539 
Administrator considers appropriate with respect to those 
recommendations. 
SEC. 583. UNDECLARED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PUBLIC 
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall carry out a public awareness campaign to reduce the 
amount of undeclared hazardous materials traveling 
through air commerce. 
(b) CAMPAIGN REQUIREMENTS.—The public awareness 
campaign required under subsection (a) shall do the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Focus on targeting segments of the hazardous 
materials industry with high rates of undeclared 
shipments through air commerce and educate air car-
riers, shippers, manufacturers, and other relevant 
stakeholders of such segments on properly packaging 
and classifying such shipments. 
(2) Educate the public on proper ways to declare 
and ship hazardous materials, examples of everyday 
items that are considered hazardous materials, and 
penalties associated with intentional shipments of 
undeclared hazardous materials. 
(c) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
540 
of Transportation shall establish an interagency 
working group to promote collaboration and engage-
ment between the Department of Transportation and 
other relevant agencies, and develop recommendations 
and guidance on how best to conduct the public 
awareness campaign required under subsection (a). 
(2) DUTIES.—The interagency working group 
shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including 
cargo air carriers, passenger air carriers, and labor 
organizations representing pilots for cargo and pas-
senger air carriers operating under part 121 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(d) UPDATE.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
provide to the appropriate committees of Congress an up-
date on the status of the public awareness campaign re-
quired under subsection (a). 
SEC. 584. LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR VOLUNTEER PILOTS 
WHO FLY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. 
Section 4 of the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (42 
U.S.C. 14503) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (f) 
as subsections (c) through (g), respectively;
541 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsections (b) 
and (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (b), (c), and (e)’’; 
and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) LIABILITY PROTECTION FOR PILOTS THAT FLY 
FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT.—Except as provided in subsections 
(c) and (e), no volunteer of a volunteer pilot nonprofit orga-
nization that arranges flights for public benefit shall be lia-
ble for harm caused by an act or omission of the volunteer 
on behalf of the organization if, at the time of the act or 
omission, the volunteer— 
‘‘(1) was operating an aircraft in furtherance of 
the purpose of, and acting within the scope of the vol-
unteer’s responsibilities on behalf of, the nonprofit or-
ganization to provide patient and medical transport 
(including medical transport for veterans), disaster 
relief, humanitarian assistance, or other similar char-
itable missions; 
‘‘(2) was properly licensed and insured for the 
operation of the aircraft; 
‘‘(3) was in compliance with all requirements of 
the Federal Aviation Administration for recent flight 
experience; and
542 
‘‘(4) did not cause the harm through willful or 
criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless mis-
conduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the 
rights or safety of the individual harmed by the vol-
unteer.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (g)(2), as redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘(e)’’ and inserting ‘‘(f)’’. 
TITLE VI—AVIATION 
WORKFORCE 
Subtitle A—Youth in Aviation 
SEC. 601. STUDENT OUTREACH REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report that describes the Administration’s exist-
ing outreach efforts, such as the STEM Aviation and Space 
Education Outreach Program, to elementary and secondary 
students who are interested in careers in science, technology, 
engineering, art, and mathematics— 
(1) to prepare and inspire such students for 
aviation and aeronautical careers; and 
(2) to mitigate an anticipated shortage of pilots 
and other aviation professionals.
543 
SEC. 602. YOUTH ACCESS TO AMERICAN JOBS IN AVIATION 
TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall establish a Youth Access 
to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—Not later than 12 months after its estab-
lishment under subsection (a), the Task Force shall develop 
and submit to the Administrator recommendations and 
strategies for the Administration to— 
(1) facilitate and encourage high school students 
in the United States, beginning in their junior year, 
to enroll in and complete career and technical edu-
cation courses, including STEM, that would prepare 
them to enroll in a course of study related to an avia-
tion career at an institution of higher education, in-
cluding a community college or trade school; 
(2) facilitate and encourage the students de-
scribed in paragraph (1) to enroll in a course of 
study related to an aviation career, including avia-
tion manufacturing, engineering and maintenance, at 
an institution of higher education, including a com-
munity college or trade school; and 
(3) identify and develop pathways for students 
who complete a course of study described in para-
544 
graph (2) to secure registered apprenticeships, work-
force development programs, or careers in the avia-
tion industry of the United States. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—When developing recommenda-
tions and strategies under subsection (b), the Task Force 
shall— 
(1) identify industry trends that encourage or 
discourage youth in the United States from pursuing 
careers in aviation; 
(2) consider how the Administration; air car-
riers; aircraft, powerplant, and avionics manufactur-
ers; aircraft repair stations; and other aviation stake-
holders can coordinate efforts to support youth in 
pursuing careers in aviation; 
(3) identify methods of enhancing aviation ap-
prenticeships, job skills training, mentorship, edu-
cation, and outreach programs that are exclusive to 
youth in the United States; and 
(4) identify potential sources of government and 
private sector funding, including grants and scholar-
ships, that may be used to carry out the recommenda-
tions and strategies described in subsection (b) and to 
support youth in pursuing careers in aviation. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after submission 
of the recommendations and strategies under subsection (b),
545 
the Task Force shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report outlining such recommendations and 
strategies. 
(e) COMPOSITION OF TASK FORCE.—The Adminis-
trator shall appoint members of the Task Force, including 
representatives from the following: 
(1) Air carriers. 
(2) Aircraft, powerplant, and avionics manufac-
turers. 
(3) Aircraft repair stations. 
(4) Local educational agencies or high schools. 
(5) Institutions of higher education, including 
community colleges and aviation trade schools. 
(6) Such other aviation and educational stake-
holders and experts as the Administrator considers 
appropriate. 
(f) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be ap-
pointed to the Task Force for the duration of the existence 
of the Task Force. 
(g) COMPENSATION.—Task Force members shall serve 
without compensation. 
(h) SUNSET.—The Task Force shall terminate upon 
the submittal of the report pursuant to subsection (d). 
(i) DEFINITION
OF
STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ 
means—
546 
(1) science, technology, engineering, and mathe-
matics; and 
(2) other career and technical education subjects 
that build on the subjects described in paragraph (1). 
Subtitle B—Women in Aviation 
SEC. 611. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WOMEN IN 
AVIATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the aviation industry 
should explore all opportunities, including pilot training, 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics edu-
cation, and mentorship programs, to encourage and support 
female students and aviators to pursue a career in aviation. 
SEC. 612. SUPPORTING WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE 
AVIATION FIELD. 
(a) ADVISORY BOARD.—To encourage women and girls 
to enter the field of aviation, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall create and facilitate the 
Women in Aviation Advisory Board (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Board’’), with the objective of promoting orga-
nizations and programs that are providing education, 
training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women 
into the aviation industry. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall consist of mem-
bers whose diverse background and expertise allow them to
547 
contribute balanced points of view and ideas regarding the 
strategies and objectives set forth in subsection (f). 
(c) SELECTION.—Not later than 9 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ap-
point members of the Board, including representatives from 
the following: 
(1) Major airlines and aerospace companies. 
(2) Nonprofit organizations within the aviation 
industry. 
(3) Aviation business associations. 
(4) Engineering business associations. 
(5) United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air 
Patrol. 
(6) Institutions of higher education and aviation 
trade schools. 
(d) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall be ap-
pointed to the Board for the duration of the existence of 
the Board. 
(e) COMPENSATION.—Board members shall serve with-
out compensation. 
(f) DUTIES.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Board shall present a com-
prehensive plan for strategies the Administration can take, 
which include the following objectives:
548 
(1) Identifying industry trends that directly or 
indirectly encourage or discourage women from pur-
suing careers in aviation. 
(2) Coordinating the efforts of airline companies, 
nonprofit organizations, and aviation and engineer-
ing associations to facilitate support for women pur-
suing careers in aviation. 
(3) Creating opportunities to expand existing 
scholarship opportunities for women in the aviation 
industry. 
(4) Enhancing aviation training, mentorship, 
education, and outreach programs that are exclusive 
to women. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall sub-
mit a report outlining the comprehensive plan for 
strategies pursuant to subsection (f) to the Adminis-
trator and the appropriate committees of Congress. 
(2) AVAILABILITY ONLINE.—The Administrator 
shall make the report publicly available online and in 
print. 
(h) SUNSET.—The Board shall terminate upon the 
submittal of the report pursuant to subsection (g).
549 
Subtitle C—Future of Aviation 
Workforce 
SEC. 621. AVIATION AND AEROSPACE WORKFORCE OF THE 
FUTURE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) in 2016, United States air carriers carried 
a record high number of passengers on domestic 
flights, 719 million passengers; 
(2) the United States aerospace and defense in-
dustry employed 1.7 million workers in 2015, or 
roughly 2 percent of the Nation’s total employment 
base; 
(3) the average salary of an employee in the 
aerospace and defense industry is 44 percent above 
the national average; 
(4) in 2015, the aerospace and defense industry 
contributed nearly $202.4 billion in value added to 
the United States economy; 
(5) an effective aviation industry relies on indi-
viduals with unique skill sets, many of which can be 
directly obtained through career and technical edu-
cation opportunities; and 
(6) industry and the Federal Government have 
taken some actions to attract qualified individuals to
550 
careers in aviation and aerospace and to retain 
qualified individuals in such careers. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) public and private education institutions 
should make available to students and parents infor-
mation on approved programs of study and career 
pathways, including career exploration, work-based 
learning opportunities, dual and concurrent enroll-
ment opportunities, and guidance and advisement re-
sources; 
(2) public and private education institutions 
should partner with aviation and aerospace compa-
nies to promote career paths available within the in-
dustry and share information on the unique benefits 
and opportunities the career paths offer; 
(3) aviation companies, including air carriers, 
manufacturers, commercial space companies, un-
manned aircraft system companies, and repair sta-
tions, should create opportunities, through apprentice-
ships or other mechanisms, to attract young people to 
aviation and aerospace careers and to enable individ-
uals to gain the critical skills needed to thrive in such 
professions; and
551 
(4) the Federal Government should consider the 
needs of men and women interested in pursuing ca-
reers in the aviation and aerospace industry, the 
long-term personnel needs of the aviation and aero-
space industry, and the role of aviation in the United 
States economy in the creation and administration of 
educational and financial aid programs. 
SEC. 622. AVIATION AND AEROSPACE WORKFORCE OF THE 
FUTURE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall initiate a study— 
(1) to evaluate the current and future supply of 
individuals in the aviation and aerospace workforce; 
(2) to identify the factors influencing the supply 
of individuals pursuing a career in the aviation or 
aerospace industry, including barriers to entry into 
the workforce; and 
(3) to identify methods to increase the future 
supply of individuals in the aviation and aerospace 
workforce, including best practices or programs to 
incentivize, recruit, and retain young people in avia-
tion and aerospace professions. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Comptroller General shall 
conduct the study in consultation with—
552 
(1) appropriate Federal agencies; and 
(2) the aviation and aerospace industry, institu-
tions of higher education, and labor stakeholders. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report on the results of the study and related recommenda-
tions. 
SEC. 623. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HIRING VETERANS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the aviation industry, 
including certificate holders under parts 121, 135, and 145 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, should hire more 
of the Nation’s veterans. 
SEC. 624. AVIATION MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY TECHNICAL 
WORKFORCE. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule to 
modernize training programs at aviation maintenance 
technician schools governed by part 147 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
(b) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall coordinate 
with government, educational institutions, labor organiza-
tions representing aviation maintenance workers, and busi-
553 
nesses to develop and publish guidance or model curricula 
for aviation maintenance technician schools referred to in 
subsection (a) to ensure workforce readiness for industry 
needs, including curricula related to training in avionics, 
troubleshooting, and other areas of industry needs. 
(c) REVIEW AND PERIODIC UPDATES.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) ensure training programs referred to in sub-
section (a) are revised and updated in correlation 
with aviation maintenance technician airman certifi-
cation standards as necessary to reflect current tech-
nology and maintenance practices; and 
(2) publish updates to the guidance or model 
curricula required under subsection (b) at least once 
every 2 years, as necessary, from the date of initial 
publication. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—If the Administrator does 
not issue such final rule by the deadline specified in sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall, not later than 30 days 
after such deadline, submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report containing— 
(1) an explanation as to why such final rule was 
not issued by such deadline; and 
(2) a schedule for issuing such final rule .
554 
(e) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study on technical workers in the 
aviation maintenance industry. 
(f) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (e), the Comptroller General shall— 
(1) analyze the current Standard Occupational 
Classification system with regard to the aviation pro-
fession, particularly technical workers in the aviation 
maintenance industry; 
(2) analyze how changes to the Federal employ-
ment classification of aviation maintenance industry 
workers might affect government data on unemploy-
ment rates and wages; 
(3) analyze how changes to the Federal employ-
ment classification of aviation maintenance industry 
workers might affect projections for future aviation 
maintenance industry workforce needs and project 
technical worker shortfalls; 
(4) analyze the impact of Federal regulation, in-
cluding Federal Aviation Administration oversight of 
certification, testing, and education programs, on em-
ployment of technical workers in the aviation mainte-
nance industry; 
(5) develop recommendations on how Federal 
Aviation Administration regulations and policies
555 
could be improved to modernize training programs at 
aviation maintenance technical schools and address 
aviation maintenance industry needs for technical 
workers; 
(6) develop recommendations for better coordi-
nating actions by government, educational institu-
tions, and businesses to support workforce growth in 
the aviation maintenance industry; and 
(7) develop recommendations for addressing the 
needs for government funding, private investment, 
equipment for training purposes, and other resources 
necessary to strengthen existing training programs or 
develop new training programs to support workforce 
growth in the aviation industry. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
results of the study. 
(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) AVIATION
MAINTENANCE
INDUSTRY.—The 
term ‘‘aviation maintenance industry’’ means repair 
stations certificated under part 145 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations.
556 
(2) TECHNICAL WORKER.—The term ‘‘technical 
worker’’ means an individual authorized under part 
43 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to main-
tain, rebuild, alter, or perform preventive mainte-
nance on an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, pro-
peller, appliance, or component part or employed by 
an entity so authorized to perform such a function. 
SEC. 625. AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish— 
(1) a program to provide grants for eligible 
projects to support the education of future aircraft pi-
lots and the development of the aircraft pilot work-
force; and 
(2) a program to provide grants for eligible 
projects to support the education and recruitment of 
aviation maintenance technical workers and the de-
velopment of the aviation maintenance workforce. 
(b) PROJECT GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Out of amounts made avail-
able under section 48105 of title 49, United States 
Code, not more than $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2023 is authorized to be expended 
to provide grants under the program established
557 
under subsection (a)(1), and $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023 is authorized to pro-
vide grants under the program established under sub-
section (a)(2). 
(2) DOLLAR
AMOUNT
LIMIT.—Not more than 
$500,000 shall be available for any 1 grant in any 
1 fiscal year under the programs established under 
subsection (a). 
(c) ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) An application for a grant under the pro-
gram established under subsection (a)(1) shall be sub-
mitted, in such form as the Secretary may specify, 
by— 
(A) an air carrier, as defined in section 
40102 of title 49, United States Code, or a labor 
organization representing aircraft pilots; 
(B) an accredited institution of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U. S. C. 1001)) or a 
high school or secondary school (as defined in 
section 7801 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)); 
(C) a flight school that provides flight train-
ing, as defined in part 61 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or that holds a pilot school
558 
certificate under part 141 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations; or 
(D) a State or local governmental entity. 
(2) An application for a grant under the pilot 
program established under subsection (a)(2) shall be 
submitted, in such form as the Secretary may specify, 
by— 
(A) a holder of a certificate issued under 
part 21, 121, 135, or 145 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations or a labor organization rep-
resenting aviation maintenance workers; 
(B) an accredited institution of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) or a 
high school or secondary school (as defined in 
section 7801 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); and 
(C) a State or local governmental entity. 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.— 
(1) For purposes of the program established 
under subsection (a)(1), an eligible project is a 
project— 
(A) to create and deliver curriculum de-
signed to provide high school students with 
meaningful aviation education that is designed
559 
to prepare the students to become aircraft pilots, 
aerospace engineers, or unmanned aircraft sys-
tems operators; or 
(B) to support the professional development 
of teachers using the curriculum described in 
subparagraph (A). 
(2) For purposes of the pilot program established 
under subsection (a)(2), an eligible project is a 
project— 
(A) to establish new educational programs 
that teach technical skills used in aviation main-
tenance, including purchasing equipment, or to 
improve existing such programs; 
(B) to establish scholarships or apprentice-
ships for individuals pursuing employment in 
the aviation maintenance industry; 
(C) to support outreach about careers in the 
aviation maintenance industry to— 
(i) primary, secondary, and post-sec-
ondary school students; or 
(ii) to communities underrepresented 
in the industry; 
(D) to support educational opportunities re-
lated to aviation maintenance in economically 
disadvantaged geographic areas;
560 
(E) to support transition to careers in avia-
tion maintenance, including for members of the 
Armed Forces; or 
(F) to otherwise enhance aviation mainte-
nance technical education or the aviation main-
tenance industry workforce. 
(e) GRANT APPLICATION REVIEW.—In reviewing and 
selecting applications for grants under the programs estab-
lished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) prior to selecting among competing applica-
tions, consult, as appropriate, with representatives of 
aircraft repair stations, design and production ap-
proval holders, air carriers, labor organizations, busi-
ness aviation, general aviation, educational institu-
tions, and other relevant aviation sectors; and 
(2) ensure that the applications selected for 
projects established under subsection (a)(1) will allow 
participation from a diverse collection of public and 
private schools in rural, suburban, and urban areas.
561 
Subtitle D—Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems Workforce 
SEC. 631. COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE CENTERS 
OF EXCELLENCE IN SMALL UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY TRAINING. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the Secretary of Education and 
the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a process to designate 
consortia of public, 2-year institutions of higher education 
as Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence 
in Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Centers of Excellence’’). 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—A Center of Excellence designated 
under subsection (a) shall have the capacity to train stu-
dents for career opportunities in industry and government 
service related to the use of small unmanned aircraft sys-
tems. 
(c) EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.—In 
order to be designated as a Center of Excellence under sub-
section (a), a consortium shall be able to address education 
and training requirements associated with various types of 
small unmanned aircraft systems, components, and related 
equipment, including with respect to—
562 
(1) multirotor and fixed-wing small unmanned 
aircraft; 
(2) flight systems, radio controllers, components, 
and characteristics of such aircraft; 
(3) routine maintenance, uses and applications, 
privacy concerns, safety, and insurance for such air-
craft; 
(4) hands-on flight practice using small un-
manned aircraft systems and computer simulator 
training; 
(5) use of small unmanned aircraft systems in 
various industry applications and local, State, and 
Federal government programs and services, including 
in agriculture, law enforcement, monitoring oil and 
gas pipelines, natural disaster response and recovery, 
fire and emergency services, and other emerging 
areas; 
(6) Federal policies concerning small unmanned 
aircraft; 
(7) dual credit programs to deliver small un-
manned aircraft training opportunities to secondary 
school students; or 
(8) training with respect to sensors and the proc-
essing, analyzing, and visualizing of data collected by 
small unmanned aircraft.
563 
(d) COLLABORATION.—Each Center of Excellence shall 
seek to collaborate with institutions participating in the Al-
liance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excel-
lence of the Federal Aviation Administration and with the 
test ranges defined under section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code, as added by this Act. 
(e) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
SEC. 632. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM 
FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall establish a collegiate 
training initiative program relating to unmanned aircraft 
systems by making new agreements or continuing existing 
agreements with institutions of higher education (as defined 
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001)) under which the institutions prepare students 
for careers involving unmanned aircraft systems. The Ad-
ministrator may establish standards for the entry of such 
institutions into the program and for their continued par-
ticipation in the program.
564 
(b) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the 
meaning given that term by section 44801 of title 49, 
United States Code, as added by this Act. 
TITLE VII—FLIGHT R&D ACT 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘FAA Leadership in 
Groundbreaking High-Tech Research and Development 
Act’’ or the ‘‘FLIGHT R&D Act’’. 
SEC. 702. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the following definitions apply: 
(1) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration. 
(2) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(3) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
SEC. 703. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.—Section 48102(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended—
565 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘and, for each of fiscal years 2012 through 
2015, under subsection (g)’’; 
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(3) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(10) $189,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(11) $194,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(12) $199,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(13) $204,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(14) $209,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(15) $214,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 
(b) RESEARCH PRIORITIES.—Section 48102(b) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘consider’’ and 
inserting ‘‘prioritize safety in considering’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (3); 
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); and 
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) As safety related activities shall be the high-
est research priority, at least 70 percent of the 
amount appropriated under subsection (a) of this sec-
566 
tion shall be for safety research and development 
projects.’’. 
(c) ANNUAL SUBMISSION OF THE NATIONAL AVIATION 
RESEARCH PLAN.—Section 48102(g) of title 49, United 
States, Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL SUBMISSION OF THE NATIONAL AVIA-
TION RESEARCH PLAN.—The Administrator shall submit 
the national aviation research plan to Congress no later 
than the date of submission of the President’s budget request 
to Congress for that fiscal year, as required under section 
44501(c).’’. 
Subtitle B—FAA Research and 
Development Organization 
SEC. 711. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 3 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ap-
point an Assistant Administrator for Research and Devel-
opment. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Assistant Administrator 
for Research and Development shall, at a minimum, be re-
sponsible for— 
(1) management and oversight of all the FAA’s 
research and development programs and activities; 
and
567 
(2) production of all congressional reports from 
the FAA relevant to research and development, in-
cluding the national aviation research plan required 
under section 44501(c) of title 49, United States Code. 
(c) DUAL APPOINTMENT.—The Assistant Adminis-
trator for Research and Development may be a dual-ap-
pointment, holding the responsibilities of another Assistant 
Administrator. 
SEC. 712. RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) 
ADVICE
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.—Section 
44508(a)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) provide advice and recommendations to the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion and Congress about needs, objectives, plans, ap-
proaches, content, and accomplishments of all avia-
tion research and development activities and pro-
grams carried out, including those under sections 
40119, 44504, 44505, 44507, 44511–44513, and 
44912 of this title;’’. 
(b) WRITTEN REPLY TO RESEARCH ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE.—Section 44508 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) WRITTEN REPLY.—
568 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
receiving any recommendation from the research ad-
visory committee, the Administrator shall provide a 
written reply to the research advisory committee that, 
at a minimum— 
‘‘(A) clearly states whether the Adminis-
trator accepts or rejects the recommendation; 
‘‘(B) explains the rationale for the Adminis-
trator’s decision; 
‘‘(C) sets forth the timeframe in which the 
Administrator will implement the recommenda-
tion; and 
‘‘(D) describes the steps the Administrator 
will take to implement the recommendation. 
‘‘(2) TRANSPARENCY.—The written reply to the 
research advisory committee, when transmitted to the 
research advisory committee, shall be— 
‘‘(A) made publicly available on the re-
search advisory committee website; and 
‘‘(B) transmitted to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate.
569 
‘‘(3) NATIONAL AVIATION RESEARCH PLAN.—The 
national aviation research plan required under sec-
tion 44501(c) shall include a summary of all research 
advisory committee recommendations and a descrip-
tion of the status of their implementation.’’. 
Subtitle C—Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems 
SEC. 721. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP. 
The Secretary shall submit the unmanned aircraft sys-
tems roadmap to Congress on an annual basis as required 
under section 48802(a) of title 49, United States Code, as 
added by this Act. 
Subtitle D—Cybersecurity and 
Responses to Other Threats 
SEC. 731. CYBER TESTBED. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall develop an integrated 
Cyber Testbed for research, development, evaluation, and 
validation of air traffic control modernization technologies, 
before they enter the national airspace system, as being 
compliant with FAA data security regulations. The Cyber 
Testbed shall be part of an integrated research and develop-
ment test environment capable of creating, identifying, de-
fending, and solving cybersecurity-related problems for the
570 
national airspace system. This integrated test environment 
shall incorporate integrated test capacities within the FAA 
related to the national airspace system and NextGen. 
SEC. 732. STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF EXTREME WEATHER 
ON AIR TRAVEL. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
jointly complete a study on the effect of extreme weather 
on commercial air travel. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study required by subsection (a) 
shall include assessment of the following: 
(1) Whether extreme weather may result in an 
increase in turbulence. 
(2) The effect of extreme weather on current com-
mercial air routes. 
(3) The effect of extreme weather on domestic 
airports, air traffic control facilities, and associated 
facilities.
571 
Subtitle E—FAA Research and 
Development Activities 
SEC. 741. RESEARCH PLAN FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF 
NEW TECHNOLOGIES INTO THE NATIONAL 
AIRSPACE SYSTEM. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with NASA, 
shall transmit a comprehensive research plan for the certifi-
cation of new technologies into the national airspace system 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. This plan shall 
identify research necessary to support the certification and 
implementation of NextGen, including both ground and air 
elements, and explain the plan’s relationship to other ac-
tivities and procedures required for certification and imple-
mentation of new technologies into the national airspace 
system. This plan shall be informed by the recommenda-
tions of the National Research Council report titled ‘‘Trans-
formation in the Air—A Review of the FAA Research 
Plan’’, issued on June 8, 2015. This plan shall include, at 
a minimum— 
(1) a description of the strategic and prescriptive 
value of the research plan;
572 
(2) an explanation of the expected outcomes from 
executing the plan; 
(3) an assessment of the FAA’s plan to use re-
search and development to improve cybersecurity over 
the next 5 years; 
(4) an assessment of the current software assur-
ance practices, and the desired level or attributes to 
target in the software assurance program; and 
(5) best practices in research and development 
used 
by 
other 
organizations, 
such 
as 
NASA, 
NavCanada, and Eurocontrol. 
SEC. 742. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, shall conduct a review of cur-
rent and planned research on the use of advanced air-
craft technologies, innovative materials, alternative 
fuels, additive manufacturing, and novel aircraft de-
signs, to increase aircraft fuel efficiency. 
(2) SUMMARIES.—The review conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall include summaries of projects 
and missions to examine—
573 
(A) the effectiveness of such technologies, 
materials, fuels, and aircraft designs to enhance 
fuel efficiency and aerodynamic performance, 
and reduce drag, weight, noise, and fuel con-
sumption; and 
(B) the potential for novel flight pattern 
planning and communications systems to reduce 
aircraft taxiing and airport circling. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The review conducted 
under paragraph (1) shall identify potential opportu-
nities for additional research and development, public 
or private, to increase aircraft fuel efficiency. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report containing the results of 
the review conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 743. CLEEN AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGY 
PARTNERSHIP. 
(a) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT.—Subchapter I of 
chapter 475 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
574 
‘‘§ 47511. CLEEN engine and airframe technology 
partnership 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall enter into a cost-sharing co-
operative agreement, using a competitive process, with in-
stitutions, entities, or consortiums to carry out a program 
for the development, maturation, and testing of certifiable 
CLEEN aircraft, engine technologies, and jet fuels for civil 
subsonic airplanes. 
‘‘(b) CLEEN ENGINE AND AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘CLEEN aircraft and 
engine technology’ means continuous lower energy, emis-
sions, and noise aircraft and engine technology. 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE.—The Administrator 
shall establish the performance objectives for the program 
in terms of the specific objectives to reduce fuel burn, emis-
sions and noise.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The 
table of contents of subchapter I of chapter 475 is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 47510 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘47511. CLEEN engine and airframe technology partnership.’’. 
SEC. 744. RESEARCH AND DEPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN AIR-
FIELD PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGIES. 
Using amounts made available under section 48102(a) 
of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator of the
575 
Federal Aviation Administration may carry out a program 
for the research and development of aircraft pavement tech-
nologies under which the Administrator makes grants to, 
and enters into cooperative agreements with, institutions of 
higher education and nonprofit organizations that— 
(1) research concrete and asphalt airfield pave-
ment technologies that extend the life of airfield pave-
ments; 
(2) develop and conduct training; 
(3) provide for demonstration projects; and 
(4) promote the latest airfield pavement tech-
nologies to aid in the development of safer, more cost 
effective, and more durable airfield pavements. 
Subtitle F—Geospatial Data 
SEC. 751. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This subtitle may be cited as the 
‘‘Geospatial Data Act of 2018’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) open and publicly available data is essential 
to the successful operation of the GeoPlatform; 
(2) the private sector in the United States, for 
the purposes of acquiring and producing quality 
geospatial data and geospatial data services, has been 
and continues to be invaluable in carrying out the 
varying missions of Federal departments and agen-
576 
cies, as well as contributing positively to the United 
States economy; and 
(3) over the last 2 decades, Congress has passed 
legislation that promotes greater access and use of 
Government information and data, which has— 
(A) sparked new, innovative start-ups and 
services; 
(B) spurred economic growth in many sec-
tors, such as in the geospatial services; 
(C) advanced scientific research; 
(D) promoted public access to Federally 
funded services and data; and 
(E) improved access to geospatial data for 
the purposes of promoting public health, weather 
forecasting, 
economic 
development, 
environ-
mental protection, flood zone research, and other 
purposes. 
SEC. 752. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle— 
(1) the term ‘‘Advisory Committee’’ means the 
National Geospatial Advisory Committee established 
under section 754(a); 
(2) the term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Federal Ge-
ographic Data Committee established under section 
753(a);
577 
(3) the term ‘‘covered agency’’— 
(A) means— 
(i) an Executive department, as de-
fined in section 101 of title 5, United States 
Code, that collects, produces, acquires, 
maintains, distributes, uses, or preserves 
geospatial data on paper or in electronic 
form to fulfill the mission of the Executive 
department, either directly or through a re-
lationship with another organization, in-
cluding a State, local government, Indian 
tribe, institution of higher education, busi-
ness partner or contractor of the Federal 
Government, and the public; 
(ii) the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration; or 
(iii) the General Services Administra-
tion; and 
(B) does not include the Department of De-
fense (including 30 components and agencies 
performing national missions) or any element of 
the intelligence community; 
(4) 
the 
term 
‘‘GeoPlatform’’ 
means 
the 
GeoPlatform described in section 758(a); 
(5) the term ‘‘geospatial data’’—
578 
(A) means information that is tied to a lo-
cation on the Earth, including by identifying the 
geographic location and characteristics of nat-
ural or constructed features and boundaries on 
the Earth, and that is generally represented in 
vector datasets by points, lines, polygons, or 
other complex geographic features or phenomena; 
(B) may be derived from, among other 
things, remote sensing, mapping, and surveying 
technologies; 
(C) includes images and raster datasets, 
aerial photographs, and other forms of geospatial 
data or datasets in digitized or non-digitized 
form; and 
(D) does not include— 
(i) geospatial data and activities of an 
Indian tribe not carried out, in whole or in 
part, using Federal funds, as determined by 
the tribal government; 
(ii) classified national security-related 
geospatial data and activities of the Depart-
ment of Defense, unless declassified; 
(iii) classified national security-related 
geospatial data and activities of the Depart-
ment of Energy, unless declassified;
579 
(iv) geospatial data and activities 
under chapter 22 of title 10, United States 
Code, or section 110 of the National Secu-
rity Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3045); 
(v) intelligence geospatial data and ac-
tivities, as determined by the Director of 
National Intelligence; or 
(vi) certain declassified national secu-
rity-related geospatial data and activities of 
the intelligence community, as determined 
by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Energy, or the Director of National Intel-
ligence; 
(6) the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ has the meaning 
given that term under section 4 of the Indian Self-De-
termination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
450b); 
(7) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ 
has the meaning given that term under section 102 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002); 
(8) the term ‘‘intelligence community’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the National 
Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003);
580 
(9) the term ‘‘lead covered agency’’ means a lead 
covered agency for a National Geospatial Data Asset 
data theme designated under section 756(b)(1); 
(10) the term ‘‘local government’’ means any 
city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, 
or other general purpose political subdivision of a 
State; 
(11) the term ‘‘metadata for geospatial data’’ 
means information about geospatial data, including 
the content, source, vintage, accuracy, condition, pro-
jection, method of collection, and other characteristics 
or descriptions of the geospatial data; 
(12) the term ‘‘National Geospatial Data Asset 
data theme’’ means the National Geospatial Data 
Asset core geospatial datasets (including electronic 
records and coordinates) relating to a topic or subject 
designated under section 756; 
(13) the term ‘‘National Spatial Data Infra-
structure’’ means the technology, policies, criteria, 
standards, and employees necessary to promote 
geospatial data sharing throughout the Federal Gov-
ernment, State, tribal, and local governments, and the 
private sector (including nonprofit organizations and 
institutions of higher education); and
581 
(14) the term ‘‘proven practices’’ means methods 
and activities that advance the use of geospatial data 
for the benefit of society. 
SEC. 753. FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the De-
partment of the Interior an interagency committee to be 
known as the Federal Geographic Data Committee, which 
shall act as the lead entity in the executive branch for the 
development, implementation, and review of policies, prac-
tices, and standards relating to geospatial data. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the Office 
of Management and Budget shall serve as Chair-
person of the Committee and Vice Chairperson of the 
Committee, respectively. 
(2) OTHER MEMBERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The head of each covered 
agency and the Director of the National 
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency shall each des-
ignate a representative of their respective agency 
to serve as a member of the Committee. 
(B) REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENTS.— 
An officer appointed to serve as a member of the 
Committee shall hold a position as an assistant
582 
secretary, or an equivalent position, or a higher 
ranking position. 
(3) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and as needed there-
after, the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget shall update guidance with respect to member-
ship of the Committee and the roles of members of the 
Committee. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
(1) lead the development and management of 
and operational decision making for the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure strategic plan and 
geospatial data policy in accordance with section 755; 
(2) designate National Geospatial Data Asset 
data themes and oversee the coordinated management 
of the National Geospatial Data Asset data themes in 
accordance with section 756; 
(3) establish and maintain geospatial data 
standards in accordance with section 757; 
(4) periodically review and determine the extent 
to which covered agencies comply with geospatial data 
standards; 
(5) ensure that the GeoPlatform operates in ac-
cordance with section 758;
583 
(6) direct and facilitate national implementation 
of the system of National Geospatial Data Asset data 
themes; 
(7) communicate with and foster communication 
among covered agencies and other entities and indi-
viduals relating to geospatial data technology develop-
ment, transfer, and exchange in order to— 
(A) identify and meet the needs of users of 
geospatial data; 
(B) promote cost-effective data collection, 
documentation, maintenance, distribution, and 
preservation strategies; and 
(C) leverage Federal and non-Federal re-
sources, such as promoting Federal shared serv-
ices and cross-agency coordination for market-
place solutions; 
(8) define roles and responsibilities and promote 
and guide cooperation and coordination among agen-
cies of the Federal Government, State, tribal, and 
local governments, institutions of higher education, 
and the private sector in the collection, production, 
sharing, and use of geospatial information, the imple-
mentation of the National Spatial Data Infrastruc-
ture, and the identification of proven practices;
584 
(9) coordinate with international organizations 
having an interest in the National Spatial Data In-
frastructure or global spatial data infrastructures; 
(10) make available online and update at least 
annually— 
(A) a summary of the status for each Na-
tional Geospatial Data Asset data theme, based 
on the report submitted by the applicable lead 
covered agency under section 756(b)(3)(E)(ii)(I), 
which shall include— 
(i) an evaluation of the progress of 
each lead covered agency in achieving the 
requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), 
(C), and (D) of section 756(b)(3); and 
(ii) a determination of whether, for 
each of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and 
(D) of section 756(b)(3), each lead covered 
agency 
meets 
expectations, 
has 
made 
progress toward expectations, or fails to 
meet expectations; 
(B) a summary and evaluation of the 
achievements of each covered agency, based on 
the annual report submitted by the covered agen-
cy under section 759(b)(1), which shall include a 
determination of whether the covered agency
585 
meets expectations, has made progress toward ex-
pectations, or fails to meet expectations for each 
of paragraphs (1) through (13) of section 759(a); 
(C) a collection of periodic technical publi-
cations, management articles, and reports related 
to the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; and 
(D) a membership directory for the Com-
mittee, including identifying members of any 
subcommittee or working group of the Com-
mittee; 
(11)(A) make available to and request comments 
from the Advisory Committee regarding the sum-
maries and evaluations required under subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) of paragraph (10); 
(B) if requested by the Advisory Committee, re-
spond to any comments by the Advisory Committee; 
and 
(C) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 
Congress a report that includes the summaries and 
evaluations required under subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of paragraph (10), the comments of the Advisory 
Committee, and the responses of the Committee to the 
comments; 
(12)(A) make available to and request comments 
from covered agencies regarding the summaries and
586 
evaluations required under subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) of paragraph (10); and 
(B) not less than once every 2 years, submit to 
Congress a report that includes the comments of the 
covered agencies and the responses of the Committee 
to the comments; and 
(13) support and promote the infrastructure of 
networks, systems, services, and standards that pro-
vide a digital representation of the Earth to users for 
many applications. 
(d) STAFF SUPPORT.—The Committee shall establish 
an Office of the Secretariat within the Department of the 
Interior to provide administrative support, strategic plan-
ning, funding, and technical support to the Committee. 
SEC. 754. NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 
shall establish within the Department of the Interior the 
National Geospatial Advisory Committee to provide advice 
and recommendations to the Chairperson of the Committee. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of not more than 30 members, at 
least one of which will be from the National 
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, who shall—
587 
(A) be appointed by the Chairperson of the 
Committee; 
(B) be selected— 
(i) to generally achieve a balanced rep-
resentation of the viewpoints of various in-
terested 
parties 
involved 
in 
national 
geospatial activities and the development of 
the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; 
and 
(ii) with consideration of a geographic 
balance of residence of the members; and 
(C) be selected from among groups involved 
in the geospatial community, including— 
(i) States; 
(ii) local governments; 
(iii) regional governments; 
(iv) tribal governments; 
(v) private sector entities; 
(vi) geospatial information user indus-
tries; 
(vii) professional associations; 
(viii) scholarly associations; 
(ix) nonprofit organizations; 
(x) academia;
588 
(xi) licensed geospatial data acquisi-
tion professionals; and 
(xii) the Federal Government. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Committee shall appoint the Chairperson of the Advi-
sory Committee. 
(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Members shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 3 years, with the term of 
1⁄3 of the members expiring each year. 
(B) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Advi-
sory Committee shall not affect its powers, but 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment. 
(4) LIMIT ON TERMS.—Except for the member 
from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, an 
individual— 
(A) may not be appointed to more than 2 
consecutive terms as a member of the Advisory 
Committee; and 
(B) after serving for 2 consecutive terms, is 
eligible to be appointed as a member of the Advi-
sory Committee on and after the date that is 2 
years after the end of the second consecutive term
589 
of the individual as a member of the Advisory 
Committee. 
(5) ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS.—A member of the 
Advisory Committee may not participate in any spe-
cific-party matter (including a lease, license, permit, 
contract, claim, agreement, or related litigation) with 
the Department of the Interior in which the member 
has a direct financial interest. 
(6) INCUMBENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—An individual serving 
on the day before the date of enactment of this 
Act as a member of the National Geospatial Ad-
visory Committee established by the Secretary of 
the Interior may serve as a member of the Advi-
sory Committee until the end of the term of the 
individual under the appointment. 
(B) LIMIT ON TERMS.—Any period of serv-
ice as a member of the National Geospatial Ad-
visory Committee established by the Secretary of 
the Interior shall be considered a period of serv-
ice as a member of the Advisory Committee for 
purposes of paragraph (4). 
(c) SUBCOMMITTEES.—A subcommittee of the Advisory 
Committee—
590 
(1) may be formed for the purposes of compiling 
information or conducting research; 
(2) shall be composed of members appointed by 
the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee; 
(3) shall act under the direction of the Chair-
person of the Advisory Committee and the officer or 
employee designated under section 10(e) of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) with re-
spect to the Advisory Committee; 
(4) shall report the recommendations of the sub-
committee to the Advisory Committee for consider-
ation; and 
(5) shall meet as necessary to accomplish the ob-
jectives of the subcommittee, subject to the approval of 
the Chairperson of the Advisory Committee and the 
availability of resources. 
(d) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall 
meet at the call of the Chairperson, not less than 1 
time each year and not more than 4 times each year. 
(2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number of members may hold meetings or hear-
ings.
591 
(e) DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Ad-
visory Committee shall— 
(1) provide advice and recommendations relating 
to— 
(A) the management of Federal and na-
tional geospatial programs; 
(B) the development of the National Spatial 
Data Infrastructure; and 
(C) implementation of this subtitle; 
(2) review and comment on geospatial policy 
and management issues; and 
(3) ensure the views of representatives of non- 
Federal interested parties involved in national 
geospatial activities are conveyed to the Committee. 
(f) POWERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee may 
hold meetings (which shall be open to the public) and 
sit and act at such times and places as the Advisory 
Committee considers advisable to carry out this sub-
title. 
(2) INFORMATION FROM COVERED AGENCIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee, with the concurrence of the Chairperson 
of the Committee, may secure directly from any 
covered agency such information as the Advisory
592 
Committee considers necessary to carry out this 
subtitle. Upon request of the Chairperson of the 
Advisory Committee, the head of such agency 
shall furnish such information to the Advisory 
Committee. 
(B) 
NONCOOPERATION.—The 
Advisory 
Committee shall include in the comments of the 
Advisory Committee submitted under section 
753(c)(11) a discussion of any failure by a cov-
ered agency to furnish information in response 
to a request under subparagraph (A) of this 
paragraph. 
(3) POSTAL
SERVICES.—The Advisory Com-
mittee may use the United States mails in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as other agen-
cies of the Federal Government. 
(g) ADVISORY COMMITTEE PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) NO COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(A) NON-FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member 
of the Advisory Committee who is not an officer 
or employee of the Federal Government shall 
serve without compensation. 
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 
the Advisory Committee who is an officer or em-
ployee of the Federal Government shall serve
593 
without compensation in addition to the com-
pensation received for the services of the member 
as an officer or employee of the Federal Govern-
ment. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Ad-
visory Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates au-
thorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I 
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(3) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Committee to support the Advisory Committee with-
out reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. 
(4) STAFF SUPPORT.—The Office of the Secre-
tariat established by the Committee under section 
753(d) shall provide administrative support to the 
Advisory Committee. 
(h) APPLICABILITY OF FACA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Advisory Committee.
594 
(2) NO TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Advisory Committee. 
(i) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Advisory Committee shall terminate 10 
years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) CONTINUATION.—The Advisory Committee 
may be continued for successive 10-year periods by 
action taken by the Secretary of the Interior to renew 
the Advisory Committee before the date on which the 
Advisory Committee would otherwise terminate. 
SEC. 755. NATIONAL SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Spatial Data Infra-
structure shall ensure that geospatial data from multiple 
sources (including the covered agencies, State, local, and 
tribal governments, the private sector, and institutions of 
higher education) is available and easily integrated to en-
hance the understanding of the physical and cultural world. 
(b) GOALS.—The goals of the National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure are to— 
(1) ensure— 
(A) that geospatial data are reviewed prior 
to disclosure to ensure—
595 
(i) compliance with section 552a of 
title 5 (commonly known as the ‘‘Privacy 
Act of 1974’’); and 
(ii) that personally identifiable infor-
mation is not disclosed, which shall include 
an assessment of re-identification risk when 
determining what data constitute personally 
identifiable information; 
(B) that geospatial data are designed to en-
hance the accuracy of statistical information, 
both in raw form and in derived information 
products; 
(C) free and open access for the public to 
geospatial data, information, and interpretive 
products, in accordance with Office of Manage-
ment and Budget Circular A–130, or any suc-
cessor thereto; 
(D) the protection of proprietary interests 
related to licensed information and data; and 
(E) the interoperability and sharing capa-
bilities of Federal information systems and data 
to enable the drawing of resources from covered 
agencies and partners of covered agencies; and 
(2) support and advance the establishment of a 
Global Spatial Data Infrastructure, consistent with
596 
national security, national defense, national intel-
ligence, and international trade requirements, includ-
ing ensuring that covered agencies develop inter-
national geospatial data in accordance with inter-
national voluntary consensus standards, as defined in 
Office of Management and Budget Circular A–119, or 
any successor thereto. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.—The Committee shall prepare 
and maintain a strategic plan for the development and im-
plementation of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure 
in a manner consistent with national security, national de-
fense, and emergency preparedness program policies regard-
ing data accessibility. 
(d) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Committee shall advise 
Federal and non-Federal users of geospatial data on their 
responsibilities relating to implementation of the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure. 
SEC. 756. NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL DATA ASSET DATA 
THEMES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall designate as 
National Geospatial Data Asset data themes the primary 
topics and subjects for which the coordinated development, 
maintenance, and dissemination of geospatial data will 
benefit the Federal Government and the interests of the peo-
ple of the United States, which shall—
597 
(1) be representations of conceptual topics de-
scribing digital spatial information for the Nation; 
and 
(2) contain associated datasets (with attribute 
records and coordinates)— 
(A) that are documented, verifiable, and of-
ficially designated to meet recognized standards; 
(B) that may be used in common; and 
(C) from which other datasets may be de-
rived. 
(b) LEAD COVERED AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For each National Geospatial 
Data Asset data theme, the Committee shall designate 
one or more covered agencies as the lead covered agen-
cies for the National Geospatial Data Asset data 
theme. 
(2) GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITY.—The lead cov-
ered agencies for a National Geospatial Data Asset 
data theme shall be responsible for ensuring the co-
ordinated management of the data, supporting re-
sources (including technology and personnel), and re-
lated services and products of the National Geospatial 
Data Asset data theme. 
(3) SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES.—To assist in 
fulfilling the responsibilities under paragraph (2)
598 
with respect to a National Geospatial Data Asset data 
theme, the lead covered agencies shall— 
(A) provide leadership and facilitate the de-
velopment and implementation of geospatial 
data standards for the National Geospatial Data 
Asset data theme, with a particular emphasis on 
a data content standard for the National 
Geospatial Data Asset data theme, including 
by— 
(i) assessing existing standards; 
(ii) identifying anticipated or needed 
data standards; and 
(iii) developing a plan to originate 
and implement needed standards with rel-
evant community and international prac-
tices— 
(I) in accordance with Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A– 
119, or any successor thereto; and 
(II) consistent with or as a part 
of the plan described in subparagraph 
(B); 
(B) provide leadership and facilitate the de-
velopment and implementation of a plan for na-
599 
tionwide population of the National Geospatial 
Data Asset data theme, which shall— 
(i) include developing partnership pro-
grams with States, Indian tribes, institu-
tions of higher education, private sector en-
tities, other Federal agencies, and local gov-
ernments; 
(ii) meet the needs of users of 
geospatial data; 
(iii) address human and financial re-
source needs; 
(iv) identify needs relating to stand-
ards, metadata for geospatial data within 
the National Geospatial Data Asset data 
theme, and the GeoPlatform; and 
(v) expedite the development of nec-
essary National Geospatial Data Asset data 
themes; 
(C) establish goals that support the strategic 
plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastruc-
ture prepared under section 755(c); 
(D) as necessary, collect and analyze infor-
mation from users of geospatial data within the 
National Geospatial Data Asset data theme re-
garding the needs of the users for geospatial data
600 
and incorporate the needs of users in strategies 
relating to the National Geospatial Data Asset 
data theme; and 
(E) as part of administering the National 
Geospatial Data Asset data theme— 
(i) designate a point of contact within 
the lead covered agency who shall be respon-
sible for developing, maintaining, coordina-
tion relating to, and disseminating data 
using the GeoPlatform; 
(ii) submit to the Committee— 
(I) a performance report, at least 
annually, that documents the activities 
relating to and implementation of the 
National Geospatial Data Asset data 
theme, including progress in achieving 
the requirements under subparagraphs 
(A), (B), (C), and (D); and 
(II) comments, as appropriate, re-
garding the summary and evaluation 
of the performance report provided by 
the 
Committee 
under 
section 
753(c)(12); 
(iii) publish maps or comparable 
graphics online (in accordance with the
601 
mapping conventions specified by the Com-
mittee) showing the extent and status of the 
National Geospatial Data Asset data themes 
for which the covered agency is a lead cov-
ered agency; 
(iv) encourage individuals and entities 
that are a source of geospatial data or 
metadata for geospatial data for the Na-
tional Geospatial Data Asset data theme to 
provide access to such data through the 
GeoPlatform; 
(v) coordinate with the GeoPlatform; 
and 
(vi) identify and publish proven prac-
tices for the use and application of 
geospatial data of the lead covered agency. 
SEC. 757. GEOSPATIAL DATA STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 216 of 
the E-Government Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), the 
Committee shall establish standards for each National 
Geospatial Data Asset data theme, which— 
(1) shall include— 
(A) rules, conditions, guidelines, and char-
acteristics for the geospatial data within the Na-
tional Geospatial Data Asset data theme and re-
602 
lated processes, technology, and organization; 
and 
(B) content standards for metadata for 
geospatial data within the National Geospatial 
Data Asset data theme; 
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, shall be 
consistent with international standards and protocols; 
(3) shall include universal data standards that 
shall be acceptable for the purposes of declassified in-
telligence community data; and 
(4) the Committee shall periodically review and 
update as necessary for the standards to remain cur-
rent, relevant, and effective. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS.—The Committee 
shall— 
(1) develop and promulgate standards under this 
section— 
(A) in accordance with Office of Manage-
ment and Budget Circular A–119, or any suc-
cessor thereto; and 
(B) after consultation with a broad range of 
data users and providers; 
(2) to the maximum extent possible, use national 
and international standards adopted by voluntary 
standards consensus bodies; and
603 
(3) establish new standards only to the extent 
standards described in paragraph (2) do not exist. 
(c) EXCLUSION.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
withhold from public disclosure any information the disclo-
sure of which reasonably could be expected to cause damage 
to the national interest, security, or defense of the United 
States, including information relating to geospatial intel-
ligence data activities, as determined in consultation with 
the Director of National Intelligence. 
SEC. 758. GEOPLATFORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall operate an 
electronic service that provides access to geospatial data and 
metadata for geospatial data to the general public, to be 
known as the GeoPlatform. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The GeoPlatform— 
(A) shall— 
(i) be available through the internet 
and other communications means; 
(ii) be accessible through a common 
interface; 
(iii) 
include 
metadata 
for 
all 
geospatial data collected by covered agen-
cies, directly or indirectly;
604 
(iv) include download access to all 
open geospatial data directly or indirectly 
collected by covered agencies; and 
(v) include a set of programming in-
structions and standards providing an 
automated means of accessing available 
geospatial data, which— 
(I) harmonize sources and data 
standards associated with geospatial 
data, including metadata; and 
(II) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, as determined by the Chair-
person of the Committee, shall be made 
publicly available; 
(B) may include geospatial data from a 
source other than a covered agency, if determined 
appropriate by the Committee; and 
(C) shall not store or serve proprietary in-
formation or data acquired under a license by 
the Federal Government, unless authorized by the 
data provider. 
(2) MANAGING
PARTNER.—The Chairperson of 
the Committee shall designate an agency to serve as 
the managing partner for developing and operating 
the GeoPlatform, taking direction from the Committee
605 
on the scope, functionality, and performance of the 
GeoPlatform. 
(c) CLARIFICATION.—Although the GeoPlatform is in-
tended to include all National Geospatial Data Asset and 
other Federal datasets, nothing in this subtitle shall be con-
strued to prevent a covered agency from also presenting, 
providing, or disseminating data that is— 
(1) specific to the functions of the covered agen-
cy; or 
(2) targeted to information consumers that di-
rectly interface with the services, portals, or other 
mechanisms of the covered agency. 
SEC. 759. COVERED AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each covered agency shall— 
(1) prepare, maintain, publish, and implement a 
strategy for advancing geographic information and 
related geospatial data and activities appropriate to 
the mission of the covered agency, in support of the 
strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infra-
structure prepared under section 755(c); 
(2) collect, maintain, disseminate, and preserve 
geospatial data such that the resulting data, informa-
tion, or products can be readily shared with other 
Federal agencies and non-Federal users;
606 
(3) promote the integration of geospatial data 
from all sources; 
(4) ensure that data information products and 
other records created in geospatial data and activities 
are included on agency record schedules that have 
been approved by the National Archives and Records 
Administration; 
(5) allocate resources to fulfill the responsibilities 
of effective geospatial data collection, production, and 
stewardship with regard to related activities of the 
covered agency, and as necessary to support the ac-
tivities of the Committee; 
(6) use the geospatial data standards, including 
the standards for metadata for geospatial data, and 
other appropriate standards, including documenting 
geospatial data with the relevant metadata and mak-
ing metadata available through the GeoPlatform; 
(7) coordinate and work in partnership with 
other Federal agencies, agencies of State, tribal, and 
local governments, institutions of higher education, 
and the private sector to efficiently and cost-effec-
tively collect, integrate, maintain, disseminate, and 
preserve geospatial data, building upon existing non- 
Federal geospatial data to the extent possible; 
(8) use geospatial information to—
607 
(A) make Federal geospatial information 
and services more useful to the public; 
(B) enhance operations; 
(C) support decision making; and 
(D) enhance reporting to the public and to 
Congress; 
(9) protect personal privacy and maintain con-
fidentiality in accordance with Federal policy and 
law; 
(10) participate in determining, when applica-
ble, whether declassified data can contribute to and 
become a part of the National Spatial Data Infra-
structure; 
(11) 
search 
all 
sources, 
including 
the 
GeoPlatform, to determine if existing Federal, State, 
local, or private geospatial data meets the needs of the 
covered agency before expending funds for geospatial 
data collection; 
(12) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure 
that a person receiving Federal funds for geospatial 
data collection provides high-quality data; and 
(13) appoint a contact to coordinate with the 
lead covered agencies for collection, acquisition, main-
tenance, 
and 
dissemination 
of 
the 
National
608 
Geospatial Data Asset data themes used by the cov-
ered agency. 
(b) REPORTING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each covered agency shall 
submit to the Committee an annual report regarding 
the achievements of the covered agency in preparing 
and implementing the strategy described in subsection 
(a)(1) and complying with the other requirements 
under subsection (a). 
(2) BUDGET SUBMISSION.—Each covered agency 
shall— 
(A) include geospatial data in preparing 
the budget submission of the covered agency to 
the President under sections 1105(a) and 1108 of 
title 31, United States Code; 
(B) maintain an inventory of all geospatial 
data assets in accordance with OMB Circular 
A–130, or any successor thereto; and 
(C) prepare an annual report to Congress 
identifying Federal-wide geospatial data assets, 
as defined in OMB Circular A–16, as set forth 
in OMB memo M–11–03, Issuance of OMB Cir-
cular A–16 Supplemental Guidance (November 
10, 2010), or any successor thereto.
609 
(3) DISCLOSURE.—Each covered agency shall 
disclose each contract, cooperative agreement, grant, 
or other transaction that deals with geospatial data, 
which may include posting information relating to 
the contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other 
transaction 
on 
www.USAspending.gov 
and 
www.itdashboard.gov, or any successors thereto. 
(4) OMB REVIEW.—In reviewing the annual 
budget justifications submitted by covered agencies, 
the Office of Management and Budget shall take into 
consideration the summary and evaluations required 
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 
753(c)(10), comments, and replies to comments as re-
quired under paragraphs (11) and (12) of section 
753(c), in its annual evaluation of the budget jus-
tification of each covered agency. 
(5) REPORTING.—The Office of Management and 
Budget shall include a discussion of the summaries 
and evaluation of the progress in establishing the Na-
tional Spatial Data Infrastructure in each E-Govern-
ment status report submitted under section 3606 of 
title 44, United States Code. 
(c) AUDITS.—Not less than once every 2 years, the in-
spector general of a covered agency (or senior ethics official 
of the covered agency for a covered agency without an in-
610 
spector general) shall submit to Congress an audit of the 
collection, production, acquisition, maintenance, distribu-
tion, use, and preservation of geospatial data by the covered 
agency, which shall include a review of— 
(1) the compliance of the covered agency with the 
standards for geospatial data, including metadata for 
geospatial data, established under section 757; 
(2) the compliance of the covered agency with the 
requirements under subsection (a); and 
(3) the compliance of the covered agency on the 
limitation on the use of Federal funds under section 
759A. 
SEC. 759A. LIMITATION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS. 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘implemen-
tation date’’ means the date that is 5 years after the date 
on which standards for each National Geospatial Data 
Asset data theme are established under section 757. 
(b) LIMITATION.—Except as provided otherwise in this 
section, on and after the implementation date, a covered 
agency may not use Federal funds for the collection, produc-
tion, acquisition, maintenance, or dissemination of 
geospatial data that does not comply with the applicable 
standards established under section 757, as determined by 
the Committee.
611 
(c) EXCEPTION FOR EXISTING GEOSPATIAL DATA.— 
On and after the implementation date, a covered agency 
may use Federal funds to maintain and disseminate 
geospatial data that does not comply with the applicable 
standards established under section 757 if the geospatial 
data was collected, produced, or acquired by the covered 
agency before the implementation date. 
(d) WAIVER.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mittee may grant a waiver of the limitation under 
subsection (b), upon a request from a covered agency 
submitted in accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A request for a waiver 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) be submitted not later than 30 days be-
fore the implementation date; 
(B) provide a detailed explanation of the 
reasons for seeking a waiver; 
(C) provide a detailed plan to achieve com-
pliance with the applicable standards established 
under section 757; and 
(D) provide the date by which the covered 
agency shall achieve compliance with the appli-
cable standards established under section 757.
612 
(e) BEST EFFORTS
TO COMPLY DURING TRANSI-
TION.—During the period beginning on the date on which 
standards for a National Geospatial Data Asset data theme 
are established under section 757 and ending on the imple-
mentation date, each covered agency, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, shall collect, produce, acquire, maintain, 
and disseminate geospatial data within the National 
Geospatial Data Asset data theme in accordance with the 
standards. 
SEC. 759B. SAVINGS PROVISION. 
Nothing in this subtitle shall repeal, amend, or super-
sede any existing law unless specifically provided in this 
subtitle. 
SEC. 759C. PRIVATE SECTOR. 
The Committee and each covered agency may, to the 
maximum extent practical, rely upon and use the private 
sector in the United States for the provision of geospatial 
data and services. 
Subtitle G—Miscellaneous 
SEC. 761. NEXTGEN RESEARCH. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
613 
Transportation of the Senate a report specifying the top 
5 priority research areas for the implementation and ad-
vancement of NextGen, including— 
(1) an assessment of why the research areas are 
a priority for the implementation and advancement 
of NextGen; 
(2) an identification of the other Federal agen-
cies and private organizations assisting the Adminis-
tration with the research; and 
(3) an estimate of when the research will be com-
pleted. 
SEC. 762. ADVANCED MATERIALS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 445 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall continue operation of the 
Advanced Materials Center of Excellence (referred to in this 
section as the ‘Center’) under its structure as in effect on 
March 1, 2016, which shall focus on applied research and 
training on the durability and maintainability of advanced 
materials in transport airframe structures. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among 
academia, the Transportation Division of the Federal
614 
Aviation Administration, and the commercial aircraft 
industry, including manufacturers, commercial air 
carriers, and suppliers; and 
‘‘(2) establish goals set to advance technology, 
improve engineering practices, and facilitate con-
tinuing education in relevant areas of study.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
chapter 445 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44518. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence.’’. 
TITLE VIII—AVIATION REVENUE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 801. EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FROM AIRPORT AND 
AIRWAY TRUST FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9502(d)(1) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by 
striking ‘‘October 1, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2023’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A) by striking the semi-
colon at the end and inserting ‘‘or the FAA Reauthor-
ization Act of 2018;’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9502(e)(2) of 
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘October 1, 2023’’.
615 
SEC. 802. EXTENSION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND 
AIRWAY TRUST FUND. 
(a) FUEL TAXES.—Section 4081(d)(2)(B) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
(b) TICKET TAXES.— 
(1) PERSONS.—Section 4261(k)(1)(A)(ii) of such 
Code is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
(2) PROPERTY.—Section 4271(d)(1)(A)(ii) of 
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 
2018’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
(c) FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS.— 
(1) FUEL TAX.—Section 4043(d) of such Code is 
amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2021’’ and in-
serting ‘‘September 30, 2023’’. 
(2) TREATMENT
AS
NONCOMMERCIAL
AVIA-
TION.—Section 4083(b) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘October 1, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 
2023’’. 
(3) EXEMPTION FROM TICKET TAXES.—Section 
4261(j) of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2018’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2023’’.
616 
DIVISION C—NATIONAL TRANS-
PORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
REAUTHORIZATION 
ACT 
OF 
2018 
SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Reauthorization Act’’. 
SEC. 1102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this division, the following definitions apply: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board. 
(2) CHAIRMAN.—The term ‘‘Chairman’’ means 
the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety 
Board. 
(3) MOST WANTED LIST.—The term ‘‘Most Want-
ed List’’ means the Board publication entitled ‘‘Most 
Wanted List’’. 
SEC. 1103. 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 appro-
priated for the purposes of this chapter $111,400,000 for 
fiscal year 2019, $112,400,000 for fiscal year 2020, 
$113,400,000 for fiscal year 2021, and $114,400,000 for fis-
617 
cal year 2022. Such sums shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
SEC. 1104. STILL IMAGES. 
(a) STILL IMAGES, VOICE RECORDERS, AND VIDEO 
RECORDERS.— 
(1) COCKPIT RECORDINGS AND TRANSCRIPTS.— 
Section 1114(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(B) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by 
inserting ‘‘REFERENCES
TO
INFORMATION
IN 
MAKING
SAFETY
RECOMMENDATIONS.—’’ before 
‘‘This’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘The Board’’ and inserting ‘‘CONFIDEN-
TIALITY OF RECORDINGS.—Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), the Board’’; and 
(ii) by amending the second sentence to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Subject to subsections (b) and 
(g), the Board shall make public any part of a tran-
script, any written depiction of visual information 
obtained from a video recorder, or any still image ob-
618 
tained from a video recorder the Board decides is rel-
evant to the accident or incident— 
‘‘(A) if the Board holds a public hearing on 
the accident or incident, at the time of the hear-
ing; or 
‘‘(B) if the Board does not hold a public 
hearing, at the time a majority of the other fac-
tual reports on the accident or incident are 
placed in the public docket.’’. 
(2) SURFACE VEHICLE RECORDINGS AND TRAN-
SCRIPTS.—Section 1114(d) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘The Board’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2), the Board’’; and 
(ii) by amending the second sentence to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Subject to subsections (b) and 
(g), the Board shall make public any part of a tran-
script, any written depiction of visual information 
obtained from a video recorder, or any still image ob-
619 
tained from a video recorder the Board decides is rel-
evant to the accident— 
‘‘(A) if the Board holds a public hearing on 
the accident, at the time of the hearing; or 
‘‘(B) if the Board does not hold a public 
hearing, at the time a majority of the other fac-
tual reports on the accident are placed in the 
public docket.’’. 
(3) PRIVACY
PROTECTIONS.—Section 1114 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—Before making public 
any still image obtained from a video recorder under sub-
section (c)(2) or subsection (d)(2), the Board shall take such 
action as appropriate to protect from public disclosure any 
information that readily identifies an individual, including 
a decedent.’’. 
(b) COCKPIT
AND SURFACE VEHICLE RECORDINGS 
AND TRANSCRIPTS.—Section 1154(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘TRANSCRIPTS 
AND RECORDINGS’’ and inserting ‘‘IN GENERAL’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)—
620 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), 
as so redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(A) any still image that the National 
Transportation Safety Board has not made 
available to the public under section 1114(c) or 
1114(d) of this title;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘recorder recording’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘recorder recording, including with regard to 
a video recording any still image that the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board has not 
made available to the public under section 
1114(c) or 1114(d) of this title,’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘re-
corder recording’’ and inserting ‘‘recorder record-
ing, including with regard to a video recording 
any still image that the National Transportation 
Safety Board has not made available to the pub-
lic under section 1114(c) or 1114(d) of this 
title,’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)—
621 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘a still image or’’ be-
fore ‘‘a part of a cockpit’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the part of the tran-
script or the recording’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘the still image, the 
part of the transcript, or the recording’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘a still image or’’ be-
fore ‘‘a part of a cockpit’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the part of the tran-
script or the recording’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘the still image, the 
part of the transcript, or the recording’’; 
and 
(5) in paragraph (6)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
following: 
‘‘(B) STILL
IMAGE.—The term ‘still image’ 
means any still image obtained from a video re-
corder.’’.
622 
SEC. 1105. ELECTRONIC RECORDS. 
Section 1134(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘including an electronic record,’’ 
after ‘‘record,’’. 
SEC. 1106. REPORT ON MOST WANTED LIST METHODOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the date on which 
the first Most Wanted List to be published after the date 
of enactment of this Act is published, the Chairman shall 
publish on a publicly available website of the Board and 
submit to appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the methodology used to prioritize and select recommenda-
tions to be included by the Board in the Most Wanted List. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The report under subsection (a) shall 
include— 
(1) a detailed description of how the Board ac-
counts for the risk to safety addressed in each of its 
recommendations, including the extent to which the 
Board considers— 
(A) the types of data and other information, 
including studies and reports, used to identify 
the amount and probability of risk to safety; 
(B) the reduction of the risk to safety, esti-
mated over a period of time, by implementing 
each recommendation;
623 
(C) the practicality and feasibility of 
achieving the reduction of the risk to safety de-
scribed in subparagraph (B); and 
(D) any alternate means of reducing the 
risk; 
(2) a detailed description of the extent to which 
the Board considers any prior, related investigation, 
safety recommendation, or other safety action when 
prioritizing and selecting recommendations; and 
(3) a description of the extent of coordination 
and consultation when prioritizing and selecting the 
recommendations. 
(c) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 15 months after the 
date that the methodology report is published under sub-
section (a), the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report examining the methodology used by the Board to 
prioritize and select safety recommendations for inclusion 
in the Most Wanted List. 
SEC. 1107. METHODOLOGY. 
(a) REDESIGNATION.—Section 1116 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The National Transportation 
Safety Board shall submit a report to Congress on July 1 
of each year. The report shall include—
624 
‘‘(1) a statistical and analytical summary of the 
transportation accident investigations conducted and 
reviewed by the Board during the prior calendar 
year; 
‘‘(2) a survey and summary of the recommenda-
tions made by the Board to reduce the likelihood of 
recurrence of those accidents together with the ob-
served response to each recommendation; 
‘‘(3) a detailed appraisal of the accident inves-
tigation and accident prevention activities of other 
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the 
United States Government and State and local gov-
ernmental authorities having responsibility for those 
activities under a law of the United States or a State; 
‘‘(4) a description of the activities and oper-
ations of the National Transportation Safety Board 
Training Center during the prior calendar year; 
‘‘(5) a list of accidents, during the prior cal-
endar year, that the Board was required to inves-
tigate under section 1131 but did not investigate and 
an explanation of why they were not investigated; 
and 
‘‘(6) a list of ongoing investigations that have ex-
ceeded the expected time allotted for completion by
625 
Board order and an explanation for the additional 
time required to complete each such investigation.’’. 
(b) METHODOLOGY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 1117 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1117. Methodology 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of the National Transportation Safety 
Board Reauthorization Act, the Chairman shall include 
with each investigative report in which a recommendation 
is issued by the Board a methodology section detailing the 
process and information underlying the selection of each 
recommendation. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—Except as provided in subsection 
(c), the methodology section under subsection (a) shall in-
clude, for each recommendation— 
‘‘(1) a brief summary of the Board’s collection 
and analysis of the specific accident investigation in-
formation most relevant to the recommendation; 
‘‘(2) a description of the Board’s use of external 
information, including studies, reports, and experts, 
other than the findings of a specific accident inves-
tigation, if any were used to inform or support the 
recommendation, including a brief summary of the
626 
specific safety benefits and other effects identified by 
each study, report, or expert; and 
‘‘(3) a brief summary of any examples of actions 
taken by regulated entities before the publication of 
the safety recommendation, to the extent such actions 
are known to the Board, that were consistent with the 
recommendation. 
‘‘(c) ACCEPTABLE LIMITATION.—If the Board knows of 
more than 3 examples taken by regulated entities before the 
publication of the safety recommendation that were con-
sistent with the recommendation, the brief summary under 
subsection (b)(3) may be limited to only 3 of those examples. 
‘‘(d) EXCEPTION.—Subsection (a) shall not apply if 
the recommendation is only for a person to disseminate in-
formation on— 
‘‘(1) an existing agency best practices document; 
or 
‘‘(2) an existing regulatory requirement. 
‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed to require any change to a rec-
ommendation made by the Board before the date of enact-
ment of the National Transportation Safety Board Reau-
thorization Act, unless the recommendation is a repeat rec-
ommendation issued on or after the date of enactment of 
such Act.
627 
‘‘(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section may 
be construed— 
‘‘(1) to delay publication of the findings, cause, 
or probable cause of a Board investigation; 
‘‘(2) to delay the issuance of an urgent rec-
ommendation that the Board has determined must be 
issued to avoid immediate loss, death, or injury; or 
‘‘(3) to limit the number of examples the Board 
may consider before issuing a recommendation.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENT.—The analysis for 
chapter 11 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 1116 the 
following: 
‘‘117. Methodology.’’. 
SEC. 1108. MULTIMODAL ACCIDENT DATABASE MANAGE-
MENT SYSTEM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall establish and 
maintain a multimodal accident database management sys-
tem for Board investigators. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the system shall be 
to support the Board in improving— 
(1) the quality of accident data the Board makes 
available to the public; and 
(2) the selection of accidents for investigation 
and allocation of limited resources.
628 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The system shall— 
(1) maintain a historical record of accidents that 
are investigated by the Board; and 
(2) be capable of the secure storage, retrieval, 
and management of information associated with the 
investigations of such accidents. 
SEC. 1109. ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF INDI-
VIDUALS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. 
(a) AIR CARRIERS HOLDING CERTIFICATES OF PUB-
LIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY.—Section 41113 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a major’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘(and 
any other victim of the accident)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(and any other victim of the accident, including 
any victim on the ground)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘major’’ 
and inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking ‘‘sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’. 
(b) FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS PROVIDING FOREIGN AIR 
TRANSPORTATION.—Section 41313 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended—
629 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘a major’’ and 
inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘a sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘a sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (9) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(9) EQUAL TREATMENT OF PASSENGERS.—An 
assurance that the treatment of the families of nonrev-
enue passengers (and any other victim of the accident, 
including any victim on the ground) will be the same 
as the treatment of the families of revenue pas-
sengers.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (16)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘major’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the foreign air carrier 
will consult’’ and inserting ‘‘will consult’’; 
and 
(E) in paragraph (17)(A), by striking ‘‘sig-
nificant’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’.
630 
(c) ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS IN-
VOLVED IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.—Section 1136 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘aircraft acci-
dent within the United States involving an air car-
rier or foreign air carrier and resulting in a major 
loss of life’’ and inserting ‘‘aircraft accident involving 
an air carrier or foreign air carrier, resulting in any 
loss of life, and for which the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board will serve as the lead investiga-
tive agency’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT.—The term ‘aircraft 
accident’ means any aviation disaster, regardless of 
its cause or suspected cause, for which the National 
Transportation Safety Board is the lead investigative 
agency.’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; 
and
631 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) any other person injured or killed in 
the aircraft accident, as determined appropriate 
by the Board.’’. 
(d) ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES OF PASSENGERS IN-
VOLVED IN RAIL PASSENGER ACCIDENTS.—Section 1139 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘resulting in a 
major loss of life’’ and inserting ‘‘resulting in any 
loss of life, and for which the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board will serve as the lead investiga-
tive agency’’; and 
(2) by amending subsection (h)(1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) RAIL
PASSENGER
ACCIDENT.—The term 
‘rail passenger accident’ means any rail passenger 
disaster that— 
‘‘(A) results in any loss of life; 
‘‘(B) the National Transportation Safety 
Board will serve as the lead investigative agency 
for; and 
‘‘(C) occurs in the provision of—
632 
‘‘(i) interstate intercity rail passenger 
transportation (as such term is defined in 
section 24102); or 
‘‘(ii) high-speed rail (as such term is 
defined in section 26105) transportation, 
regardless of its cause or suspected cause.’’. 
(e) INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS IN-
VOLVED IN ACCIDENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 11 
of subtitle II of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 1140. Information for families of individuals in-
volved in accidents 
‘‘In the course of an investigation of an accident de-
scribed in section 1131(a)(1), except an aircraft accident 
described in section 1136 or a rail passenger accident de-
scribed in section 1139, the Board may, to the maximum 
extent practicable, ensure that the families of individuals 
involved in the accident, and other individuals the Board 
deems appropriate— 
‘‘(1) are informed as to the roles, with respect to 
the accident and the post-accident activities, of the 
Board;
633 
‘‘(2) are briefed, before any public briefing, about 
the accident, its causes, and any other findings from 
the investigation; and 
‘‘(3) are individually informed of and allowed to 
attend any public hearings and meetings of the Board 
about the accident.’’. 
(2) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents 
of chapter 11 of subtitle II of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 1139 the following: 
‘‘1140. Information for families of individuals involved in accidents.’’. 
SEC. 1110. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT 
ON INVESTIGATION LAUNCH DECISION-MAK-
ING PROCESSES. 
Section 1138 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and 
(6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) the process and procedures to select an acci-
dent to investigate;’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting a comma after 
‘‘Science’’.
634 
SEC. 1111. PERIODIC REVIEW OF SAFETY RECOMMENDA-
TIONS. 
(a) REPORTS.—Section 1116 of title 49, United States 
Code, as amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘and studies’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, studies, and retrospective re-
views’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) RETROSPECTIVE REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
not later than June 1, 2019, and at least every 5 
years thereafter, the Chairman shall complete a retro-
spective review of recommendations issued by the 
Board that are classified as open by the Board. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—A review under paragraph (1) 
shall include— 
‘‘(A) a determination of whether the rec-
ommendation should be updated, closed, or re-
issued in light of— 
‘‘(i) changed circumstances; 
‘‘(ii) more recently issued recommenda-
tions; 
‘‘(iii) the availability of new tech-
nologies; or
635 
‘‘(iv) new information making the rec-
ommendation ineffective or insufficient for 
achieving its objective; and 
‘‘(B) a justification for each determination 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date a review under paragraph (1) is complete, the 
Chairman shall submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives a report that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the findings of the review under para-
graph (1); 
‘‘(B) each determination under paragraph 
(2)(A) and justification under paragraph (2)(B); 
and 
‘‘(C) if applicable, a schedule for updating, 
closing, or reissuing a recommendation.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
11 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 1116 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘1116. Reports, studies, and retrospective reviews.’’. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section or the 
amendments made by this section may be construed to limit
636 
or otherwise affect the authority of the Board to update, 
close, or reissue a recommendation. 
SEC. 1112. GENERAL ORGANIZATION. 
(a) TERMS OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.— 
Section 1111(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘3 years’’. 
(b) NONPUBLIC COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS.—Sec-
tion 1111 of such title is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(k) OPEN MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall be deemed 
to be an agency for purposes of section 552b of title 
5. 
‘‘(2) 
NONPUBLIC
COLLABORATIVE
DISCUS-
SIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 552b of title 5, a majority of the members 
may hold a meeting that is not open to public 
observation to discuss official agency business 
if— 
‘‘(i) no formal or informal vote or 
other official agency action is taken at the 
meeting;
637 
‘‘(ii) each individual present at the 
meeting is a member or an employee of the 
Board; 
‘‘(iii) at least 1 member of the Board 
from each political party is present at the 
meeting, if applicable; and 
‘‘(iv) the General Counsel of the Board 
is present at the meeting. 
‘‘(B) DISCLOSURE OF NONPUBLIC COLLABO-
RATIVE
DISCUSSIONS.—Except 
as 
provided 
under subparagraphs (C) and (D), not later than 
2 business days after the conclusion of a meeting 
under subparagraph (A), the Board shall make 
available to the public, in a place easily acces-
sible to the public— 
‘‘(i) a list of the individuals present at 
the meeting; and 
‘‘(ii) a summary of the matters, in-
cluding key issues, discussed at the meeting, 
except for any matter the Board properly 
determines may be withheld from the public 
under section 552b(c) of title 5. 
‘‘(C) SUMMARY.—If the Board properly de-
termines a matter may be withheld from the 
public under section 552b(c) of title 5, the Board
638 
shall provide a summary with as much general 
information as possible on each matter withheld 
from the public. 
‘‘(D) ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS.—If a discus-
sion under subparagraph (A) directly relates to 
an active investigation, the Board shall make the 
disclosure under subparagraph (B) on the date 
the Board adopts the final report. 
‘‘(E) PRESERVATION
OF
OPEN
MEETINGS 
REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENCY ACTION.—Nothing 
in this paragraph may be construed to limit the 
applicability of section 552b of title 5 with re-
spect to a meeting of the members other than 
that described in this paragraph. 
‘‘(F) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in this paragraph may be construed— 
‘‘(i) to limit the applicability of section 
552b of title 5 with respect to any informa-
tion which is proposed to be withheld from 
the public under subparagraph (B)(ii); or 
‘‘(ii) to authorize the Board to with-
hold from any individual any record that is 
accessible to that individual under section 
552a of title 5.’’.
639 
(c) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE SMALL UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES.—Section 
1113(b)(1) of such title is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(J) notwithstanding section 1343 of title 
31, acquire 1 or more small unmanned aircraft 
(as defined in section 44801) for use in inves-
tigations under this chapter.’’. 
(d) INVESTIGATIVE OFFICERS.—Section 1113 of such 
title is amended by striking subsection (h). 
(e) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 1113(a)(1) of 
such title is amended by striking ‘‘subpena’’ and inserting 
‘‘subpoena’’. 
SEC. 1113. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
(a) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
subchapter III of chapter 11 of subtitle II of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended in the item relating to section 1138 
by striking ‘‘Board’’ and inserting ‘‘Board.’’. 
(b) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Section 1131(a)(1)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a pub-
lic aircraft as defined by section 40102(a)(37) of this title’’
640 
and inserting ‘‘a public aircraft as defined by section 
40102(a) of this title’’. 
DIVISION D—DISASTER 
RECOVERY REFORM 
SEC. 1201. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Disaster Recovery 
Reform Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 1202. APPLICABILITY. 
(a) APPLICABILITY FOR STAFFORD ACT.—Except as 
otherwise expressly provided, the amendments in this divi-
sion to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) apply to each 
major disaster and emergency declared by the President on 
or after August 1, 2017, under the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. 
(b) DIVISION APPLICABILITY.—Except as otherwise ex-
pressly provided, the authorities provided under this divi-
sion apply to each major disaster and emergency declared 
by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act on or after January 1, 
2016. 
SEC. 1203. DEFINITIONS. 
In this division:
641 
(1) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency. 
(2) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Agency’’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122). 
SEC. 1204. WILDFIRE PREVENTION. 
(a) MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.—Section 420 of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE.—Whether or 
not a major disaster is declared, the President may provide 
hazard mitigation assistance in accordance with section 
404 in any area affected by a fire for which assistance was 
provided under this section.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) is amended—
642 
(1) in section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 5170c(a)) (as 
amended by this division)— 
(A) by inserting before the first period ‘‘, or 
any area affected by a fire for which assistance 
was provided under section 420’’; and 
(B) in the third sentence by inserting ‘‘or 
event under section 420’’ after ‘‘major disaster’’ 
each place it appears; and 
(2) in section 322(e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5165(e)(1)), 
by inserting ‘‘or event under section 420’’ after 
‘‘major disaster’’ each place it appears. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act and annually there-
after, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Ap-
propriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report containing a summary of any projects carried out, 
and any funding provided to those projects, under sub-
section (d) of section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187) (as 
amended by this section).
643 
SEC. 1205. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES. 
Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) USE OF ASSISTANCE.—Recipients of hazard miti-
gation assistance provided under this section and section 
203 may use the assistance to conduct activities to help re-
duce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering 
in any area affected by a wildfire or windstorm, such as— 
‘‘(1) reseeding ground cover with quick-growing 
or native species; 
‘‘(2) mulching with straw or chipped wood; 
‘‘(3) constructing straw, rock, or log dams in 
small tributaries to prevent flooding; 
‘‘(4) placing logs and other erosion barriers to 
catch sediment on hill slopes; 
‘‘(5) installing debris traps to modify road and 
trail drainage mechanisms; 
‘‘(6) modifying or removing culverts to allow 
drainage to flow freely; 
‘‘(7) adding drainage dips and constructing 
emergency spillways to keep roads and bridges from 
washing out during floods; 
‘‘(8) planting grass to prevent the spread of nox-
ious weeds; 
‘‘(9) installing warning signs;
644 
‘‘(10) establishing defensible space measures; 
‘‘(11) reducing hazardous fuels; 
‘‘(12) mitigating windstorm damage, including 
replacing or installing electrical transmission or dis-
tribution utility pole structures with poles that are 
resilient to extreme wind and combined ice and wind 
loadings for the basic wind speeds and ice conditions 
associated with the relevant location; 
‘‘(13) removing standing burned trees; and 
‘‘(14) replacing water systems that have been 
burned and have caused contamination.’’. 
SEC. 1206. ELIGIBILITY FOR CODE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (6); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) provide assistance to State and local gov-
ernments for building code and floodplain manage-
ment ordinance administration and enforcement, in-
645 
cluding inspections for substantial damage compli-
ance; and’’. 
(b) REPAIR, RESTORATION, AND REPLACEMENT OF 
DAMAGED FACILITIES.—Section 406(a)(2) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5172(a)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) base and overtime wages for extra 
hires to facilitate the implementation and en-
forcement of adopted building codes for a period 
of not more than 180 days after the major dis-
aster is declared.’’. 
SEC. 1207. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) HAZARD MITIGATION.—Section 406(c) of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ‘‘90 percent 
of’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘75 percent 
of’’.
646 
(b) FLOOD INSURANCE.—Section 406(d)(1) of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘This section shall not apply to more 
than one building of a multi-structure educational, law en-
forcement, correctional, fire, or medical campus, for any 
major disaster or emergency declared by the President 
under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170, 5191) on or after January 1, 2016, through 
December 31, 2018.’’. 
(c) PARTICIPATION.—Section 428(d) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5189f(d)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Participation in’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Participation in’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) NO CONDITIONS.—The President may not 
condition the provision of Federal assistance under 
this Act on the election by a State, local, or Indian 
tribal government, or owner or operator of a private 
nonprofit facility to participate in the alternative 
procedures adopted under this section.’’.
647 
(d) CERTIFICATION.—Section 428(e)(1) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5189f(e)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G) once certified by a professionally li-
censed engineer and accepted by the Adminis-
trator, the estimates on which grants made pur-
suant to this section are based shall be presumed 
to be reasonable and eligible costs, as long as 
there is no evidence of fraud.’’. 
SEC. 1208. PRIORITIZATION OF FACILITIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide guidance and 
training on an annual basis to State, local, and Indian 
tribal governments, first responders, and utility companies 
on— 
(1) the need to prioritize assistance to hospitals, 
nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities to 
ensure that such health care facilities remain func-
tioning or return to functioning as soon as prac-
648 
ticable during power outages caused by natural haz-
ards, including severe weather events; 
(2) how hospitals, nursing homes and other long- 
term care facilities should adequately prepare for 
power outages during a major disaster or emergency, 
as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122); and 
(3) how State, local, and Indian tribal govern-
ments, first responders, utility companies, hospitals, 
nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities 
should develop a strategy to coordinate emergency re-
sponse plans, including the activation of emergency 
response plans, in anticipation of a major disaster, 
including severe weather events. 
SEC. 1209. GUIDANCE ON EVACUATION ROUTES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—The Administrator, in co-
ordination with the Administrator of the Federal 
Highway Administration, shall develop and issue 
guidance for State, local, and Indian tribal govern-
ments regarding the identification of evacuation 
routes. 
(2) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Highway Administration, in coordination with
649 
the Administrator, shall revise existing guidance or 
issue new guidance as appropriate for State, local, 
and Indian tribal governments regarding the design, 
construction, maintenance, and repair of evacuation 
routes. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.— 
(1) IDENTIFICATION.—In developing the guid-
ance under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall 
consider— 
(A) whether evacuation routes have resisted 
impacts and recovered quickly from disasters, re-
gardless of cause; 
(B) the need to evacuate special needs popu-
lations, including— 
(i) individuals with a physical or men-
tal disability; 
(ii) individuals in schools, daycare 
centers, mobile home parks, prisons, nursing 
homes and other long-term care facilities, 
and detention centers; 
(iii) individuals with limited-English 
proficiency; 
(iv) the elderly; and 
(v) individuals who are tourists, sea-
sonal workers, or homeless;
650 
(C) the sharing of information and other 
public communications with evacuees during 
evacuations; 
(D) the sheltering of evacuees, including the 
care, protection, and sheltering of animals; 
(E) the return of evacuees to their homes; 
and 
(F) such other items the Administrator con-
siders appropriate. 
(2) DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND 
REPAIR.—In revising or issuing guidance under sub-
section (a)(2), the Administrator of the Federal High-
way Administration shall consider— 
(A) methods that assist evacuation routes 
to— 
(i) withstand likely risks to viability, 
including flammability and hydrostatic 
forces; 
(ii) improve durability, strength (in-
cluding the ability to withstand tensile 
stresses and compressive stresses), and sus-
tainability; and 
(iii) provide for long-term cost savings; 
(B) the ability of evacuation routes to effec-
tively manage contraflow operations;
651 
(C) for evacuation routes on public lands, 
the viewpoints of the applicable Federal land 
management agency regarding emergency oper-
ations, sustainability, and resource protection; 
and 
(D) such other items the Administrator of 
the Federal Highway Administration considers 
appropriate. 
(c) STUDY.—The Administrator, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration 
and State, local, territorial, and Indian tribal governments, 
may— 
(1) conduct a study of the adequacy of available 
evacuation routes to accommodate the flow of evac-
uees; and 
(2) submit recommendations on how to help with 
anticipated evacuation route flow, based on the study 
conducted under paragraph (1), to— 
(A) the Federal Highway Administration; 
(B) the Agency; 
(C) State, local, territorial, and Indian 
tribal governments; and 
(D) Congress. 
SEC. 1210. DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—
652 
(1) AUTHORITY.—Section 312(b) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5155(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(4) WAIVER OF GENERAL PROHIBITION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The President may 
waive the general prohibition provided in sub-
section (a) upon request of a Governor on behalf 
of the State or on behalf of a person, business 
concern, or any other entity suffering losses as a 
result of a major disaster or emergency, if the 
President finds such waiver is in the public in-
terest and will not result in waste, fraud, or 
abuse. In making this decision, the President 
may consider the following: 
‘‘(i) The recommendations of the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency made in consultation with 
the Federal agency or agencies admin-
istering the duplicative program. 
‘‘(ii) If a waiver is granted, the assist-
ance to be funded is cost effective. 
‘‘(iii) Equity and good conscience. 
‘‘(iv) Other matters of public policy 
considered appropriate by the President.
653 
‘‘(B) GRANT OR DENIAL OF WAIVER.—A re-
quest under subparagraph (A) shall be granted 
or denied not later than 45 days after submis-
sion of such request. 
‘‘(C) 
PROHIBITION
ON
DETERMINATION 
THAT
LOAN
IS
A
DUPLICATION.—Notwith-
standing subsection (c), in carrying out subpara-
graph (A), the President may not determine that 
a loan is a duplication of assistance, provided 
that all Federal assistance is used toward a loss 
suffered as a result of the major disaster or emer-
gency.’’. 
(2) LIMITATION.—This subsection, including the 
amendment made by paragraph (1), shall not be con-
strued to apply to section 406 or 408 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5172, 5174). 
(3) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by 
paragraph (1) shall apply to any major disaster or 
emergency declared by the President under section 
401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170, 5191) between January 1, 2016, and 
December 31, 2021.
654 
(4) SUNSET.—On the date that is 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, section 312(b) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155(b)) is amended by strik-
ing paragraph (4), as added by subsection (a)(1) of 
this section. 
(5) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator, in coordination with other relevant 
Federal agencies, shall submit to the congres-
sional committees of jurisdiction a report con-
ducted by all relevant Federal agencies to im-
prove the comprehensive delivery of disaster as-
sistance to individuals following a major dis-
aster or emergency declaration under the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act. 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
subparagraph (A) shall include both administra-
tive actions taken, or planned to be taken, by the 
agencies as well as legislative proposals, where 
appropriate, of the following: 
(i) Efforts to improve coordination be-
tween the Agency and other relevant Federal
655 
agencies when delivering disaster assistance 
to individuals. 
(ii) Clarify the sequence of delivery of 
disaster assistance to individuals from the 
Agency, and other relevant Federal agencies. 
(iii) Clarify the interpretation and im-
plementation of section 312 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) when pro-
viding disaster assistance to individuals, 
including providing a common interpreta-
tion across the Agency, and other relevant 
Federal agencies, of the definitions and re-
quirements under such section 312. 
(iv) Increase the effectiveness of com-
munication to applicants for assistance pro-
grams for individuals after a disaster dec-
laration, including the breadth of programs 
available and the potential impacts of uti-
lizing one program versus another. 
(C) REPORT
UPDATE.—Not later than 4 
years after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the Administrator, in coordination with 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to 
the congressional committees of jurisdiction an
656 
update to the report required under subpara-
graph (A). 
(b) FUNDING OF A FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED WATER 
RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) and its 
implementing regulations, assistance provided pursu-
ant to section 404 of such Act may be used to fund 
activities authorized for construction within the scope 
of a federally authorized water resources development 
project of the Army Corps of Engineers if such activi-
ties are also eligible activities under such section. 
(2) FEDERAL
FUNDING.—All Federal funding 
provided under section 404 pursuant to this section 
shall be applied toward the Federal share of such 
project. 
(3) NON-FEDERAL
MATCH.—All non-Federal 
matching funds required under section 404 pursuant 
to this section shall be applied toward the non-Fed-
eral share of such project. 
(4) TOTAL FEDERAL SHARE.—Funding provided 
under section 404 pursuant to this section may not 
exceed the total Federal share for such project. 
(5) NO EFFECT.—Nothing in this section shall—
657 
(A) affect the cost-share requirement of a 
hazard mitigation measure under section 404; 
(B) affect the eligibility criteria for a haz-
ard mitigation measure under section 404; 
(C) affect the cost share requirements of a 
federally authorized water resources development 
project; and 
(D) affect the responsibilities of a non-Fed-
eral interest with respect to the project, including 
those related to the provision of lands, easements, 
rights-of-way, dredge material disposal areas, 
and necessary relocations. 
(6) LIMITATION.—If a federally authorized water 
resources development project of the Army Corps of 
Engineers is constructed with funding provided under 
section 404 pursuant to this subsection, no further 
Federal funding shall be provided for construction of 
such project 
SEC. 1211. STATE ADMINISTRATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DI-
RECT TEMPORARY HOUSING AND PERMA-
NENT HOUSING CONSTRUCTION. 
(a) STATE ROLE.—Section 408(f) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174(f)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)—
658 
(A) by striking the paragraph heading and 
inserting ‘‘STATE- OR INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERN-
MENT-ADMINISTERED
ASSISTANCE
AND
OTHER 
NEEDS ASSISTANCE.—’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘financial’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and 
(e) if the President and the State or Indian 
tribal government comply, as determined by 
the Administrator, with paragraph (3)’’; 
and 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘financial’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (e)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), and 
(e)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.—A State or Indian 
tribal government desiring to provide assistance 
under subsection (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), or (e) shall 
submit to the President an application for a 
grant to provide financial assistance under the 
program.
659 
‘‘(B) CRITERIA.—The President, in con-
sultation and coordination with State and In-
dian tribal governments, shall establish criteria 
for the approval of applications submitted under 
subparagraph (A). The criteria shall include, at 
a minimum— 
‘‘(i) a requirement that the State or 
Indian tribal government submit a housing 
strategy under subparagraph (C); 
‘‘(ii) the demonstrated ability of the 
State or Indian tribal government to man-
age the program under this section; 
‘‘(iii) there being in effect a plan ap-
proved by the President as to how the State 
or Indian tribal government will comply 
with applicable Federal laws and regula-
tions and how the State or Indian tribal 
government will provide assistance under 
its plan; 
‘‘(iv) a requirement that the State or 
Indian tribal government comply with rules 
and regulations established pursuant to sub-
section (j); and
660 
‘‘(v) a requirement that the President, 
or the designee of the President, comply 
with subsection (i). 
‘‘(C) REQUIREMENT
OF
HOUSING
STRAT-
EGY.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A State or Indian 
tribal government submitting an applica-
tion under this paragraph shall have an ap-
proved housing strategy, which shall be de-
veloped and submitted to the President for 
approval. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—The housing 
strategy required under clause (i) shall— 
‘‘(I) outline the approach of the 
State in working with Federal part-
ners, Indian tribal governments, local 
communities, nongovernmental organi-
zations, and individual disaster sur-
vivors to meet disaster-related shel-
tering and housing needs; and 
‘‘(II) include the establishment of 
an activation plan for a State Disaster 
Housing Task Force, as outlined in the 
National Disaster Housing Strategy, to 
bring together State, tribal, local, Fed-
661 
eral, nongovernmental, and private 
sector expertise to evaluate housing re-
quirements, consider potential solu-
tions, recognize special needs popu-
lations, and propose recommendations. 
‘‘(D) QUALITY ASSURANCE.—Before approv-
ing an application submitted under this section, 
the President, or the designee of the President, 
shall institute adequate policies, procedures, and 
internal controls to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, 
and program mismanagement for this program 
and for programs under subsections (c)(1)(B), 
(c)(4), and (e). The President shall monitor and 
conduct quality assurance activities on a State 
or Indian tribal government’s implementation of 
programs under subsections (c)(1)(B), (c)(4), 
and (e). If, after approving an application of a 
State or Indian tribal government submitted 
under this paragraph, the President determines 
that the State or Indian tribal government is not 
administering the program established by this 
section in a manner satisfactory to the Presi-
dent, the President shall withdraw the approval. 
‘‘(E) AUDITS.—The Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall provide
662 
for periodic audits of the programs administered 
by States and Indian tribal governments under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(F) APPLICABLE LAWS.—All Federal laws 
applicable to the management, administration, 
or contracting of the programs by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency under this sec-
tion shall be applicable to the management, ad-
ministration, or contracting by a non-Federal 
entity under this section. 
‘‘(G) REPORT
ON
EFFECTIVENESS.—Not 
later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this paragraph, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall submit 
a report to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives on the State or 
Indian tribal government’s role to provide assist-
ance under this section. The report shall contain 
an assessment of the effectiveness of the State or 
Indian tribal government’s role in providing as-
sistance under this section, including—
663 
‘‘(i) whether the State or Indian tribal 
government’s role helped to improve the gen-
eral speed of disaster recovery; 
‘‘(ii) whether the State or Indian tribal 
government providing assistance under this 
section had the capacity to administer this 
section; and 
‘‘(iii) recommendations for changes to 
improve the program if the State or Indian 
tribal government’s role to administer the 
programs should be continued. 
‘‘(H) REPORT ON INCENTIVES.—Not later 
than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this paragraph, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives on a potential 
incentive structure for awards made under this 
section to encourage participation by eligible 
States and Indian tribal governments. In devel-
oping this report, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency shall con-
sult with State, local, and Indian tribal entities
664 
to gain their input on any such incentive struc-
ture to encourage participation and shall include 
this information in the report. This report 
should address, among other options, potential 
adjustments to the cost-share requirement and 
management costs to State and Indian tribal 
governments. 
‘‘(I) PROHIBITION.—The President may not 
condition the provision of Federal assistance 
under this Act on a State or Indian tribal gov-
ernment requesting a grant under this section. 
‘‘(J) MISCELLANEOUS.— 
‘‘(i) NOTICE AND COMMENT.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency may waive notice and com-
ment rulemaking with respect to rules to 
carry out this section, if the Administrator 
determines doing so is necessary to expedi-
tiously implement this section, and may 
carry out this section as a pilot program 
until such regulations are promulgated. 
‘‘(ii) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall issue
665 
final regulations to implement this sub-
section as amended by the Disaster Recov-
ery Reform Act of 2018. 
‘‘(iii) WAIVER AND EXPIRATION.—The 
authority under clause (i) and any pilot 
program implemented pursuant to such 
clause shall expire 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this paragraph or upon 
issuance of final regulations pursuant to 
clause (ii), whichever occurs sooner.’’. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency (FEMA) shall reimburse State and local 
units of government (for requests received within a period 
of 3 years after the declaration of a major disaster under 
section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170)) upon deter-
mination that a locally implemented housing solution, im-
plemented by State or local units of government— 
(1) costs 50 percent of comparable FEMA solu-
tion or whatever the locally implemented solution 
costs, whichever is lower; 
(2) complies with local housing regulations and 
ordinances; and 
(3) the housing solution was implemented within 
90 days of the disaster.
666 
SEC. 1212. ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSE-
HOLDS. 
Section 408(h) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(h)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, excluding 
financial assistance to rent alternate housing accom-
modations under subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) and financial 
assistance to address other needs under subsection (e)’’ 
after ‘‘disaster’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para-
graph (3); 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) OTHER
NEEDS
ASSISTANCE.—The max-
imum financial assistance any individual or house-
hold may receive under subsection (e) shall be equiva-
lent to the amount set forth in paragraph (1) with re-
spect to a single major disaster.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (3) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs 
(1) and (2)’’; and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) (as so redes-
ignated) the following: 
‘‘(4) EXCLUSION OF NECESSARY EXPENSES FOR 
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.—
667 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The maximum amount 
of assistance established under paragraph (1) 
shall exclude expenses to repair or replace dam-
aged accessibility-related improvements under 
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) for 
individuals with disabilities. 
‘‘(B) OTHER
NEEDS
ASSISTANCE.—The 
maximum amount of assistance established 
under paragraph (2) shall exclude expenses to re-
pair or replace accessibility-related personal 
property under subsection (e)(2) for individuals 
with disabilities.’’. 
SEC. 1213. MULTIFAMILY LEASE AND REPAIR ASSISTANCE. 
(a) LEASE AND REPAIR OF RENTAL UNITS FOR TEM-
PORARY
HOUSING.—Section 408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(II)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(II) 
IMPROVEMENTS
OR
RE-
PAIRS.—Under the terms of any lease 
agreement for property entered into 
under this subsection, the value of the 
improvements or repairs shall be de-
ducted from the value of the lease 
agreement.’’.
668 
(b) 
RENTAL
PROPERTIES
IMPACTED.—Section 
408(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief 
and 
Emergency 
Assistance 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
5174(c)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(aa) enter into lease agree-
ments with owners of multifamily 
rental property impacted by a 
major disaster or located in areas 
covered by a major disaster dec-
laration to house individuals and 
households eligible for assistance 
under this section; and’’. 
(c) INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the inspec-
tor general of the Department of Homeland Security 
shall— 
(1) assess the use of the authority provided under 
section 408(c)(1)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(c)(1)(B)), as amended by this division, includ-
ing the adequacy of any benefit-cost analysis done to 
justify the use of this alternative; and 
(2) submit a report on the results of the assess-
ment conducted under paragraph (1) to the appro-
priate committees of Congress.
669 
SEC. 1214. PRIVATE NONPROFIT FACILITY. 
Section 102(11)(B) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief 
and 
Emergency 
Assistance 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
5122(11)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘food banks,’’ after 
‘‘shelter workshops,’’. 
SEC. 1215. MANAGEMENT COSTS. 
Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5165b) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘any adminis-
trative expense, and any other expense not directly 
chargeable to’’ and inserting ‘‘any direct administra-
tive cost, and any other administrative expense asso-
ciated with’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1), as added by subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘establish’’ and inserting 
‘‘implement’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) SPECIFIC
MANAGEMENT
COSTS.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency shall provide the following percentage rates, 
in addition to the eligible project costs, to cover direct
670 
and indirect costs of administering the following pro-
grams: 
‘‘(A) 
HAZARD
MITIGATION.—A 
grantee 
under section 404 may be reimbursed not more 
than 15 percent of the total amount of the grant 
award under such section of which not more 
than 10 percent may be used by the grantee and 
5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs. 
‘‘(B) 
PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE.—A 
grantee 
under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502 may be 
reimbursed not more than 12 percent of the total 
award amount under such sections, of which not 
more than 7 percent may be used by the grantee 
and 5 percent by the subgrantee for such costs.’’. 
SEC. 1216. FLEXIBILITY. 
(a) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘‘covered assistance’’ means assistance provided— 
(A) under section 408 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5174); and 
(B) in relation to a major disaster or emer-
gency declared by the President under section 
401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
671 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) on or after October 
28, 2012. 
(2) 
AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding 
section 
3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, the Adminis-
trator— 
(A) subject to subparagraph (B), may waive 
a debt owed to the United States related to cov-
ered assistance provided to an individual or 
household if— 
(i) the covered assistance was distrib-
uted based on an error by the Agency; 
(ii) there was no fault on behalf of the 
debtor; and 
(iii) the collection of the debt would be 
against equity and good conscience; and 
(B) may not waive a debt under subpara-
graph (A) if the debt involves fraud, the presen-
tation of a false claim, or misrepresentation by 
the debtor or any party having an interest in the 
claim. 
(3) MONITORING OF COVERED ASSISTANCE DIS-
TRIBUTED BASED ON ERROR.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of 
the Department of Homeland Security shall 
monitor the distribution of covered assistance to
672 
individuals and households to determine the per-
centage of such assistance distributed based on 
an error. 
(B) REMOVAL
OF
WAIVER
AUTHORITY 
BASED ON EXCESSIVE ERROR RATE.—If the In-
spector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security determines, with respect to any 12- 
month period, that the amount of covered assist-
ance distributed based on an error by the Agency 
exceeds 4 percent of the total amount of covered 
assistance distributed— 
(i) the Inspector General shall notify 
the Administrator and publish the deter-
mination in the Federal Register; and 
(ii) with respect to any major disaster 
or emergency declared by the President 
under section 401 or section 501, respec-
tively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) after the date 
on which the determination is published 
under subparagraph (A), the authority of 
the Administrator to waive debt under 
paragraph (2) shall no longer be effective.
673 
(b) RECOUPMENT OF CERTAIN ASSISTANCE PROHIB-
ITED.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
section 
3716(e) of title 31, United States Code, and unless 
there is evidence of civil or criminal fraud, the Agen-
cy may not take any action to recoup covered assist-
ance from the recipient of such assistance if the re-
ceipt of such assistance occurred on a date that is 
more than 3 years before the date on which the Agen-
cy first provides to the recipient written notification 
of an intent to recoup. 
(2) COVERED
ASSISTANCE
DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘‘covered assistance’’ means as-
sistance provided— 
(A) under section 408 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5174); and 
(B) in relation to a major disaster or emer-
gency declared by the President under section 
401 or 501, respectively, of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170; 42 U.S.C. 5191) on or after January 1, 
2012. 
(c) STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.—
674 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 705 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Except’’ and inserting 
‘‘Notwithstanding section 3716(e) of title 
31, United States Code, and except’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘report for the disaster 
or emergency’’ and inserting ‘‘report for 
project completion as certified by the grant-
ee’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘re-
port for the disaster or emergency’’ and in-
serting ‘‘report for project completion as 
certified by the grantee’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘for 
project completion as certified by the grant-
ee’’ after ‘‘final expenditure report’’. 
(2) APPLICABILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to disaster 
or emergency assistance provided to a State or 
local government on or after January 1, 2004— 
(i) no administrative action may be 
taken to recover a payment of such assist-
675 
ance after the date of enactment of this Act 
if the action is prohibited under section 
705(a)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5205(a)(1)), as amended by para-
graph (1); and 
(ii) any administrative action to re-
cover a payment of such assistance that is 
pending on such date of enactment shall be 
terminated if the action is prohibited under 
section 705(a)(1) of that Act, as amended 
by paragraph (1). 
(B) LIMITATION.—This section, including 
the amendments made by this section, may not 
be construed to invalidate or otherwise affect any 
administration action completed before the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1217. ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DISASTER MITIGATION.—Section 209 of the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3149) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) DISASTER MITIGATION.—In providing assistance 
pursuant to subsection (c)(2), if appropriate and as appli-
cable, the Secretary may encourage hazard mitigation in 
assistance provided pursuant to such subsection.’’.
676 
(b) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT 
GRANTS.—Section 661(d) of the Post-Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 761(d)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘for fiscal year 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022’’. 
(c) 
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE 
GRANTS PROGRAM.—Section 662(f) of the Post-Katrina 
Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 
762(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘the program’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘2012’’ and inserting ‘‘the program, for 
each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 403(a)(3) of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(a)(3)) is amended by striking 
the second subparagraph (J). 
SEC. 1218. NATIONAL VETERINARY EMERGENCY TEAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency may establish one or more 
national veterinary emergency teams at accredited colleges 
of veterinary medicine. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—A national veterinary emer-
gency team shall— 
(1) deploy with a team of the National Urban 
Search and Rescue Response System to assist with— 
(A) veterinary care of canine search teams;
677 
(B) locating and treating companion ani-
mals, service animals, livestock, and other ani-
mals; and 
(C) surveillance and treatment of zoonotic 
diseases; 
(2) recruit, train, and certify veterinary profes-
sionals, including veterinary students, in accordance 
with an established set of plans and standard oper-
ating guidelines to carry out the duties associated 
with planning for and responding to major disasters 
and emergencies as described in paragraph (1); 
(3) assist State governments, Indian tribal gov-
ernments, local governments, and nonprofit organiza-
tions in developing emergency management and evac-
uation plans that account for the care and rescue of 
animals and in improving local readiness for pro-
viding veterinary medical response during an emer-
gency or major disaster; and 
(4) coordinate with the Department of Homeland 
Security, the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the Department of Agriculture, State, local, 
and Indian tribal governments (including depart-
ments of animal and human health), veterinary and 
health care professionals, and volunteers.
678 
SEC. 1219. RIGHT OF ARBITRATION. 
Section 423 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) RIGHT OF ARBITRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding this section, 
an applicant for assistance under this title may re-
quest arbitration to dispute the eligibility for assist-
ance or repayment of assistance provided for a dis-
pute of more than $500,000 for any disaster that oc-
curred after January 1, 2016. Such arbitration shall 
be conducted by the Civilian Board of Contract Ap-
peals and the decision of such Board shall be binding. 
‘‘(2) REVIEW.—The Civilian Board of Contract 
Appeals shall consider from the applicant all original 
and additional documentation, testimony, or other 
such evidence supporting the applicant’s position at 
any time during arbitration. 
‘‘(3) RURAL AREAS.—For an applicant for as-
sistance in a rural area under this title, the assist-
ance amount eligible for arbitration pursuant to this 
subsection shall be $100,000. 
‘‘(4) RURAL AREA DEFINED.—For the purposes 
of this subsection, the term ‘rural area’ means an 
area with a population of less than 200,000 outside 
an urbanized area.
679 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBILITY.—To participate in arbitra-
tion under this subsection, an applicant— 
‘‘(A) shall submit the dispute to the arbitra-
tion process established under the authority 
granted under section 601 of Public Law 111-5; 
and 
‘‘(B) may submit a request for arbitration 
after the completion of the first appeal under 
subsection (a) at any time before the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency has issued a final agency determination 
or 180 days after the Administrator’s receipt of 
the appeal if the Administrator has not provided 
the applicant with a final determination on the 
appeal. The applicant’s request shall contain 
documentation from the administrative record 
for the first appeal and may contain additional 
documentation supporting the applicant’s posi-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 1220. UNIFIED FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HIS-
TORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW. 
(a) REVIEW AND ANALYSIS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall review the Unified Federal Environmental and His-
toric Preservation review process established pursuant to
680 
section 429 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5189g), and submit 
a report to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate that includes the following: 
(1) An analysis of whether and how the unified 
process has expedited the interagency review process 
to ensure compliance with the environmental and his-
toric requirements under Federal law relating to dis-
aster recovery projects. 
(2) A survey and analysis of categorical exclu-
sions used by other Federal agencies that may be ap-
plicable to any activity related to a major disaster or 
emergency declared by the President under section 
401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5170, 5191). 
(3) Recommendations on any further actions, in-
cluding any legislative proposals, needed to expedite 
and streamline the review process. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—After completing the review, sur-
vey, and analyses under subsection (a), but not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and after 
providing notice and opportunity for public comment, the
681 
Administrator shall issue regulations to implement any reg-
ulatory recommendations, including any categorical exclu-
sions identified under subsection (a), to the extent that the 
categorical exclusions meet the criteria for a categorical ex-
clusion under section 1508.4 of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and section II of DHS Instruction Manual 
023–01–001–01. 
SEC. 1221. CLOSEOUT INCENTIVES. 
(a) FACILITATING CLOSEOUT.—Section 705 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5205) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(d) FACILITATING CLOSEOUT.— 
‘‘(1) INCENTIVES.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency may develop 
incentives and penalties that encourage State, local, 
or Indian tribal governments to close out expenditures 
and activities on a timely basis related to disaster or 
emergency assistance. 
‘‘(2) 
AGENCY
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall, consistent with 
applicable regulations and required procedures, meet 
its responsibilities to improve closeout practices and 
reduce the time to close disaster program awards.’’.
682 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall issue reg-
ulations to implement the amendment made by this section. 
SEC. 1222. PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES. 
Section 306 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5149) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) The Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency is authorized to appoint temporary 
personnel, after serving continuously for 3 years, to posi-
tions in the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the 
same manner that competitive service employees with com-
petitive status are considered for transfer, reassignment, or 
promotion to such positions. An individual appointed 
under this subsection shall become a career-conditional em-
ployee, unless the employee has already completed the serv-
ice requirements for career tenure.’’. 
SEC. 1223. STUDY TO STREAMLINE AND CONSOLIDATE IN-
FORMATION COLLECTION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator— 
(1) in coordination with the Small Business Ad-
ministration, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Disaster Assistance Working Group 
of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity 
and Efficiency, and other appropriate agencies, con-
683 
duct a study and develop a plan, consistent with law, 
under which the collection of information from dis-
aster assistance applicants and grantees will be modi-
fied, streamlined, expedited, efficient, flexible, consoli-
dated, and simplified to be less burdensome, duplica-
tive, and time consuming for applicants and grantees; 
(2) in coordination with the Small Business Ad-
ministration, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, the Disaster Assistance Working Group 
of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity 
and Efficiency, and other appropriate agencies, de-
velop a plan for the regular collection and reporting 
of information on Federal disaster assistance award-
ed, including the establishment and maintenance of a 
website for presenting the information to the public; 
and 
(3) submit the plans developed under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate. 
SEC. 1224. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
684 
‘‘SEC. 430. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY. 
‘‘(a) PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.—Not later than 5 days 
after an award of a public assistance grant is made under 
section 406 that is in excess of $1,000,000, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
publish on the website of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency the specifics of each such grant award, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(1) identifying the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency Region; 
‘‘(2) the disaster or emergency declaration num-
ber; 
‘‘(3) the State, county, and applicant name; 
‘‘(4) if the applicant is a private nonprofit orga-
nization; 
‘‘(5) the damage category code; 
‘‘(6) the amount of the Federal share obligated; 
and 
‘‘(7) the date of the award. 
‘‘(b) MISSION ASSIGNMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 days after 
the issuance of a mission assignment or mission as-
signment task order, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall publish on the 
website of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
cy any mission assignment or mission assignment
685 
task order to another Federal department or agency 
regarding a major disaster in excess of $1,000,000, 
including— 
‘‘(A) the name of the impacted State or In-
dian Tribe; 
‘‘(B) the disaster declaration for such State 
or Indian Tribe; 
‘‘(C) the assigned agency; 
‘‘(D) the assistance requested; 
‘‘(E) a description of the disaster; 
‘‘(F) the total cost estimate; 
‘‘(G) the amount obligated; 
‘‘(H) the State or Indian tribal government 
cost share, if applicable; 
‘‘(I) the authority under which the mission 
assignment or mission assignment task order 
was directed; and 
‘‘(J) if applicable, the date a State or In-
dian Tribe requested the mission assignment. 
‘‘(2) RECORDING CHANGES.—Not later than 10 
days after the last day of each month until a mission 
assignment or mission assignment task order de-
scribed in paragraph (1) is completed and closed out, 
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
686 
ment Agency shall update any changes to the total 
cost estimate and the amount obligated. 
‘‘(c) DISASTER RELIEF MONTHLY REPORT.—Not later 
than 10 days after the first day of each month, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
publish on the website of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency reports, including a specific description of the 
methodology and the source data used in developing such 
reports, including— 
‘‘(1) an estimate of the amounts for the fiscal 
year covered by the President’s most recent budget 
pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States 
Code, including— 
‘‘(A) the unobligated balance of funds to be 
carried over from the prior fiscal year to the 
budget year; 
‘‘(B) the unobligated balance of funds to be 
carried over from the budget year to the budget 
year plus 1; 
‘‘(C) the amount of obligations for noncata-
strophic events for the budget year; 
‘‘(D) the amount of obligations for the budg-
et year for catastrophic events delineated by 
event and by State;
687 
‘‘(E) the total amount that has been pre-
viously obligated or will be required for cata-
strophic events delineated by event and by State 
for all prior years, the current fiscal year, the 
budget year, and each fiscal year thereafter; 
‘‘(F) the amount of previously obligated 
funds that will be recovered for the budget year; 
‘‘(G) the amount that will be required for 
obligations for emergencies, as described in sec-
tion 102(1), major disasters, as described in sec-
tion 102(2), fire management assistance grants, 
as described in section 420, surge activities, and 
disaster readiness and support activities; and 
‘‘(H) the amount required for activities not 
covered under section 251(b)(2)(D)(iii) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control 
Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901(b)(2)(D)(iii)); and 
‘‘(2) an estimate or actual amounts, if available, 
of the following for the current fiscal year, which shall 
be submitted not later than the fifth day of each 
month, published by the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency on the website of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency not later 
than the fifth day of each month:
688 
‘‘(A) A summary of the amount of appro-
priations made available by source, the transfers 
executed, the previously allocated funds recov-
ered, and the commitments, allocations, and obli-
gations made. 
‘‘(B) A table of disaster relief activity delin-
eated by month, including— 
‘‘(i) the beginning and ending bal-
ances; 
‘‘(ii) the total obligations to include 
amounts obligated for fire assistance, emer-
gencies, surge, and disaster support activi-
ties; 
‘‘(iii) the obligations for catastrophic 
events delineated by event and by State; 
and 
‘‘(iv) the amount of previously obli-
gated funds that are recovered. 
‘‘(C) A summary of allocations, obligations, 
and expenditures for catastrophic events delin-
eated by event. 
‘‘(D) The cost of the following categories of 
spending: 
‘‘(i) Public assistance. 
‘‘(ii) Individual assistance.
689 
‘‘(iii) Mitigation. 
‘‘(iv) Administrative. 
‘‘(v) Operations. 
‘‘(vi) Any other relevant category (in-
cluding emergency measures and disaster 
resources) delineated by disaster. 
‘‘(E) The date on which funds appropriated 
will be exhausted. 
‘‘(d) CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) INFORMATION.—Not later than 10 days 
after the first day of each month, the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
publish on the website of the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency the specifics of each contract in ex-
cess of $1,000,000 that the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency enters into, including— 
‘‘(A) the name of the party; 
‘‘(B) the date the contract was awarded; 
‘‘(C) the amount and scope of the contract; 
‘‘(D) if the contract was awarded through a 
competitive bidding process; 
‘‘(E) if no competitive bidding process was 
used, the reason why competitive bidding was 
not used; and
690 
‘‘(F) the authority used to bypass the com-
petitive bidding process. 
The information shall be delineated by disaster, if ap-
plicable, and specify the damage category code, if ap-
plicable. 
‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 10 days after the 
last day of the fiscal year, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall provide 
a report to the appropriate committees of Congress 
summarizing the following information for the pre-
ceding fiscal year: 
‘‘(A) The number of contracts awarded 
without competitive bidding. 
‘‘(B) The reasons why a competitive bidding 
process was not used. 
‘‘(C) The total amount of contracts awarded 
with no competitive bidding. 
‘‘(D) The damage category codes, if applica-
ble, for contracts awarded without competitive 
bidding. 
‘‘(e) COLLECTION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT 
AND SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management
691 
Agency shall initiate and maintain an effort to collect 
and store information, prior to the project closeout 
phase on any contract entered into by a public assist-
ance recipient or subrecipient that through the base 
award, available options, or any subsequent modifica-
tions has an estimated value of more than $1,000,000 
and is funded through section 324, 403, 404, 406, 
407, 428, or 502, including— 
‘‘(A) the disaster number, project worksheet 
number, and the category of work associated 
with each contract; 
‘‘(B) the name of each party; 
‘‘(C) the date the contract was awarded; 
‘‘(D) the amount of the contract; 
‘‘(E) the scope of the contract; 
‘‘(F) the period of performance for the con-
tract; and 
‘‘(G) whether the contract was awarded 
through a competitive bidding process. 
‘‘(2) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
INFORMATION
COL-
LECTED.—The Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency shall make the informa-
tion collected and stored under paragraph (1) avail-
able to the Inspector General of the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Government Accountability
692 
Office, and appropriate committees of Congress, upon 
request. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 365 days after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives on the efforts of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency to collect the 
information described in paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 1225. AUDIT OF CONTRACTS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
shall not reimburse a State or local government, an Indian 
tribal government (as defined in section 102 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122), or the owner or operator of a private 
nonprofit facility (as defined in section 102 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122) for any activities made pursuant to a con-
tract entered into after August 1, 2017, that prohibits the 
Administrator or the Comptroller General of the United 
States from auditing or otherwise reviewing all aspects re-
lating to the contract.
693 
SEC. 1226. INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT OF FEMA CON-
TRACTS FOR TARPS AND PLASTIC SHEETING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security shall initiate an audit 
of the contracts awarded by the Agency for tarps and plastic 
sheeting for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the 
United States Virgin Islands in response to Hurricane 
Irma and Hurricane Maria. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the audit 
under subsection (a), the inspector general shall review— 
(1) the contracting process used by the Agency to 
evaluate offerors and award the relevant contracts to 
contractors; 
(2) the assessment conducted by the Agency of the 
past performance of the contractors, including any 
historical information showing that the contractors 
had supported large-scale delivery quantities in the 
past; 
(3) the assessment conducted by the Agency of the 
capacity of the contractors to carry out the relevant 
contracts, including with respect to inventory, pro-
duction, and financial capabilities; 
(4) how the Agency ensured that the contractors 
met the terms of the relevant contracts; and
694 
(5) whether the failure of the contractors to meet 
the terms of the relevant contracts and the subsequent 
cancellation by the Agency of the relevant contracts 
affected the provision of tarps and plastic sheeting to 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United 
States Virgin Islands. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of initiation 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 Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate a report on the results of the audit, in-
cluding findings and recommendations. 
SEC. 1227. RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS. 
Section 309 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5152) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and other re-
lief or’’ and inserting ‘‘long-term recovery groups, do-
mestic hunger relief, and other relief, or’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘and other re-
lief or’’ and inserting ‘‘long-term recovery groups, do-
mestic hunger relief, and other relief, or’’.
695 
SEC. 1228. GUIDANCE ON INUNDATED AND SUBMERGED 
ROADS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
Federal Highway Administration, shall develop and issue 
guidance for State, local, and Indian tribal governments 
regarding repair, restoration, and replacement of inundated 
and submerged roads damaged or destroyed by a major dis-
aster, and for associated expenses incurred by the Govern-
ment, with respect to roads eligible for assistance under sec-
tion 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5172). 
SEC. 1229. EXTENSION OF ASSISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, in the case of an individual eligible to receive 
unemployment assistance under section 410(a) of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5177(a)) as a result of a disaster declaration 
made for Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin 
Islands, the President shall make such assistance available 
for 52 weeks after the date of the disaster declaration effec-
tive as if enacted at the time of the disaster declaration. 
(b) NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.—No addi-
tional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements 
of this section.
696 
SEC. 1230. GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) GUIDANCE.—The Administrator shall provide 
guidance to a common interest community that provides 
essential services of a governmental nature on actions that 
a common interest community may take in order to be eligi-
ble to receive reimbursement from a grantee that receives 
funds from the Agency for certain activities performed after 
an event that results in a major disaster declared by the 
President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
provide to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate a legislative proposal on how to provide eligibility 
for disaster assistance with respect to common areas of con-
dominiums and housing cooperatives. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective 
on the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1231. GUIDANCE ON HAZARD MITIGATION ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue 
guidance regarding the acquisition of property for open
697 
space as a mitigation measure under section 404 of the Rob-
ert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) that includes— 
(1) a process by which the State hazard mitiga-
tion officer appointed for such an acquisition shall, 
not later than 60 days after the applicant for assist-
ance enters into an agreement with the Administrator 
regarding the acquisition, provide written notification 
to each affected unit of local government for such ac-
quisition that includes— 
(A) the location of the acquisition; 
(B) the State-local assistance agreement for 
the hazard mitigation grant program; 
(C) a description of the acquisition; and 
(D) a copy of the deed restriction; and 
(2) recommendations for entering into and im-
plementing a memorandum of understanding between 
units of local government and covered entities that in-
cludes provisions to allow an affected unit of local 
government notified under paragraph (1) to— 
(A) use and maintain the open space cre-
ated by such a project, consistent with section 
404 (including related regulations, standards, 
and guidance) and consistent with all adjoining 
property, subject to the notification of the adjoin-
698 
ing property, so long as the cost of the mainte-
nance is borne by the local government; and 
(B) maintain the open space pursuant to 
standards exceeding any local government stand-
ards defined in the agreement with the Adminis-
trator described under paragraph (1). 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AFFECTED UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.— 
The term ‘‘affected unit of local government’’ means 
any entity covered by the definition of local govern-
ment in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5122), that has jurisdiction over the property subject 
to the acquisition described in subsection (a). 
(2) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) the grantee or subgrantee receiving as-
sistance for an open space project described in 
subsection (a); 
(B) the State in which such project is lo-
cated; and 
(C) the applicable Regional Administrator 
of the Agency.
705 
and (5) of subsection (a) shall apply to funds appropriated 
on or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) all funding expended from the National Pub-
lic Infrastructure Predisaster Mitigation Assistance 
created by Section 203(i)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5133), as added by this section, shall not be 
considered part of FEMA’s regular appropriations for 
non-Stafford activities, also known as the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief 
Fund base; and 
(2) the President should have the funds related to 
the National Public Infrastructure Predisaster Miti-
gation Assistance created by Section 203(i)(1) of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5133), as added by this sec-
tion, identified in and allocated from the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief 
Fund for major disasters declared pursuant to the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
(d) SUNSET.—On the date that is 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, section 203 of the Robert T.