I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7157 
To require pilot programs in connection with Senior Reserve Officers’ Train-
ing Corps units at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
minority institutions, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 11, 2020 
Mr. BROWN of Maryland (for himself, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, and Mr. MUR-
PHY of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To require pilot programs in connection with Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training Corps units at Historically Black Col-
leges and Universities and minority institutions, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Leadership 
and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training Act of 2020’’ 
or the ‘‘FLIGHT Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen-
tation in the Military Services report found that 
while minorities comprise 38 percent of the national 
population, they comprise only 23 percent of the ac-
tive component commissioned officer corps. 
(2) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen-
tation in the Military Services report further found 
that African Americans only comprised 8 percent of 
the active component commissioned officer corps, 
while more than 12 percent of the general popu-
lation is African American. 
(3) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen-
tation in the Military Services report further found 
that African-American and Hispanic cadets were re-
cipients of a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
(ROTC) scholarship at a rate of half of their rep-
resentation in the general population. 
(4) A 2018 RAND study titled ‘‘Understanding 
Demographic Differences in Undergraduate Pilot 
Training Attrition’’ found that ‘‘[candidates for pilot 
training from Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro-
gram] with more hours of flying experience were also 
less likely to be eliminated from Initial Flight Train-
ing and Primary Pilot Training’’. 
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(5) In 2020, Air Education and Training Com-
mand, in partnership with the University of Texas- 
San Antonio, conducted a study that reinforced, in-
cluding within the Pilot Candidate Selection Method, 
the number of flight hours a candidate accumulates 
before attending undergraduate pilot training. 
(6) The United States Air Force has acknowl-
edged that ‘‘flight hours . . . can be difficult to ob-
tain for potential candidates depending on their 
socio-economic background’’. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAMS IN CONNECTION WITH SROTC 
UNITS AND CSPI PROGRAMS AT HISTORI-
CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 
AND MINORITY INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAMS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall carry out the pilot programs as follows: 
(1) A pilot program, with elements as provided 
for in subsection (c), at covered institutions in order 
to assess the feasibility and advisability of mecha-
nisms to reduce barriers to participation in the Sen-
ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at such institu-
tions by creating partnerships between satellite or 
extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
units at such institutions and military installations. 
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(2) In consultation with the Secretary of Home-
land Security, a pilot program, with elements as pro-
vided for in subsection (d), in order to assess the 
feasibility and advisability of the provision of finan-
cial assistance to members of the Senior Reserve Of-
ficers’ Training Corps, and members of the Coast 
Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initia-
tive, at covered institutions for participation in flight 
training. 
(b) DURATION.—The duration of each pilot program 
under subsection (a) may not exceed five years. 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM ON PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN 
SATELLITE OR EXTENSION SROTC UNITS AND MILITARY 
INSTALLATIONS.— 
(1) PARTICIPATING
INSTITUTIONS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program 
required by subsection (a)(1) at not fewer than five 
covered institutions selected by the Secretary for 
purposes of the pilot program. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
SELECTION.—Each 
covered institution selected by the Secretary for pur-
poses of the pilot program required by subsection 
(a)(1) shall— 
(A) currently maintain a satellite or exten-
sion Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 
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unit under chapter 103 of title 10, United 
States Code, that is located more than 20 miles 
from the host unit of such unit; or 
(B) establish and maintain a satellite or 
extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 
Corps unit that meets the requirements in sub-
paragraph (A). 
(3) PREFERENCE IN SELECTION OF INSTITU-
TIONS.—In selecting covered institutions under this 
subsection for participation in the pilot program re-
quired by subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall give 
preference to covered institutions that are located 
within 20 miles of a military installation of the same 
Armed Force as the host unit of the Senior Reserve 
Officers’ Training Corps of the covered institution 
concerned. 
(4) PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES.—The activities 
conducted under the pilot program required by sub-
section (a)(1) between a satellite or extension Senior 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit and the mili-
tary installation concerned shall include such activi-
ties designed to reduce barriers to participation in 
the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the 
covered institution concerned as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate, including measures to mitigate 
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travel time and expenses in connection with receipt 
of Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instruc-
tion. 
(d) PILOT PROGRAM ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 
SROTC AND CSPI MEMBERS FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION BY SROTC 
AND CSPI MEMBERS.—A member of a Senior Re-
serve Officers’ Training Corps unit, or a member of 
a Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning 
Initiative program, at a covered institution may par-
ticipate in the pilot program required by subsection 
(a)(2) if the member meets such academic require-
ments at the covered institution, and such other re-
quirements, as the Secretary of Defense shall estab-
lish for purposes of the pilot program. 
(2) PREFERENCE IN SELECTION OF PARTICI-
PANTS.—In selecting members under this subsection 
for participation in the pilot program required by 
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall give a pref-
erence to members who will pursue flight training 
under the pilot program at a covered institution. 
(3) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAIN-
ING.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
provide any member of a Senior Reserve Offi-
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cers’ Training Corps unit or a College Student 
Pre-Commissioning Initiative program who par-
ticipates in the pilot program required by sub-
section (a)(2) financial assistance to defray, 
whether in whole or in part, the charges and 
fees imposed on the member for flight training. 
(B) FLIGHT TRAINING.—Financial assist-
ance may be used under subparagraph (A) for 
a course of flight training only if the course 
meets Federal Aviation Administration stand-
ards and is approved by the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the applicable State approv-
ing agency. 
(C) USE.—Financial assistance received by 
a member under subparagraph (A) may be used 
only to defray the charges and fees imposed on 
the member as described in that subparagraph. 
(D) CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—Finan-
cial assistance may not be provided to a mem-
ber under subparagraph (A) as follows: 
(i) If the member ceases to meet the 
academic and other requirements estab-
lished pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(ii) If the member ceases to be a 
member of the Senior Reserve Officers’ 
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Training Corps or the College Student 
Pre-Commissioning Initiative, as applica-
ble. 
(e) EVALUATION METRICS.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness 
of the pilot programs under subsection (a). 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the commencement of the pilot programs under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a report on the 
pilot programs. The report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A description of each pilot program, 
including in the case of the pilot program under 
subsection (a)(2) the requirements established 
pursuant to subsection (d)(1). 
(B) The evaluation metrics established 
under subsection (e). 
(C) Such other matters relating to the 
pilot programs as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the end of each fiscal year in which the Sec-
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retary carries out the pilot programs, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 
report on the pilot programs during such fiscal year. 
Each report shall include, for the fiscal year covered 
by such report, the following: 
(A) In the case of the pilot program under 
subsection (a)(1), a description of the partner-
ships between satellite or extension Senior Re-
serve Officers’ Training Corps units and mili-
tary installations under the pilot program. 
(B) In the case of the pilot program under 
subsection (a)(2), the following: 
(i) The number of members of Senior 
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units, 
and the number of members of Coast 
Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning 
Initiative programs, at covered institutions 
selected for purposes of the pilot program, 
including the number of such members 
participating in the pilot program. 
(ii) The number of recipients of finan-
cial assistance provided under the pilot 
program, including the number who— 
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(I) completed a ground school 
course of instruction in connection 
with obtaining a private pilot’s certifi-
cate; 
(II) completed flight training, 
and the type of training, certificate, or 
both received; 
(III) were selected for a pilot 
training slot in the Armed Forces; 
(IV) initiated pilot training in the 
Armed Forces; or 
(V) successfully completed pilot 
training in the Armed Forces. 
(iii) The amount of financial assist-
ance provided under the pilot program, 
broken out by covered institution, course of 
study, and such other measures as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(C) Data collected in accordance with the 
evaluation metrics established under subsection 
(e). 
(3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
prior to the completion of the pilot programs, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the Senate and the House of Representa-
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tives a report on the pilot programs. The report 
shall include the following: 
(A) A description of the pilot programs. 
(B) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
each pilot program. 
(C) A description of the cost of each pilot 
program, and an estimate of the cost of making 
each pilot program permanent. 
(D) An estimate of the cost of expanding 
each pilot program throughout all eligible Sen-
ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units and 
College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative 
programs. 
(E) Such recommendations for legislative 
or administrative action as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate in light of the pilot pro-
grams, including recommendations for extend-
ing or making permanent the authority for each 
pilot program. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered institution’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 262(g)(2) of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2020 (Public Law 116–92). 
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(2) The term ‘‘flight training’’ means a course 
of instruction toward obtaining any of the following: 
(A) A private pilot’s certificate. 
(B) A commercial pilot certificate. 
(C) A certified flight instructor certificate. 
(D) A multi-crew pilot’s license. 
(E) A flight instrument rating. 
(F) Any other certificate, rating, or pilot 
privilege the Secretary considers appropriate for 
purposes of this section. 
(3) The term ‘‘military installation’’ means an 
installation of the Department of Defense for the 
regular components of the Armed Forces. 
Æ 
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