in place, the implementation of such policies, 
and the benefits of such policies. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—If the Administrator deter-
mines that telework agreements must be updated to imple-
745 
(1) delineate the domestic office footprint into 
units of property, as determined appropriate by the 
Secretary; 
(2) determine unit adequacy related to— 
(A) the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and the corresponding 
accessibility guidelines established under part 
1191 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations; 
and 
(B) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); 
(3) determine the feasible occupancy of each 
such unit, and provide the methodology used to 
make the determination; 
(4) determine the number of individuals who 
are full-time equivalent employees, other employees, 
or contractors that have each such unit as a duty 
station and determine how telework policies will im-
pact the usage of each such unit; 
(5) calculate the amount of available, unused, 
or underutilized space in each such unit; 
(6) consider any lease terms for leased units 
contained in the domestic office footprint, including 
cost and effective dates for each such leased unit; 
and
746 
(7) based on the findings in paragraphs (2) 
through (6), and any other metrics the Secretary de-
termines relevant, provide recommendations for opti-
mizing the use of units of property across the De-
partment in consultation with appropriate employee 
labor representatives. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 months after com-
pleting the review under subsection (a), the Secretary 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 final report that proposes opportunities to opti-
mize the domestic office footprint of the Administration 
(and associated costs). In compiling such final report, the 
Secretary shall describe opportunities for— 
(1) consolidation of offices within a reasonable 
distance from one another; 
(2) the collocation of regional or satellite offices 
of separate modes of the Department, including the 
cost benefits of shared amenities; and 
(3) the use of coworking spaces instead of per-
manent offices. 
(d) DEFINITION
OF
DOMESTIC
OFFICE
FOOT-
PRINT.—In this section, the term ‘‘domestic office foot-
print’’ means buildings, offices, facilities, and other real
747 
property rented, owned, or occupied by the Administration 
or Department— 
(1) in which employees report for permanent or 
temporary duty that are not being used for active 
operations of the air traffic control system; and 
(2) which are located within the United States. 
SEC. 804. AIRCRAFT WEIGHT REDUCTION TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a task 
force to identify ways to safely reduce covered aircraft 
weight for purposes of reducing fuel burn. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The task force established under 
subsection (a) shall consist of not more than 20 individ-
uals and shall include representatives of— 
(1) the Federal Aviation Administration; 
(2) other Federal agencies as the Administrator 
determines appropriate; 
(3) air carriers; 
(4) certified labor organizations representing 
flight attendants at air carriers operating under part 
121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(5) certified labor organizations representing 
aircraft maintenance technicians;
748 
(6) certified labor organizations representing 
other aviation workers, as appropriate; and 
(7) aerospace manufacturers. 
(c) REVIEW.—The task force established under sub-
section (a) shall review and evaluate— 
(1) regulations, requirements, advisory circu-
lars, orders, or other such directives of the Adminis-
tration related to covered aircraft or covered aircraft 
operations that may inhibit certification of new ma-
terials, manufacturing processes, components, or 
technologies that could reduce aircraft weight or in-
crease fuel efficiency without decreasing safety; 
(2) aspects of covered aircraft design that are 
outdated or underutilized on the date of enactment 
of this Act that may unnecessarily increase covered 
aircraft weight or reduce aircraft fuel efficiency that 
are not necessary for the safe operation of such air-
craft; 
(3) novel technologies and manufacturing proc-
esses, including the use of advanced materials, that 
can safely be used in the construction or modifica-
tion of covered aircraft, including a component or 
the interior of such aircraft, to reduce weight or im-
prove fuel efficiency; and
749 
(4) nonproprietary methods that air carriers 
have used to safely decrease covered aircraft weight 
or improve fuel efficiency. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) TASK FORCE REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years 
after the establishment of the task force under 
subsection (a), the task force shall submit a re-
port on the findings and results of the review 
and evaluation conducted under subsection (c) 
to the Administrator. 
(B) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In submitting 
the report required under subparagraph (A), 
the task force shall include recommendations— 
(i) on actions the Administrator may 
take to updated regulations, processes, ad-
visory circulars, orders, or other such di-
rections of the Administration to enable 
the certification of new materials, compo-
nents, manufacturing processes, or tech-
nologies that may allow for the safe reduc-
tion of covered aircraft weight or the im-
provement of fuel efficiency; and 
(ii) on best practices for air carriers 
and aerospace manufacturers to certify
750 
such 
materials, 
components, 
manufac-
turing processes, or technologies. 
(C) APPROXIMATION OF BENEFITS.—For 
each recommendation made under subpara-
graph (B), the task force shall approximate the 
fuel savings that could be expected if such rec-
ommendation was adopted. 
(D) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later 
than 3 days after receipt of the report required 
under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
report and recommendations. 
(2) FAA REPORT.—Not later than 120 days 
after submission of the report under paragraph (1), 
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 re-
port— 
(A) describing the recommendations of the 
task force with which the Administrator fully 
concurs, partially concurs, or does not concur;