765 
(A) the resources needed to support an in-
crease in the total number of developmental air 
traffic controllers enrolled at the FAA Academies; 
(B) the resources needed to lessen FAA 
Academy attrition per fiscal year; 
(C) how to modernize the education and 
training of developmental air traffic controllers, 
including through the use of new techniques and 
technologies to support instruction, and whether 
field training can be administered more flexibly, 
such as at other Federal Aviation Administra-
tion locations across the country; 
(D) the equipment needed to support ex-
panded instruction, including air traffic control 
simulation systems, virtual reality, and other 
virtual training platforms; 
(E) projected staffing needs associated with 
FAA Academy expansion and the operation of 
virtual education platforms, including the num-
ber of on-the-job instructors needed to educate 
and train additional developmental air traffic 
controllers; 
(F) the use of existing Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration-owned 
facilities 
and 
classroom 
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space and identifying potential opportunities for 
new construction; 
(G) the costs of— 
(i) expanding Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration capacity (as described in 
paragraph (1)(A)); and 
(ii) establishing a second FAA Acad-
emy (as described in paragraph (1)(B)); 
(H) soliciting input from, and coordinating 
with, relevant stakeholders as appropriate, in-
cluding the exclusive bargaining representative of 
air traffic control specialists of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration certified under section 7111 
of title 5, United States Code; and 
(I) other logistical and financial consider-
ations as determined by appropriate the Admin-
istrator. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate the plan devel-
oped under subsection (a). 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the sub-
mission of the plan under subsection (b), the Administrator 
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shall brief the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
on the plan, including the implementation of the plan. 
TITLE IX—NATIONAL TRANSPOR-
TATION 
SAFETY 
BOARD 
AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2023 
SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 902. 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 $142,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2024, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, 
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $155,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2027, and $161,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. Such 
sums shall remain available until expended.’’. 
SEC. 903. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF TERRITORIES. 
Section 1101 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1101. Definitions 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In this chapter: 
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‘‘(1) ACCIDENT.—The term ‘accident’ includes 
damage to or destruction of vehicles in surface or air 
transportation or pipelines, regardless of whether the 
initiating event is accidental or otherwise. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State of 
the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the North-
ern Mariana Islands, and Guam. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Sec-
tion 2101(23) of title 46 and section 40102(a) shall apply 
to this chapter.’’. 
SEC. 904. ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING. 
(a) TRAINING ON EMERGING TRANSPORTATION TECH-
NOLOGIES.—Section 1113(b)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (J) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(K) notwithstanding section 3301 of title 41, 
acquire training on emerging transportation tech-
nologies.’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL TRAINING NEEDS.—Section 1115(d) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
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‘‘and in those subjects furthering the personnel and work-
force development needs set forth in the strategic workforce 
plan of the Board as required under section 1113(h)’’ after 
‘‘of accident investigation’’. 
SEC. 905. ACQUIRING MISSION-ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE 
AND SKILLS. 
Section 1113(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
3304 and sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, the 
Chairman may, on a determination that there is a se-
vere shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need 
for particular positions, recruit and directly appoint 
into the competitive service highly qualified personnel 
with specialized knowledge important to the function 
of the Board. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The authority granted under 
subparagraph (A) shall terminate on the date that is 
5 years after the date of the enactment of this para-
graph. 
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION.—The authority granted under 
subparagraph (A) shall not apply to positions in the 
excepted service or the Senior Executive Service. 
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