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to Congress a report containing the results of 
the survey required by subparagraph (A) not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The reports required under 
subsection(b)(1) and (b)(2)(B) shall be submitted in un-
classified form, but may include a classified annex. 
TITLE IX—NATIONAL TRANSPOR-
TATION 
SAFETY 
BOARD 
AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2023 
SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 902. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 1118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated for the purposes of this chapter $142,000,000 
for fiscal year 2024, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, 
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $155,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2027, and $161,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended.’’. 
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SEC. 903. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF TERRI-
TORIES. 
Section 1101 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1101. Definitions 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) ACCIDENT.—The term ‘accident’ includes 
damage to or destruction of vehicles in surface or air 
transportation or pipelines, regardless of whether the 
initiating event is accidental or otherwise. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puer-
to Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Sec-
tion 2101(23) of title 46 and section 40102(a) shall apply 
to this chapter.’’. 
SEC. 904. ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING. 
(a) TRAINING
ON
EMERGING
TRANSPORTATION 
TECHNOLOGIES.—Section 1113(b)(1) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (J) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(K) notwithstanding section 3301 of title 41, 
acquire training on emerging transportation tech-
nologies.’’. 
(b) 
ADDITIONAL
TRAINING
NEEDS.—Section 
1115(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ‘‘and in those subjects furthering the personnel 
and workforce development needs set forth in the strategic 
workforce plan of the Board as required under section 
1113(h)’’ after ‘‘of accident investigation’’. 
SEC. 905. ACQUIRING MISSION-ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE 
AND SKILLS. 
Section 1113(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
3304 and sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, the 
Chairman may, on a determination that there is a 
severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring 
need for particular positions, recruit and directly ap-
point into the competitive service highly qualified 
personnel with specialized knowledge important to 
the function of the Board. 
‘‘(B) 
LIMITATION.—The 
authority 
granted 
under subparagraph (A) shall terminate on the date 
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that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(C) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
authority 
granted 
under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to positions 
in the excepted service or the Senior Executive Serv-
ice. 
‘‘(D) REQUIREMENTS.—In exercising the au-
thority granted under subparagraph (A), the Board 
shall ensure that any action taken by the Board— 
‘‘(i) is consistent with the merit principles 
of section 2301 of title 5; and 
‘‘(ii) complies with the public notice re-
quirements of section 3327 of title 5.’’. 
SEC. 906. OVERTIME ANNUAL REPORT TERMINATION. 
Section 1113(g)(5) of title 49, United States Code, 
is repealed. 
SEC. 907. STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLAN. 
Section 1113 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall develop a 
strategic workforce plan that addresses the imme-
diate and long-term workforce needs of the Board 
with respect to carrying out the authorities and du-
ties of the Board under this chapter. 
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‘‘(2) ALIGNING THE WORKFORCE TO STRATEGIC 
GOALS.—In developing the strategic workforce plan 
under paragraph (1), the Board shall take into con-
sideration— 
‘‘(A) the current state and capabilities of 
the Board, including a high-level review of mis-
sion requirements, structure, workforce, and 
performance of the Board; 
‘‘(B) the significant workforce trends, 
needs, issues, and challenges with respect to the 
Board and the transportation industry; 
‘‘(C) the workforce policies, strategies, per-
formance measures, and interventions to miti-
gate succession risks that guide the workforce 
investment decisions of the Board; 
‘‘(D) a workforce planning strategy that 
identifies workforce needs, including the knowl-
edge, skills, and abilities needed to recruit and 
retain skilled employees at the Board; 
‘‘(E) a workforce management strategy 
that is aligned with the mission, goals, and or-
ganizational objectives of the Board; 
‘‘(F) an implementation system for work-
force goals focused on addressing continuity of 
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