In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
September 26, 2018. 
Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the 
Senate to the bill (H.R. 302) entitled ‘‘An Act to provide pro-
tections for certain sports medicine professionals who provide 
certain medical services in a secondary State.’’, with the fol-
lowing 
HOUSE AMENDMENT TO SENATE AMENDMENT: 
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
Senate amendment, insert the following: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
DIVISION A—SPORTS MEDICINE LICENSURE 
Sec. 11. Short title. 
Sec. 12. Protections for covered sports medicine professionals. 
DIVISION B—FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018 
Sec. 101. Definition of appropriate committees of Congress. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Subtitle A—Funding of FAA Programs 
Sec. 111. Airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning 
and programs. 
Sec. 112. Facilities and equipment. 
Sec. 113. FAA operations. 
Sec. 114. Weather reporting programs.
Sec. 115. Adjustment to AIP program funding. 
Sec. 116. Funding for aviation programs. 
Sec. 117. Extension of expiring authorities. 
Subtitle B—Passenger Facility Charges 
Sec. 121. Passenger facility charge modernization. 
Sec. 122. Future aviation infrastructure and financing study. 
Sec. 123. Intermodal access projects. 
Subtitle C—Airport Improvement Program Modifications 
Sec. 131. Grant assurances. 
Sec. 132. Mothers’ rooms. 
Sec. 133. Contract Tower Program. 
Sec. 134. Government share of project costs. 
Sec. 135. Updated veterans’ preference. 
Sec. 136. Use of State highway specifications. 
Sec. 137. Former military airports. 
Sec. 138. Eligibility of CCTV projects for airport improvement program. 
Sec. 139. State block grant program expansion. 
Sec. 140. Non-movement area surveillance pilot program. 
Sec. 141. Property conveyance releases. 
Sec. 142. Study regarding technology usage at airports. 
Sec. 143. Study on airport revenue diversion. 
Sec. 144. GAO study on the effect of granting an exclusive right of aeronautical 
services to an airport sponsor. 
Sec. 145. Sense of Congress on smart airports. 
Sec. 146. Critical airfield markings. 
Sec. 147. General facilities authority. 
Sec. 148. Recycling plans; uncategorized small airports. 
Sec. 149. Evaluation of airport master plans. 
Sec. 150. Definition of small business concern. 
Sec. 151. Small airport regulation relief. 
Sec. 152. Construction of certain control towers. 
Sec. 153. Nondiscrimination. 
Sec. 154. Definition of airport development. 
Sec. 155. General aviation airport expired funds. 
Sec. 156. Priority review of construction projects in cold weather States. 
Sec. 157. Minority and disadvantaged business participation. 
Sec. 158. Supplemental discretionary funds. 
Sec. 159. State taxation. 
Sec. 160. Airport investment partnership program. 
Sec. 161. Remote tower pilot program for rural and small communities. 
Sec. 162. Airport access roads in remote locations. 
Sec. 163. Limited regulation of non-federally sponsored property. 
Sec. 164. Seasonal airports. 
Sec. 165. Amendments to definitions. 
Sec. 166. Pilot program sunsets. 
Sec. 167. Buy America requirements. 
Subtitle D—Airport Noise and Environmental Streamlining 
Sec. 171. Funding eligibility for airport energy efficiency assessments. 
Sec. 172. Authorization of certain flights by stage 2 aircraft. 
Sec. 173. Alternative airplane noise metric evaluation deadline.
Sec. 174. Updating airport noise exposure maps. 
Sec. 175. Addressing community noise concerns. 
Sec. 176. Community involvement in FAA NextGen projects located in 
metroplexes. 
Sec. 177. Lead emissions. 
Sec. 178. Terminal sequencing and spacing. 
Sec. 179. Airport noise mitigation and safety study. 
Sec. 180. Regional ombudsmen. 
Sec. 181. FAA leadership on civil supersonic aircraft. 
Sec. 182. Mandatory use of the New York North Shore Helicopter Route. 
Sec. 183. State standards for airport pavements. 
Sec. 184. Eligibility of pilot program airports. 
Sec. 185. Grandfathering of certain deed agreements granting through-the-fence 
access to general aviation airports. 
Sec. 186. Stage 3 aircraft study. 
Sec. 187. Aircraft noise exposure. 
Sec. 188. Study regarding day-night average sound levels. 
Sec. 189. Study on potential health and economic impacts of overflight noise. 
Sec. 190. Environmental mitigation pilot program. 
Sec. 191. Extending aviation development streamlining. 
Sec. 192. Zero-emission vehicles and technology. 
TITLE II—FAA SAFETY CERTIFICATION REFORM 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
Sec. 201. Definitions. 
Sec. 202. Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee. 
Subtitle B—Aircraft Certification Reform 
Sec. 211. Aircraft certification performance objectives and metrics. 
Sec. 212. Organization designation authorizations. 
Sec. 213. ODA review. 
Sec. 214. Type certification resolution process. 
Sec. 215. Review of certification process for small general aviation airplanes. 
Sec. 216. ODA staffing and oversight. 
Subtitle C—Flight Standards Reform 
Sec. 221. Flight standards performance objectives and metrics. 
Sec. 222. FAA task force on flight standards reform. 
Sec. 223. Centralized safety guidance database. 
Sec. 224. Regulatory Consistency Communications Board. 
Subtitle D—Safety Workforce 
Sec. 231. Safety workforce training strategy. 
Sec. 232. Workforce review. 
Subtitle E—International Aviation 
Sec. 241. Promotion of United States aerospace standards, products, and services 
abroad. 
Sec. 242. Bilateral exchanges of safety oversight responsibilities. 
Sec. 243. FAA leadership abroad. 
Sec. 244. Registration, certification, and related fees.
TITLE III—SAFETY 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
Sec. 301. Definitions. 
Sec. 302. FAA technical training. 
Sec. 303. Safety critical staffing. 
Sec. 304. International efforts regarding tracking of civil aircraft. 
Sec. 305. Aircraft data access and retrieval systems. 
Sec. 306. Advanced cockpit displays. 
Sec. 307. Emergency medical equipment on passenger aircraft. 
Sec. 308. FAA and NTSB review of general aviation safety. 
Sec. 309. Call to action airline engine safety review. 
Sec. 310. Sense of Congress on access to air carrier flight decks. 
Sec. 311. Part 135 accident and incident data. 
Sec. 312. Sense of Congress; pilot in command authority. 
Sec. 313. Report on conspicuity needs for surface vehicles operating on the airside 
of air carrier served airports. 
Sec. 314. Helicopter air ambulance operations data and reports. 
Sec. 315. Aviation rulemaking committee for part 135 pilot rest and duty rules. 
Sec. 316. Report on obsolete test equipment. 
Sec. 317. Helicopter fuel system safety. 
Sec. 318. Applicability of medical certification standards to operators of air bal-
loons. 
Sec. 319. Designated pilot examiner reforms. 
Sec. 320. Voluntary reports of operational or maintenance issues related to avia-
tion safety. 
Sec. 321. Evaluation regarding additional ground based transmitters. 
Sec. 322. Improved safety in rural areas. 
Sec. 323. Exit rows. 
Sec. 324. Comptroller General report on FAA enforcement policy. 
Sec. 325. Annual safety incident report. 
Sec. 326. Aircraft air quality. 
Sec. 327. Approach control radar. 
Sec. 328. Report on airline and passenger safety. 
Sec. 329. Performance-based standards. 
Sec. 330. Report and recommendations on certain aviation safety risks. 
Sec. 331. Review of FAA’s Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing 
System. 
Sec. 332. Airport rescue and firefighting. 
Sec. 333. Safe air transportation of lithium cells and batteries. 
Sec. 334. Runway safety. 
Sec. 335. Flight attendant duty period limitations and rest requirements. 
Sec. 336. Secondary cockpit barriers. 
Sec. 337. Aircraft cabin evacuation procedures. 
Sec. 338. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 339. Civil penalties for interference. 
Sec. 339A. National in-flight sexual misconduct task force. 
Sec. 339B. Reporting process for sexual misconduct onboard aircraft. 
Subtitle B—Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
Sec. 341. Definitions; Integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into na-
tional airspace system. 
Sec. 342. Update of FAA comprehensive plan. 
Sec. 343. Unmanned aircraft test ranges.
Sec. 344. Small unmanned aircraft in the Arctic. 
Sec. 345. Small unmanned aircraft safety standards. 
Sec. 346. Public unmanned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 347. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 348. Carriage of property by small unmanned aircraft systems for compensa-
tion or hire. 
Sec. 349. Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. 
Sec. 350. Use of unmanned aircraft systems at institutions of higher education. 
Sec. 351. Unmanned aircraft systems integration pilot program. 
Sec. 352. Part 107 transparency and technology improvements. 
Sec. 353. Emergency exemption process. 
Sec. 354. Treatment of unmanned aircraft operating underground. 
Sec. 355. Public UAS operations by Tribal governments. 
Sec. 356. Authorization of appropriations for Know Before You Fly campaign. 
Sec. 357. Unmanned aircraft systems privacy policy. 
Sec. 358. UAS privacy review. 
Sec. 359. Study on fire department and emergency service agency use of un-
manned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 360. Study on financing of unmanned aircraft services. 
Sec. 361. Report on UAS and chemical aerial application. 
Sec. 362. Sense of Congress regarding unmanned aircraft safety. 
Sec. 363. Prohibition regarding weapons. 
Sec. 364. U.S. Counter-UAS system review of interagency coordination processes. 
Sec. 365. Cooperation related to certain counter-UAS technology. 
Sec. 366. Strategy for responding to public safety threats and enforcement utility 
of unmanned aircraft systems. 
Sec. 367. Incorporation of Federal Aviation Administration occupations relating 
to unmanned aircraft into veterans employment programs of the 
administration. 
Sec. 368. Public UAS access to special use airspace. 
Sec. 369. Applications for designation. 
Sec. 370. Sense of Congress on additional rulemaking authority. 
Sec. 371. Assessment of aircraft registration for small unmanned aircraft. 
Sec. 372. Enforcement. 
Sec. 373. Federal and local authorities. 
Sec. 374. Spectrum. 
Sec. 375. Federal Trade Commission authority. 
Sec. 376. Plan for full operational capability of unmanned aircraft systems traf-
fic management. 
Sec. 377. Early implementation of certain UTM services. 
Sec. 378. Sense of Congress. 
Sec. 379. Commercial and governmental operators. 
Sec. 380. Transition language. 
Sec. 381. Unmanned aircraft systems in restricted buildings or grounds. 
Sec. 382. Prohibition. 
Sec. 383. Airport safety and airspace hazard mitigation and enforcement. 
Sec. 384. Unsafe operation of unmanned aircraft. 
Subtitle C—General Aviation Safety 
Sec. 391. Short title. 
Sec. 392. Expansion of Pilot’s Bill of Rights. 
Sec. 393. Notification of reexamination of certificate holders. 
Sec. 394. Expediting updates to NOTAM Program. 
Sec. 395. Accessibility of certain flight data.
Sec. 396. Authority for legal counsel to issue certain notices. 
TITLE IV—AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS 
Subtitle A—Airline Customer Service Improvements 
Sec. 401. Definitions. 
Sec. 402. Reliable air service in American Samoa. 
Sec. 403. Cell phone voice communication ban. 
Sec. 404. Improved notification of insecticide use. 
Sec. 405. Consumer complaints hotline. 
Sec. 406. Consumer information on actual flight times. 
Sec. 407. Training policies regarding racial, ethnic, and religious nondiscrimina-
tion. 
Sec. 408. Training on human trafficking for certain staff. 
Sec. 409. Prohibitions against smoking on passenger flights. 
Sec. 410. Report on baggage reporting requirements. 
Sec. 411. Enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules. 
Sec. 412. Strollers. 
Sec. 413. Causes of airline delays or cancellations. 
Sec. 414. Involuntary changes to itineraries. 
Sec. 415. Extension of Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection. 
Sec. 416. Online access to aviation consumer protection information. 
Sec. 417. Protection of pets on airplanes. 
Sec. 418. Advisory committee on air ambulance and patient billing. 
Sec. 419. Air ambulance complaints to the Department of Transportation. 
Sec. 420. Report to Congress on air ambulance oversight. 
Sec. 421. Refunds for other fees that are not honored by a covered air carrier. 
Sec. 422. Advance boarding during pregnancy . 
Sec. 423. Consumer complaint process improvement. 
Sec. 424. Aviation consumer advocate. 
Sec. 425. TICKETS Act. 
Sec. 426. Report on availability of lavatories on commercial aircraft. 
Sec. 427. Consumer protection requirements relating to large ticket agents. 
Sec. 428. Widespread disruptions. 
Sec. 429. Passenger rights. 
Subtitle B—Aviation Consumers With Disabilities 
Sec. 431. Aviation consumers with disabilities study. 
Sec. 432. Study on in-cabin wheelchair restraint systems. 
Sec. 433. Improving wheelchair assistance for individuals with disabilities . 
Sec. 434. Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. 
Sec. 435. Sense of Congress regarding equal access for individuals with disabil-
ities. 
Sec. 436. Civil penalties relating to harm to passengers with disabilities. 
Sec. 437. Harmonization of service animal standards. 
Sec. 438. Review of practices for ticketing, pre-flight seat assignments, and stow-
ing of assistive devices for passengers with disabilities. 
Sec. 439. Advisory committee on the air travel needs of passengers with disabil-
ities. 
Sec. 440. Regulations ensuring assistance for passengers with disabilities in air 
transportation. 
Sec. 441. Transparency for disabled passengers.
Subtitle C—Small Community Air Service 
Sec. 451. Essential air service authorization. 
Sec. 452. Study on essential air service reform. 
Sec. 453. Air transportation to noneligible places. 
Sec. 454. Inspector general review of service and oversight of unsubsidized car-
riers. 
Sec. 455. Small community air service. 
Sec. 456. Waivers. 
Sec. 457. Extension of final order establishing mileage adjustment eligibility. 
Sec. 458. Reduction in subsidy-per-passenger. 
TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 501. Definitions. 
Sec. 502. Report on air traffic control modernization. 
Sec. 503. Return on investment report. 
Sec. 504. Air traffic control operational contingency plans. 
Sec. 505. 2020 ADS-B Out mandate plan. 
Sec. 506. Securing aircraft avionics systems. 
Sec. 507. Human factors. 
Sec. 508. Programmatic risk management. 
Sec. 509. Review of FAA strategic cybersecurity plan. 
Sec. 510. Consolidation and realignment of FAA services and facilities. 
Sec. 511. FAA review and reform. 
Sec. 512. Air shows. 
Sec. 513. Part 91 review, reform, and streamlining. 
Sec. 514. Aircraft leasing. 
Sec. 515. Pilots sharing flight expenses with passengers. 
Sec. 516. Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. 
Sec. 517. Public aircraft eligible for logging flight times. 
Sec. 518. Aircraft Registry Office. 
Sec. 519. FAA data transparency. 
Sec. 520. Intra-agency coordination. 
Sec. 521. Administrative Services Franchise Fund. 
Sec. 522. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast. 
Sec. 523. Contract weather observers. 
Sec. 524. Regions and centers. 
Sec. 525. Geosynthetic materials. 
Sec. 526. National Airmail Museum. 
Sec. 527. Status of agreement between FAA and Little Rock Port Authority. 
Sec. 528. Briefing on aircraft diversions from Los Angeles International Airport 
to Hawthorne Municipal Airport. 
Sec. 529. TFR report. 
Sec. 530. Air traffic services at aviation events. 
Sec. 531. Application of veterans’ preference to Federal Aviation Administration 
personnel management system. 
Sec. 532. Clarification of requirements for living history flights. 
Sec. 533. Review and reform of FAA performance management system. 
Sec. 534. NextGen delivery study. 
Sec. 535. Study on allergic reactions. 
Sec. 536. Oxygen mask design study. 
Sec. 537. Air cargo study. 
Sec. 538. Sense of Congress on preventing the transportation of disease-carrying 
mosquitoes and other insects on commercial aircraft. 
Sec. 539. Technical corrections.
Sec. 540. Report on illegal charter flights. 
Sec. 541. Use of NASA’s super guppy aircraft for commercial transport. 
Sec. 542. Prohibited airspace assessment. 
Sec. 543. Report on multiagency use of airspace and environmental review. 
Sec. 544. Agency procurement reporting requirements. 
Sec. 545. FAA organizational reform. 
Sec. 546.
FAA Civil Aviation Registry upgrade. 
Sec. 547. Enhanced air traffic services. 
Sec. 548. Sense of Congress on artificial intelligence in aviation. 
Sec. 549. Study on cybersecurity workforce of FAA. 
Sec. 550. Treatment of multiyear lessees of large and turbine-powered multiengine 
aircraft. 
Sec. 551. Employee Assault Prevention and Response Plans. 
Sec. 552. Study on training of customer-facing air carrier employees. 
Sec. 553. Automated weather observing systems policy. 
Sec. 554. Prioritizing and supporting the Human Intervention Motivation Study 
(HIMS) program and the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol 
Program (FADAP). 
Sec. 555. Cost-effectiveness analysis of equipment rental. 
Sec. 556. Aircraft registration. 
Sec. 557. Requirement to consult with stakeholders in defining scope and require-
ments for future flight service program. 
Sec. 558. Federal Aviation Administration performance measures and targets. 
Sec. 559. Report on plans for air traffic control facilities in the New York City 
and Newark region. 
Sec. 560. Work plan for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan 
Area Airspace Project. 
Sec. 561. Annual report on inclusion of disabled veteran leave in personnel man-
agement system. 
Sec. 562. Enhanced surveillance capability. 
Sec. 563. Access of air carriers to information about applicants to be pilots from 
national driver register. 
Sec. 564. Regulatory reform. 
Sec. 565. Aviation fuel. 
Sec. 566. Right to privacy when using air traffic control system. 
Sec. 567. Federal Aviation Administration workforce review. 
Sec. 568. Review of approval process for use of large air tankers and very large 
air tankers for wildland firefighting. 
Sec. 569. FAA technical workforce. 
Sec. 570. Study on airport credit assistance. 
Sec. 571. Spectrum availability. 
Sec. 572. Special review relating to air space changes. 
Sec. 573. Reimbursement for immigration inspections. 
Sec. 574. FAA employees in Guam. 
Sec. 575. GAO study on airline computer network disruptions. 
Sec. 576. Tower marking. 
Sec. 577. Minimum dimensions for passenger seats. 
Sec. 578. Judicial review for proposed alternative environmental review and ap-
proval procedures. 
Sec. 579. Regulatory streamlining. 
Sec. 580. Spaceports. 
Sec. 581. Special rule for certain aircraft operations (space support vehicles). 
Sec. 582. Portability of repairman certificates. 
Sec. 583. Undeclared hazardous materials public awareness campaign. 
Sec. 584. Liability protection for volunteer pilots who fly for the public benefit.
Sec. 753. Federal Geographic Data Committee. 
Sec. 754. National Geospatial Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 755. National Spatial Data Infrastructure. 
Sec. 756. National Geospatial Data Asset data themes. 
Sec. 757. Geospatial data standards. 
Sec. 758. GeoPlatform. 
Sec. 759. Covered agency responsibilities. 
Sec. 759A. Limitation on use of Federal funds. 
Sec. 759B. Savings provision. 
Sec. 759C. Private sector. 
Subtitle G—Miscellaneous 
Sec. 761. NextGen research. 
Sec. 762. Advanced Materials Center of Excellence. 
TITLE VIII—AVIATION REVENUE PROVISIONS 
Sec. 801. Expenditure authority from Airport and Airway Trust Fund. 
Sec. 802. Extension of taxes funding Airport and Airway Trust Fund. 
DIVISION C—NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018 
Sec. 1101. Short title. 
Sec. 1102. Definitions. 
Sec. 1103. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 1104. Still images. 
Sec. 1105. Electronic records. 
Sec. 1106. Report on Most Wanted List methodology. 
Sec. 1107. Methodology. 
Sec. 1108. Multimodal accident database management system. 
Sec. 1109. Addressing the needs of families of individuals involved in accidents. 
Sec. 1110. Government Accountability Office report on investigation launch deci-
sion-making processes. 
Sec. 1111. Periodic review of safety recommendations. 
Sec. 1112. General organization. 
Sec. 1113. Technical and conforming amendments. 
DIVISION D—DISASTER RECOVERY REFORM 
Sec. 1201. Short title. 
Sec. 1202. Applicability. 
Sec. 1203. Definitions. 
Sec. 1204. Wildfire prevention. 
Sec. 1205. Additional activities. 
Sec. 1206. Eligibility for code implementation and enforcement. 
Sec. 1207. Program improvements. 
Sec. 1208. Prioritization of facilities. 
Sec. 1209. Guidance on evacuation routes. 
Sec. 1210. Duplication of benefits. 
Sec. 1211. State administration of assistance for direct temporary housing and 
permanent housing construction. 
Sec. 1212. Assistance to individuals and households. 
Sec. 1213. Multifamily lease and repair assistance. 
Sec. 1214. Private nonprofit facility. 
Sec. 1215. Management costs.
Sec. 1216. Flexibility. 
Sec. 1217. Additional disaster assistance. 
Sec. 1218. National veterinary emergency teams. 
Sec. 1219. Right of arbitration. 
Sec. 1220. Unified Federal environmental and historic preservation review. 
Sec. 1221. Closeout incentives. 
Sec. 1222. Performance of services. 
Sec. 1223. Study to streamline and consolidate information collection. 
Sec. 1224. Agency accountability. 
Sec. 1225. Audit of contracts. 
Sec. 1226. Inspector general audit of FEMA contracts for tarps and plastic sheet-
ing. 
Sec. 1227. Relief organizations. 
Sec. 1228. Guidance on inundated and submerged roads. 
Sec. 1229. Extension of assistance. 
Sec. 1230. Guidance and recommendations. 
Sec. 1231. Guidance on hazard mitigation assistance. 
Sec. 1232. Local impact. 
Sec. 1233. Additional hazard mitigation activities. 
Sec. 1234. National public infrastructure predisaster hazard mitigation. 
Sec. 1235. Additional mitigation activities. 
Sec. 1236. Guidance and training by FEMA on coordination of emergency re-
sponse plans. 
Sec. 1237. Certain recoupment prohibited. 
Sec. 1238. Federal assistance to individuals and households and nonprofit facili-
ties. 
Sec. 1239. Cost of assistance estimates. 
Sec. 1240. Report on insurance shortfalls. 
Sec. 1241. Post disaster building safety assessment. 
Sec. 1242. FEMA updates on national preparedness assessment. 
Sec. 1243. FEMA report on duplication in non-natural disaster preparedness 
grant programs. 
Sec. 1244. Study and report. 
Sec. 1245. Review of assistance for damaged underground water infrastructure. 
Sec. 1246. Extension. 
DIVISION E—CONCRETE MASONRY 
Sec. 1301. Short title. 
Sec. 1302. Declaration of policy. 
Sec. 1303. Definitions. 
Sec. 1304. Issuance of orders. 
Sec. 1305. Required terms in orders. 
Sec. 1306. Assessments. 
Sec. 1307. Referenda. 
Sec. 1308. Petition and review. 
Sec. 1309. Enforcement. 
Sec. 1310. Investigation and power to subpoena. 
Sec. 1311. Suspension or termination. 
Sec. 1312. Amendments to orders. 
Sec. 1313. Effect on other laws. 
Sec. 1314. Regulations. 
Sec. 1315. Limitation on expenditures for administrative expenses. 
Sec. 1316. Limitations on obligation of funds. 
Sec. 1317. Study and report by the Government Accountability Office.
Sec. 1318. Study and report by the Department of Commerce. 
DIVISION F—BUILD ACT OF 2018 
Sec. 1401. Short title. 
Sec. 1402. Definitions. 
TITLE I—ESTABLISHMENT 
Sec. 1411. Statement of policy. 
Sec. 1412. United States International Development Finance Corporation. 
Sec. 1413. Management of Corporation. 
Sec. 1414. Inspector General of the Corporation. 
Sec. 1415. Independent accountability mechanism. 
TITLE II—AUTHORITIES 
Sec. 1421. Authorities relating to provision of support. 
Sec. 1422. Terms and conditions. 
Sec. 1423. Payment of losses. 
Sec. 1424. Termination. 
TITLE III—ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1431. Operations. 
Sec. 1432. Corporate powers. 
Sec. 1433. Maximum contingent liability. 
Sec. 1434. Corporate funds. 
Sec. 1435. Coordination with other development agencies. 
TITLE IV—MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND REPORTING 
Sec. 1441. Establishment of risk and audit committees. 
Sec. 1442. Performance measures, evaluation, and learning. 
Sec. 1443. Annual report. 
Sec. 1444. Publicly available project information. 
Sec. 1445. Engagement with investors. 
Sec. 1446. Notifications to be provided by the Corporation. 
TITLE V—CONDITIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND PROHIBITIONS 
Sec. 1451. Limitations and preferences. 
Sec. 1452. Additionality and avoidance of market distortion. 
Sec. 1453. Prohibition on support in countries that support terrorism or violate 
human rights and with sanctioned persons. 
Sec. 1454. Applicability of certain provisions of law. 
TITLE VI—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 1461. Definitions. 
Sec. 1462. Reorganization plan. 
Sec. 1463. Transfer of functions. 
Sec. 1464. Termination of Overseas Private Investment Corporation and other 
superceded authorities. 
Sec. 1465. Transitional authorities. 
Sec. 1466. Savings provisions. 
Sec. 1467. Other terminations. 
Sec. 1468. Incidental transfers.
Sec. 1469. Reference. 
Sec. 1470. Conforming amendments. 
DIVISION G—SYRIA STUDY GROUP 
Sec. 1501. Syria Study Group. 
DIVISION H—PREVENTING EMERGING THREATS 
Sec. 1601. Short title. 
Sec. 1602. Protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft. 
Sec. 1603. Protecting against unmanned aircraft. 
DIVISION I—SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER 
RELIEF, 2018 
Sec. 1701. Budgetary effects. 
DIVISION J—MARITIME SECURITY 
Sec. 1801. Short title. 
Sec. 1802. Definitions. 
Sec. 1803. Coordination with TSA on maritime facilities. 
Sec. 1804. Strategic plan to enhance the security of the international supply 
chain. 
Sec. 1805. Cybersecurity information sharing and coordination in ports. 
Sec. 1806. Facility inspection intervals. 
Sec. 1807. Updates of maritime operations coordination plan . 
Sec. 1808. Evaluation of Coast Guard deployable specialized forces. 
Sec. 1809. Repeal of interagency operational centers for port security and secure 
systems of transportation. 
Sec. 1810. Duplication of efforts in the maritime domain. 
Sec. 1811. Maritime security capabilities assessments. 
Sec. 1812. Container Security Initiative. 
Sec. 1813. Maritime border security review. 
Sec. 1814. Maritime border security cooperation. 
Sec. 1815. Transportation worker identification credential appeals process. 
Sec. 1816. Technical and conforming amendments. 
DIVISION K—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 
TITLE I—TRANSPORTATION SECURITY 
Sec. 1901. Short title; references. 
Sec. 1902. Definitions. 
Subtitle A—Organization and Authorizations 
Sec. 1903. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 1904. Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration; 5-year 
term. 
Sec. 1905. Transportation Security Administration organization. 
Sec. 1906. Transportation Security Administration efficiency. 
Sec. 1907. Personnel management system review. 
Sec. 1908. TSA leap pay reform. 
Sec. 1909. Rank awards program for transportation security administration ex-
ecutives and senior professionals. 
Sec. 1910. Transmittals to Congress.
Subtitle B—Security Technology 
Sec. 1911. Third party testing and verification of screening technology. 
Sec. 1912. Transportation security administration systems integration facility. 
Sec. 1913. Opportunities to pursue expanded networks for business. 
Sec. 1914. Reciprocal recognition of security standards. 
Sec. 1915. Transportation Security Laboratory. 
Sec. 1916. Innovation Task Force. 
Sec. 1917. 5-Year technology investment plan update. 
Sec. 1918. Maintenance of security-related technology. 
Sec. 1919. Biometrics expansion. 
Sec. 1920. Pilot program for automated exit lane technology. 
Sec. 1921. Authorization of appropriations; exit lane security. 
Sec. 1922. Real-time security checkpoint wait times. 
Sec. 1923. GAO report on deployment of screening technologies across airports. 
Sec. 1924. Screening technology review and performance objectives. 
Sec. 1925. Computed tomography pilot programs. 
Subtitle C—Public Area Security 
Sec. 1926. Definitions. 
Sec. 1927. Explosives detection canine capacity building. 
Sec. 1928. Third party domestic canines. 
Sec. 1929. Tracking and monitoring of canine training and testing. 
Sec. 1930. VIPR team statistics. 
Sec. 1931. Public area security working group. 
Sec. 1932. Public area best practices. 
Sec. 1933. Airport worker access controls cost and feasibility study. 
Sec. 1934. Securing airport worker access points. 
Sec. 1935. Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program. 
Sec. 1936. Airport perimeter and access control security. 
Subtitle D—Passenger and Cargo Security 
Sec. 1937. PreCheck Program. 
Sec. 1938. PreCheck expedited screening. 
Sec. 1939. Trusted traveler programs; collaboration. 
Sec. 1940. Passenger security fee. 
Sec. 1941. Third party canine teams for air cargo security. 
Sec. 1942. Known Shipper Program review. 
Sec. 1943. Establishment of air cargo security division. 
Sec. 1944. Air cargo regulation review. 
Sec. 1945. GAO review. 
Sec. 1946. Screening partnership program updates. 
Sec. 1947. Screening performance assessments. 
Sec. 1948. Transportation security training programs. 
Sec. 1949. Traveler redress improvement. 
Sec. 1950. Improvements for screening of passengers with disabilities. 
Sec. 1951. Air cargo advance screening program. 
Sec. 1952. General aviation airports. 
Subtitle E—Foreign Airport Security 
Sec. 1953. Last point of departure airports; security directives. 
Sec. 1954. Last point of departure airport assessment. 
Sec. 1955. Tracking security screening equipment from last point of departure 
airports.
Sec. 1956. International security standards. 
Sec. 1957. Aviation security in Cuba. 
Sec. 1958. Report on airports used by Mahan Air. 
Subtitle F—Cockpit and Cabin Security 
Sec. 1959. Federal air marshal service updates. 
Sec. 1960. Crew member self-defense training. 
Sec. 1961. Flight deck safety and security. 
Sec. 1962. Carriage of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries by individuals. 
Sec. 1963. Federal flight deck officer program improvements. 
Subtitle G—Surface Transportation Security 
Sec. 1964. Surface transportation security assessment and implementation of 
risk-based strategy. 
Sec. 1965. Risk-based budgeting and resource allocation. 
Sec. 1966. Surface transportation security management and interagency coordi-
nation review. 
Sec. 1967. Transparency. 
Sec. 1968. TSA counterterrorism asset deployment. 
Sec. 1969. Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. 
Sec. 1970. Review of the explosives detection canine team program. 
Sec. 1971. Expansion of national explosives detection canine team program. 
Sec. 1972. Study on security standards and best practices for passenger transpor-
tation systems. 
Sec. 1973. Amtrak security upgrades. 
Sec. 1974. Passenger rail vetting. 
Sec. 1975. Study on surface transportation inspectors. 
Sec. 1976. Security awareness program. 
Sec. 1977. Voluntary use of credentialing. 
Sec. 1978. Background records checks for issuance of hazmat licenses. 
Sec. 1979. Cargo container scanning technology review. 
Sec. 1980. Pipeline security study. 
Sec. 1981. Feasibility assessment. 
Sec. 1982. Best practices to secure against vehicle-based attacks. 
Sec. 1983. Surface transportation stakeholder survey. 
Sec. 1984. Nuclear material and explosive detection technology. 
Subtitle H—Transportation Security 
Sec. 1985. National strategy for transportation security review. 
Sec. 1986. Risk scenarios. 
Sec. 1987. Integrated and unified operations centers. 
Sec. 1988. National Deployment Force. 
Sec. 1989. Information sharing and cybersecurity. 
Sec. 1990. Security technologies tied to foreign threat countries. 
Subtitle I—Conforming and Miscellaneous Amendments 
Sec. 1991. Title 49 amendments. 
Sec. 1992. Table of contents of chapter 449. 
Sec. 1993. Other laws; Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. 
Sec. 1994. Savings provisions.
DIVISION A—SPORTS MEDICINE 
LICENSURE 
SEC. 11. SHORT TITLE. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Sports Medicine 
Licensure Clarity Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 12. PROTECTIONS FOR COVERED SPORTS MEDICINE 
PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a covered sports med-
icine professional who has in effect medical professional li-
ability insurance coverage and provides in a secondary 
State covered medical services that are within the scope of 
practice of such professional in the primary State to an 
athlete or an athletic team (or a staff member of such an 
athlete or athletic team) pursuant to an agreement de-
scribed in subsection (c)(4) with respect to such athlete or 
athletic team— 
(1) such medical professional liability insurance 
coverage shall cover (subject to any related premium 
adjustments) such professional with respect to such 
covered medical services provided by the professional 
in the secondary State to such an individual or team 
as if such services were provided by such professional 
in the primary State to such an individual or team; 
and
(2) to the extent such professional is licensed 
under the requirements of the primary State to pro-
vide such services to such an individual or team, the 
professional shall be treated as satisfying any licen-
sure requirements of the secondary State to provide 
such services to such an individual or team to the ex-
tent the licensure requirements of the secondary State 
are substantially similar to the licensure requirements 
of the primary State. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed— 
(1) to allow a covered sports medicine profes-
sional to provide medical services in the secondary 
State that exceed the scope of that professional’s li-
cense in the primary State; 
(2) to allow a covered sports medicine profes-
sional to provide medical services in the secondary 
State that exceed the scope of a substantially similar 
sports medicine professional license in the secondary 
State; 
(3) to supersede any reciprocity agreement in ef-
fect between the two States regarding such services or 
such professionals;
(4) to supersede any interstate compact agree-
ment entered into by the two States regarding such 
services or such professionals; or 
(5) to supersede a licensure exemption the sec-
ondary State provides for sports medicine profes-
sionals licensed in the primary State. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this division, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ATHLETE.—The term ‘‘athlete’’ means— 
(A) an individual participating in a sport-
ing event or activity for which the individual 
may be paid; 
(B) an individual participating in a sport-
ing event or activity sponsored or sanctioned by 
a national governing body; or 
(C) an individual for whom a high school 
or institution of higher education provides a cov-
ered sports medicine professional. 
(2) ATHLETIC TEAM.—The term ‘‘athletic team’’ 
means a sports team— 
(A) composed of individuals who are paid 
to participate on the team; 
(B) composed of individuals who are par-
ticipating in a sporting event or activity spon-
sored or sanctioned by a national governing 
body; or 
(C) for which a high school or an institu-
tion of higher education provides a covered 
sports medicine professional. 
(3) COVERED
MEDICAL
SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘covered medical services’’ means general medical 
care, emergency medical care, athletic training, or 
physical therapy services. Such term does not include 
care provided by a covered sports medicine profes-
sional— 
(A) at a health care facility; or 
(B) while a health care provider licensed to 
practice in the secondary State is transporting 
the injured individual to a health care facility. 
(4) 
COVERED
SPORTS
MEDICINE
PROFES-
SIONAL.—The term ‘‘covered sports medicine profes-
sional’’ means a physician, athletic trainer, or other 
health care professional who— 
(A) is licensed to practice in the primary 
State; 
(B) provides covered medical services, pur-
suant to a written agreement with an athlete, an 
athletic team, a national governing body, a high 
school, or an institution of higher education; and
(C) prior to providing the covered medical 
services described in subparagraph (B), has dis-
closed the nature and extent of such services to 
the entity that provides the professional with li-
ability insurance in the primary State. 
(5) HEALTH CARE FACILITY.—The term ‘‘health 
care facility’’ means a facility in which medical care, 
diagnosis, or treatment is provided on an inpatient 
or outpatient basis. Such term does not include facili-
ties at an arena, stadium, or practice facility, or tem-
porary facilities existing for events where athletes or 
athletic teams may compete. 
(6) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(7) LICENSE.—The term ‘‘license’’ or ‘‘licen-
sure’’, as applied with respect to a covered sports 
medicine professional, means a professional that has 
met the requirements and is approved to provide cov-
ered medical services in accordance with State laws 
and regulations in the primary State. Such term may 
include the registration or certification, or any other 
form of special recognition, of an individual as such 
a professional, as applicable.
(8) NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY.—The term ‘‘na-
tional governing body’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 220501 of title 36, United States 
Code. 
(9) PRIMARY STATE.—The term ‘‘primary State’’ 
means, with respect to a covered sports medicine pro-
fessional, the State in which— 
(A) the covered sports medicine professional 
is licensed to practice; and 
(B) the majority of the covered sports medi-
cine professional’s practice is underwritten for 
medical professional liability insurance coverage. 
(10) SECONDARY STATE.—The term ‘‘secondary 
State’’ means, with respect to a covered sports medi-
cine professional, any State that is not the primary 
State. 
(11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, and each 
commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United 
States. 
(12) SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR.—The term ‘‘sub-
stantially similar’’, with respect to the licensure by 
primary and secondary States of a sports medicine 
professional, means that both the primary and sec-
ondary States have in place a form of licensure for
such professionals that permits such professionals to 
provide covered medical services. 
DIVISION B—FAA 
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018 
SEC. 101. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF 
CONGRESS. 
In this division, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of 
Congress’’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives. 
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATIONS 
Subtitle A—Funding of FAA 
Programs 
SEC. 111. AIRPORT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND 
NOISE COMPATIBILITY PLANNING AND PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Section 48103(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘section 
47504(c)’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting the following: ‘‘section 47504(c)— 
‘‘(1) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(2) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(3) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(4) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
‘‘(5) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and 
‘‘(6) $3,350,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 
(b) OBLIGATION AUTHORITY.—Section 47104(c) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘2018,’’ and inserting 
‘‘2023,’’. 
SEC. 112. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FROM AIR-
PORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND.—Section 48101(a) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs 
(1) through (5) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) $3,330,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(2) $3,398,000,000 for fiscal year 2019. 
‘‘(3) $3,469,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. 
‘‘(4) $3,547,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(5) $3,624,000,000 for fiscal year 2022. 
‘‘(6) $3,701,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES.—Section 48101(c) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading by striking ‘‘Auto-
mated Surface Observation System/Automated Weath-
er Observing System Upgrade’’ and inserting ‘‘Au-
thorized Expenditures’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘may be used for the implementa-
tion’’ and all that follows through the period at the
‘‘(9) Cost-beneficial construction, rehabilitation, 
or retrofitting programs designed to reduce Federal 
Aviation Administration facility operating costs.’’. 
SEC. 113. FAA OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 106(k)(1) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs 
(A) through (F) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) $10,247,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
‘‘(B) $10,486,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
‘‘(C) $10,732,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(D) $11,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(E) $11,269,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
and 
‘‘(F) $11,537,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZED EXPENDITURES.—Section 106(k)(2) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(D) Not more than the following amounts 
for commercial space transportation activities: 
‘‘(i) $22,587,000 for fiscal year 2018. 
‘‘(ii) $33,038,000 for fiscal year 2019. 
‘‘(iii) $43,500,000 for fiscal year 2020. 
‘‘(iv) $54,970,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
‘‘(v) $64,449,000 for fiscal year 2022.
‘‘(vi) 
$75,938,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2023.’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY
TO
TRANSFER
FUNDS.—Section 
106(k)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘fiscal years 2012 through 2018,’’ and inserting 
‘‘fiscal years 2018 through 2023,’’. 
SEC. 114. WEATHER REPORTING PROGRAMS. 
Section 48105 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘To reimburse the’’ and all that 
follows through ‘‘the Secretary of Transportation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘To sustain the aviation weather re-
porting programs of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration, the Secretary of Transportation’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) $39,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
through 2023.’’. 
SEC. 115. ADJUSTMENT TO AIP PROGRAM FUNDING. 
Section 48112 of title 49, United States Code, and the 
item relating to such section in the analysis for chapter 481 
of such title, are repealed. 
SEC. 116. FUNDING FOR AVIATION PROGRAMS. 
Section 48114(a)(1)(A)(ii) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘in fiscal year 2014 and each
(1) the ability of airport infrastructure to meet 
current and projected passenger volumes; 
(2) the available financial tools and resources for 
airports of different sizes; 
(3) the available financing tools and resources 
for airports in rural areas; 
(4) the current debt held by airports, and its im-
pact on future construction and capacity needs; 
(5) the impact of capacity constraints on pas-
sengers and ticket prices; 
(6) the purchasing power of the passenger facil-
ity charge from the last increase in 2000 to the year 
of enactment of this Act; 
(7) the impact to passengers and airports of in-
dexing the passenger facility charge for inflation; 
(8) how long airports are constrained with cur-
rent passenger facility charge collections; 
(9) the impact of passenger facility charges on 
promoting competition; 
(10) the additional resources or options to fund 
terminal construction projects; 
(11) the resources eligible for use toward noise 
reduction and emission reduction projects;
(12) the gap between the cost of projects eligible 
for the airport improvement program and the annual 
Federal funding provided; 
(13) the impact of regulatory requirements on 
airport infrastructure financing needs; 
(14) airline competition; 
(15) airline ancillary fees and their impact on 
ticket pricing and taxable revenue; and 
(16) the ability of airports to finance necessary 
safety, security, capacity, and environmental projects 
identified in capital improvement plans. 
(d) LARGE HUB AIRPORTS.—The study shall, to the 
extent not considered under subsection (c), separately evalu-
ate the infrastructure requirements of the large hub airports 
identified in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Sys-
tems (NPIAS). The evaluation shall— 
(1) analyze the current and future capacity con-
straints of large hub airports; 
(2) quantify large hub airports’ infrastructure 
requirements, including terminal, landside, and 
airside infrastructure; 
(3) quantify the percentage growth in infrastruc-
ture requirements of the large hub airports relative to 
other commercial service airports;
(4) analyze how much funding from the airport 
improvement program (AIP) has gone to meet the re-
quirements of large hub airports over the past 10 
years; and 
(5) project how much AIP funding would be 
available to meet the requirements of large hub air-
ports in the next 5 years if funding levels are held 
constant. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 15 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the qualified organization shall 
submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the results of the study described in 
subsection (a), including its findings and recommendations 
related to each item in subsections (c) and (d). 
(f) DEFINITION
OF QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘qualified organization’’ means an 
independent nonprofit organization that recommends solu-
tions to public policy challenges through objective analysis. 
SEC. 123. INTERMODAL ACCESS PROJECTS. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall, after consideration of all public com-
ments, publish in the Federal Register a final policy 
amendment consistent with the notice published in the Fed-
eral Register on May 3, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 26611).
Subtitle C—Airport Improvement 
Program Modifications 
SEC. 131. GRANT ASSURANCES. 
Section 47107 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(17), by striking ‘‘each con-
tract’’ and inserting ‘‘if any phase of such project has 
received funds under this subchapter, each contract’’; 
(2) in subsection (r)(3), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2023’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(u) CONSTRUCTION OF RECREATIONAL AIRCRAFT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The construction of a covered 
aircraft shall be treated as an aeronautical activity 
for purposes of— 
‘‘(A) determining an airport’s compliance 
with a grant assurance made under this section 
or any other provision of law; and 
‘‘(B) the receipt of Federal financial assist-
ance for airport development. 
‘‘(2) COVERED AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘covered aircraft’ means an air-
craft— 
‘‘(A) used or intended to be used exclusively 
for recreational purposes; and
‘‘(B) constructed or under construction by a 
private individual at a general aviation airport. 
‘‘(v) COMMUNITY USE OF AIRPORT LAND.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(a)(13), and subject to paragraph (2), the sponsor of 
a public-use airport shall not be considered to be in 
violation of this subtitle, or to be found in violation 
of a grant assurance made under this section, or 
under any other provision of law, as a condition for 
the receipt of Federal financial assistance for airport 
development, solely because the sponsor has entered 
into an agreement, including a revised agreement, 
with a local government providing for the use of air-
port property for an interim compatible recreational 
purpose at below fair market value. 
‘‘(2) 
RESTRICTIONS.—This 
subsection 
shall 
apply only— 
‘‘(A) to an agreement regarding airport 
property that was initially entered into before 
the publication of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration’s Policy and Procedures Concerning the 
Use of Airport Revenue, dated February 16, 
1999; 
‘‘(B) if the agreement between the sponsor 
and the local government is subordinate to any
existing or future agreements between the sponsor 
and the Secretary, including agreements related 
to a grant assurance under this section; 
‘‘(C) to airport property that was acquired 
under a Federal airport development grant pro-
gram; 
‘‘(D) if the airport sponsor has provided a 
written statement to the Administrator that the 
property made available for a recreational pur-
pose will not be needed for any aeronautical pur-
pose during the next 10 years; 
‘‘(E) if the agreement includes a term of not 
more than 2 years to prepare the airport prop-
erty for the interim compatible recreational pur-
pose and not more than 10 years of use for that 
purpose; 
‘‘(F) if the recreational purpose will not im-
pact the aeronautical use of the airport; 
‘‘(G) if the airport sponsor provides a cer-
tification that the sponsor is not responsible for 
preparation, start-up, operations, maintenance, 
or any other costs associated with the rec-
reational purpose; and
‘‘(H) if the recreational purpose is con-
sistent with Federal land use compatibility cri-
teria under section 47502. 
‘‘(3) STATUTORY
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection may be construed as permitting a di-
version of airport revenue for the capital or operating 
costs associated with the community use of airport 
land.’’. 
SEC. 132. MOTHERS’ ROOMS. 
(a) GRANT ASSURANCES.—Section 47107 of title 49, 
United States Code, as amended by this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(w) MOTHERS’ ROOMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In fiscal year 2021 and each 
fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation 
may approve an application under this subchapter 
for an airport development project grant only if the 
Secretary receives written assurances that the airport 
owner or operator will maintain— 
‘‘(A) a lactation area in the sterile area of 
each passenger terminal building of the airport; 
and 
‘‘(B) a baby changing table in one men’s 
and one women’s restroom in each passenger ter-
minal building of the airport.
‘‘(2) APPLICABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) AIRPORT SIZE.—The requirement in 
paragraph (1) shall only apply to applications 
submitted by the airport sponsor of a medium or 
large hub airport. 
‘‘(B) PREEXISTING FACILITIES.—On appli-
cation by an airport sponsor, the Secretary may 
determine that a lactation area in existence on 
the date of enactment of this Act complies with 
the requirement in paragraph (1), notwith-
standing the absence of one of the facilities or 
characteristics referred to in the definition of the 
term ‘lactation area’ in this subsection. 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL RULE.—The requirement in 
paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a 
project grant application for a period of time, 
determined by the Secretary, if the Secretary de-
termines that construction or maintenance ac-
tivities make it impracticable or unsafe for the 
lactation area to be located in the sterile area of 
the building. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term— 
‘‘(A) ‘lactation area’ means a room or simi-
lar accommodation that—
‘‘(i) provides a location for members of 
the public to express breast milk that is 
shielded from view and free from intrusion 
from the public; 
‘‘(ii) has a door that can be locked; 
‘‘(iii) includes a place to sit, a table or 
other flat surface, a sink or sanitizing 
equipment, and an electrical outlet; 
‘‘(iv) is readily accessible to and usable 
by individuals with disabilities, including 
individuals who use wheelchairs; and 
‘‘(v) is not located in a restroom; and 
‘‘(B) ‘sterile area’ has the same meaning 
given that term in section 1540.5 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations.’’. 
(b) 
TERMINAL
DEVELOPMENT
COSTS.—Section 
47119(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) LACTATION
AREAS.—In addition to the 
projects described in paragraph (1), the Secretary 
may approve a project for terminal development for 
the construction or installation of a lactation area (as 
defined in section 47107(w)) at a commercial service 
airport.’’.
SEC. 133. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM. 
(a) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CONTRACT PROGRAM.— 
(1) SPECIAL RULE.—Section 47124(b)(1)(B) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘under the program contin-
ued under this paragraph’’ and inserting ‘‘under 
the Contract Tower Program’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘exceeds the benefit for a pe-
riod of 18 months after such determination is 
made’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘exceeds the 
benefit— 
‘‘(i) for the 1-year period after such de-
termination is made; or 
‘‘(ii) if an appeal of such determina-
tion is requested, for the 1-year period de-
scribed in subsection (d)(4)(D).’’. 
(2) EXEMPTION.—Section 47124(b)(3)(D) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘under the program’’ and 
inserting ‘‘under the Cost-share Program’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘Airports with air service provided under part 
121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and 
more than 25,000 passenger enplanements in 
calendar year 2014 shall be exempt from any 
cost-share requirement under this paragraph.’’.
(3) CONSTRUCTION
OF
AIR
TRAFFIC
CONTROL 
TOWERS.— 
(A) GRANTS.—Section 47124(b)(4)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended in each 
of clauses (i)(III) and (ii)(III) by inserting ‘‘, 
including remote air traffic control tower equip-
ment certified by the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration’’ after ‘‘1996’’. 
(B) 
ELIGIBILITY.—Section 
47124(b)(4)(B)(i)(I) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘contract tower 
program established under subsection (a) and 
continued under paragraph (1) or the pilot pro-
gram established under paragraph (3)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘Contract Tower Program or the Cost- 
share Program’’. 
(C) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL SHARE.—Sec-
tion 47124(b)(4) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking subparagraph (C). 
(4) BENEFIT-TO-COST
CALCULATION
FOR
PRO-
GRAM APPLICANTS.—Section 47124(b)(3) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(G) BENEFIT-TO-COST CALCULATION.—Not 
later than 90 days after receiving an application
to the Contract Tower Program, the Secretary 
shall calculate a benefit-to-cost ratio (as de-
scribed in subsection (d)) for the applicable air 
traffic control tower for purposes of selecting 
towers for participation in the Contract Tower 
Program.’’. 
(b) CRITERIA TO EVALUATE PARTICIPANTS.—Section 
47124 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) CRITERIA TO EVALUATE PARTICIPANTS.— 
‘‘(1) TIMING OF EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) TOWERS
PARTICIPATING
IN
COST- 
SHARE PROGRAM.—In the case of an air traffic 
control tower that is operated under the Cost- 
share Program, the Secretary shall annually cal-
culate a benefit-to-cost ratio with respect to the 
tower. 
‘‘(B) TOWERS PARTICIPATING IN CONTRACT 
TOWER PROGRAM.—In the case of an air traffic 
control tower that is operated under the Contract 
Tower Program, the Secretary shall not calculate 
a benefit-to-cost ratio after the date of enactment 
of this subsection with respect to the tower unless 
the Secretary determines that the annual aircraft
traffic at the airport where the tower is located 
has decreased— 
‘‘(i) by more than 25 percent from the 
previous year; or 
‘‘(ii) by more than 55 percent cumula-
tively in the preceding 3-year period. 
‘‘(2) COSTS TO BE CONSIDERED.—In establishing 
a benefit-to-cost ratio under this section with respect 
to an air traffic control tower, the Secretary shall 
consider only the following costs: 
‘‘(A) The Federal Aviation Administration’s 
actual cost of wages and benefits of personnel 
working at the tower. 
‘‘(B) The Federal Aviation Administration’s 
actual telecommunications costs directly associ-
ated with the tower. 
‘‘(C) The Federal Aviation Administration’s 
costs of purchasing and installing any air traffic 
control equipment that would not have been pur-
chased or installed except as a result of the oper-
ation of the tower. 
‘‘(D) The Federal Aviation Administra-
tion’s actual travel costs associated with main-
taining air traffic control equipment that is 
owned by the Administration and would not be
maintained except as a result of the operation of 
the tower. 
‘‘(E) Other actual costs of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration directly associated with the 
tower that would not be incurred except as a re-
sult of the operation of the tower (excluding costs 
for noncontract tower-related personnel and 
equipment, even if the personnel or equipment is 
located in the contract tower building). 
‘‘(3) OTHER CRITERIA TO BE CONSIDERED.—In 
establishing a benefit-to-cost ratio under this section 
with respect to an air traffic control tower, the Sec-
retary shall add a 10 percentage point margin of 
error to the benefit-to-cost ratio determination to ac-
knowledge and account for the direct and indirect eco-
nomic and other benefits that are not included in the 
criteria the Secretary used in calculating that ratio. 
‘‘(4) REVIEW
OF
COST-BENEFIT
DETERMINA-
TIONS.—In issuing a benefit-to-cost ratio determina-
tion under this section with respect to an air traffic 
control tower located at an airport, the Secretary 
shall implement the following procedures: 
‘‘(A) The Secretary shall provide the airport 
(or the State or local government having juris-
diction over the airport) at least 90 days fol-
lowing the date of receipt of the determination to 
submit to the Secretary a request for an appeal 
of the determination, together with updated or 
additional data in support of the appeal. 
‘‘(B) Upon receipt of a request for an ap-
peal submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) transmit to the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration any 
updated or additional data submitted in 
support of the appeal; and 
‘‘(ii) provide the Administrator not 
more than 90 days to review the data and 
provide a response to the Secretary based on 
the review. 
‘‘(C) After receiving a response from the Ad-
ministrator pursuant to subparagraph (B), the 
Secretary shall— 
‘‘(i) provide the airport, State, or local 
government that requested the appeal at 
least 30 days to review the response; and 
‘‘(ii) withhold from taking further ac-
tion in connection with the appeal during 
that 30-day period.
‘‘(D) If, after completion of the appeal pro-
cedures with respect to the determination, the 
Secretary requires the tower to transition into 
the Cost-share Program, the Secretary shall not 
require a cost-share payment from the airport, 
State, or local government for 1 year following 
the last day of the 30-day period described in 
subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) CONTRACT
TOWER
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘Contract Tower Program’ means the level I air traf-
fic control tower contract program established under 
subsection (a) and continued under subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(2) COST-SHARE
PROGRAM.—The term ‘Cost- 
share Program’ means the cost-share program estab-
lished under subsection (b)(3).’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 47124(b) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘the pro-
gram established under paragraph (3)’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Cost-share Program’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘CONTRACT 
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER PROGRAM’’ and 
inserting ‘‘COST-SHARE PROGRAM’’;
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘con-
tract tower program established under subsection 
(a) and continued under paragraph (1) (in this 
paragraph referred to as the ‘Contract Tower 
Program’)’’ and inserting ‘‘Contract Tower Pro-
gram’’; 
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘In 
carrying out the program’’ and inserting ‘‘In 
carrying out the Cost-share Program’’; 
(D) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘par-
ticipate in the program’’ and inserting ‘‘partici-
pate in the Cost-share Program’’; and 
(E) in subparagraph (F), by striking ‘‘the 
program continued under paragraph (1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Contract Tower Program’’. 
(d) APPROVAL OF CERTAIN APPLICATIONS FOR THE 
CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration has not imple-
mented a revised cost-benefit methodology for purposes 
of determining eligibility for the Contract Tower Pro-
gram before the date that is 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, any airport with an applica-
tion for participation in the Contract Tower Program 
pending as of January 1, 2017, shall be approved for
participation in the Contract Tower Program if the 
Administrator determines the tower is eligible under 
the criteria set forth in the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration report entitled ‘‘Establishment and Dis-
continuance Criteria for Airport Traffic Control Tow-
ers’’, and dated August 1990 (FAA–APO–90–7). 
(2) REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.— 
The Administrator shall respond not later than 60 
days after the date the Administrator receives a for-
mal request from an airport and air traffic control 
contractor for additional authority to expand contract 
tower operational hours and staff to accommodate 
flight traffic outside of current tower operational 
hours. 
(3) DEFINITION
OF
CONTRACT
TOWER
PRO-
GRAM.—In this section, the term ‘‘Contract Tower 
Program’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
47124(e) of title 49, United States Code, as added by 
this Act. 
SEC. 134. GOVERNMENT SHARE OF PROJECT COSTS. 
Section 47109(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘primary air-
port having at least .25 percent of the total number 
of passenger boardings each year at all commercial
service airports;’’ and inserting ‘‘medium or large hub 
airport;’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(5) 95 percent for a project that— 
‘‘(A) the Administrator determines is a suc-
cessive phase of a multiphase construction 
project for which the sponsor received a grant in 
fiscal year 2011; and 
‘‘(B) for which the United States Govern-
ment’s share of allowable project costs would oth-
erwise be capped at 90 percent under paragraph 
(2) or (3).’’. 
SEC. 135. UPDATED VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. 
Section 47112(c)(1)(C) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or Operation New Dawn for 
more’’ and inserting ‘‘Operation New Dawn, Oper-
ation Inherent Resolve, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, 
or any successor contingency operation to such oper-
ations for more’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘or Operation New Dawn 
(whichever is later)’’ and inserting ‘‘Operation New 
Dawn, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Free-
dom’s Sentinel, or any successor contingency oper-
ation to such operations (whichever is later)’’. 
SEC. 136. USE OF STATE HIGHWAY SPECIFICATIONS. 
Section 47114(d)(5) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) USE
OF
STATE
HIGHWAY
SPECIFICA-
TIONS.—The Secretary shall use the highway speci-
fications of a State for airfield pavement construction 
and improvement using funds made available under 
this subsection at nonprimary airports serving air-
craft that do not exceed 60,000 pounds gross weight 
if— 
‘‘(A) such State requests the use of such 
specifications; and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that— 
‘‘(i) safety will not be negatively af-
fected; and 
‘‘(ii) the life of the pavement, with nec-
essary maintenance and upkeep, will not be 
shorter than it would be if constructed using 
Administration standards.’’. 
SEC. 137. FORMER MILITARY AIRPORTS. 
Section 47118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) the airport is— 
‘‘(A) a former military installation that, at 
any time after December 31, 1965, was owned 
and operated by the Department of Defense; and 
‘‘(B) a nonhub primary airport.’’. 
SEC. 138. ELIGIBILITY OF CCTV PROJECTS FOR AIRPORT 
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 47119(a)(1)(B) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end and inserting 
‘‘; or’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘directly related to moving pas-
sengers’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘directly related 
to— 
‘‘(i) moving passengers’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) installing security cameras in the 
public area of the interior and exterior of 
the terminal; and’’.
SEC. 139. STATE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM EXPANSION. 
Section 47128(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘not more than 9 qualified States for 
fiscal years 2000 and 2001 and 10 qualified States for each 
fiscal year thereafter’’ and inserting ‘‘not more than 20 
qualified States for each fiscal year’’. 
SEC. 140. NON-MOVEMENT AREA SURVEILLANCE PILOT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 471 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 47142 the following: 
‘‘§ 47143. Non-movement area surveillance surface dis-
play systems pilot program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration may carry out a pilot program 
to support non-Federal acquisition and installation of 
qualifying non-movement area surveillance surface display 
systems and sensors if— 
‘‘(1) the Administrator determines that such sys-
tems and sensors would improve safety or capacity in 
the National Airspace System; and 
‘‘(2) the non-movement area surveillance surface 
display systems and sensors supplement existing 
movement area systems and sensors at the selected 
airports established under other programs adminis-
tered by the Administrator.
‘‘(b) PROJECT GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of carrying out 
the pilot program, the Administrator may make a 
project grant out of funds apportioned under para-
graph (1) or paragraph (2) of section 47114(c) to not 
more than 5 eligible sponsors to acquire and install 
qualifying non-movement area surveillance surface 
display systems and sensors. The airports selected to 
participate in the pilot program shall have existing 
Administration movement area systems and airlines 
that are participants in Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration’s airport collaborative decision-making proc-
ess. 
‘‘(2) DATA EXCHANGE PROCESSES.—As part of 
the pilot program carried out under this section, the 
Administrator may establish data exchange processes 
to allow airport participation in the Administration’s 
airport collaborative decision-making process and fu-
sion of the non-movement surveillance data with the 
Administration’s movement area systems. 
‘‘(c) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective 
on October 1, 2023. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) NON-MOVEMENT
AREA.—The term ‘non- 
movement area’ means the portion of the airfield sur-
SEC. 141. PROPERTY CONVEYANCE RELEASES. 
Section 817(a) of the FAA Modernization and Reform 
Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47125 note) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or section 23’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
section 23’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, or section 47125 of title 49, 
United States Code’’ before the period at the end. 
SEC. 142. STUDY REGARDING TECHNOLOGY USAGE AT AIR-
PORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall initiate a study on— 
(1) technology developed by international entities 
(including foreign nations and companies) that have 
been installed in American airports and aviation sys-
tems over the past decade, including the nation where 
the technology was developed and any airports uti-
lizing the technology; and 
(2) aviation safety-related technology developed 
and implemented by international entities with prov-
en track records of success that may assist in estab-
lishing best practices to improve American aviation 
operations and safety. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
results of the study. 
SEC. 143. STUDY ON AIRPORT REVENUE DIVERSION. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall initiate a study of— 
(1) the legal and financial challenges related to 
repealing the exception in section 47107(b)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, for those airports that the 
Federal Aviation Administration has identified are 
covered by the exception; and 
(2) measures that may be taken to mitigate the 
impact of repealing the exception. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study required under subsection 
(a) shall address— 
(1) the level of revenue diversion at the airports 
covered by the exception described in subsection (a)(1) 
and the uses of the diverted revenue; 
(2) the terms of any bonds or financial covenants 
an airport owner has issued relying on diverted air-
port revenue; 
(3) applicable local laws or ordinances requiring 
use of airport revenue for nonairport purposes;
(4) whether repealing the exception would im-
prove the long-term financial performance of im-
pacted airports; and 
(5) any other practical implications of repealing 
the exception for airports or the national aviation 
system. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the study. 
SEC. 144. GAO STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF GRANTING AN EX-
CLUSIVE RIGHT OF AERONAUTICAL SERVICES 
TO AN AIRPORT SPONSOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study to examine the cases 
in which an airport sponsor has exercised an exclusive right 
(commonly known as a proprietary exclusive right), as de-
scribed in the Federal Aviation Advisory Circular 150/ 
1590–6 issued on January 4, 2007. 
(b) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study described 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the 
findings of the study.
SEC. 145. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SMART AIRPORTS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of 
Transportation should produce a smart airports initiative 
plan that focuses on creating a more consumer-friendly and 
digitally connected airport experience. The plan should in-
clude recommendations on modernizing technologies to pro-
vide more efficient check-ins, shortened security lines, Wi- 
Fi and GPS upgrades, as well as improvements of aircraft 
turnaround for on-time boarding and flights. The purpose 
of the initiative is to invest in technologies and infrastruc-
ture toward better-connected airports while providing ap-
propriate national security and cybersecurity for travelers. 
SEC. 146. CRITICAL AIRFIELD MARKINGS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall issue a request for proposal for a study 
that includes— 
(1) an independent, third-party study to assess 
the durability of Type III and Type I glass beads ap-
plied to critical markings over a 2-year period at not 
fewer than 2 primary airports in varying weather 
conditions to measure the retroreflectivity levels of 
such markings on a quarterly basis; and 
(2) a study at 2 other airports carried out by 
applying Type III glass beads on half of the center-
line and Type I glass beads to the other half and pro-
viding for assessments from pilots through surveys ad-
ministered by a third party as to the visibility and 
performance of the Type III glass beads as compared 
to the Type I glass beads over a 1-year period. 
SEC. 147. GENERAL FACILITIES AUTHORITY. 
Section 44502 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(e) TRANSFERS OF AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—An airport may transfer, 
without consideration, to the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, an eligible air traf-
fic system or equipment that conforms to performance 
specifications of the Administrator if a Government 
airport aid program, airport development aid pro-
gram, or airport improvement project grant was used 
to assist in purchasing the system or equipment. 
‘‘(2) ACCEPTANCE.—The Administrator shall ac-
cept the eligible air traffic system or equipment and 
operate and maintain it under criteria of the Admin-
istrator. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term 
‘eligible air traffic system or equipment’ means—
‘‘(A) an instrument landing system con-
sisting of a glide slope and localizer (if the Ad-
ministrator has determined that a satellite navi-
gation system cannot provide a suitable ap-
proach to an airport); 
‘‘(B) an Automated Weather Observing Sys-
tem weather observation system; or 
‘‘(C) a Remote Communication Air/Ground 
and Remote Communication Outlet communica-
tions facility.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) AIRPORT SPACE.— 
‘‘(1) RESTRICTION.—The Administrator may not 
require an airport owner or sponsor (as defined in 
section 47102) to provide to the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration without cost any of the following: 
‘‘(A) Building construction, maintenance, 
utilities, or expenses for services relating to air 
traffic control, air navigation, or weather report-
ing. 
‘‘(B) Space in a facility owned by the air-
port owner or sponsor for services relating to air 
traffic control, air navigation, or weather report-
ing.
‘‘(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to affect— 
‘‘(A) any agreement the Secretary may have 
or make with an airport owner or sponsor for 
the airport owner or sponsor to provide any of 
the items described in paragraph (1)(A) or 
(1)(B) at below-market rates; or 
‘‘(B) any grant assurance that requires an 
airport owner or sponsor to provide land to the 
Administration without cost for an air traffic 
control facility.’’. 
SEC. 148. RECYCLING PLANS; UNCATEGORIZED SMALL AIR-
PORTS. 
(a) PROJECT GRANT APPLICATION APPROVAL.—Sec-
tion 47106(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘that includes 
the project’’ before ‘‘, the master plan’’; 
(3) in paragraph (6)(E), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) if the project is at an airport that is listed 
as having an unclassified status under the most re-
cent national plan of integrated airport systems (as
described in section 47103), the project will be funded 
with 
an 
amount 
appropriated 
under 
section 
47114(d)(3)(B) and is— 
‘‘(A) for maintenance of the pavement of the 
primary runway; 
‘‘(B) for obstruction removal for the pri-
mary runway; 
‘‘(C) for the rehabilitation of the primary 
runway; or 
‘‘(D) for a project that the Secretary con-
siders necessary for the safe operation of the air-
port.’’. 
(b) 
NONPRIMARY
APPORTIONMENT.—Section 
47114(d)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) During fiscal years 2019 and 2020— 
‘‘(i) an airport that accrued apportion-
ment funds under subparagraph (A) in fis-
cal year 2013 that is listed as having an 
unclassified status under the most recent 
national plan of integrated airport systems 
shall continue to accrue apportionment 
funds under subparagraph (A) at the same 
amount the airport accrued apportionment
funds in fiscal year 2013, subject to the con-
ditions of this paragraph; 
‘‘(ii) notwithstanding the period of 
availability 
as 
described 
in 
section 
47117(b), an amount apportioned to an air-
port under clause (i) shall be available to 
the airport only during the fiscal year in 
which the amount is apportioned; and 
‘‘(iii) notwithstanding the waiver per-
mitted under section 47117(c)(2), an air-
port receiving apportionment funds under 
clause (i) may not waive its claim to any 
part of the apportioned funds in order to 
make the funds available for a grant for an-
other public-use airport. 
‘‘(D) An airport that re-establishes its clas-
sified status shall be eligible to accrue apportion-
ment funds pursuant to subparagraph (A) so 
long as such airport retains its classified sta-
tus.’’. 
SEC. 149. EVALUATION OF AIRPORT MASTER PLANS. 
Section 47106 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(h) EVALUATION
OF AIRPORT MASTER PLANS.— 
When evaluating the master plan of an airport for purposes 
of this subchapter, the Secretary shall take into account— 
‘‘(1) the role the airport plays with respect to 
medical emergencies and evacuations; and 
‘‘(2) the role the airport plays in emergency or 
disaster preparedness in the community served by the 
airport.’’. 
SEC. 150. DEFINITION OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN. 
Section 47113(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ‘small business concern’— 
‘‘(A) has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
632); but 
‘‘(B) in the case of a concern in the con-
struction industry, a concern shall be considered 
a small business concern if the concern meets the 
size standard for the North American Industry 
Classification System Code 237310, as adjusted 
by the Small Business Administration;’’. 
SEC. 151. SMALL AIRPORT REGULATION RELIEF. 
Section 47114(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking subparagraph (F) and inserting the 
following:
‘‘(F) SPECIAL RULE FOR FISCAL YEARS 2018 
THROUGH 2020.—Notwithstanding subparagraph 
(A) and subject to subparagraph (G), the Sec-
retary shall apportion to a sponsor of an airport 
under that subparagraph for each of fiscal years 
2018 through 2020 an amount based on the 
number of passenger boardings at the airport 
during calendar year 2012 if the airport— 
‘‘(i) had 10,000 or more passenger 
boardings during calendar year 2012; 
‘‘(ii) had fewer than 10,000 passenger 
boardings during the calendar year used to 
calculate the apportionment for fiscal year 
2018, 2019, or 2020, as applicable, under 
subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(iii) had scheduled air service at any 
point in the calendar year used to calculate 
the apportionment. 
‘‘(G) LIMITATIONS AND WAIVERS.—The au-
thority to make apportionments in the manner 
prescribed in subparagraph (F) may be utilized 
no more than 3 years in a row. The Secretary 
may waive this limitation if the Secretary deter-
mines that an airport’s enplanements are sub-
stantially close to 10,000 enplanements and the
airport sponsor or affected communities are tak-
ing reasonable steps to restore enplanements 
above 10,000. 
‘‘(H) MINIMUM APPORTIONMENT FOR COM-
MERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORTS WITH MORE THAN 
8,000
PASSENGER
BOARDINGS
IN
A
CALENDAR 
YEAR.—Not less than $600,000 may be appor-
tioned under subparagraph (A) for each fiscal 
year to each sponsor of a commercial service air-
port that had fewer than 10,000 passenger 
boardings, 
but 
at 
least 
8,000 
passenger 
boardings, during the prior calendar year.’’. 
SEC. 152. CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CONTROL TOWERS. 
Section 47116(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) CONTROL TOWER CONSTRUCTION.—Notwith-
standing section 47124(b)(4)(A), the Secretary may 
provide grants under this section to an airport spon-
sor participating in the contract tower program 
under section 47124 for the construction or improve-
ment of a nonapproach control tower, as defined by 
the Secretary, and for the acquisition and installation 
of air traffic control, communications, and related 
equipment to be used in that tower. Such grants shall 
be subject to the distribution requirements of sub-
section (b) and the eligibility requirements of section 
47124(b)(4)(B).’’. 
SEC. 153. NONDISCRIMINATION. 
Section 47123 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary of Transpor-
tation’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) INDIAN EMPLOYMENT.— 
‘‘(1) TRIBAL SPONSOR PREFERENCE.—Consistent 
with section 703(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
U.S.C. 2000e–2(i)), nothing in this section shall pre-
clude the preferential employment of Indians living 
on or near a reservation on a project or contract at— 
‘‘(A) an airport sponsored by an Indian 
tribal government; or 
‘‘(B) an airport located on an Indian res-
ervation. 
‘‘(2) STATE PREFERENCE.—A State may imple-
ment a preference for employment of Indians on a 
project carried out under this subchapter near an In-
dian reservation.
‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
consult with Indian tribal governments and cooperate 
with the States to implement this subsection. 
‘‘(4) INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘Indian tribal government’ has 
the same meaning given that term in section 102 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).’’. 
SEC. 154. DEFINITION OF AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 47116(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) AIRPORT
DEVELOPMENT
FOR
ELIGIBLE 
MOUNTAINTOP AIRPORTS.—In making grants to spon-
sors described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
give priority consideration to mass grading and asso-
ciated structural support (including access road, duct 
banks, and other related infrastructure) at mountain-
top airports, provided that the airport would not oth-
erwise have sufficient surface area for— 
‘‘(A) eligible and justified airport develop-
ment projects; or 
‘‘(B) additional hangar space.’’. 
SEC. 155. GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT EXPIRED FUNDS. 
Section 47117(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘An amount’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 
IN GENERAL.—An amount’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘If the amount’’ and inserting 
‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (2), if the 
amount’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) EXPIRED AMOUNTS APPORTIONED FOR GEN-
ERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), if an amount apportioned 
under section 47114(d) is not obligated within 
the time specified in paragraph (1), that amount 
shall be added to the discretionary fund under 
section 47115 of this title, provided that— 
‘‘(i) amounts made available under 
paragraph (2)(A) shall be used for grants 
for projects in accordance with section 
47115(d)(2) at airports eligible to receive 
an 
apportionment 
under 
section 
47114(d)(2) or (3)(A), whichever is applica-
ble; and 
‘‘(ii) amounts made available under 
paragraph (2)(A) that are not obligated by 
July 1 of the fiscal year in which the funds 
will expire shall be made available for all
projects 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
47115(d)(2). 
‘‘(B) STATE
BLOCK
GRANT
PROGRAM.—If 
an amount apportioned to an airport under sec-
tion 47114(d)(3)(A) is not obligated within the 
time specified in paragraph (1), and the airport 
is located in a State participating in the State 
block grant program under section 47128, the 
amount shall be made available to that State 
under the same conditions as if the State had 
been apportioned the amount under section 
47114(d)(3)(B).’’. 
SEC. 156. PRIORITY REVIEW OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 
IN COLD WEATHER STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, to the extent practicable, shall 
schedule the Administrator’s review of construction projects 
so that projects to be carried out in the States in which 
the weather during a typical calendar year prevents major 
construction projects from being carried out before May 1 
are reviewed as early as possible. 
(b) BRIEFING.—The Administrator shall provide a 
briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress annually 
on the effectiveness of the review and prioritization.
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 154 of the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47112 
note) and the item relating to that section in the table of 
contents under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) are 
repealed. 
SEC. 157. MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PAR-
TICIPATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) While significant progress has occurred due 
to the establishment of the airport disadvantaged 
business enterprise program (sections 47107(e) and 
47113 of title 49, United States Code), discrimination 
and related barriers continue to pose significant ob-
stacles for minority- and women-owned businesses 
seeking to do business in airport-related markets 
across the Nation. These continuing barriers merit the 
continuation of the airport disadvantaged business 
enterprise program. 
(2) Congress has received and reviewed testimony 
and documentation of race and gender discrimination 
from numerous sources, including congressional hear-
ings and roundtables, scientific reports, reports issued 
by public and private agencies, news stories, reports 
of discrimination by organizations and individuals, 
and discrimination lawsuits. This testimony and doc-
umentation shows that race- and gender-neutral ef-
forts alone are insufficient to address the problem. 
(3) This testimony and documentation dem-
onstrates that discrimination across the Nation poses 
a barrier to full and fair participation in airport-re-
lated businesses of women business owners and minor-
ity business owners in the racial groups detailed in 
parts 23 and 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, and has impacted firm development and many 
aspects of airport-related business in the public and 
private markets. 
(4) This testimony and documentation provides 
a strong basis that there is a compelling need for the 
continuation of the airport disadvantaged business 
enterprise program and the airport concessions dis-
advantaged business enterprise program to address 
race and gender discrimination in airport-related 
business. 
(b) PROMPT PAYMENTS.— 
(1) REPORTING OF COMPLAINTS.—Not later than 
120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion shall ensure that each airport that participates 
in the Program tracks, and reports to the Adminis-
trator, the number of covered complaints made in re-
lation to activities at that airport. 
(2) IMPROVING COMPLIANCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
take actions to assess and improve compliance 
with prompt payment requirements under part 
26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(B) CONTENTS OF ASSESSMENT.—In car-
rying out subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
shall assess— 
(i) whether requirements relating to the 
inclusion of prompt payment language in 
contracts are being satisfied; 
(ii) whether and how airports are en-
forcing prompt payment requirements; 
(iii) the processes by which covered 
complaints are received and resolved by air-
ports; 
(iv) whether improvements need to be 
made to— 
(I) better track covered complaints 
received by airports; and 
(II) assist the resolution of covered 
complaints in a timely manner;
(v) whether changes to prime con-
tractor specifications need to be made to en-
sure prompt payments to subcontractors; 
and, 
(vi) whether changes to prime con-
tractor specifications need to be made to en-
sure prompt payment of retainage to sub-
contractors. 
(C) REPORTING.—The Administrator shall 
make available to the public on an appropriate 
website operated by the Administrator a report 
describing the results of the assessment completed 
under this paragraph, including a plan to re-
spond to such results. 
(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the fol-
lowing definitions apply: 
(A) COVERED COMPLAINT.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered complaint’’ means a complaint relating to 
an alleged failure to satisfy a prompt payment 
requirement under part 26 of title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(B) 
PROGRAM.—The 
term 
‘‘Program’’ 
means the airport disadvantaged business enter-
prise program referenced in subsection (a)(1) of
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 
(49 U.S.C. 47113 note). 
SEC. 158. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS. 
Section 47115 of title 49, United States Code, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) SUPPLEMENTAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to provide grants, subject to the conditions 
of this subsection, for any purpose for which amounts 
are made available under section 48103 that the Sec-
retary considers most appropriate to carry out this 
subchapter. 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A grant made under 
this subsection shall be treated as having been 
made pursuant to the Secretary’s authority 
under section 47104(a) and from the Secretary’s 
discretionary fund under subsection (a) of this 
section. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this subsection, grants made under this 
subsection shall not be subject to subsection (c), 
section 47117(e), or any other apportionment 
formula, special apportionment category, or 
minimum percentage set forth in this chapter.
‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) ELIGIBILITY.—The Secretary may 
provide grants under this subsection for an air-
port or terminal development project at any air-
port that is eligible to receive a grant from the 
discretionary fund under subsection (a) of this 
section. 
‘‘(B) PRIORITIZATION.—Not less than 50 
percent of the amounts available under this sub-
section shall used to provide grants at— 
‘‘(i) airports that are eligible for ap-
portionment under section 47114(d)(3); and 
‘‘(ii) nonhub and small hub airports. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out 
this subsection the following amounts: 
‘‘(i) $1,020,000,000 for fiscal year 
2019. 
‘‘(ii) $1,041,000,000 for fiscal year 
2020. 
‘‘(iii) $1,064,000,000 for fiscal year 
2021. 
‘‘(iv) $1,087,000,000 for fiscal year 
2022.
‘‘(v) $1,110,000,000 for fiscal year 
2023. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY.—Sums authorized to be 
appropriated under subparagraph (A) shall re-
main available for 2 fiscal years.’’. 
SEC. 159. STATE TAXATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 40116(d)(2)(A) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(v) except as otherwise provided under section 
47133, levy or collect a tax, fee, or charge, first taking 
effect after the date of enactment of this clause, upon 
any business located at a commercial service airport 
or operating as a permittee of such an airport that 
is not generally imposed on sales or services by that 
State, political subdivision, or authority unless whol-
ly utilized for airport or aeronautical purposes.’’. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
or an amendment made by this section shall affect a change 
to a rate or other provision of a tax, fee, or charge under 
section 40116 of title 49, United States Code, that was en-
acted prior to the date of enactment of this Act. Such provi-
sion of a tax, fee, or charge shall continue to be subject to 
the requirements to which such provision was subject under
that section as in effect on the day before the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 160. AIRPORT INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 47134 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the section heading and inserting 
‘‘Airport 
investment 
partnership 
pro-
gram’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘, with respect 
to not more than 10 airports,’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary may grant an exemption to a sponsor’’ and in-
serting ‘‘If the Secretary grants an exemption to a 
sponsor pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall grant an exemption to the sponsor’’; 
(4) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary may grant an exemption to a purchaser or les-
see’’ and inserting ‘‘If the Secretary grants an exemp-
tion to a sponsor pursuant to paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall grant an exemption to the corresponding 
purchaser or lessee’’; 
(5) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.—
‘‘(1) MULTIPLE AIRPORTS.—The Secretary may 
consider applications under this section submitted by 
a public airport sponsor for multiple airports under 
the control of the sponsor if all airports under the 
control of the sponsor are located in the same State. 
‘‘(2) PARTIAL PRIVATIZATION.—A purchaser or 
lessee may be an entity in which a sponsor has an 
interest.’’; and 
(6) by striking subsections (l) and (m) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(l) PREDEVELOPMENT LIMITATION.—A grant to an 
airport sponsor under this subchapter for predevelopment 
planning costs relating to the preparation of an application 
or proposed application under this section may not exceed 
$750,000 per application or proposed application.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
471 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 47134 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘47134. Airport investment partnership program.’’. 
SEC. 161. REMOTE TOWER PILOT PROGRAM FOR RURAL 
AND SMALL COMMUNITIES. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish—
(A) in consultation with airport operators 
and other aviation stakeholders, a pilot program 
at public-use airports to construct and operate 
remote towers in order to assess their operational 
benefits; 
(B) a selection process for participation in 
the pilot program; and 
(C) a clear process for the safety and oper-
ational certification of the remote towers. 
(2) SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS.— 
(A) SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PANEL.— 
Prior to the operational use of a remote tower 
under the pilot program established in subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall convene a safety risk 
management panel for the tower to address any 
safety issues with respect to the tower. The pan-
els shall be created and utilized in a manner 
similar to that of the safety risk management 
panels previously convened for remote towers and 
shall take into account existing best practices 
and operational data from existing remote tow-
ers in the United States. 
(B) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the 
pilot program, the Administrator shall consult 
with operators of remote towers in the United
States and foreign countries to design the pilot 
program in a manner that leverages as many 
safety and airspace efficiency benefits as possible. 
(3) APPLICATIONS.—The operator of an airport 
seeking to participate in the pilot program shall sub-
mit to the Administrator an application that is in 
such form and contains such information as the Ad-
ministrator may require. 
(4) PROGRAM DESIGN.—In designing the pilot 
program, the Administrator shall— 
(A) to the maximum extent practicable, en-
sure that at least 2 different vendors of remote 
tower systems participate; 
(B) identify which air traffic control infor-
mation and data will assist the Administrator 
in evaluating the feasibility, safety, costs, and 
benefits of remote towers; 
(C) implement processes necessary to collect 
the information and data identified in subpara-
graph (B); 
(D) develop criteria, in addition to consid-
ering possible selection criteria in paragraph (5), 
for the selection of airports that will best assist 
the Administrator in evaluating the feasibility, 
safety, costs, and benefits of remote towers, in-
cluding the amount and variety of air traffic at 
an airport; and 
(E) prioritize the selection of airports that 
can best demonstrate the capabilities and benefits 
of remote towers, including applicants proposing 
to operate multiple remote towers from a single 
facility. 
(5) SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION.— 
In selecting airports for participation in the pilot 
program, the Administrator, after consultation with 
representatives of labor organizations representing op-
erators and employees of the air traffic control sys-
tem, shall consider for participation in the pilot pro-
gram— 
(A) 1 nonhub airport; 
(B) 3 airports that are not primary air-
ports and that do not have existing air traffic 
control towers; 
(C) 1 airport that participates in the Con-
tract Tower Program; and 
(D) 1 airport selected at the discretion of 
the Administrator. 
(6) DATA.—The Administrator shall clearly 
identify and collect air traffic control information 
and data from participating airports that will assist
the Administrator in evaluating the feasibility, safety, 
costs, and benefits of remote towers. 
(7) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date the first remote tower is operational, and annu-
ally thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report— 
(A) detailing any benefits, costs, or safety 
improvements associated with the use of the re-
mote towers; and 
(B) evaluating the feasibility of using re-
mote towers, particularly in the Contract Tower 
Program, for airports without an air traffic con-
trol tower, to improve safety at airports with 
towers, or to reduce costs without impacting safe-
ty at airports with or without existing towers. 
(8) DEADLINE.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
select airports for participation in the pilot program. 
(9) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) 
CONTRACT
TOWER
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘Contract Tower Program’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 47124(e) of title 49, 
United States Code, as added by this Act. 
(B) REMOTE
TOWER.—The term ‘‘remote 
tower’’ means a remotely operated air naviga-
tion facility, including all necessary system com-
ponents, that provides the functions and capa-
bilities of an air traffic control tower whereby 
air traffic services are provided to operators at 
an airport from a location that may not be on 
or near the airport. 
(C) 
OTHER
DEFINITIONS.—The 
terms 
‘‘nonhub airport’’, ‘‘primary airport’’, and ‘‘pub-
lic-use airport’’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 47102 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(10) SUNSET.—This subsection, including the re-
port required under paragraph (8), shall not be in ef-
fect after September 30, 2023. 
(b) REMOTE TOWER PROGRAM.—Concurrent with the 
establishment of the process for safety and operational cer-
tification of remote towers under subsection (a)(1)(C), the 
Administrator shall establish a process to authorize the con-
struction and commissioning of additional remote towers 
that are certificated under subsection (a)(1)(C) at other air-
ports. 
(c) AIP FUNDING ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of the 
pilot program under subsection (a), and after certificated 
remote towers are available under subsection (b), con-
structing a remote tower or acquiring and installing air
traffic control, communications, or related equipment spe-
cifically for a remote tower shall be considered airport de-
velopment (as defined in section 47102 of title 49, United 
States Code) for purposes of subchapter I of chapter 471 
of that title if the components are installed and used at 
the airport, except, as needed, for off-airport sensors in-
stalled on leased towers. 
SEC. 162. AIRPORT ACCESS ROADS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS. 
Notwithstanding section 47102 of title 49, United 
States Code, for fiscal years 2018 through 2023— 
(1) the definition of the term ‘‘airport develop-
ment’’ under that section includes the construction of 
a storage facility to shelter snow removal equipment 
or aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment that is 
owned by an airport sponsor and used exclusively to 
maintain safe airfield operations, up to the facility 
size necessary to accommodate the types and quan-
tities of equipment prescribed by the FAA, regardless 
of whether Federal funding was used to acquire the 
equipment; 
(2) a storage facility to shelter snow removal 
equipment may exceed the facility size limitation de-
scribed in paragraph (1) if the airport sponsor cer-
tifies to the Secretary that the following conditions 
are met:
(A) The storage facility to be constructed 
will be used to store snow removal equipment ex-
clusively used for clearing airfield pavement of 
snow and ice following a weather event. 
(B) The airport is categorized as a local 
general aviation airport in the Federal Aviation 
Administration’s 2017–2021 National Plan of 
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report. 
(C) The 30-year annual snowfall normal of 
the nearest weather station based on the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sum-
mary of Monthly Normals 1981–2010 exceeds 26 
inches. 
(D) The airport serves as a base for a med-
ical air ambulance transport aircraft. 
(E) The airport master record (Form 5010– 
1) effective on September 14, 2017 for the airport 
indicates 45 based aircraft consisting of single 
engine, multiple engine, and jet engine aircraft. 
(F) No funding under this section will be 
used for any portion of the storage facility de-
signed to shelter maintenance and operations 
equipment that are not required for clearing air-
field pavement of snow and ice.
(G) The airport sponsor will complete de-
sign of the storage building not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2019, and will initiate construction 
of the storage building not later than September 
30, 2020. 
(H) The area of the storage facility, or por-
tion thereof, to be funded under this subsection 
does not exceed 6,000 square feet; and 
(3) the definition of the term ‘‘terminal develop-
ment’’ under that section includes the development of 
an airport access road that— 
(A) is located in a noncontiguous State; 
(B) is not more than 5 miles in length; 
(C) connects to the nearest public roadways 
of not more than the 2 closest census designated 
places; and 
(D) may provide incidental access to public 
or private property that is adjacent to the road 
and is not otherwise connected to a public road. 
SEC. 163. LIMITED REGULATION OF NON-FEDERALLY SPON-
SORED PROPERTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), the Secretary of Transportation may not directly or 
indirectly regulate—
(1) the acquisition, use, lease, encumbrance, 
transfer, or disposal of land by an airport owner or 
operator; 
(2) any facility upon such land; or 
(3) any portion of such land or facility. 
(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) does not apply to— 
(1) any regulation ensuring— 
(A) the safe and efficient operation of air-
craft or safety of people and property on the 
ground related to aircraft operations; 
(B) that an airport owner or operator re-
ceives not less than fair market value in the con-
text of a commercial transaction for the use, 
lease, encumbrance, transfer, or disposal of land, 
any facilities on such land, or any portion of 
such land or facilities; or 
(C) that the airport pays not more than 
fair market value in the context of a commercial 
transaction for the acquisition of land or facili-
ties on such land; 
(2) any regulation imposed with respect to land 
or a facility acquired or modified using Federal fund-
ing; or 
(3) any authority contained in—
(A) a Surplus Property Act instrument of 
transfer, or 
(B) section 40117 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to affect the applicability of sections 
47107(b) or 47133 of title 49, United States Code, to reve-
nues generated by the use, lease, encumbrance, transfer, or 
disposal of land under subsection (a), facilities upon such 
land, or any portion of such land or facilities. 
(d) AMENDMENTS TO AIRPORT LAYOUT PLANS.—Sec-
tion 47107(a)(16) of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) the Secretary will review and approve 
or disapprove only those portions of the plan (or 
any subsequent revision to the plan) that materi-
ally impact the safe and efficient operation of 
aircraft at, to, or from the airport or that would 
adversely affect the safety of people or property 
on the ground adjacent to the airport as a result 
of aircraft operations, or that adversely affect the 
value of prior Federal investments to a signifi-
cant extent;’’;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘if the al-
teration’’ and all that follows through ‘‘airport; and’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘unless the alteration— 
‘‘(i) is outside the scope of the Sec-
retary’s review and approval authority as 
set forth in subparagraph (B); or 
‘‘(ii) complies with the portions of the 
plan approved by the Secretary; and’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (D), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘when an alternation’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Secretary, will’’ and in-
serting ‘‘when an alteration in the airport or its facil-
ity is made that is within the scope of the Secretary’s 
review and approval authority as set forth in sub-
paragraph (B), and does not conform with the por-
tions of the plan approved by the Secretary, and the 
Secretary decides that the alteration adversely affects 
the safety, utility, or efficiency of aircraft operations, 
or of any property on or off the airport that is owned, 
leased, or financed by the Government, then the owner 
or operator will, if requested by the Secretary’’. 
SEC. 164. SEASONAL AIRPORTS. 
Section 47114(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, as 
amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
‘‘(I) 
SEASONAL
AIRPORTS.—Notwith-
standing section 47102, if the Secretary deter-
mines that a commercial service airport with at 
least 8,000 passenger boardings receives sched-
uled air carrier service for fewer than 6 months 
in the calendar year used to calculate apportion-
ments to airport sponsors in a fiscal year, then 
the Secretary shall consider the airport to be a 
nonhub primary airport for purposes of this 
chapter.’’. 
SEC. 165. AMENDMENTS TO DEFINITIONS. 
Section 47102 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (K), by striking 
‘‘7505a) and if such project will result in an air-
port 
receiving 
appropriate’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘7505a)) and if the airport would be able to re-
ceive’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (L) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(L) a project by a commercial service air-
port for the acquisition of airport-owned vehicles 
or ground support equipment equipped with low- 
emission technology if the airport is located in
an air quality nonattainment or maintenance 
area (as defined in sections 171(2) and 175A of 
the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7501(2); 7505a)), 
if the airport would be able to receive appro-
priate emission credits (as described in section 
47139), and the vehicles are; 
‘‘(i) used exclusively on airport prop-
erty; or 
‘‘(ii) used exclusively to transport pas-
sengers and employees between the airport 
and the airport’s consolidated rental car fa-
cility or an intermodal surface transpor-
tation facility adjacent to the airport.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(P) an on-airport project to improve the 
reliability and efficiency of the airport’s power 
supply and to prevent power disruptions to the 
airfield, passenger terminal, and any other air-
port facilities, including the acquisition and in-
stallation of electrical generators, separation of 
the airport’s main power supply from its redun-
dant power supply, and the construction or 
modification of airport facilities to install a 
microgrid (as defined in section 641 of the
United States Energy Storage Competitiveness 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231)). 
‘‘(Q) converting or retrofitting vehicles and 
ground support equipment into eligible zero- 
emission vehicles and equipment (as defined in 
section 47136) and for acquiring, by purchase or 
lease, eligible zero-emission vehicles and equip-
ment. 
‘‘(R) predevelopment planning, including 
financial, legal, or procurement consulting serv-
ices, related to an application or proposed appli-
cation for an exemption under section 47134.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘regulations’’ 
and inserting ‘‘requirements’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘public’’ and 
inserting ‘‘public-use’’. 
SEC. 166. PILOT PROGRAM SUNSETS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Sections 47136 and 47140 of title 
49, United States Code, are repealed. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Sections 47136a and 47140a of title 49, 
United States Code, are redesignated as sections 
47136 and 47140, respectively. 
(2) Section 47139 of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended—
(A) by striking subsection (c); and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (c). 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The analysis for chap-
ter 471 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the items relating to sections 
47136, 47136a, 47140, and 47140a; 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 
47135 the following: 
‘‘47136. Zero-emission airport vehicles and infrastructure.’’; and 
(3) by inserting after the item relating to section 
47139 the following: 
‘‘47140. Increasing the energy efficiency of airport power sources.’’. 
SEC. 167. BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) NOTICE OF WAIVERS.—If the Secretary of Trans-
portation determines that it is necessary to waive the appli-
cation of section 50101(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
based on a finding under section 50101(b) of that title, the 
Secretary, at least 10 days before the date on which the 
waiver takes effect, shall— 
(1) make publicly available, in an easily identi-
fiable location on the website of the Department of 
Transportation, a detailed written justification of the 
waiver determination; and 
(2) provide an informal public notice and com-
ment opportunity on the waiver determination.
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—For each fiscal year, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on waivers issued under section 50101 of title 
49, United States Code, during the fiscal year. 
Subtitle D—Airport Noise and 
Environmental Streamlining 
SEC. 171. FUNDING ELIGIBILITY FOR AIRPORT ENERGY EF-
FICIENCY ASSESSMENTS. 
(a) COST REIMBURSEMENTS.—Section 47140(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, as so redesignated, is amended 
by striking ‘‘airport.’’ and inserting ‘‘airport, and to reim-
burse the airport sponsor for the costs incurred in con-
ducting the assessment.’’. 
(b) SAFETY PRIORITY.—Section 47140(b)(2) of title 
49, United States Code, as so redesignated, is amended by 
inserting ‘‘, including a certification that no safety projects 
are being be deferred by requesting a grant under this sec-
tion,’’ after ‘‘an application’’. 
SEC. 172. AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN FLIGHTS BY STAGE 
2 AIRCRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding chapter 475 of 
title 49, United States Code, not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate a pilot pro-
gram to permit an operator of a stage 2 aircraft to operate
that aircraft in nonrevenue service into not more than 4 
medium hub airports or nonhub airports if— 
(1) the airport— 
(A) is certified under part 139 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations; 
(B) has a runway that— 
(i) is longer than 8,000 feet and not 
less than 200 feet wide; and 
(ii) is load bearing with a pavement 
classification number of not less than 38; 
and 
(C) has a maintenance facility with a 
maintenance certificate issued under part 145 of 
such title; and 
(2) the operator of the stage 2 aircraft operates 
not more than 10 flights per month using that air-
craft. 
(b) TERMINATION.—The pilot program shall terminate 
on the earlier of— 
(1) the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which the Administrator deter-
mines that no stage 2 aircraft remain in service. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) MEDIUM HUB AIRPORT; NONHUB AIRPORT.— 
The terms ‘‘medium hub airport’’ and ‘‘nonhub air-
port’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 
40102 of title 49, United States Code. 
(2) STAGE 2 AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘stage 2 air-
craft’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘stage 2 air-
plane’’ in section 91.851 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of 
the enactment of this Act). 
SEC. 173. ALTERNATIVE AIRPLANE NOISE METRIC EVALUA-
TION DEADLINE. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration shall complete the ongoing evaluation of alter-
native metrics to the current Day Night Level (DNL) 65 
standard. 
SEC. 174. UPDATING AIRPORT NOISE EXPOSURE MAPS. 
Section 47503(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) REVISED MAPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—An airport operator that 
submits a noise exposure map under subsection (a) 
shall submit a revised map to the Secretary if, in an 
area surrounding an airport, a change in the oper-
ation of the airport would establish a substantial new
noncompatible use, or would significantly reduce 
noise over existing noncompatible uses, that is not re-
flected in either the existing conditions map or fore-
cast map currently on file with the Federal Aviation 
Administration. 
‘‘(2) TIMING.—A submission under paragraph 
(1) shall be required only if the relevant change in the 
operation of the airport occurs during— 
‘‘(A) the forecast period of the applicable 
noise exposure map submitted by an airport op-
erator under subsection (a); or 
‘‘(B) the implementation period of the air-
port operator’s noise compatibility program.’’. 
SEC. 175. ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NOISE CONCERNS. 
When proposing a new area navigation departure pro-
cedure, or amending an existing procedure that would di-
rect aircraft between the surface and 6,000 feet above 
ground level over noise sensitive areas, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall consider the 
feasibility of dispersal headings or other lateral track vari-
ations to address community noise concerns, if— 
(1) the affected airport operator, in consultation 
with the affected community, submits a request to the 
Administrator for such a consideration;
(2) the airport operator’s request would not, in 
the judgment of the Administrator, conflict with the 
safe and efficient operation of the national airspace 
system; and 
(3) the effect of a modified departure procedure 
would not significantly increase noise over noise sen-
sitive areas, as determined by the Administrator. 
SEC. 176. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN FAA NEXTGEN 
PROJECTS LOCATED IN METROPLEXES. 
(a) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT POLICY.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
complete a review of the Federal Aviation Administration’s 
community involvement practices for Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) projects located in 
metroplexes identified by the Administration. The review 
shall include, at a minimum, a determination of how and 
when to engage airports and communities in performance- 
based navigation proposals. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after completion 
of the review, the Administrator shall submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report on— 
(1) how the Administration will improve com-
munity involvement practices for NextGen projects lo-
cated in metroplexes;
(2) how and when the Administration will en-
gage airports and communities in performance-based 
navigation proposals; and 
(3) lessons learned from NextGen projects and 
pilot programs and how those lessons learned are 
being integrated into community involvement prac-
tices 
for 
future 
NextGen 
projects 
located 
in 
metroplexes. 
SEC. 177. LEAD EMISSIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
enter into appropriate arrangements with the National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine under 
which the National Research Council will study aviation 
gasoline. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The study shall include an assessment 
of— 
(1) existing non-leaded fuel alternatives to the 
aviation gasoline used by piston-powered general 
aviation aircraft; 
(2) ambient lead concentrations at and around 
airports where piston-powered general aviation air-
craft are used; and 
(3) mitigation measures to reduce ambient lead 
concentrations, including increasing the size of run- 
up areas, relocating run-up areas, imposing restric-
100 
tions on aircraft using aviation gasoline, and increas-
ing the use of motor gasoline in piston-powered gen-
eral aviation aircraft. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the study 
developed by the National Research Council pursuant to 
this section. 
SEC. 178. TERMINAL SEQUENCING AND SPACING. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration shall provide a briefing to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress on the status of Terminal Sequencing 
and Spacing (TSAS) implementation across all completed 
NextGen metroplexes with specific information provided by 
airline regarding the adoption and equipping of aircraft 
and the training of pilots in its use. 
SEC. 179. AIRPORT NOISE MITIGATION AND SAFETY STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall initiate a study to review 
and evaluate existing studies and analyses of the relation-
ship between jet aircraft approach and takeoff speeds and 
corresponding noise impacts on communities surrounding 
airports.
101 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study initi-
ated under subsection (a), the Administrator shall deter-
mine— 
(1) whether a decrease in jet aircraft approach 
or takeoff speeds results in significant aircraft noise 
reductions; 
(2) whether the jet aircraft approach or takeoff 
speed reduction necessary to achieve significant noise 
reductions— 
(A) jeopardizes aviation safety; or 
(B) decreases the efficiency of the National 
Airspace System, including lowering airport ca-
pacity, increasing travel times, or increasing fuel 
burn; 
(3) the advisability of using jet aircraft ap-
proach or takeoff speeds as a noise mitigation tech-
nique; and 
(4) if the Administrator determines that using 
jet aircraft approach or takeoff speeds as a noise miti-
gation technique is advisable, whether any of the met-
ropolitan areas specifically identified in section 
189(b)(2) would benefit from such a noise mitigation 
technique without a significant impact to aviation 
safety or the efficiency of the National Airspace Sys-
tem.
102 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the re-
sults of the study initiated under subsection (a). 
SEC. 180. REGIONAL OMBUDSMEN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, with respect to each region of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, the Regional Adminis-
trator for that region shall designate an individual to be 
the Regional Ombudsman for the region. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Each Regional Ombudsman 
shall— 
(1) serve as a regional liaison with the public, 
including community groups, on issues regarding air-
craft noise, pollution, and safety; 
(2) make recommendations to the Administrator 
for the region to address concerns raised by the public 
and improve the consideration of public comments in 
decision-making processes; and 
(3) be consulted on proposed changes in aircraft 
operations affecting the region, including arrival and 
departure routes, in order to minimize environmental 
impacts, including noise.
103 
SEC. 181. FAA LEADERSHIP ON CIVIL SUPERSONIC AIR-
CRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall exercise leadership in the 
creation of Federal and international policies, regulations, 
and standards relating to the certification and safe and effi-
cient operation of civil supersonic aircraft. 
(b) EXERCISE OF LEADERSHIP.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) consider the needs of the aerospace industry 
and other stakeholders when creating policies, regula-
tions, and standards that enable the safe commercial 
deployment of civil supersonic aircraft technology and 
the safe and efficient operation of civil supersonic air-
craft; and 
(2) obtain the input of aerospace industry stake-
holders regarding— 
(A) the appropriate regulatory framework 
and timeline for permitting the safe and efficient 
operation of civil supersonic aircraft within 
United States airspace, including updating or 
modifying existing regulations on such oper-
ation; 
(B) issues related to standards and regula-
tions for the type certification and safe operation
104 
of civil supersonic aircraft, including noise cer-
tification, including— 
(i) the operational differences between 
subsonic aircraft and supersonic aircraft; 
(ii) costs and benefits associated with 
landing and takeoff noise requirements for 
civil supersonic aircraft, including impacts 
on aircraft emissions; 
(iii) public and economic benefits of 
the operation of civil supersonic aircraft 
and associated aerospace industry activity; 
and 
(iv) challenges relating to ensuring 
that standards and regulations aimed at re-
lieving and protecting the public health and 
welfare from aircraft noise and sonic booms 
are economically reasonable, technologically 
practicable, and appropriate for civil super-
sonic aircraft; and 
(C) other issues identified by the Adminis-
trator or the aerospace industry that must be ad-
dressed to enable the safe commercial deployment 
and safe and efficient operation of civil super-
sonic aircraft.
105 
(c) INTERNATIONAL
LEADERSHIP.—The Adminis-
trator, in the appropriate international forums, shall take 
actions that— 
(1) demonstrate global leadership under sub-
section (a); 
(2) address the needs of the aerospace industry 
identified under subsection (b); and 
(3) protect the public health and welfare. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report detailing— 
(1) the Administrator’s actions to exercise leader-
ship in the creation of Federal and international 
policies, regulations, and standards relating to the 
certification and safe and efficient operation of civil 
supersonic aircraft; 
(2) planned, proposed, and anticipated actions 
to update or modify existing policies and regulations 
related to civil supersonic aircraft, including those 
identified as a result of industry consultation and 
feedback; and 
(3) a timeline for any actions to be taken to up-
date or modify existing policies and regulations re-
lated to civil supersonic aircraft.
106 
(e) LONG-TERM REGULATORY REFORM.— 
(1) NOISE STANDARDS.—Not later than March 
31, 2020, the Administrator shall issue a notice of 
proposed rulemaking to revise part 36 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, to include supersonic 
aircraft in the applicability of such part. The pro-
posed rule shall include necessary definitions, noise 
standards for landing and takeoff, and noise test re-
quirements that would apply to a civil supersonic 
aircraft. 
(2) SPECIAL
FLIGHT
AUTHORIZATIONS.—Not 
later than December 31, 2019, the Administrator shall 
issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise appen-
dix B of part 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, to modernize the application process for a per-
son applying to operate a civil aircraft at supersonic 
speeds for the purposes stated in that rule. 
(f) NEAR-TERM CERTIFICATION OF SUPERSONIC CIVIL 
AIRCRAFT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—If a person submits an appli-
cation requesting type certification of a civil super-
sonic aircraft pursuant to part 21 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations, before the Administrator pro-
mulgates a final rule amending part 36 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, in accordance with sub-
107 
section (e)(1), the Administrator shall, not later than 
18 months after having received such application, 
issue a notice of proposed rulemaking applicable sole-
ly for the type certification, inclusive of the aircraft 
engines, of the supersonic aircraft design for which 
such application was made. 
(2) CONTENTS.—A notice of proposed rule-
making described in paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) address safe operation of the aircraft 
type, including development and flight testing 
prior to type certification; 
(B) address manufacturing of the aircraft; 
(C) address continuing airworthiness of the 
aircraft; 
(D) specify landing and takeoff noise stand-
ards for that aircraft type that the Adminis-
trator considers appropriate, practicable, and 
consistent with section 44715 of title 49, United 
States Code; and 
(E) consider differences between subsonic 
and supersonic aircraft including differences in 
thrust requirements at equivalent gross weight, 
engine requirements, aerodynamic characteris-
tics, operational characteristics, and other phys-
ical properties.
108 
(3) NOISE AND PERFORMANCE DATA.—The re-
quirement of the Administrator to issue a notice of 
proposed rulemaking under paragraph (1) shall apply 
only if an application contains sufficient aircraft 
noise and performance data as the Administrator 
finds necessary to determine appropriate noise stand-
ards and operating limitations for the aircraft type 
consistent with section 44715 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(4) FINAL
RULE.—Not later than 18 months 
after the end of the public comment period provided 
in the notice of proposed rulemaking required under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall publish in the 
Federal Register a final rule applying solely to the 
aircraft model submitted for type certification. 
(5) REVIEW
OF
RULES
OF
CIVIL
SUPERSONIC 
FLIGHTS.—Beginning December 31, 2020, and every 
2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall review 
available aircraft noise and performance data, and 
consult with heads of appropriate Federal agencies, to 
determine whether section 91.817 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, and Appendix B of part 91 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, may be amend-
ed, consistent with section 44715 of title 49, United
109 
States Code, to permit supersonic flight of civil air-
craft over land in the United States. 
(6) IMPLEMENTATION OF NOISE STANDARDS.— 
The portion of the regulation issued by the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration titled 
‘‘Revision of General Operating and Flight Rules’’ 
and published in the Federal Register on August 18, 
1989 (54 Fed. Reg. 34284) that restricts operation of 
civil aircraft at a true flight Mach number greater 
than 1 shall have no force or effect beginning on the 
date on which the Administrator publishes in the 
Federal Register a final rule specifying sonic boom 
noise standards for civil supersonic aircraft. 
SEC. 182. MANDATORY USE OF THE NEW YORK NORTH 
SHORE HELICOPTER ROUTE. 
(a) PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall provide notice of, 
and an opportunity for, at least 60 days of public 
comment with respect to the regulations in subpart H 
of part 93 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) TIMING.—The public comment period re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall begin not later than 
30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
110 
(b) PUBLIC HEARING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
hold a public hearing in the communities impacted by the 
regulations described in subsection (a)(1) to solicit feedback 
with respect to the regulations. 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall initiate 
a review of the regulations described in subsection (a)(1) 
that assesses the— 
(1) noise impacts of the regulations for commu-
nities, including communities in locations where air-
craft are transitioning to or from a destination or 
point of landing; 
(2) enforcement of applicable flight standards, 
including requirements for helicopters operating on 
the relevant route to remain at or above 2,500 feet 
mean sea level; and 
(3) availability of alternative or supplemental 
routes to reduce the noise impacts of the regulations, 
including the institution of an all water route over 
the Atlantic Ocean. 
SEC. 183. STATE STANDARDS FOR AIRPORT PAVEMENTS. 
Section 47105(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
111 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘The Secretary’’ the first place it appears; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) PAVEMENT STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—At the re-
quest of a State, the Secretary shall, not later 
than 30 days after the date of the request, pro-
vide technical assistance to the State in devel-
oping standards, acceptable to the Secretary 
under subparagraph (B), for pavement on non-
primary public-use airports in the State. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(i) continue to provide technical as-
sistance under subparagraph (A) until the 
standards are approved under paragraph 
(1); and 
‘‘(ii) clearly indicate to the State the 
standards that are acceptable to the Sec-
retary, considering, at a minimum, local 
conditions and locally available materials.’’. 
SEC. 184. ELIGIBILITY OF PILOT PROGRAM AIRPORTS. 
(a) DISCRETIONARY FUND.—Section 47115 of title 49, 
United States Code, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
112 
‘‘(k) PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AIRPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may make 
grants with funds made available under this section 
for an airport participating in the program under 
section 47134 if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary has approved the appli-
cation of an airport sponsor under section 
47134(b) in fiscal year 2019; and 
‘‘(B) the grant will— 
‘‘(i) satisfy an obligation incurred by 
an airport sponsor under section 47110(e) 
or funded by a nonpublic sponsor for an 
airport development project on the airport; 
or 
‘‘(ii) provide partial Federal reim-
bursement for airport development (as de-
fined in section 47102) on the airport lay-
out plan initiated in the fiscal year in 
which the application was approved, or 
later, for over a period of not more than 10 
years. 
‘‘(2) 
NONAPPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
SEC-
TIONS.—Grants made under this subsection shall not 
be subject to— 
‘‘(A) subsection (c) of this section;
113 
‘‘(B) section 47117(e); or 
‘‘(C) any other apportionment formula, spe-
cial apportionment category, or minimum per-
centage set forth in this chapter.’’. 
(b) ALLOWABLE PROJECT COSTS; LETTERS OF IN-
TENT.—Section 47110(e) of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AIRPORTS.—The Sec-
retary may issue a letter of intent under this section to an 
airport sponsor with an approved application under section 
47134(b) if— 
‘‘(A) the application was approved in fiscal year 
2019; and 
‘‘(B) the project meets all other requirements set 
forth in this chapter.’’. 
SEC. 185. GRANDFATHERING OF CERTAIN DEED AGREE-
MENTS GRANTING THROUGH-THE-FENCE AC-
CESS TO GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS. 
Section 47107(s) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) EXEMPTION.—The terms and conditions of 
paragraph (2) shall not apply to an agreement de-
scribed in paragraph (1) made before the enactment 
of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 
(Public Law 112–95) that the Secretary determines
114 
does not comply with such terms and conditions but 
involves property that is subject to deed or lease re-
strictions that are considered perpetual and that can-
not readily be brought into compliance. However, if 
the Secretary determines that the airport sponsor and 
residential property owners are able to make any 
modification to such an agreement on or after the 
date of enactment of this paragraph, the exemption 
provided by this paragraph shall no longer apply.’’. 
SEC. 186. STAGE 3 AIRCRAFT STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall initiate a review of the potential bene-
fits, costs, and other impacts that would result from a 
phaseout of covered stage 3 aircraft. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review shall include— 
(1) a determination of the number, types, fre-
quency of operations, and owners and operators of 
covered stage 3 aircraft; 
(2) an analysis of the potential benefits, costs, 
and other impacts to air carriers, general aviation 
operators, airports, communities surrounding air-
ports, and the general public associated with phasing 
out or reducing the operations of covered stage 3 air-
115 
craft, assuming such a phaseout or reduction is put 
into effect over a reasonable period of time; 
(3) a determination of lessons learned from the 
phaseout of stage 2 aircraft that might be applicable 
to a phaseout or reduction in the operations of cov-
ered stage 3 aircraft, including comparisons between 
the benefits, costs, and other impacts associated with 
the phaseout of stage 2 aircraft and the potential ben-
efits, costs, and other impacts determined under para-
graph (2); 
(4) a determination of the costs and logistical 
challenges associated with recertifying stage 3 aircraft 
capable of meeting stage 4 noise levels; and 
(5) a determination of stakeholder views on the 
feasibility and desirability of phasing out covered 
stage 3 aircraft, including the views of— 
(A) air carriers; 
(B) airports; 
(C) communities surrounding airports; 
(D) aircraft and avionics manufacturers; 
(E) operators of covered stage 3 aircraft 
other than air carriers; and 
(F) such other stakeholders and aviation ex-
perts as the Comptroller General considers ap-
propriate.
116 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the review. 
(d) COVERED STAGE 3 AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘covered stage 3 aircraft’’ means a civil 
subsonic jet aircraft that is not capable of meeting the stage 
4 noise levels in part 36 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
SEC. 187. AIRCRAFT NOISE EXPOSURE. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall conclude the Administrator’s on-
going review of the relationship between aircraft noise expo-
sure and its effects on communities around airports. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report containing the re-
sults of the review. 
(2) PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS.—The re-
port shall contain such preliminary recommendations 
as the Administrator determines appropriate for re-
vising the land use compatibility guidelines in part 
150 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, based on
117 
the results of the review and in coordination with 
other agencies. 
SEC. 188. STUDY REGARDING DAY-NIGHT AVERAGE SOUND 
LEVELS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration shall evaluate alternative metrics to 
the current average day-night level standard, such as the 
use of actual noise sampling and other methods, to address 
community airplane noise concerns. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the re-
sults of the study under subsection (a). 
SEC. 189. STUDY ON POTENTIAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC 
IMPACTS OF OVERFLIGHT NOISE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall enter into an agreement 
with an eligible institution of higher education to conduct 
a study on the health impacts of noise from aircraft flights 
on residents exposed to a range of noise levels from such 
flights. 
(b) SCOPE OF STUDY.—The study conducted under 
subsection (a) shall—
118 
(1) include an examination of the incremental 
health impacts attributable to noise exposure that re-
sult from aircraft flights, including sleep disturbance 
and elevated blood pressure; 
(2) be focused on residents in the metropolitan 
area of— 
(A) Boston; 
(B) Chicago; 
(C) the District of Columbia; 
(D) New York; 
(E) the Northern California Metroplex; 
(F) Phoenix; 
(G) the Southern California Metroplex; 
(H) Seattle; or 
(I) such other area as may be identified by 
the Administrator; 
(3) consider, in particular, the incremental 
health impacts on residents living partly or wholly 
underneath flight paths most frequently used by air-
craft flying at an altitude lower than 10,000 feet, in-
cluding during takeoff or landing; 
(4) include an assessment of the relationship be-
tween a perceived increase in aircraft noise, including 
as a result of a change in flight paths that increases 
the visibility of aircraft from a certain location, and
119 
an actual increase in aircraft noise, particularly in 
areas with high or variable levels of nonaircraft-re-
lated ambient noise; and 
(5) consider the economic harm or benefits to 
businesses located party or wholly underneath flight 
paths most frequently used by aircraft flying at an 
altitude lower than 10,000 feet, including during 
takeoff or landing. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—An institution of higher education 
is eligible to conduct the study if the institution— 
(1) has— 
(A) a school of public health that has par-
ticipated in the Center of Excellence for Aircraft 
Noise and Aviation Emissions Mitigation of the 
Federal Aviation Administration; or 
(B) a center for environmental health that 
receives funding from the National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences; 
(2) is located in one of the areas identified in 
subsection (b); 
(3) applies to the Administrator in a timely 
fashion; 
(4) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Ad-
ministrator that the institution is qualified to con-
duct the study;
120 
(5) agrees to submit to the Administrator, not 
later than 3 years after entering into an agreement 
under subsection (a), the results of the study, includ-
ing any source materials used; and 
(6) meets such other requirements as the Admin-
istrator determines necessary. 
(d) SUBMISSION OF STUDY.—Not later than 90 days 
after the Administrator receives the results of the study, the 
Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress the study and a summary of the results. 
SEC. 190. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may carry out a pilot program involving not more than 
6 projects at public-use airports in accordance with this 
section. 
(b) GRANTS.—In carrying out the program, the Sec-
retary may make grants to sponsors of public-use airports 
from funds apportioned under section 47117(e)(1)(A) of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts from a grant received 
by the sponsor of a public-use airport under the program 
shall be used for environmental mitigation projects that will 
measurably reduce or mitigate aviation impacts on noise, 
air quality, or water quality at the airport or within 5 
miles of the airport.
121 
(d) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, an envi-
ronmental mitigation project approved under this section 
shall be treated as eligible for assistance under that chapter. 
(e) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting from among 
applicants for participation in the program, the Secretary 
may give priority consideration to projects that— 
(1) will achieve the greatest reductions in air-
craft noise, airport emissions, or airport water qual-
ity impacts either on an absolute basis or on a per 
dollar of funds expended basis; and 
(2) will be implemented by an eligible consor-
tium. 
(f) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out under the program shall be 50 per-
cent. 
(g) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—Not more than $2,500,000 
may be made available by the Secretary in grants under 
the program for any single project. 
(h) IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary 
may establish and publish information identifying best 
practices for reducing or mitigating aviation impacts on 
noise, air quality, and water quality at airports or in the 
vicinity of airports based on the projects carried out under 
the program.
122 
(i) SUNSET.—The program shall terminate 5 years 
after the Secretary makes the first grant under the program. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defini-
tions apply: 
(1) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘eligible 
consortium’’ means a consortium that is composed of 
2 or more of the following entities: 
(A) Businesses incorporated in the United 
States. 
(B) Public or private educational or re-
search organizations located in the United 
States. 
(C) Entities of State or local governments 
in the United States. 
(D) Federal laboratories. 
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROJECT.—The 
term ‘‘environmental mitigation project’’ means a 
project that— 
(A) introduces new environmental mitiga-
tion techniques or technologies that have been 
proven in laboratory demonstrations; 
(B) proposes methods for efficient adapta-
tion or integration of new concepts into airport 
operations; and
123 
(C) will demonstrate whether new tech-
niques or technologies for environmental mitiga-
tion are— 
(i) practical to implement at or near 
multiple public-use airports; and 
(ii) capable of reducing noise, airport 
emissions, or water quality impacts in 
measurably significant amounts. 
(k) AUTHORIZATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS 
FROM DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration may accept funds from 
the Secretary of Defense to increase the authorized 
funding for this section by the amount of such trans-
fer only to carry out projects designed for environ-
mental mitigation at a site previously, but not cur-
rently, managed by the Department of Defense. 
(2) ADDITIONAL GRANTEES.—If additional funds 
are made available by the Secretary of Defense under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator may increase the 
number of grantees under subsection (a). 
SEC. 191. EXTENDING AVIATION DEVELOPMENT STREAM-
LINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 47171 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended—
124 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘general aviation airport 
construction or improvement projects,’’ after ‘‘con-
gested airports,’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION 
OR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.—A general aviation air-
port construction or improvement project shall be sub-
ject to the coordinated and expedited environmental 
review process requirements set forth in this section.’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(3)’’; 
(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(3)’’; 
(5) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(3)’’; and 
(6) in subsection (k), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(3)’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 47175 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
125 
‘‘(8) GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION 
OR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.—The term ‘general avia-
tion airport construction or improvement project’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) a project for the construction or exten-
sion of a runway, including any land acquisi-
tion, helipad, taxiway, safety area, apron, or 
navigational aids associated with the runway or 
runway extension, at a general aviation airport, 
a reliever airport, or a commercial service air-
port that is not a primary airport (as such 
terms are defined in section 47102); and 
‘‘(B) any other airport development project 
that the Secretary designates as facilitating 
aviation capacity building projects at a general 
aviation airport.’’. 
SEC. 192. ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES AND TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 47136 of title 49, United 
States Code, as so redesignated, is amended— 
(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
may establish a pilot program under which the sponsors 
of public-use airports may use funds made available under
126 
this chapter or section 48103 for use at such airports to 
carry out— 
‘‘(1) activities associated with the acquisition, by 
purchase or lease, and operation of eligible zero-emis-
sion vehicles and equipment, including removable 
power sources for such vehicles; and 
‘‘(2) the construction or modification of infra-
structure to facilitate the delivery of fuel, power or 
services necessary for the use of such vehicles. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A public-use airport is eligible for 
participation in the program if the eligible vehicles or 
equipment are— 
‘‘(1) used exclusively on airport property; or 
‘‘(2) used exclusively to transport passengers and 
employees between the airport and— 
‘‘(A) nearby facilities which are owned or 
controlled by the airport or which otherwise di-
rectly support the functions or services provided 
by the airport; or 
‘‘(B) an intermodal surface transportation 
facility adjacent to the airport.’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (d) through (f) and 
inserting the following:
127 
‘‘(d) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out under the program shall be the Fed-
eral share specified in section 47109. 
‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The sponsor of a public-use 
airport may use not more than 10 percent of the 
amounts made available to the sponsor under the pro-
gram in any fiscal year for— 
‘‘(A) technical assistance; and 
‘‘(B) project management support to assist 
the airport with the solicitation, acquisition, and 
deployment of zero-emission vehicles, related 
equipment, and supporting infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) PROVIDERS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
To receive the technical assistance or project manage-
ment support described in paragraph (1), partici-
pants in the program may use— 
‘‘(A) a nonprofit organization selected by 
the Secretary; or 
‘‘(B) a university transportation center re-
ceiving grants under section 5505 in the region 
of the airport. 
‘‘(f) MATERIALS IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES.—The 
Secretary may create and make available materials identi-
fying best practices for carrying out activities funded under
128 
the program based on previous related projects and other 
sources. 
‘‘(g) ALLOWABLE
PROJECT
COST.—The allowable 
project cost for the acquisition of a zero-emission vehicle 
shall be the total cost of purchasing or leasing the vehicle, 
including the cost of technical assistance or project manage-
ment support described in subsection (e). 
‘‘(h) FLEXIBLE PROCUREMENT.—A sponsor of a pub-
lic-use airport may use funds made available under the pro-
gram to acquire, by purchase or lease, a zero-emission vehi-
cle and a removable power source in separate transactions, 
including transactions by which the airport purchases the 
vehicle and leases the removable power source. 
‘‘(i) TESTING REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A sponsor of a public-use 
airport may not use funds made available under the 
program to acquire a zero-emission vehicle unless that 
make, model, or type of vehicle has been tested by a 
Federal vehicle testing facility acceptable to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) PENALTIES
FOR
FALSE
STATEMENTS.—A 
certification of compliance under paragraph (1) shall 
be considered a certification required under this sub-
chapter for purposes of section 47126.
129 
‘‘(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
ZERO-EMISSION
VEHICLE
AND 
EQUIPMENT.—The term ‘eligible zero-emission vehicle 
and equipment’ means a zero-emission vehicle, equip-
ment related to such a vehicle, or ground support 
equipment that includes zero-emission technology that 
is— 
‘‘(A) used exclusively on airport property; 
or 
‘‘(B) used exclusively to transport pas-
sengers and employees between the airport and— 
‘‘(i) nearby facilities which are owned 
or controlled by the airport or which other-
wise directly support the functions or serv-
ices provided by the airport; or 
‘‘(ii) an intermodal surface transpor-
tation facility adjacent to the airport. 
‘‘(2) REMOVABLE
POWER
SOURCE.—The term 
‘removable power source’ means a power source that 
is separately installed in, and removable from, a zero- 
emission vehicle and may include a battery, a fuel 
cell, an ultra-capacitor, or other power source used in 
a zero-emission vehicle.
130 
‘‘(3) ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE.—The term ‘zero- 
emission vehicle’ means— 
‘‘(A) a zero-emission vehicle as defined in 
section 88.102–94 of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations; or 
‘‘(B) a vehicle that produces zero exhaust 
emissions of any criteria pollutant (or precursor 
pollutant) under any possible operational modes 
and conditions.’’. 
(b) SPECIAL APPORTIONMENT CATEGORIES.—Section 
47117(e)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting ‘‘for airport development described in section 
47102(3)(Q),’’ after ‘‘under section 47141,’’. 
(c) DEPLOYMENT OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE TECH-
NOLOGY.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Trans-
portation may establish a zero-emission airport tech-
nology program— 
(A) to facilitate the deployment of commer-
cially viable zero-emission airport vehicles, tech-
nology, and related infrastructure; and 
(B) to minimize the risk of deploying such 
vehicles, technology, and infrastructure. 
(2) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—
131 
(A) ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZA-
TIONS.—The Secretary may provide assistance 
under the program to not more than 3 geo-
graphically diverse, eligible organizations to con-
duct zero-emission airport technology and infra-
structure projects. 
(B) FORMS OF ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may provide assistance under the program in the 
form of grants, contracts, and cooperative agree-
ments. 
(3) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.— 
(A) NATIONAL SOLICITATION.—In selecting 
participants, the Secretary shall— 
(i) conduct a national solicitation for 
applications for assistance under the pro-
gram; and 
(ii) select the recipients of assistance 
under the program on a competitive basis. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In selecting from 
among applicants for assistance under the pro-
gram, the Secretary shall consider— 
(i) the ability of an applicant to con-
tribute significantly to deploying zero-emis-
sion technology as the technology relates to 
airport operations;
132 
(ii) the financing plan and cost-share 
potential of the applicant; and 
(iii) other factors, as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate. 
(C) PRIORITY.—ln selecting from among 
applicants for assistance under the program, the 
Secretary shall give priority consideration to an 
applicant that has successfully managed ad-
vanced transportation technology projects, in-
cluding projects related to zero-emission trans-
portation operations. 
(4) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A recipient of assist-
ance under the program shall use the assistance— 
(A) to review and conduct demonstrations 
of zero-emission technologies and related infra-
structure at airports; 
(B) to evaluate the credibility of new, 
unproven vehicle and energy-efficient tech-
nologies in various aspects of airport operations 
prior to widespread investment in the tech-
nologies by airports and the aviation industry; 
(C) to collect data and make the recipient’s 
findings available to airports, so that airports 
can evaluate the applicability of new technologies 
to their facilities; and
133 
(D) to report the recipient’s findings to the 
Secretary. 
(5) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
(A) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share 
of the cost of a project carried out under the pro-
gram may not exceed 80 percent. 
(B) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—A grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
section shall be subject to such terms and condi-
tions as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the fol-
lowing definitions apply: 
(A) ELIGIBLE
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘eligible organization’’ means an organization 
that has expertise in zero-emission technology. 
(B) ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘organiza-
tion’’ means— 
(i) described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt 
from tax under section 501(a) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986; 
(ii) a university transportation center 
receiving grants under section 5505 of title 
49, United States Code; or
134 
(iii) any other Federal or non-Federal 
entity as the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
TITLE II—FAA SAFETY 
CERTIFICATION REFORM 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title, the following definitions apply: 
(1) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the FAA. 
(2) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advisory 
Committee’’ means the Safety Oversight and Certifi-
cation Advisory Committee established under section 
202. 
(3) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(5) SYSTEMS
SAFETY
APPROACH.—The term 
‘‘systems safety approach’’ means the application of 
specialized technical and managerial skills to the sys-
tematic, forward-looking identification and control of 
hazards throughout the lifecycle of a project, program, 
or activity.
135 
SEC. 202. SAFETY OVERSIGHT AND CERTIFICATION ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall estab-
lish a Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Com-
mittee. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall provide 
advice to the Secretary on policy-level issues facing the 
aviation community that are related to FAA safety over-
sight and certification programs and activities, including, 
at a minimum, the following: 
(1) Aircraft and flight standards certification 
processes, including efforts to streamline those proc-
esses. 
(2) Implementation and oversight of safety man-
agement systems. 
(3) Risk-based oversight efforts. 
(4) Utilization of delegation and designation au-
thorities, including organization designation author-
ization. 
(5) Regulatory interpretation standardization ef-
forts. 
(6) Training programs. 
(7) Expediting the rulemaking process and giv-
ing priority to rules related to safety.
136 
(8) Enhancing global competitiveness of United 
States manufactured and United States certificated 
aerospace and aviation products and services through-
out the world. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—In carrying out its duties under sub-
section (b), the Advisory Committee shall: 
(1) Foster industry collaboration in an open and 
transparent manner. 
(2) Consult with, and ensure participation by— 
(A) the private sector, including representa-
tives of— 
(i) general aviation; 
(ii) commercial aviation; 
(iii) aviation labor; 
(iv) aviation maintenance, repair, and 
overhaul; 
(v) aviation, aerospace, and avionics 
manufacturing; 
(vi) unmanned aircraft systems opera-
tors and manufacturers; and 
(vii) the commercial space transpor-
tation industry; 
(B) members of the public; and 
(C) other interested parties.
137 
(3) Recommend consensus national goals, stra-
tegic objectives, and priorities for the most efficient, 
streamlined, and cost-effective certification and safety 
oversight processes in order to maintain the safety of 
the aviation system and, at the same time, allow the 
FAA to meet future needs and ensure that aviation 
stakeholders remain competitive in the global market-
place. 
(4) Provide policy guidance recommendations for 
the FAA’s certification and safety oversight efforts. 
(5) On a regular basis, review and provide rec-
ommendations on the FAA’s certification and safety 
oversight efforts. 
(6) Periodically review and evaluate registra-
tion, certification, and related fees. 
(7) Provide appropriate legislative, regulatory, 
and guidance recommendations for the air transpor-
tation system and the aviation safety regulatory envi-
ronment. 
(8) Recommend performance objectives for the 
FAA and industry. 
(9) Recommend performance metrics and goals 
to track and review the FAA and the regulated avia-
tion industry on their progress towards streamlining
138 
certification reform, conducting flight standards re-
form, and carrying out regulation consistency efforts. 
(10) Provide a venue for tracking progress to-
ward national goals and sustaining joint commit-
ments. 
(11) Recommend recruiting, hiring, training, 
and continuing education objectives for FAA aviation 
safety engineers and aviation safety inspectors. 
(12) Provide advice and recommendations to the 
FAA on how to prioritize safety rulemaking projects. 
(13) Improve the development of FAA regula-
tions by providing information, advice, and rec-
ommendations related to aviation issues. 
(14) Facilitate the validation and acceptance of 
United States manufactured and United States cer-
tificated products and services throughout the world. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee shall 
be composed of the following members: 
(A) The Administrator (or the Administra-
tor’s designee). 
(B) At least 11 individuals, appointed by 
the Secretary, each of whom represents at least 
1 of the following interests:
139 
(i) Transport aircraft and engine 
manufacturers. 
(ii) General aviation aircraft and en-
gine manufacturers. 
(iii) Avionics and equipment manufac-
turers. 
(iv) Aviation labor organizations, in-
cluding collective bargaining representatives 
of FAA aviation safety inspectors and avia-
tion safety engineers. 
(v) General aviation operators. 
(vi) Air carriers. 
(vii) Business aviation operators. 
(viii) 
Unmanned 
aircraft 
systems 
manufacturers and operators. 
(ix) Aviation safety management ex-
perts. 
(x) Aviation maintenance, repair, and 
overhaul. 
(xi) Airport owners and operators. 
(2) NONVOTING MEMBERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the mem-
bers appointed under paragraph (1), the Advi-
sory Committee shall be composed of nonvoting 
members appointed by the Secretary from among
140 
individuals representing FAA safety oversight 
program offices. 
(B) 
DUTIES.—The 
nonvoting 
members 
may— 
(i) take part in deliberations of the Ad-
visory Committee; and 
(ii) provide input with respect to any 
final reports or recommendations of the Ad-
visory Committee. 
(C) LIMITATION.—The nonvoting members 
may not represent any stakeholder interest other 
than that of an FAA safety oversight program 
office. 
(3) TERMS.—Each voting member and non-
voting member of the Advisory Committee appointed 
by the Secretary shall be appointed for a term of 2 
years. 
(4) COMMITTEE CHARACTERISTICS.—The Advi-
sory Committee shall have the following characteris-
tics: 
(A) Each voting member under paragraph 
(1)(B) shall be an executive officer of the organi-
zation who has decisionmaking authority within 
the member’s organization and can represent
141 
and enter into commitments on behalf of such or-
ganization. 
(B) The ability to obtain necessary infor-
mation from experts in the aviation and aero-
space communities. 
(C) A membership size that enables the Ad-
visory Committee to have substantive discussions 
and reach consensus on issues in a timely man-
ner. 
(D) Appropriate expertise, including exper-
tise in certification and risked-based safety over-
sight processes, operations, policy, technology, 
labor relations, training, and finance. 
(5) LIMITATION
ON
STATUTORY
CONSTRUC-
TION.—Public Law 104–65 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) 
may not be construed to prohibit or otherwise limit 
the appointment of any individual as a member of 
the Advisory Committee. 
(e) CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Advi-
sory Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary 
from among those members of the Advisory Committee 
that are voting members under subsection (d)(1)(B).
142 
(2) TERM.—Each member appointed under 
paragraph (1) shall serve a term of 2 years as Chair-
person. 
(f) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FREQUENCY.—The Advisory Committee shall 
meet at least twice each year at the call of the Chair-
person. 
(2) PUBLIC ATTENDANCE.—The meetings of the 
Advisory Committee shall be open and accessible to 
the public. 
(g) SPECIAL COMMITTEES.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Advisory Committee 
may establish special committees composed of private 
sector representatives, members of the public, labor 
representatives, and other relevant parties in com-
plying with consultation and participation require-
ments under this section. 
(2) RULEMAKING ADVICE.—A special committee 
established by the Advisory Committee may— 
(A) provide rulemaking advice and rec-
ommendations to the Advisory Committee with 
respect to aviation-related issues; 
(B) provide the FAA additional opportuni-
ties to obtain firsthand information and insight
143 
from those parties that are most affected by exist-
ing and proposed regulations; and 
(C) assist in expediting the development, re-
vision, or elimination of rules without circum-
venting public rulemaking processes and proce-
dures. 
(3) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 shall 
not apply to a special committee established by the 
Advisory Committee. 
(h) SUNSET.—The Advisory Committee shall termi-
nate on the last day of the 6-year period beginning on the 
date of the initial appointment of the members of the Advi-
sory Committee. 
(i) TERMINATION OF AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEE.—The Air Traffic Procedures Advisory 
Committee established by the FAA shall terminate on the 
date of the initial appointment of the members of the Advi-
sory Committee. 
Subtitle B—Aircraft Certification 
Reform 
SEC. 211. AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION PERFORMANCE OBJEC-
TIVES AND METRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the Advisory Committee is established under 
section 202, the Administrator shall establish performance
144 
objectives and apply and track performance metrics for the 
FAA and the aviation industry relating to aircraft certifi-
cation in accordance with this section. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall carry 
out this section in collaboration with the Advisory Com-
mittee and update agency performance objectives and 
metrics after considering the recommendations of the Advi-
sory Committee under paragraphs (8) and (9) of section 
202(c). 
(c) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall establish performance 
objectives for the FAA and the aviation industry to ensure 
that, with respect to aircraft certification, progress is made 
toward, at a minimum— 
(1) eliminating certification delays and improv-
ing cycle times; 
(2) increasing accountability for both the FAA 
and the aviation industry; 
(3) achieving full utilization of FAA delegation 
and designation authorities, including organizational 
designation authorization; 
(4) fully implementing risk management prin-
ciples and a systems safety approach; 
(5) reducing duplication of effort; 
(6) increasing transparency;
145 
(7) developing and providing training, including 
recurrent training, in auditing and a systems safety 
approach to certification oversight; 
(8) improving the process for approving or ac-
cepting certification actions between the FAA and bi-
lateral partners; 
(9) maintaining and improving safety; 
(10) streamlining the hiring process for— 
(A) qualified systems safety engineers to 
support the FAA’s efforts to implement a systems 
safety approach; and 
(B) qualified systems engineers to guide the 
engineering of complex systems within the FAA; 
and 
(11) maintaining the leadership of the United 
States in international aviation and aerospace. 
(d) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall apply and track per-
formance metrics for the FAA and the regulated aviation 
industry established by the Advisory Committee. 
(e) DATA GENERATION.— 
(1) BASELINES.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the Advisory Committee recommends 
initial performance metrics for the FAA and the regu-
lated aviation industry under section 202, the Ad-
146 
ministrator shall generate initial data with respect to 
each of the performance metrics applied and tracked 
under this section. 
(2) BENCHMARKS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TO-
WARD
GOALS.—The Administrator shall use the 
metrics applied and tracked under this section to gen-
erate data on an ongoing basis and to measure 
progress toward the achievement of national goals rec-
ommended by the Advisory Committee. 
(f) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make data 
generated using the performance metrics applied and 
tracked under this section available to the public in a 
searchable, sortable, and downloadable format through the 
internet website of the FAA or other appropriate methods 
and shall ensure that the data are made available in a man-
ner that— 
(1) does not provide identifying information re-
garding an individual or entity; and 
(2) prevents inappropriate disclosure of propri-
etary information. 
SEC. 212. ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION AUTHORIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44736. Organization designation authorizations 
‘‘(a) DELEGATIONS OF FUNCTIONS.—
147 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3), when overseeing an ODA holder, the Ad-
ministrator of the FAA shall— 
‘‘(A) require, based on an application sub-
mitted by the ODA holder and approved by the 
Administrator (or the Administrator’s designee), 
a procedures manual that addresses all proce-
dures and limitations regarding the functions to 
be performed by the ODA holder; 
‘‘(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each 
of the functions to be performed as specified in 
the procedures manual, unless the Administrator 
determines, after the date of the delegation and 
as a result of an inspection or other investiga-
tion, that the public interest and safety of air 
commerce requires a limitation with respect to 1 
or more of the functions; 
‘‘(C) conduct regular oversight activities by 
inspecting the ODA holder’s delegated functions 
and taking action based on validated inspection 
findings; and 
‘‘(D) for each function that is limited under 
subparagraph (B), work with the ODA holder to 
develop the ODA holder’s capability to execute
148 
that function safely and effectively and return to 
full authority status. 
‘‘(2) DUTIES OF ODA HOLDERS.—An ODA hold-
er shall— 
‘‘(A) perform each specified function dele-
gated to the ODA holder in accordance with the 
approved procedures manual for the delegation; 
‘‘(B) make the procedures manual available 
to each member of the appropriate ODA unit; 
and 
‘‘(C) cooperate fully with oversight activities 
conducted by the Administrator in connection 
with the delegation. 
‘‘(3) EXISTING ODA HOLDERS.—With regard to 
an ODA holder operating under a procedures manual 
approved by the Administrator before the date of en-
actment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the 
Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) at the request of the ODA holder and 
in an expeditious manner, approve revisions to 
the ODA holder’s procedures manual; 
‘‘(B) delegate fully to the ODA holder each 
of the functions to be performed as specified in 
the procedures manual, unless the Administrator 
determines, after the date of the delegation and
149 
as a result of an inspection or other investiga-
tion, that the public interest and safety of air 
commerce requires a limitation with respect to 
one or more of the functions; 
‘‘(C) conduct regular oversight activities by 
inspecting the ODA holder’s delegated functions 
and taking action based on validated inspection 
findings; and 
‘‘(D) for each function that is limited under 
subparagraph (B), work with the ODA holder to 
develop the ODA holder’s capability to execute 
that function safely and effectively and return to 
full authority status. 
‘‘(b) ODA OFFICE.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Admin-
istrator of the FAA shall identify, within the FAA Of-
fice of Aviation Safety, a centralized policy office to 
be known as the Organization Designation Authoriza-
tion Office or the ODA Office. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the ODA Office 
shall be to provide oversight and ensure the consist-
ency of the FAA’s audit functions under the ODA 
program across the FAA. 
‘‘(3) FUNCTIONS.—The ODA Office shall—
150 
‘‘(A)(i) at the request of an ODA holder, 
eliminate all limitations specified in a proce-
dures manual in place on the day before the date 
of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 that are low and medium risk as deter-
mined by a risk analysis using criteria estab-
lished by the ODA Office and disclosed to the 
ODA holder, except where an ODA holder’s per-
formance warrants the retention of a specific 
limitation due to documented concerns about in-
adequate current performance in carrying out 
that authorized function; 
‘‘(ii) require an ODA holder to establish a 
corrective action plan to regain authority for 
any retained limitations; 
‘‘(iii) require an ODA holder to notify the 
ODA Office when all corrective actions have been 
accomplished; and 
‘‘(iv) make a reassessment to determine if 
subsequent performance in carrying out any re-
tained limitation warrants continued retention 
and, if such reassessment determines perform-
ance meets objectives, lift such limitation imme-
diately;
151 
‘‘(B) improve FAA and ODA holder per-
formance and ensure full utilization of the au-
thorities delegated under the ODA program; 
‘‘(C) develop a more consistent approach to 
audit priorities, procedures, and training under 
the ODA program; 
‘‘(D) review, in a timely fashion, a random 
sample of limitations on delegated authorities 
under the ODA program to determine if the lim-
itations are appropriate; 
‘‘(E) ensure national consistency in the in-
terpretation and application of the requirements 
of the ODA program, including any limitations, 
and in the performance of the ODA program; 
and 
‘‘(F) at the request of an ODA holder, re-
view and approve new limitations to ODA func-
tions. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
‘‘(1) FAA.—The term ‘FAA’ means the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(2) ODA HOLDER.—The term ‘ODA holder’ 
means an entity authorized to perform functions pur-
152 
suant to a delegation made by the Administrator of 
the FAA under section 44702(d). 
‘‘(3) ODA UNIT.—The term ‘‘ODA unit’’ means 
a group of 2 or more individuals who perform, under 
the supervision of an ODA holder, authorized func-
tions under an ODA. 
‘‘(4) ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘organization’’ 
means a firm, partnership, corporation, company, as-
sociation, joint-stock association, or governmental en-
tity. 
‘‘(5) ORGANIZATION
DESIGNATION
AUTHORIZA-
TION; ODA.—The term ‘Organization Designation Au-
thorization’ or ‘ODA’ means an authorization by the 
FAA under section 44702(d) for an organization com-
posed of 1 or more ODA units to perform approved 
functions on behalf of the FAA.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘44736. Organization designation authorizations.’’. 
SEC. 213. ODA REVIEW. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERT REVIEW PANEL.— 
(1) EXPERT PANEL.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall convene a multidisciplinary expert review 
panel (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Panel’’).
153 
(2) COMPOSITION OF PANEL.— 
(A) 
APPOINTMENT
OF
MEMBERS.—The 
Panel shall be composed of not more than 20 
members appointed by the Administrator. 
(B) QUALIFICATIONS.—The members ap-
pointed to the Panel shall— 
(i) each have a minimum of 5 years of 
experience in processes and procedures 
under the ODA program; and 
(ii) represent, at a minimum, ODA 
holders, aviation manufacturers, safety ex-
perts, and FAA labor organizations, includ-
ing labor representatives of FAA aviation 
safety inspectors and aviation safety engi-
neers. 
(b) SURVEY.—The Panel shall conduct a survey of 
ODA holders and ODA program applicants to document 
and assess FAA certification and oversight activities, in-
cluding use of the ODA program and the timeliness and 
efficiency of the certification process. In carrying out this 
subsection, the Panel shall consult with appropriate survey 
experts to best design and conduct the survey. 
(c) 
ASSESSMENT
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The 
Panel shall assess and make recommendations concerning—
154 
(1) the FAA’s processes and procedures under the 
ODA program and whether the processes and proce-
dures function as intended; 
(2) the best practices of and lessons learned by 
ODA holders and FAA personnel who provide over-
sight of ODA holders; 
(3) performance incentive policies that— 
(A) are related to the ODA program for 
FAA personnel; and 
(B) do not conflict with the public interest; 
(4) training activities related to the ODA pro-
gram for FAA personnel and ODA holders; 
(5) the impact, if any, that oversight of the ODA 
program has on FAA resources and the FAA’s ability 
to process applications for certifications outside of the 
ODA program; and 
(6) the results of the survey conducted under sub-
section (b). 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
the Panel is convened under subsection (a), the Panel shall 
submit to the Administrator, the Advisory Committee, and 
the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the find-
ings and recommendations of the Panel.
155 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—The definitions contained in sec-
tion 44736 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this 
Act, apply to this section. 
(f) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 shall not 
apply to the Panel. 
(g) SUNSET.—The Panel shall terminate on the date 
of submission of the report under subsection (d), or on the 
date that is 1 year after the Panel is convened under sub-
section (a), whichever occurs first. 
SEC. 214. TYPE CERTIFICATION RESOLUTION PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44704(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) TYPE
CERTIFICATION
RESOLUTION
PROC-
ESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 15 
months after the date of enactment of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Administrator 
shall establish an effective, timely, and milestone- 
based issue resolution process for type certifi-
cation activities under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) PROCESS REQUIREMENTS.—The reso-
lution process shall provide for— 
‘‘(i) resolution of technical issues at 
pre-established stages of the certification
156 
process, as agreed to by the Administrator 
and the type certificate applicant; 
‘‘(ii) automatic elevation to appro-
priate management personnel of the Federal 
Aviation Administration and the type cer-
tificate applicant of any major certification 
process milestone that is not completed or 
resolved within a specific period of time 
agreed to by the Administrator and the type 
certificate applicant; and 
‘‘(iii) resolution of a major certifi-
cation process milestone elevated pursuant 
to clause (ii) within a specific period of 
time agreed to by the Administrator and the 
type certificate applicant. 
‘‘(C) MAJOR CERTIFICATION PROCESS MILE-
STONE DEFINED.—In this paragraph, the term 
‘major certification process milestone’ means a 
milestone related to a type certification basis, 
type certification plan, type inspection author-
ization, issue paper, or other major type certifi-
cation activity agreed to by the Administrator 
and the type certificate applicant.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 44704 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended in the section heading
157 
by striking ‘‘airworthiness certificates,,’’ and in-
serting ‘‘airworthiness certificates,’’. 
SEC. 215. REVIEW OF CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR SMALL 
GENERAL AVIATION AIRPLANES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall initiate a review of the Federal Aviation 
Administration’s implementation of the final rule titled 
‘‘Revision of Airworthiness Standards for Normal, Utility, 
Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes’’ (81 Fed. 
Reg. 96572). 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the review, the 
Comptroller General shall assess— 
(1) how the rule puts into practice the Adminis-
tration’s efforts to implement performance and risk- 
based safety standards; 
(2) the extent to which the rule has resulted in 
the implementation of a streamlined regulatory re-
gime to improve safety, reduce regulatory burden, and 
decrease costs; 
(3) whether the rule and its implementation have 
spurred innovation and technological adoption; 
(4) how consensus standards accepted by the 
FAA facilitate the development of new safety equip-
ment and aircraft capabilities; and
158 
(5) whether lessons learned from the rule and its 
implementation have resulted in best practices that 
could be applied to airworthiness standards for other 
categories of aircraft. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of initiation of the review, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the results of the review, including findings and rec-
ommendations. 
SEC. 216. ODA STAFFING AND OVERSIGHT. 
(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report on the Administration’s progress with respect to— 
(1) determining what additional model inputs 
and labor distribution codes are needed to identify 
ODA oversight staffing needs; 
(2) developing and implementing system-based 
evaluation criteria and risk-based tools to aid ODA 
team members in targeting their oversight activities; 
(3) developing agreements and processes for shar-
ing resources to ensure adequate oversight of ODA 
personnel performing certification and inspection 
work at supplier and company facilities; and 
(4) ensuring full utilization of ODA authority.
159 
(b) ODA DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘ODA’’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 44736 of title 
49, United States Code, as added by this Act. 
Subtitle C—Flight Standards 
Reform 
SEC. 221. FLIGHT STANDARDS PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES 
AND METRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date on which the Advisory Committee is established under 
section 202, the Administrator shall establish performance 
objectives and apply and track performance metrics for the 
FAA and the aviation industry relating to flight standards 
activities in accordance with this section. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall carry 
out this section in collaboration with the Advisory Com-
mittee, and update agency performance objectives and 
metrics after considering the recommendations of the Advi-
sory Committee under paragraphs (8) and (9) of section 
202(c). 
(c) PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall establish performance 
objectives for the FAA and the aviation industry to ensure 
that, with respect to flight standards activities, progress is 
made toward, at a minimum—
160 
(1) eliminating delays with respect to such ac-
tivities; 
(2) increasing accountability for both the FAA 
and the aviation industry; 
(3) achieving full utilization of FAA delegation 
and designation authorities, including organizational 
designation authority; 
(4) fully implementing risk management prin-
ciples and a systems safety approach; 
(5) reducing duplication of effort; 
(6) eliminating inconsistent regulatory interpre-
tations and inconsistent enforcement activities; 
(7) improving and providing greater opportuni-
ties for training, including recurrent training, in au-
diting and a systems safety approach to oversight; 
(8) developing and allowing utilization of a sin-
gle master source for guidance; 
(9) providing and utilizing a streamlined appeal 
process for the resolution of regulatory interpretation 
questions; 
(10) maintaining and improving safety; and 
(11) increasing transparency. 
(d) PERFORMANCE METRICS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall apply and track per-
161 
formance metrics for the FAA and the regulated aviation 
industry established by the Advisory Committee. 
(e) DATA GENERATION.— 
(1) BASELINES.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date on which the Advisory Committee recommends 
initial performance metrics for the FAA and the regu-
lated aviation industry under section 202, the Ad-
ministrator shall generate initial data with respect to 
each of the performance metrics applied and tracked 
under this section. 
(2) BENCHMARKS TO MEASURE PROGRESS TO-
WARD
GOALS.—The Administrator shall use the 
metrics applied and tracked under this section to gen-
erate data on an ongoing basis and to measure 
progress toward the achievement of national goals rec-
ommended by the Advisory Committee. 
(f) PUBLICATION.—The Administrator shall make data 
generated using the performance metrics applied and 
tracked under this section available to the public in a 
searchable, sortable, and downloadable format through the 
internet website of the FAA or other appropriate methods 
and shall ensure that the data are made available in a man-
ner that— 
(1) does not provide identifying information re-
garding an individual or entity; and
162 
(2) prevents inappropriate disclosure of propri-
etary information. 
SEC. 222. FAA TASK FORCE ON FLIGHT STANDARDS RE-
FORM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
establish the FAA Task Force on Flight Standards Reform 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The membership of the Task 
Force shall be appointed by the Administrator. 
(2) NUMBER.—The Task Force shall be composed 
of not more than 20 members. 
(3) 
REPRESENTATION
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
membership of the Task Force shall include represent-
atives, with knowledge of flight standards regulatory 
processes and requirements, of— 
(A) air carriers; 
(B) general aviation; 
(C) business aviation; 
(D) repair stations; 
(E) unmanned aircraft systems operators; 
(F) flight schools;
163 
(G) labor unions, including those rep-
resenting FAA aviation safety inspectors and 
those representing FAA aviation safety engineers; 
(H) aviation and aerospace manufacturers; 
and 
(I) aviation safety experts. 
(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Task Force shall in-
clude, at a minimum, identifying best practices and pro-
viding recommendations, for current and anticipated budg-
etary environments, with respect to— 
(1) simplifying and streamlining flight stand-
ards regulatory processes, including issuance and 
oversight of certificates; 
(2) reorganizing Flight Standards Services to es-
tablish an entity organized by function rather than 
geographic region, if appropriate; 
(3) FAA aviation safety inspector training op-
portunities; 
(4) ensuring adequate and timely provision of 
Flight Standards activities and responses necessary 
for type certification, operational evaluation, and 
entry into service of newly manufactured aircraft; 
(5) FAA aviation safety inspector standards and 
performance; and 
(6) achieving, across the FAA, consistent—
164 
(A) regulatory interpretations; and 
(B) application of oversight activities. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the establishment of the Task Force, the Task Force shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
detailing— 
(1) the best practices identified and rec-
ommendations provided by the Task Force under sub-
section (c); and 
(2) any recommendations of the Task Force for 
additional regulatory, policy, or cost-effective legisla-
tive action to improve the efficiency of agency activi-
ties. 
(e) APPLICABLE LAW.—Public Law 92–463 shall not 
apply to the Task Force. 
(f) SUNSET.—The Task Force shall terminate on the 
earlier of— 
(1) the date on which the Task Force submits the 
report required under subsection (d); or 
(2) the date that is 18 months after the date on 
which the Task Force is established under subsection 
(a).
165 
SEC. 223. CENTRALIZED SAFETY GUIDANCE DATABASE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall estab-
lish a centralized safety guidance database that will— 
(1) encompass all of the regulatory guidance doc-
uments of the FAA Office of Aviation Safety; 
(2) contain, for each such guidance document, a 
link to the Code of Federal Regulations provision to 
which the document relates; and 
(3) be publicly available in a manner that— 
(A) protects from disclosure identifying in-
formation regarding an individual or entity; 
and 
(B) prevents inappropriate disclosure pro-
prietary information. 
(b) DATA ENTRY TIMING.— 
(1) EXISTING DOCUMENTS.—Not later than 14 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall begin entering into the database 
established under subsection (a) all of the regulatory 
guidance documents of the Office of Aviation Safety 
that are in effect and were issued before the date on 
which the Administrator begins such entry process. 
(2) NEW DOCUMENTS AND CHANGES.—On and 
after the date on which the Administrator begins the 
document entry process under paragraph (1), the Ad-
166 
ministrator shall ensure that all new regulatory guid-
ance documents of the Office of Aviation Safety and 
any changes to existing documents are included in the 
database established under subsection (a) as such doc-
uments or changes to existing documents are issued. 
(c) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In establishing 
the database under subsection (a), the Administrator shall 
consult and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders, in-
cluding labor organizations (including those representing 
aviation workers, FAA aviation safety engineers and FAA 
aviation safety inspectors) and aviation industry stake-
holders. 
(d) REGULATORY GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘‘regulatory guidance documents’’ 
means all forms of written information issued by the FAA 
that an individual or entity may use to interpret or apply 
FAA regulations and requirements, including information 
an individual or entity may use to determine acceptable 
means of compliance with such regulations and require-
ments, such as an order, manual, circular, policy statement, 
legal interpretation memorandum, or rulemaking docu-
ment.
167 
SEC. 224. REGULATORY CONSISTENCY COMMUNICATIONS 
BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
establish a Regulatory Consistency Communications Board 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’). 
(b) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT.—In establishing 
the Board, the Administrator shall consult and collaborate 
with appropriate stakeholders, including FAA labor organi-
zations (including labor organizations representing FAA 
aviation safety inspectors) and industry stakeholders. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be composed of 
FAA representatives, appointed by the Administrator, 
from— 
(1) the Flight Standards Service; 
(2) the Aircraft Certification Service; and 
(3) the Office of the Chief Counsel. 
(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Board shall carry out the fol-
lowing functions: 
(1) Establish, at a minimum, processes by 
which— 
(A) FAA personnel and persons regulated 
by the FAA may submit anonymous regulatory 
interpretation questions without fear of retalia-
tion;
168 
(B) FAA personnel may submit written 
questions, and receive written responses, as to 
whether a previous approval or regulatory inter-
pretation issued by FAA personnel in another of-
fice or region is correct or incorrect; and 
(C) any other person may submit written 
anonymous regulatory interpretation questions. 
(2) Meet on a regular basis to discuss and resolve 
questions submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) and 
the appropriate application of regulations and policy 
with respect to each question. 
(3) Provide to a person that submitted a ques-
tion pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of para-
graph (1) a timely written response to the question. 
(4) Establish a process to make resolutions of 
common regulatory interpretation questions publicly 
available to FAA personnel, persons regulated by the 
FAA, and the public without revealing any identi-
fying data of the person that submitted the question 
and in a manner that protects any proprietary infor-
mation. 
(5) Ensure the incorporation of resolutions of 
questions submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) into 
regulatory guidance documents, as such term is de-
fined in section 223(d).
169 
(e) 
PERFORMANCE
METRICS, 
TIMELINES, 
AND 
GOALS.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which 
the Advisory Committee recommends performance objectives 
and performance metrics for the FAA and the regulated 
aviation industry under section 202, the Administrator, in 
collaboration with the Advisory Committee, shall— 
(1) establish performance metrics, timelines, and 
goals to measure the progress of the Board in resolv-
ing regulatory interpretation questions submitted 
pursuant to subsection (d)(1); and 
(2) implement a process for tracking the progress 
of the Board in meeting the performance metrics, 
timelines, and goals established under paragraph (1). 
Subtitle D—Safety Workforce 
SEC. 231. SAFETY WORKFORCE TRAINING STRATEGY. 
(a) SAFETY WORKFORCE TRAINING STRATEGY.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall review and revise its safety work-
force training strategy to ensure that such strategy— 
(1) aligns with an effective risk-based approach 
to safety oversight; 
(2) best uses available resources; 
(3) allows FAA employees participating in orga-
nization management teams or conducting ODA pro-
gram audits to complete, in a timely fashion, appro-
170 
priate training, including recurrent training, in au-
diting and a systems safety approach to oversight; 
(4) seeks knowledge-sharing opportunities be-
tween the FAA and the aviation industry in new 
technologies, equipment and systems, best practices, 
and other areas of interest related to safety oversight; 
(5) functions within the current and anticipated 
budgetary environments; 
(6) fosters an inspector and engineer workforce 
that has the skills and training necessary to improve 
risk-based approaches that focus on requirements 
management and auditing skills; and 
(7) includes, as appropriate, milestones and 
metrics for meeting the requirements of paragraphs 
(1) through (5). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the revision of the strategy required under subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a report on the implementation of the strat-
egy and progress in meeting any milestones and metrics 
included in the strategy. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) ODA; ODA HOLDER.—The terms ‘‘ODA’’ and 
‘‘ODA holder’’ have the meanings given those terms in
171 
section 44736 of title 49, United States Code, as 
added by this Act. 
(2) ODA PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘ODA program’’ 
means the program to standardize FAA management 
and oversight of the organizations that are approved 
to perform certain functions on behalf of the Adminis-
tration under section 44702(d) of title 49, United 
States Code. 
(3) ORGANIZATION
MANAGEMENT
TEAM.—The 
term ‘‘organization management team’’ means a team 
consisting of FAA aviation safety engineers, flight test 
pilots, and aviation safety inspectors overseeing an 
ODA holder and its certification activity. 
SEC. 232. WORKFORCE REVIEW. 
(a) WORKFORCE REVIEW.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall conduct a review to assess 
the workforce and training needs of the FAA Office of Avia-
tion Safety in the anticipated budgetary environment. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review required under subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) a review of current aviation safety inspector 
and aviation safety engineer hiring, training, and re-
current training requirements;
172 
(2) an analysis of the skills and qualifications 
required of aviation safety inspectors and aviation 
safety engineers for successful performance in the cur-
rent and future projected aviation safety regulatory 
environment, including the need for a systems engi-
neering discipline within the FAA to guide the engi-
neering of complex systems, with an emphasis on au-
diting designated authorities; 
(3) a review of current performance incentive 
policies of the FAA, as applied to the Office of Avia-
tion Safety, including awards for performance; 
(4) an analysis of ways the FAA can work with 
industry and labor, including labor groups rep-
resenting FAA aviation safety inspectors and avia-
tion safety engineers, to establish knowledge-sharing 
opportunities between the FAA and the aviation in-
dustry regarding new equipment and systems, best 
practices, and other areas of interest; and 
(5) recommendations on the most effective quali-
fications, training programs (including e-learning 
training), and performance incentive approaches to 
address the needs of the future projected aviation safe-
ty regulatory system in the anticipated budgetary en-
vironment.
173 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on 
the results of the review required under subsection (a). 
Subtitle E—International Aviation 
SEC. 241. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES AEROSPACE 
STANDARDS, 
PRODUCTS, 
AND 
SERVICES 
ABROAD. 
Section 40104 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PROMOTION
OF UNITED STATES AEROSPACE 
STANDARDS, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES ABROAD.—The 
Secretary shall take appropriate actions to— 
‘‘(1) promote United States aerospace-related 
safety standards abroad; 
‘‘(2) facilitate and vigorously defend approvals of 
United States aerospace products and services abroad; 
‘‘(3) with respect to bilateral partners, utilize bi-
lateral safety agreements and other mechanisms to 
improve validation of United States certificated aero-
nautical products, services, and appliances and en-
hance mutual acceptance in order to eliminate 
redundancies and unnecessary costs; and
174 
‘‘(4) with respect to the aeronautical safety au-
thorities of a foreign country, streamline validation 
and coordination processes.’’. 
SEC. 242. BILATERAL EXCHANGES OF SAFETY OVERSIGHT 
RESPONSIBILITIES. 
Section 44701(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) FOREIGN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.— 
‘‘(A) ACCEPTANCE.—Subject to subpara-
graph (D), the Administrator may accept an 
airworthiness directive, as defined in section 
39.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
issued by an aeronautical safety authority of a 
foreign country, and leverage that authority’s 
regulatory process, if— 
‘‘(i) the country is the state of design 
for the product that is the subject of the air-
worthiness directive; 
‘‘(ii) the United States has a bilateral 
safety agreement relating to aircraft certifi-
cation with the country; 
‘‘(iii) as part of the bilateral safety 
agreement with the country, the Adminis-
trator has determined that such aero-
nautical safety authority has an aircraft
175 
certification system relating to safety that 
produces a level of safety equivalent to the 
level produced by the system of the Federal 
Aviation Administration; 
‘‘(iv) the aeronautical safety authority 
of the country utilizes an open and trans-
parent notice and comment process in the 
issuance of airworthiness directives; and 
‘‘(v) the airworthiness directive is nec-
essary to provide for the safe operation of 
the aircraft subject to the directive. 
‘‘(B) ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Admin-
istrator may issue a Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration airworthiness directive instead of accept-
ing an airworthiness directive otherwise eligible 
for acceptance under such subparagraph, if the 
Administrator determines that such issuance is 
necessary for safety or operational reasons due to 
the complexity or unique features of the Federal 
Aviation Administration airworthiness directive 
or the United States aviation system. 
‘‘(C) ALTERNATIVE
MEANS
OF
COMPLI-
ANCE.—The Administrator may—
176 
‘‘(i) accept an alternative means of 
compliance, with respect to an airworthi-
ness directive accepted under subparagraph 
(A), that was approved by the aeronautical 
safety authority of the foreign country that 
issued the airworthiness directive; or 
‘‘(ii) notwithstanding subparagraph 
(A), and at the request of any person af-
fected by an airworthiness directive accept-
ed under such subparagraph, approve an al-
ternative means of compliance with respect 
to the airworthiness directive. 
‘‘(D) LIMITATION.—The Administrator may 
not accept an airworthiness directive issued by 
an aeronautical safety authority of a foreign 
country if the airworthiness directive addresses 
matters other than those involving the safe oper-
ation of an aircraft.’’. 
SEC. 243. FAA LEADERSHIP ABROAD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To promote United States aero-
space safety standards, reduce redundant regulatory activ-
ity, and facilitate acceptance of FAA design and production 
approvals abroad, the Administrator shall— 
(1) attain greater expertise in issues related to 
dispute resolution, intellectual property, and export