I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4032 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
the Secretary of Energy to exercise leadership in the creation of Federal 
and international policies relating to the safe and efficient use of hydro-
gen to increase aviation decarbonization and reduce air and noise pollu-
tion, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2023 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, and Mr. 
ESPAILLAT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration and the Secretary of Energy to exercise leader-
ship in the creation of Federal and international policies 
relating to the safe and efficient use of hydrogen to 
increase aviation decarbonization and reduce air and 
noise pollution, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hydrogen Aviation 
Strategy Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FAA AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LEADERSHIP 
ON USING HYDROGEN TO INCREASE AVIA-
TION DECARBONIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation, 
acting primarily through the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration (in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Administrator’’), and jointly with the Secretary of En-
ergy, shall exercise leadership in the creation of Federal 
and international policies, and shall conduct studies, relat-
ing to the safe and efficient use of hydrogen to increase 
aviation decarbonization and reduce air and noise pollu-
tion. 
(b) EXERCISE
OF LEADERSHIP.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation, the Ad-
ministrator, and the Secretary of Energy shall— 
(1) establish positions and goals for the use of 
hydrogen to increase aviation decarbonization; 
(2) through grant, contract, or interagency 
agreements, study the contribution the use of hydro-
gen would have on aviation decarbonization, includ-
ing hydrogen as an input for conventional jet fuel, 
sustainable aviation fuel, and power to liquids or 
synthetic fuel, and on air pollution and noise pollu-
tion, and study ways of accelerating introduction of 
hydrogen-powered aircraft; 
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(3) review grant eligibility requirements and 
other policies and requirements of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration and the Department of Energy 
to identify ways to increase the use of hydrogen; 
(4) consider the needs of the aerospace indus-
try, aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, 
and other stakeholders when creating policies that 
enable the safe commercial deployment of hydrogen 
in aviation; 
(5) obtain input from the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders regarding— 
(A) the efficient use of hydrogen to 
decarbonize aviation within United States air-
space, including— 
(i) updating or modifying existing 
policies on such use; 
(ii) barriers to, and benefits of, the in-
troduction of aircraft powered with hydro-
gen; 
(iii) the operational differences be-
tween aircraft powered with hydrogen and 
aircraft powered with other types of fuels; 
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(iv) impacts on aircraft emissions; and 
(v) public, economic, and noise bene-
fits of the operation of aircraft powered 
with hydrogen and associated aerospace in-
dustry activity; and 
(B) other issues identified by the Secretary 
of Transportation, the Administrator, the Sec-
retary of Energy, or the advisory committee es-
tablished under paragraph (6) that must be ad-
dressed to enable the safe and expeditious com-
mercial deployment and safe and efficient oper-
ation of aircraft powered with hydrogen; and 
(6) establish an advisory committee composed 
of representatives of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, the aerospace industry, avia-
tion suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, airport 
sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders to advise the Secretary of Transportation, 
the Administrator, and the Secretary of Energy on 
the activities carried out under this section and sec-
tion 3. 
(c) INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP.—The Secretary of 
Transportation, the Administrator, and the Secretary of 
Energy, in the appropriate international forums, shall 
take actions that— 
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(1) demonstrate global leadership in carrying 
out the activities required by subsections (a) and 
(b); 
(2) address the needs of the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders identified under subsection (b); and 
(3) preserve the United States aviation competi-
tiveness. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
of Transportation, acting primarily through the Adminis-
trator, and jointly with the Secretary of Energy, shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
detailing— 
(1) the Secretary of Transportation’s, Adminis-
trator’s, and Secretary of Energy’s actions to exer-
cise leadership in the creation of Federal and inter-
national policies, and of studies conducted, relating 
to the safe and efficient use of hydrogen to increase 
aviation decarbonization and improve air and noise 
pollution; 
(2) planned, proposed, and anticipated actions 
to update or modify existing policies related to hy-
drogen in the aviation sector, including those identi-
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fied as a result of consultation with, and feedback 
from, the aerospace industry, aviation suppliers, hy-
drogen producers, airlines, airport sponsors, fixed 
base operators, and other stakeholders; and 
(3) a timeline for any actions to be taken to up-
date or modify existing policies related to hydrogen. 
SEC. 3. FAA LEADERSHIP ON THE CERTIFICATION OF HY-
DROGEN-POWERED AIRCRAFT TO INCREASE 
AVIATION DECARBONIZATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall exercise 
leadership in the creation of Federal regulations, stand-
ards, and guidance relating to the safe and efficient use 
of hydrogen to increase aviation decarbonization, and re-
duce air and noise pollution. 
(b) EXERCISE
OF LEADERSHIP.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) establish a viable path for the certification 
of hydrogen-powered aircraft that considers existing 
frameworks; 
(2) review certification regulations and other re-
quirements of the Federal Aviation Administration 
to identify ways to facilitate the use of hydrogen; 
(3) consider the needs of the aerospace indus-
try, aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, 
airport sponsors, fixed base operators, and other 
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