I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5675 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to revise 
hiring practices for air traffic controller positions, to establish an Air 
Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory Committee, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 
Mr. HULTGREN (for himself and Mr. LIPINSKI) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration to revise hiring practices for air traffic controller 
positions, to establish an Air Traffic Control Education 
and Training Advisory Committee, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Standards Addressing 
Federal Transparency and Oversight With Evolving Re-
cruitment Specifications Act’’ or the ‘‘SAFE TOWERS 
Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. HIRING OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS. 
Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) REVISION OF HIRING PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(1) CONSIDERATION OF APPLICANTS.— 
‘‘(A) PREFERENCE FOR AT–CTI AND VRA 
APPLICANTS.—In appointing individuals to the 
position of air traffic controller, the Adminis-
trator shall give preferential consideration to 
the following applicants: 
‘‘(i) An individual who— 
‘‘(I) has successfully completed 
air traffic controller training and 
graduated from an institution partici-
pating in the Collegiate Training Ini-
tiative program maintained under 
subsection (c)(1); and 
‘‘(II) has received an appropriate 
recommendation from the institution. 
‘‘(ii) A qualified individual who is eli-
gible for a veterans recruitment appoint-
ment pursuant to section 4214 of title 38. 
‘‘(iii) A qualified individual who is an 
eligible veteran, as such term is defined in 
section 4211 of title 38, maintaining avia-
tion experience. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:20 Oct 08, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATION OF GENERAL PUB-
LIC APPLICANTS.—The Administrator may con-
sider general public applicants for the position 
of air traffic controller only after completing 
consideration of the applicants described in sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(2) ELIMINATION OF BIOGRAPHICAL ASSESS-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall revise the hiring practices of the Adminis-
tration that apply to applicants for the position 
of air traffic controller with the Department of 
Transportation to eliminate the use of a bio-
graphical assessment or any other personality 
test that unduly disqualifies applicants. The re-
vision under this subparagraph shall not be 
subject to paragraph (3). 
‘‘(B) RECONSIDERATION
OF
APPLICANTS 
DISQUALIFIED ON THE BASIS OF BIOGRAPHICAL 
ASSESSMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—If an individual 
applied for the position of air traffic con-
troller with the Department in response to 
the FG–01 Vacancy Announcement issued 
on February 10, 2014, and was disquali-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
fied from the position as the result of a bi-
ographical assessment, the Administrator 
shall provide the applicant an opportunity 
to reapply as soon as practicable for the 
position under the revised hiring practices. 
‘‘(ii) WAIVER OF AGE RESTRICTION.— 
The Administrator shall waive any max-
imum age restriction for the position of air 
traffic controller with the Department that 
would otherwise disqualify an individual 
from the position if the individual— 
‘‘(I) is reapplying for the position 
pursuant to clause (i) on or before 
December 31, 2016; and 
‘‘(II) met the maximum age re-
quirement on the date of the individ-
ual’s previous application for the posi-
tion. 
‘‘(3) PARTICIPATION OF CTI INSTITUTIONS IN 
REVISION
OF
HIRING
PRACTICES.—Before making 
any revision to the hiring practices that apply to ap-
plicants for the position of air traffic controller with 
the Department, the Administrator shall provide the 
Air Traffic Control Education and Training Advi-
sory Committee established under subsection (g) and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
institutions of higher education participating in the 
Collegiate Training Initiative program with notice of 
the revision and an opportunity to comment.’’. 
SEC. 3. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE. 
Section 44506(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in the first sentence by striking ‘‘may main-
tain’’ and inserting ‘‘shall maintain’’; and 
(2) in the second sentence by striking ‘‘may es-
tablish’’ and inserting ‘‘, in consultation with the Air 
Traffic Control Education and Training Advisory 
Committee established under subsection (g), shall es-
tablish’’. 
SEC. 4. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) AIR
TRAFFIC
CONTROL
EDUCATION
AND 
TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Administrator 
shall establish an Air Traffic Control Education and 
Training Advisory Committee (in this subsection re-
ferred to as the ‘Committee’). 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Committee shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(A) provide advice and recommendations 
to the Administrator about the needs, objec-
tives, plans, and content of air traffic controller 
training programs; 
‘‘(B) review the operations of the Colle-
giate Training Initiative program maintained 
under subsection (c)(1); 
‘‘(C) establish standardized curriculum, re-
quired outcomes, and accreditation standards 
for the Collegiate Training Initiative program; 
and 
‘‘(D) annually review the air traffic con-
troller training initiatives carried out by the Ad-
ministration and provide advice and rec-
ommendations to the Administrator on whether 
such initiatives are appropriate to meet the 
needs of the air traffic controller workforce. 
‘‘(3) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) NUMBER
AND
APPOINTMENT.—The 
Committee shall be composed of 9 members ap-
pointed by the Administrator as follows: 
‘‘(i) 2 individuals based on rec-
ommendations of the Association of Colle-
giate Training Institutions. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) 2 individuals based on rec-
ommendations of the National Air Traffic 
Controllers Association. 
‘‘(iii) 2 individuals based on rec-
ommendations of the University Aviation 
Association. 
‘‘(iv) 3 individuals selected by the Ad-
ministrator who meet the requirements of 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—Individuals ap-
pointed pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iv)— 
‘‘(i) may not be employees of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be specifically qualified to 
serve on the Committee as a result of their 
education, training, and experience. 
‘‘(C) TERMS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A member shall be 
appointed for a term of 2 years. 
‘‘(ii) 
TERMS
OF
INITIAL
AP-
POINTEES.—As designated by the Adminis-
trator at the time of appointment— 
‘‘(I) 1 of the members first ap-
pointed under each of subparagraphs 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:20 Oct 08, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A)(i), (A)(ii), and (A)(iii) shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 3 years; and 
‘‘(II) 2 of the members first ap-
pointed under subparagraph (A)(iv) 
shall be appointed for terms of 3 
years. 
‘‘(D) VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Any member ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy occurring before 
the expiration of the term for which the 
member’s predecessor was appointed shall 
be appointed only for the remainder of that 
term. 
‘‘(ii) INTERIM
SERVICE.—A member 
may serve after the expiration of that 
member’s term until a successor has taken 
office. 
‘‘(iii) MANNER OF APPOINTMENT.—A 
vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made. 
‘‘(E) PAY; TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members 
shall serve without pay but may receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, when attending meetings of the Com-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
mittee in accordance with applicable provisions 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. 
‘‘(F) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of 
the Committee shall be elected by a majority of 
the members. 
‘‘(G) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall 
meet quarterly and may have additional meet-
ings at the call of the Chairperson. 
‘‘(4) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than May 
31st of each year, the Committee shall submit 
to Congress and the Administrator an annual 
report containing— 
‘‘(i) the findings and recommenda-
tions of the Committee; and 
‘‘(ii) beginning with the second annual 
report, an assessment of whether or not 
the Administrator has complied with the 
Committee’s recommendations from the 
previous year. 
‘‘(B) FAA COMMENTS.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of submission of an annual 
report that includes an assessment described in 
subparagraph (A)(ii), the Administrator shall 
submit to Congress and the Committee a report 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:18 Oct 06, 2014
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5675.IH
H5675
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS