IB 
Union Calendar No. 527 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3560 
[Report No. 118–630, Part I] 
To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian unmanned 
aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and development 
for economic and national security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 22, 2023 
Mr. LUCAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees 
on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and Transportation 
and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
AUGUST 13, 2024 
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an 
amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
AUGUST 13, 2024 
Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and Trans-
portation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 22, 2023] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
A BILL 
To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civil-
ian unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility 
research and development for economic and national se-
curity, and for other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Na-
tional Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research and De-
velopment Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Purposes. 
TITLE I—INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 101. Interagency working group. 
Sec. 102. Strategic research plan. 
Sec. 103. Counter-UAS research plan. 
Sec. 104. National drone technology center. 
Sec. 105. GAO study on foreign drones. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY 
RESEARCH INSTITUTES 
Sec. 201. National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institutes. 
TITLE III—NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND 
TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 301. National Institute of Standards and Technology activities. 
Sec. 302. National Institute of Standards and Technology manufacturing activi-
ties. 
TITLE IV—NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 401. National Science Foundation activities. 
TITLE V—NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 501. National Aeronautics and Space Administration activities. 
Sec. 502. National student unmanned aircraft systems competition program. 
TITLE VI—DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 601. Department of Energy research activities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6213
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
TITLE VII—DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 701. Department of Homeland Security activities. 
TITLE VIII—NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 801. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and devel-
opment. 
TITLE IX—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 901. Federal Aviation Administration research and development. 
Sec. 902. Partnerships for research, development, demonstration, and testing. 
Sec. 903. UAS test ranges and operations. 
Sec. 904. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 905. Definitions. 
TITLE X—LIMITATION 
Sec. 1001. Limitation. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Unmanned aircraft systems have the poten-
tial to change and transform sectors of the United 
States economy. 
(2) Advanced air mobility aims to transform the 
way people and goods are transported through new 
capabilities and applications. 
(3) Current uses and applications of unmanned 
aircraft systems and advanced air mobility include 
agriculture, transportation, law enforcement, public 
safety, disaster evaluation and response, fire detec-
tion, border security, weather forecasting, construc-
tion, utility monitoring, and many other uses and 
applications. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(4) Research on and development, demonstration, 
testing, and evaluation of counter-UAS systems and 
detection systems activities are critical to fully under-
stand the capabilities of and threats posed by un-
manned aircraft systems. 
(5) Unmanned aircraft systems and advanced 
air mobility systems are subject to safety, privacy, cy-
bersecurity, and supply chain risks, particularly as 
most unmanned aircraft systems in the United States 
are manufactured or assembled from parts manufac-
tured in foreign countries. 
(6) National and homeland security threats 
posed by unmanned aircraft systems and advanced 
air mobility systems include criminal and terrorist 
use for espionage, surveillance, and intelligence gath-
ering, smuggling drugs and contraband, and plat-
forms to deliver explosives or chemicals, biological, ra-
diological or nuclear weapons, and other firearms. 
(7) The Federal Government has an important 
role in advancing research, development, voluntary 
consensus technical standards, and education activi-
ties in advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems technologies through coordination and col-
laboration between and among State, local, Federal, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
and Tribal governments, academia, the private sector, 
and labor organizations. 
(8) There is a lack of voluntary consensus tech-
nical standards for unmanned aircraft systems and 
advanced air mobility for academia and the public 
and private sectors. 
(9) The United States needs to invest in domestic 
manufacturing and secure supply chains of un-
manned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility 
systems to meet the demand by the Government and 
the commercial sectors, to ensure United States high 
quality domestic manufacturing and supply chain 
jobs, and to reduce reliance on foreign-made systems. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘ad-
vanced air mobility’’ means a transportation system 
that transports people and property by air between 
two points in the United States using aircraft with 
advanced technologies, including electric aircraft or 
electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, in both 
controlled and uncontrolled airspace. 
(2) AGENCY
HEAD.—The term ‘‘agency head’’ 
means the head of any Executive agency (as defined 
in section 105 of title 5, United States Code). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(3) COUNTER-UAS SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘counter- 
UAS system’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 44801(5) of title 49, United States Code. 
(4) INSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Institute’’ means a 
Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institute 
described in section 201(b). 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) 
(6) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The term 
‘‘Interagency Working Group’’ means the Advanced 
Air Mobility and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Inter-
agency Working Group of the National Science and 
Technology Council established under section 101 of 
title 1. 
(7) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘labor or-
ganization’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term shall also in-
clude— 
(A) any organization composed of labor or-
ganizations, such as a labor union federation or 
a State or municipal labor body; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(B) any organization which would be in-
cluded in the definition for such term under such 
section 2(5) but for the fact that the organization 
represents— 
(i) individuals employed by the United 
States, any wholly owned Government cor-
poration, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any 
State or political subdivision thereof; 
(ii) individuals employed by persons 
subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 
151 et seq.); or 
(iii) individuals employed as agricul-
tural laborers. 
(8) NATIONAL
LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(9) TECHNICAL STANDARD.—The term ‘‘technical 
standard’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
12(d)(5) of the National Technology Transfer and Ad-
vancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note). 
(10) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801(12) of title 49, United 
States Code. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purpose of this Act is to ensure United States lead-
ership in advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems, and maximize benefits and mitigate risks of such 
systems by— 
(1) supporting research, development, demonstra-
tion, testing, and transition to operations of secure 
advanced air mobility systems and unmanned air-
craft systems, including research and development to 
enable integration of such systems into the National 
Airspace System; 
(2) improving the interagency planning and co-
ordination of Federal research and development of ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
and maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal Gov-
ernment’s advanced air mobility and next generation 
unmanned aircraft systems research and development 
programs; 
(3) promoting domestic manufacturing and do-
mestic supply chains for unmanned aircraft systems 
and mitigating supply chain risks; 
(4) supporting activities to mitigate risks to 
public safety and national and homeland security, in-
cluding through response to disasters; 
(5) preparing the present and future United 
States workforce for the integration of advanced air 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems across sec-
tors of the economy, including through support for 
curriculum development and research opportunities 
and through partnerships that may include labor or-
ganizations and labor-management workforce train-
ing organizations; 
(6) supporting research, development, demonstra-
tion, and testing of civilian applications of un-
manned aerial systems, including improved safety 
and sustainability of ground transportation, environ-
mental monitoring, and disaster response; 
(7) promoting research and development collabo-
ration among State, local, Tribal, and Federal gov-
ernments, National Laboratories, industry, labor or-
ganizations, and academic institutions; 
(8) promoting the development of voluntary con-
sensus technical standards and best practices for ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; 
and 
(9) applying lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, demonstra-
tion, and testing to advanced air mobility systems. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
TITLE I—INTERAGENCY 
ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 101. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The National Science and 
Technology Council shall establish or designate an 
interagency working group on advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems to coordinate Federal 
research, development, deployment, testing, and edu-
cation activities to enable advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The interagency working 
group shall be comprised of senior representatives 
from the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, the Department of Transportation, the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Science Foundation, the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Department of Home-
land Security, and such other Federal agencies as ap-
propriate. 
(b) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall— 
(1) develop the strategic research plan to guide 
Federal research to enable advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems and oversee implementa-
tion of the plan; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(2) oversee the development of— 
(A) an assessment of the current state of 
United States competitiveness and leadership in 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems, including the scope and scale of United 
States investments in relevant research and de-
velopment; and 
(B) strategies to strengthen and secure the 
domestic supply chain for advanced air mobility 
systems and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(3) facilitate communication and outreach op-
portunities with academia, industry, professional so-
cieties, State, local, Tribal, and Federal governments, 
and other stakeholders; 
(4) facilitate partnerships to leverage knowledge 
and resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and 
Federal governments, National Laboratories, Un-
manned Aircraft Systems Test Sites, academic insti-
tutions, and others; 
(5) coordinate with the Advanced Air Mobility 
Working Group established by Public Law 117–203 
and heads of other Federal departments and agencies 
to avoid duplication of research and other activities 
to ensure that the activities carried out by the inter-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
agency working group are complementary to those 
being undertaken by other interagency efforts; and 
(6) coordinate with the National Security Coun-
cil and other authorized agency coordinating bodies 
on the assessment of risks posed by the existing Fed-
eral unmanned aircraft systems fleet and outlining 
potential steps to mitigate these risks. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) INITIAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the inter-
agency working group shall transmit a report to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
that— 
(A) includes a summary of federally funded 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems research, development, deployment, and 
testing activities, including the budget for each of 
these activities; and 
(B) describes the progress in developing the 
plan required under section 102 of this Act. 
(2) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the delivery of the initial report under para-
graph (1) and every 2 years thereafter until December 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
31, 2033, the interagency working group shall trans-
mit a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate that includes— 
(A) a summary of federally funded ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems research, development, deployment, and 
testing activities, including the budget for each of 
these activities; and 
(B) an analysis of the progress made to-
wards achieving the goals and priorities for the 
interagency research plan developed by the inter-
agency work group under sections 102 and 103. 
(3) STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
interagency working group shall transmit the stra-
tegic research plan developed under section 102 to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 102. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the interagency working 
group shall develop and periodically update, as appro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
priate, a strategic plan for Federal research, development, 
deployment, and testing of advanced air mobility systems 
and unmanned aircraft systems. In developing the plan, the 
interagency working group shall consider and use informa-
tion, reports, and studies on advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems that have identified research, de-
velopment, deployment, and testing needed, and rec-
ommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine in the review of the plan under 
subsection (c). 
(b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.—The plan shall— 
(1) determine and prioritize areas of advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, 
development, demonstration, and testing requiring 
Federal Government leadership and investment; 
(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in 
the year the plan is submitted, the goals and prior-
ities for Federal research, development, deployment, 
and testing which will— 
(A) support the development of advanced 
air mobility technologies and the development of 
an advanced air mobility research, innovation, 
and manufacturing ecosystem; 
(B) provide sustained, consistent, and co-
ordinated support for advanced air mobility and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
unmanned aircraft systems research, develop-
ment, and demonstration, including through 
grants, cooperative agreements, testbeds, and test-
ing facilities; 
(C) apply lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, dem-
onstration, and testing to advanced air mobility 
systems; 
(D) support the development of voluntary 
consensus technical standards and best practices 
for the development and use of advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(E) support education and training activi-
ties at all levels to prepare the United States 
workforce to use and interact with advanced air 
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems; 
(F) support partnerships to leverage knowl-
edge and resources from industry, State, local, 
Tribal, and Federal governments, National Lab-
oratories, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test 
Ranges, academic institutions, labor organiza-
tions, and others to advance research activities; 
(G) leverage existing Federal investments; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(H) promote hardware interoperability and 
open-source systems; 
(3) support research and other activities on the 
impacts of advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems on national security, safety, economic, 
legal, workforce, and other appropriate societal issues; 
(4) reduce barriers to transferring research find-
ings, capabilities, and new technologies related to ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
into operation for the benefit of society and United 
States competitiveness; 
(5) in consultation with the Council of Economic 
Advisers, measure and track the contributions of un-
manned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility 
to United States economic growth and other societal 
indicators; and 
(6) identify relevant programs and make rec-
ommendations for the coordination of relevant activi-
ties of the Federal agencies and set forth the role of 
each Federal agency in implementing the plan. 
(c) NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEER-
ING, AND MEDICINE EVALUATION.—The Administrator 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review the plan 
every 5 years. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(d) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In developing the plan, 
the interagency working group shall consult with represent-
atives of stakeholder groups, which may include academic, 
State, industry, and labor organizations. Not later than 90 
days before the plan, or any revision thereof, is submitted 
to Congress, the plan shall be published in the Federal Reg-
ister for a public comment period of not less than 60 days. 
SEC. 103. COUNTER-UAS RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the interagency working group 
shall develop and periodically update, as appropriate, a 
strategic plan for Federal research, development, evalua-
tion, and testing of counter-UAS systems and detection sys-
tems, as consistent with counter-UAS systems legal authori-
ties. 
(b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.—The plan shall— 
(1) determine and prioritize areas of counter- 
UAS systems and detection systems research, develop-
ment, evaluation, and testing requiring Federal Gov-
ernment leadership and investment; 
(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in 
the year the plan is submitted, the goals and prior-
ities for Federal research, development, evaluation, 
and testing which will— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(A) support the development of counter-UAS 
systems and detection systems and the develop-
ment of a counter-UAS research, innovation, and 
manufacturing ecosystem; 
(B) provide sustained, consistent, and co-
ordinated support for counter-UAS research, de-
velopment, evaluation, and testing, including 
through grants, cooperative agreements, testbeds, 
and testing facilities; 
(D) support education and training activi-
ties to prepare the United States workforce to use 
and interact with counter-UAS systems and de-
tection systems; 
(E) support partnerships to leverage knowl-
edge and resources from industry, State, local, 
Tribal, and Federal governments, National Lab-
oratories, Counter-UAS Test Ranges, academic 
institutions, and others to advance research ac-
tivities; and 
(F) leverage existing Federal investments; 
(3) support research and other activities on the 
impacts of counter-UAS systems and detection sys-
tems; and 
(4) identify relevant programs and make rec-
ommendations for the coordination of relevant activi-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
ties of the Federal agencies and set forth the role of 
each Federal agency in implementing the plan. 
SEC. 104. NATIONAL DRONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Com-
merce, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Transportation, and the heads of other Federal 
agencies, as appropriate, may establish a national drone 
technology center to conduct research and development of 
unmanned aircraft systems to strengthen the economic com-
petitiveness and security of the domestic supply chain. Such 
center shall be operated as a public-private sector consor-
tium with participation from the private sector, which may 
include employers and labor organizations, and the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology. 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the center estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall be to conduct research and 
development related to unmanned aircraft systems manu-
facturing, design and components, and prototyping that 
strengthens the entire domestic ecosystem and incorporates 
the upstream participation of workers, which may include 
partnership with labor organizations. The center shall place 
emphasis on the following: 
(1) Unmanned aircraft systems advanced testing 
and assembly capability in the domestic ecosystem. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(2) Materials characterization, instrumentation 
and testing for unmanned aircraft systems. 
(3) Virtualization and automation of mainte-
nance of unmanned aircraft systems machinery. 
(4) Metrology for security and supply chain 
verification. 
(5) strategies for domestic transportation and 
supply chain job creation, skills development, and 
workforce training for high-quality jobs. 
SEC. 105. GAO STUDY ON FOREIGN DRONES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct a 
study on the use of foreign-made unmanned aircraft sys-
tems in the Federal Government unmanned aircraft fleet. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) shall 
include an assessment of the following: 
(1) The size of the Federal unmanned aircraft 
fleet and the extent to which any unmanned aircraft 
systems have been procured from a covered foreign en-
tity on the list maintained in Supplement No. 4 to 
part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) The operation of these systems across the 
Federal Government. 
(3) Policies and practices governing the procure-
ment of unmanned aircraft systems from covered for-
eign entities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(4) The availability of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems from any domestic sources for government use. 
(5) The risks associated with use of these systems 
by the Federal Government, including physical safety, 
privacy, and cybersecurity. 
(c) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
report to Congress all findings and determinations made 
in carrying out the study required under subsection (a). 
TITLE II—NATIONAL DRONE AND 
ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RE-
SEARCH INSTITUTES 
SEC. 201. NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY 
RESEARCH INSTITUTES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration may establish a 
program to award financial assistance for the planning, es-
tablishment, and support of a network of Institutes (as de-
scribed in subsection (b)(2)) in accordance with this section. 
(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH AND SUP-
PORT NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RE-
SEARCH INSTITUTES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director 
of the National Science Foundation, the Adminis-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
trator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration, and any other agency head may award fi-
nancial assistance, to an eligible entity, or consortia 
thereof, as determined by an agency head, to establish 
and support one or more Institutes. 
(2) DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INSTI-
TUTES.—An Institute described in this subsection is 
an unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mo-
bility research institute that— 
(A) may focus on— 
(i) a particular economic or social sec-
tor, including education, manufacturing, 
transportation, agriculture, security, en-
ergy, environment, and public safety, and 
includes a component that addresses the eth-
ical, societal, safety, workforce, and security 
implications relevant to the application of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems in that sector; or 
(ii) a cross-cutting challenge for re-
search, development, testing, manufacturing, 
or use of advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems; 
(B) requires partnership among public and 
private organizations, including, as appropriate, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
Federal agencies, academic institutions, non-
profit research organizations, Federal labora-
tories, State, local, and Tribal governments, in-
dustry, labor organizations, and others (or con-
sortia thereof); 
(C) has the potential to create an innova-
tion ecosystem, or enhance existing ecosystems, to 
translate Institute research into applications and 
products, as appropriate to the topic of each In-
stitute; 
(D) supports and coordinates interdiscipli-
nary research and development across multiple 
institutions and organizations involved in un-
manned aircraft systems research and related 
disciplines, which may include physics, engineer-
ing, mathematical sciences, computer and infor-
mation science, robotics, material science, cyber-
security, and technology ethics; 
(E) supports interdisciplinary education 
activities at all levels, including curriculum de-
velopment, research experiences, and faculty pro-
fessional development across two-year, under-
graduates, masters, and doctoral level programs; 
(F) establishes a robust data management 
strategy that ensures digital access and machine- 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
readability; that promotes findability, interoper-
ability, analysis- and decision-readiness and 
reusability; and ensures applicable scientific 
data are managed for wide use by Federal, 
State, Tribal, and local governments, academia, 
and the public; 
(G) applies lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, dem-
onstration, and testing to advanced air mobility 
systems; and 
(H) supports high quality workforce devel-
opment in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems related disciplines in the United 
States, including increasing the participation of 
groups historically underrepresented in STEM, 
among other goals. 
(3) 
USE
OF
FUNDS.—Financial 
assistance 
awarded under paragraph (1) may be used by an In-
stitute for— 
(A) managing and making available to re-
searchers accessible, curated, standardized, se-
cure, and privacy protected data sets from the 
public and private sectors for the purposes of 
training and testing advanced air mobility sys-
tems and unmanned aircraft systems and for re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
search and development using advanced air mo-
bility systems and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(B) developing and managing testbeds, Un-
manned Aircraft Systems Test Ranges, for ad-
vanced air mobility or unmanned aircraft sys-
tems, including sector-specific test beds, designed 
to enable users to evaluate advanced air mobility 
systems and unmanned aircraft systems prior to 
deployment; 
(C) conducting research and education ac-
tivities involving advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems to solve challenges with 
economic, scientific, and national security impli-
cations; 
(D) conducting research and development 
on advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems platform development and innova-
tion; 
(E) providing or brokering access to com-
puting resources, networking, and data facilities 
for advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems research and development relevant 
to the Institute’s research goals; 
(F) providing technical assistance to users, 
including software engineering support, for ad-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
vanced air mobility systems and unmanned air-
craft systems research and development relevant 
to the Institute’s research goals; 
(G) supporting the purchase of advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
software; 
(H) engaging in outreach to broaden par-
ticipation by groups historically underrep-
resented in STEM in advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems research, develop-
ment and workforce, including through partner-
ship with labor organizations and other entities; 
(I) supporting artificial intelligence and 
machine learning research related to advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; 
and 
(J) such other activities that an agency 
head whose agency’s missions contribute to or 
are affected by advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems determines is appro-
priate to fulfill the agency’s missions. 
(4) DURATION.— 
(A) INITIAL PERIODS.—An award of finan-
cial assistance under paragraph (1) shall be for 
an initial period of up to 5 years, subject to Of-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
fice of Management and Budget uniform guid-
ance for Federal assistance. 
(B) EXTENSION.—An established Institute 
may apply for, and the agency head may grant, 
extended funding for periods of up to 5 years on 
a merit-reviewed basis using the merit review 
criteria of the sponsoring agency, subject to Of-
fice of Management and Budget uniform guid-
ance for Federal assistance. 
(5) APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A person or group of 
persons seeking financial assistance under para-
graph (1) shall submit to an agency head an ap-
plication at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the agency head 
may require. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—An application sub-
mitted under subparagraph (A) for an Institute 
shall, at a minimum, include the following: 
(i) A plan for the Institute to in-
clude— 
(I) the proposed goals and activi-
ties of the Institute; 
(II) a description of how the In-
stitute will form partnerships, as ap-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
propriate, with other research institu-
tions, industry, labor organizations, 
nonprofits, academic institutions, and 
others to leverage expertise in advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems and access to data; 
(III) a description of how the in-
stitute will support long-term and 
short-term education and workforce de-
velopment in advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems, in-
cluding how the institute will broaden 
the participation of groups historically 
underrepresented in STEM, among 
other goals; and 
(IV) a description of how the In-
stitute will transition from planning 
into operations. 
(ii) A description of the anticipated 
sources and nature of any non-Federal con-
tributions or other Federal agency funding. 
(iii) A data management plan that ad-
dresses the collection, use, retention, protec-
tion, dissemination, and management of 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
data collected, consistent with the purposes 
of this Act. 
(iv) A description of the anticipated 
long-term impact of such Institute. 
(6) COMPETITIVE MERIT REVIEW.—In awarding 
financial assistance under paragraph (1), the agency 
shall— 
(A) use a competitive merit review process 
that includes peer review by a diverse group of 
individuals with relevant expertise from both the 
private and public sectors; and 
(B) ensure the focus areas of the Institute 
do not substantially duplicate the efforts of any 
other Institute. 
(7) COLLABORATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding financial 
assistance under paragraph (1), an agency head 
may collaborate with Federal departments and 
agencies whose missions contribute to or are af-
fected by advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems, including the agencies outlined 
in section 103(c). 
(B) NONDUPLICATION.—In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Administrator 
shall coordinate with the heads of other Federal 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
departments and agencies to avoid duplication of 
research and other activities to ensure that the 
activities carried out by Institutes are com-
plementary to those being undertaken by other 
agencies. 
(C) COORDINATING NETWORK.—The Admin-
istrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration may establish a network of Insti-
tutes receiving financial assistance under this 
subsection, to be known as the ‘‘Drone Leader-
ship Network’’, to coordinate cross-cutting re-
search and other activities carried out by the In-
stitutes. 
(D) FUNDING.—The head of an agency may 
request and accept funds from, and provide 
funds to, other Federal departments and agen-
cies, State, United States territory, local, or 
Tribal government agencies, private sector for- 
profit entities, and nonprofit entities, to be 
available to the extent provided by appropria-
tions Acts, to support an Institute’s activities. 
The head of an agency may not give any special 
consideration to any agency or entity in return 
for a donation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration $5,000,000 in each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the activities author-
ized in section 201(a). 
TITLE III—NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 301. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, consistent with the 
research plan in section 102— 
(1) shall support measurement science research 
and development in support of best practices and vol-
untary consensus technical standards for advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, includ-
ing for— 
(A) privacy, security, and cybersecurity of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
(B) safety and operational performance of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(C) hardware and components designed for 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
(D) data management and techniques to in-
crease the usability of data for advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(E) supply chain risks for advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems; and 
(F) all other areas deemed by the Director 
to be critical to the development and deployment 
of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
(2) may support one or more Institutes as de-
scribed in section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose 
of advancing advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems; 
(3) may produce curated, standardized, rep-
resentative, secure, and privacy protected data sets for 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems research, development, and use, prioritizing data 
for high-value, high-risk research; 
(4) shall support and strategically engage in the 
development of voluntary consensus technical stand-
ards, including international standards, through 
open, transparent, and consensus-based processes; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(5) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, demonstra-
tion, and testing to advanced air mobility systems; 
and 
(6) shall coordinate the development of voluntary 
and consensus technical standards and best practices 
with other Federal agencies as appropriate. 
(b) SOLICITATION OF INPUT.—In carrying out the ac-
tivities under this section, the Director shall— 
(1) solicit input from university researchers, pri-
vate sector experts, relevant Federal agencies, Federal 
laboratories, State, local, and Tribal governments, 
civil society groups, labor organizations, and other 
relevant stakeholders; and 
(2) provide opportunity for public comment on 
guidelines and best practices, as appropriate. 
(c) DRONE RESEARCH CHALLENGES.— 
(1) PRIZE COMPETITION.—Pursuant to section 
24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), the Director shall, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, continue 
carrying out a program to award prizes competitively 
to stimulate research and development of innovative 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
tems technologies in order to expand upon and im-
prove emergency response operations. 
(3) PRIZE AMOUNT.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under paragraph (1), the Director may award 
not more than a total of $2,250,000 to one or more 
winners of the prize competition. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which a prize is awarded under the prize 
competition, the Director shall submit to the relevant 
committees of Congress a report that describes the 
winning entry of the prize competition. 
(5) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Director may consult 
with the heads of relevant departments and agencies 
of the Federal Government. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology to carry out this section— 
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $22,050,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $23,152,500 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $24,310,125 for fiscal year 2028. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 302. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to secure 
the United States international leadership in advanced air 
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems by strengthening 
its industrial base through the bolstering of domestic supply 
chains and the development and adoption of innovative 
manufacturing processes. 
(b) LEVERAGING EXPANSION AWARDS FOR CRITICAL 
TECHNOLOGIES.—Section 25B of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k–2) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (e), by inserting the following 
after paragraph (5): 
‘‘(6) to support the domestic manufacturing of 
critical and emerging technologies and reduce the sup-
ply chain risk of these technologies;’’; and 
(2) by inserting the following after subsection (e) 
and redesignating accordingly: 
‘‘(f) TOPIC SELECTION.—The Director may select top-
ics for awards made under paragraph (e)(6) in accordance 
with the following: 
‘‘(1) The Director shall select unmanned aircraft 
systems as an initial topic for the pilot program. 
‘‘(2) The Director may select additional topics 
that the Director determines are— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(A) rapidly evolving; and 
‘‘(B) of high importance to the economy and 
security of the United States.’’. 
(c) MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP SUR-
VEY.— 
(1) SURVEY.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
carry out a survey of the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership Centers (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Centers’’) to understand the manufacturing capabili-
ties of the United States manufacturers to support ro-
bust advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems industries and create high quality jobs in the 
United States. 
(2) CONTENTS.—In conducting the survey re-
quired under subsection (a), the Director shall solicit 
feedback on the following: 
(A) Familiarity and current manufacturing 
work by small and mid-sized manufacturers on 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems, including components, software, sensors, 
or other technology associated with advanced air 
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(B) A list of the basic manufacturing proce-
dures that can be easily converted to conduct the 
manufacturing of advanced air mobility systems 
and unmanned aircraft systems projects. 
(C) Potential for small-and mid-sized man-
ufacturing to work with industry and academia 
to support the manufacturers of advanced air 
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems 
prototypes. 
(D) Potential for commercialization of on-
going manufacturing development research re-
lated to advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems projects. 
(E) A description of supply chain and tech-
nological challenges that small and mid-sized 
manufacturers face in building up advanced air 
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems capac-
ity, and the prevalence of these challenges. 
(F) Any challenges that small and mid- 
sized manufacturers experience in recruiting 
skilled workers familiar with advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems manufac-
turing. 
(G) Any other information that the Director 
or the Board determine is appropriate. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(3) SUPPLY
CHAIN
DATABASE.—The Director 
shall carry out this survey in accordance with re-
quirements under section 10253 of the Research and 
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (en-
acted as division B of Public Law 117–167; 42 
U.S.C. 18961). 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after com-
pleting the survey required under subsection (a), the 
Director, in consultation with the Board, shall pro-
vide a report summarizing the results of the survey 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(d) MANUFACTURING USA PROGRAM UPDATE.—Sub-
paragraph (B) of section 34(d)(1) of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d)(1)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘, including unmanned aircraft 
systems’’ after ‘‘aeronautics and advanced materials’’. 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this title, the term ‘‘Director’’ 
means the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
TITLE IV—NATIONAL SCIENCE 
FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 401. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the research plan 
in section 102, the Director shall support research and 
STEM education and related activities in advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems, components, and re-
lated technologies, including competitive awards or grants 
to institutions of higher education or eligible nonprofit or-
ganizations (or consortia thereof). 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—In carrying out the activities 
under subsection (a), the Director— 
(1) shall support fundamental research on the 
underlying technologies for advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems, components, and related 
technologies, which may include— 
(A) improving the safety and reliability of 
operation systems; 
(B) developing and improving autonomous 
control systems, including real-time control and 
autonomous decision-making; 
(C) incorporating the use of artificial intel-
ligence into systems; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(D) improving or developing materials for 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; 
(E) understanding safety and sustainability 
of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems as a part of a transportation system, in-
cluding the impacts of advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems on ground 
transportation; 
(F) developing and improving communica-
tions systems, including multivehicle coordina-
tion and task and path planning; and 
(G) understanding the human-drone inter-
face; 
(2) shall support research and development of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft system 
enabled uses, which may include— 
(A) creating new sensing tools to improve 
understanding, prediction, and detection of se-
vere weather and natural hazards, including 
wildfires; 
(B) enabling advanced air mobility; 
(C) monitoring and surveying infrastruc-
ture; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(A) supporting curriculum development re-
lating to advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft system applications, including devel-
oping place-based learning curriculum, particu-
larly for students in poor, rural, and Tribal 
communities; 
(B) utilizing advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems technologies to advance 
the engagement of students, including students 
from groups historically underrepresented in 
STEM, in STEM through providing before 
school, after-school, out-of-school, or summer ac-
tivities; 
(C) developing professional development re-
sources for STEM educators in utilizing ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems technologies and applications in their cur-
riculum and in formal and informal education 
settings, including through distance-delivered 
courses; 
(D) connecting relevant STEM curriculum 
to the design, construction and demonstration of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(E) designing advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft system related activities de-
signed to help students make real-world connec-
tions to STEM content and educate students on 
the relevance and significance of STEM careers; 
(8) shall support undergraduate and graduate 
education and workforce development research and re-
lated activities related to advanced air mobility, un-
manned aircraft systems, and related technologies, 
which may include— 
(A) supporting curriculum development re-
lating to advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems applications and technologies; 
(B) supporting hands-on research opportu-
nities at institutions of higher education, re-
search institutions, including National Labs, 
and industry for undergraduate and graduate 
students relating to advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems applications and 
technologies; 
(C) facilitating participation in collegiate 
level advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems robotic competitions; and 
(D) ensuring that students pursuing mas-
ter’s degrees and doctoral degrees in fields relat-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
ing to advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems are considered as applicants for 
scholarships and graduate fellowships under the 
Graduate Research Fellowship Program under 
section 10 of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869); 
(9) shall support activities to develop a skilled 
technical workforce for supporting and operating ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, 
which may include supporting national centers fo-
cused on educating and training the skilled technical 
workforce in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft system applications and technologies through 
the Advanced Scientific and Technical Education 
Program as authorized by the Scientific and Ad-
vanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i), in-
cluding by— 
(A) expanding educational resources to ad-
dress current workforce demands in advanced air 
mobility and unmanned aircraft system applica-
tions and technologies; 
(B) developing curriculum for community 
and technical colleges to train and upskill the 
skilled technical workforce in advanced air mo-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
bility and unmanned aircraft system applica-
tions and technologies; 
(C) engaging the skilled technical workforce 
community in advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft system applications and tech-
nologies; and 
(D) in partnership and consultation with 
industry and labor organizations, employing ac-
tivities to increase the visibility and utility of 
careers in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft applications and technologies; 
(10) shall engage veterans and departing mem-
bers of the Armed Services in activities mentioned in 
paragraphs (7) and (8); 
(11) may support one or more Institutes as de-
scribed in section 201(a) for the purpose of advancing 
the field of advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems; 
(12) may support prize competitions pursuant to 
section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719); 
(13) shall ensure all activities under this section 
are subject to the data management policies of the 
Foundation; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(14) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, demonstra-
tion, and testing to advanced air mobility systems; 
and 
(15) may conduct any other activities the Direc-
tor finds necessary to meet the goals laid out in sub-
section (a). 
(c) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—As part of the 
activities under subsection (a), the Director shall support 
public-private partnerships to support domestic develop-
ment of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems in the United States and address pre-competitive in-
dustry challenges. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation to carry out this section— 
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
(3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
(4) $57,881,775 for fiscal year 2027; and 
(5) $60,775,863 for fiscal year 2028. 
(e) DEFINITION.—In this title, the term ‘‘Director’’ 
means the Director of the National Science Foundation. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
TITLE 
V—NATIONAL 
AERO-
NAUTICS AND SPACE ADMIN-
ISTRATION ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 501. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the research plan 
in section 102, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
other Federal agencies, shall, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, carry out research and development to fa-
cilitate the safe integration of advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace Sys-
tem. Research topics may include— 
(1) sense and avoid capabilities; 
(2) the transition of unmanned aircraft system 
traffic management into operational use in the Na-
tional Airspace System; 
(3) safety related to autonomy, autonomous un-
manned aircraft systems, and remotely-piloted un-
manned aircraft systems; 
(4) human systems integration; and 
(5) hazardous weather condition avoidance. 
(b) COOPERATIVE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AC-
TIVITIES.—Section 31504 of title 51, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting at the end the following: ‘‘Oper-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
ational flight data derived from these cooperative agree-
ments shall be made available, in appropriate and usable 
formats, to the Administration and the Federal Aviation 
Administration for the development of regulatory stand-
ards.’’. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the research 
and development under subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall continue to coordinate and partner with the Federal 
Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense, the 
Department of Homeland Security, industry, academia, 
and labor organizations to mature and help implement un-
manned aircraft system traffic management related con-
cepts, architectures, services, and strategic as well as tac-
tical deconfliction to advance the safe integration of drones 
into the National Airspace System. As an interim step, the 
Administrator shall leverage commercial and public good 
unmanned aircraft system applications, such as wildfire 
and disaster monitoring and mitigation, to demonstrate 
and help validate concepts, architectures, and other meas-
ures toward the safe integration of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems into the National Airspace System. In addition, the 
Administrator shall carry out research and development on 
protocols for enabling the safe integration of many simulta-
neous drone operations beyond visual line of sight. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(d) LESSONS LEARNED.—The Administrator shall 
apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft systems re-
search, development, demonstration, and testing to ad-
vanced air mobility systems. 
(e) COORDINATION.—The Administrator shall con-
tribute to, as appropriate, efforts to inform the development 
of voluntary consensus-based technical standards, as led by 
standards development organizations, to facilitate the in-
corporation of advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems into the National Airspace System and shall 
coordinate with other relevant government agencies and 
nongovernmental entities, including industry and labor or-
ganizations, in its contributions to standards development 
activities. 
(f) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall coordinate 
with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion to conduct an assessment to identify metrics, estimated 
milestone dates, and performance measures necessary to 
safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems and advanced 
air mobility systems into the National Airspace System. 
(g) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the com-
pletion of the assessment in subsection (f), the Adminis-
trator shall submit a report on the progress towards meeting 
the metrics, milestone dates, and performance measures to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 502. NATIONAL STUDENT UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS COMPETITION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall lead a na-
tional pilot program to carry out unmanned aircraft sys-
tems technology competitions for students at the high school 
and undergraduate level (in this section referred to as ‘‘com-
petitions’’) in which students shall compete to design, cre-
ate, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system. 
(b) COMPETITION ADMINISTRATION.—The Adminis-
trator shall award, on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, 
a grant to a nonprofit organization, an institution of high-
er education, or a consortium thereof, to administer the 
pilot program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘competi-
tion administrator’’). 
(c) AWARD CRITERIA.—The Administrator shall en-
sure that the award decision made under subsection (b) take 
into account the extent to which the eligible entity— 
(1) identifies a plan for engaging eligible institu-
tions from diverse geographic areas, including poor, 
rural, and Tribal communities; and 
(2) identifies a plan for connecting STEM ac-
tivities to Administration missions and centers. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(d) COMPETITION
ADMINISTRATOR
RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—In carrying out the pilot program, the competition 
administrator shall be responsible for— 
(1) awarding grants to institutions of higher 
education or nonprofit organizations (or a consortium 
of such institutions or organization) on a merit-re-
viewed, competitive basis to host individual competi-
tions; 
(2) developing STEM curriculum to be utilized 
by the competition awardees to help students make the 
connection to the design, construction, and dem-
onstration of the unmanned aircraft systems; 
(3) developing curriculum to assist students in 
making real-world connections to STEM content and 
educate students on the relevance and significance of 
STEM careers; 
(4) ensuring awardees are supporting the activi-
ties laid out in subsection (f); 
(5) conducting performance evaluations of com-
petitions, including data collection on— 
(A) the number of students engaged; 
(B) geographic and institutional diversity 
of participating schools and institutions of high-
er education; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(6) any other activities the Administrator finds 
necessary to ensure the competitions are successful. 
(e) ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—In awarding 
grants in subsection (d), the competition administrator 
shall consider applications that include a partnership with 
that State’s space grant program under chapter 403 of title 
51, United States Code. 
(f) PERMITTED ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the pilot 
program in subsection (a), the competition administrator 
shall ensure competitions occurring at both the high school 
and undergraduate levels— 
(1) allow students to design, construct, and dem-
onstrate an unmanned aircraft system; 
(2) allow students to compete with other teams 
in the performance of the constructed unmanned air-
craft system; 
(3) connect to relevant missions and Center ac-
tivities of the Administration; 
(4) connect relevant STEM curriculum to the de-
sign, construction, and demonstration of unmanned 
aircraft systems; 
(5) support activities designed to help students 
make real-world connections to STEM content and 
educate students on the relevance and significance of 
STEM careers; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(6) are geographically dispersed in order to serve 
a broad student population, including those in rural 
and underserved communities; and 
(7) encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, 
the participation of students from groups historically 
underrepresented in STEM. 
(g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—No later than 6 months 
following the end of the pilot program, the Administrator 
shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, a report describing the ac-
complishments, lessons learned, any challenges in the imple-
mentation of the pilot program, and recommendations for 
whether to continue the pilot program. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
$6,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
carry out the pilot program in this section. Of the funds 
authorized— 
(1) $1,000,000 per year shall be for the pilot pro-
gram competition administrator in subsection (b); 
and 
(2) $5,000,000 per year shall be awarded for 
grants to carry out competitions under the pilot pro-
gram in subsection (d). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:04 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3560.RH
H3560
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB