I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3128 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to 
establish a pilot program to provide veterans with pilot training services. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 9, 2023 
Ms. SCHRIER (for herself, Mr. ARMSTRONG, Ms. STRICKLAND, and Mrs. 
KIGGANS of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration to establish a pilot program to provide veterans 
with pilot training services. 
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 ‘‘American Aviator 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VETERANS WITH 
PILOT TRAINING SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration (in this section referred to as the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:12 May 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3128.IH
H3128
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
‘‘Administrator’’), in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall es-
tablish a program to provide assistance in the form of 
grants to eligible entities that provide pilot training activi-
ties and related education to support a pathway for vet-
erans to become commercial aviators. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a pilot school or provi-
sional pilot school that— 
(1) holds an Air Agency Certificate under part 
145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) has an established employment pathway 
with at least 1 air carrier operating under part 121 
or 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(c) PRIORITY APPLICATION.—In selecting eligible en-
tities to award grants to under this section, the Adminis-
trator shall give priority to eligible entities that meet the 
following criteria: 
(1) The eligible entity is accredited (as defined 
in section 61.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions) by an accrediting agency recognized by the 
Secretary of Education. 
(2) The eligible entity holds a letter of author-
ization issued in accordance with section 61.169 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:12 May 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3128.IH
H3128
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts from a grant received 
by an eligible entity under the pilot program shall be used 
for the following: 
(1) Administrative costs related to implementa-
tion of the program, not to exceed 10 percent of the 
amount awarded. 
(2) To provide guidance and pilot training serv-
ices, including tuition and flight training fees for 
veterans enrolled with the eligible entity and any 
training required to reach proficiency, to the vet-
erans enrolled to support them in obtaining any of 
the following pilot certificates and ratings: 
(A) Private pilot certificate. 
(B) Instrument rating. 
(C) Commercial pilot certificate. 
(D) Multi-engine rating. 
(E) Certificated flight instructor single en-
gine certificate, if applicable to degree sought. 
(F) Certificated flight instructor multi-en-
gine certificate, if applicable to degree sought. 
(G) Certificated flight instructor instru-
ment certificate, if applicable to degree sought. 
(3) To provide books, training materials, and 
equipment to support pilot training activities and re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:12 May 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3128.IH
H3128
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
lated education for veterans enrolled with the eligible 
entity. 
(4) To provide periodic reports to the Adminis-
trator on use of the grant funds, including docu-
mentation of training completion of the certificates 
and ratings described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(G) of paragraph (2). 
(e) COORDINATION WITH VETERANS EDUCATION 
BENEFITS.—In the event a veteran participates in the 
pilot program who is entitled to educational assistance for 
veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs— 
(1) any costs of the veteran in participation in 
the pilot program that are covered by such edu-
cational assistance shall be borne by the veteran 
using such educational assistance; and 
(2) any costs incurred by the veteran in partici-
pation in the pilot program that are not covered by 
such educational assistance, including the cost of a 
private or commercial pilot license, may be borne by 
the eligible entity concerned using grant amounts 
awarded to the eligible entity for purposes of the 
pilot program. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:12 May 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3128.IH
H3128
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(f) APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2024 through 2029. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:12 May 19, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3128.IH
H3128
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS