751 
(B) detailing, for the recommendations 
with which the Administrator fully or partially 
concurs— 
(i) a timeline for implementing such 
recommendations; and 
(ii) possible benefits of using new ma-
terials, manufacturing processes, compo-
nents, or technologies, including fuel sav-
ings, increased capacity, or other benefits 
as determined reasonable by the task force; 
and 
(C) explaining, for the recommendations 
with which the Administrator does not concur, 
the reason for which the Administrator will not 
implement such recommendations. 
(e) SUNSET.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The task force established 
under subsection (a) shall terminate upon submis-
sion of the report required under subsection 
(d)(1)(A). 
(2) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
Administrator 
may 
choose to extend such task force after the submis-
sion of the report required under subsection 
(d)(1)(A), if the Administrator determines that such 
an extension would be in the public interest.
752 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) AIR
CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ 
means an air carrier (as such term is defined in sec-
tion 40102 of title 49, United States Code) that 
holds a certificate issued under part 121 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) AIRCRAFT
WEIGHT.—The term ‘‘aircraft 
weight’’ means the gross weight of a covered aircraft 
in operation. 
(3) COVERED AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘covered 
aircraft’’ means an aircraft that is operated by an 
air carrier that is operating pursuant to a certificate 
issued under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
SEC. 805. AUDIT OF TECHNICAL WRITING RESOURCES AND 
CAPABILITIES. 
(a) AUDIT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the inspec-
tor general of the Department of Transportation shall ini-
tiate an audit of the technical writing resources and capa-
bilities of the Federal Aviation Administration as such re-
sources and capabilities relate to producing rulemaking, 
policy, and guidance, to— 
(1) determine if such resources and capabilities 
are adequate; and
753 
(2) make recommendations for improvement of 
such resources and capabilities. 
(b) REVIEW.—In conducting the review required 
under subsection (a), the inspector general shall evaluate 
the technical writing resources and capabilities of the Ad-
ministration in each line of business of the Administration, 
the Office of Policy, International Affairs, and Environ-
ment, and the Office of the Chief Counsel, including by 
reviewing— 
(1) the process and resources required to 
produce initial drafts of rulemaking, policy, and 
guidance documents; 
(2) the quality of such initial drafts; 
(3) the amount of edits that are required 
throughout the production of rulemaking, policy, and 
guidance documents; 
(4) writing support and education tools pro-
vided to engineers, managers, and other technical 
staff of the Administration involved in writing or ed-
iting such documents; and 
(5) whether— 
(A) the Administration has and adheres to 
best practices for the drafting of rulemaking, 
policy, and guidance documents; and 
(B) such best practices are—
754 
(i) easily accessible and understand-
able by employees of the Administration; 
and 
(ii) reflect modern writing conven-
tions. 
(c) 
RECOMMENDATIONS.—In 
making 
the 
rec-
ommendations required under subsection (a)(2), the in-
spector general shall make recommendations to the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on how 
to improve the quality of written rulemaking, policy, and 
guidance documents and the speed at which such docu-
ments can be produced, internally reviewed, and approved. 
(d) DECONFLICTING SCOPE.—The inspector general 
shall ensure that the audit required under subsection (a) 
does not duplicate the evaluation required under section 
125, except to the extent that duplication is necessary to 
fully evaluate the technical writing resources and capabili-
ties of the Administration. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the inspec-
tor general initiates the audit under subsection (a), the 
inspector general shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of 
the audit, including findings and recommendations.
755 
SEC. 806. FAA PARTICIPATION IN INDUSTRY STANDARDS 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall ensure the participation of 
employees of the Administration in the activities of recog-
nized industry standards organizations to advance the 
adoption, reference, and acceptance rate of standards and 
means of compliance developed by such organizations by 
the Administrator. 
(b) PARTICIPATION.—An employee directed by the 
Administrator to participate in a working group, task 
group, committee, or similar body of a recognized industry 
standards organization shall— 
(1) actively participate in the discussions and 
work of such organization; 
(2) accurately represent the position of the Ad-
ministration on the subject matter of such discus-
sions and work; 
(3) contribute to the development of work prod-
ucts of such organization, unless determined to be 
inappropriate by such organization; 
(4) make reasonable efforts to identify and 
make any concerns of the Administration relating to 
such work products known to such organization, in-
cluding through providing formal comments, as may
756 
be allowed for under the procedures of such organi-
zation; 
(5) provide regular updates to other Adminis-
tration employees and management on the progress 
of such work products; and 
(6) seek advice and input from other Adminis-
tration employees and management, as needed. 
(c) INVITATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may ac-
cept an invitation to participate in and contribute to 
the work of a recognized industry standards organi-
zation as described in subsection (b). 
(2) DECLINATION OF INVITATION.—If the Ad-
ministrator declines an invitation described in para-
graph (1), the Administrator shall provide— 
(A) the recognized industry standards or-
ganization a written response to the invitation 
that articulates the reasons for declining the in-
vitation; and 
(B) a copy of such written response to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate not later than 5 days
757 
after providing the response to such organiza-
tion under subparagraph (A). 
(d) RECOGNIZED INDUSTRY STANDARDS ORGANIZA-
TION DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘recognized in-
dustry standards organization’’ means a domestic or inter-
national organization that— 
(1) uses agreed upon procedures to develop 
aviation-related industry standards or means of com-
pliance, particularly standards or means of compli-
ance that satisfy Administration requirements or 
guidance; 
(2) is comprised of members of the public, in-
cluding subject matter experts, industry representa-
tives, academics and researchers, and government 
employees; and 
(3) has had at least one standard or means of 
compliance accepted by the Administrator or ref-
erenced in guidance material or a regulation issued 
by the Federal Aviation Administration after the 
date of enactment of the Vision 100—Century of 
Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108–176). 
SEC. 807. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON USE OF VOLUNTARY 
CONSENSUS STANDARDS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration should make every
758 
effort to abide by the policies set forth in the Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A–119, titled ‘‘Federal 
Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary 
Consensus Standards and Conformity Assessment Activi-
ties’’. 
SEC. 808. REQUIRED DESIGNATION. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall designate any aviation rulemaking committee 
convened under this Act pursuant to section 106(p)(5) of 
title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 809. SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 401 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 40118 
the following: 
‘‘§ 40119. Sensitive security information 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 552 of 
title 5, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regula-
tions prohibiting the disclosure of information obtained or 
developed in the process of ensuring security under this 
title if the Secretary determines that disclosing the infor-
mation would— 
‘‘(1) be an unwarranted invasion of personal 
privacy; 
‘‘(2) reveal a trade secret or privileged or con-
fidential commercial or financial information; or
759 
‘‘(3) be detrimental to transportation safety. 
‘‘(b) WITHHELD INFORMATION.—In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the prohibi-
tions described in such subsection do not apply to any in-
formation provided to a committee of Congress authorized 
to have such information, including the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(c) RULE
OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in sub-
section (a) shall be construed to authorize the designation 
of information as sensitive security information (as de-
fined in section 15.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions) to— 
‘‘(1) conceal— 
‘‘(A) a violation of law; 
‘‘(B) inefficiency; or 
‘‘(C) an administrative error; 
‘‘(2) prevent embarrassment to a person, orga-
nization, or governmental agency; 
‘‘(3) restrain competition; or 
‘‘(4) prevent or delay the release of information 
that does not require protection in the interest of 
transportation security, including basic scientific re-
760 
search information not clearly related to transpor-
tation security. 
‘‘(d) NONDISCLOSURE.—Section 552a of title 5 shall 
not apply to disclosures that the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration may make from the systems 
of records of the Administration to any Federal law en-
forcement, intelligence, protective service, immigration, or 
national security official in order to assist the official re-
ceiving the information in the performance of official du-
ties.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item related to section 40119 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘40119. Sensitive security information.’’. 
SEC. 810. PRESERVING OPEN SKIES WHILE ENSURING FAIR 
SKIES. 
(a) ADDITION
OF
LABOR
STANDARDS.—Section 
40101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(17) preventing the undermining of labor 
standards.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e) by adding at the end the 
following:
761 
‘‘(11) preventing the undermining of labor 
standards.’’. 
(b) UPDATE TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMITS.— 
Section 41302(2)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘the foreign air transportation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘after considering the totality of the cir-
cumstances, including the matters described in section 
40101(a), the foreign air transportation’’. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section, or 
the amendments made by this section, shall be construed 
to affect the validity of a foreign air carrier permit held, 
or air transport agreement in place, on the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 811. COMMERCIAL PREFERENCE. 
Section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code, is 
further amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and imple-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘, implement, and periodically 
update’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘the new ac-
quisition management system developed and imple-
mented’’ and inserting ‘‘the acquisition management 
system developed, implemented, and periodically up-
dated’’ each place it appears; 
(3) in paragraph (3)—
762 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘new’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and implemented’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, implemented, and periodi-
cally updated’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking 
‘‘Within’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the Ad-
ministrator’’ and inserting ‘‘The Adminis-
trator’’; 
(4) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para-
graph (5); and 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.— 
In implementing and updating the acquisition man-
agement system pursuant to paragraph (1), the Ad-
ministrator shall, whenever possible— 
‘‘(A) describe the requirements with re-
spect to a solicitation for the procurement of 
supplies or services in terms of— 
‘‘(i) functions to be performed; 
‘‘(ii) performance required; or 
‘‘(iii) essential physical and system 
characteristics;
764 
‘‘(i) acquire commercial services, com-
mercial products, or nondevelopmental 
items other than commercial products to 
meet the needs of the Administration; 
‘‘(ii) in a solicitation for the procure-
ment of supplies or services, state the spec-
ifications for such supplies or services in 
terms that enable and encourage bidders 
and offerors to supply commercial services 
or commercial products, or to the extent 
that commercial products suitable to meet 
the needs of the Administration are not 
available, 
to 
supply 
nondevelopmental 
items other than commercial products; 
‘‘(iii) require that prime contractors 
and subcontractors at all levels under con-
tracts with the Administration incorporate 
commercial services, commercial products, 
or nondevelopmental items other than com-
mercial products as components of items 
supplied to the Administration; 
‘‘(iv) modify procurement require-
ments in appropriate circumstances to en-
sure that such requirements can be met by 
commercial services or commercial prod-
765 
ucts, or to the extent that commercial 
products suitable to meet the needs of the 
Administration are not available, non-
developmental items other than commercial 
products; and 
‘‘(v) require training of appropriate 
personnel in the acquisition of commercial 
products and commercial services.’’. 
SEC. 812. CONSIDERATION OF THIRD-PARTY SERVICES. 
(a) PLANS AND POLICY.—Section 44501 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘development 
and location of air navigation facilities’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘development of air navigation facilities and 
services’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and development’’ and in-
serting ‘‘procurement, and development’’ each 
place it appears; 
(B) by striking ‘‘facilities and equipment’’ 
and inserting ‘‘facilities, services, and equip-
ment’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘first and 2d years’’ and 
inserting ‘‘first and second years’’;
766 
(D) by striking ‘‘subclauses (A) and (B) of 
this clause’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (A) 
and (B)’’; 
(E) by striking ‘‘the 3d, 4th, and 5th’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the third, fourth, and fifth’’; 
(F) by striking ‘‘systems and facilities’’ 
and inserting ‘‘systems, services, and facilities’’; 
and 
(G) by striking ‘‘growth of aviation’’ and 
inserting ‘‘growth of the aerospace industry’’. 
(b) SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES, FACILITIES, AND DE-
VICES.—Section 44505 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘develop, alter’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘develop when necessary, alter’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and devices’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘services, and devices’’ each place it ap-
pears; and 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘develop dy-
namic simulation models’’ and inserting ‘‘develop or 
procure dynamic simulation models and tools’’ each 
place it appears.
767 
SEC. 813. CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORIZATION OR WAIVER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration, may issue a certificate of authorization or waiver 
to a person to operate an aircraft within an area covered 
by a temporary flight restriction under such conditions as 
the Administrator may prescribe, except for airspace that 
is subject to a permanent, continuous flight restriction, 
unless the authorization or waiver is issued to the entity 
for which the flight restriction was created. 
(b) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS.—If a temporary 
flight restriction is related to a sporting event and issued 
pursuant to section 541 of division F of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2004 (49 U.S.C. 40103 note), the 
conditions prescribed by the Administrator under sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A minimum distance from the center of the 
temporary flight restriction, which shall not be 
greater than 0.75 nautical miles, unless the Admin-
istrator determines, on a case by case basis, that 
such mileage is insufficient to maintain public safe-
ty. 
(2) The person may not operate an aircraft (ex-
cept for a purpose described under section 521 of di-
vision F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
768 
2004 (49 U.S.C. 40103 note)) for a purpose that 
the Secretary determines is directly related to the 
event for which the temporary flight restriction is 
active. 
(c) REQUIRED COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On an annual basis, the Ad-
ministrator shall convene a meeting with representa-
tives of Administration-approved air shows, the gen-
eral aviation community, stadiums and other large 
outdoor events and venues or organizations that run 
such events, the Department of Homeland Security, 
and the Department of Justice— 
(A) to identify scheduling conflicts between 
Administration-approved air shows and large 
outdoor events and venues where— 
(i) flight restrictions will be imposed 
pursuant to section 521 of division F of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 
(49 U.S.C. 40103 note); or 
(ii) any other restriction will be im-
posed pursuant to Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration Flight Data Center Notice to 
Airmen 4/3621 (or any successor notice to 
airmen); and
769 
(B) in instances where a scheduling con-
flict between events is identified or is found to 
be likely to occur, develop appropriate oper-
ational and communication procedures to en-
sure for the safety and security of both events, 
pursuant to the authority prescribed in sub-
section (a). 
(2) SCHEDULING CONFLICT.—If the Adminis-
trator or any other stakeholder party to the required 
annual coordination required in paragraph (1) iden-
tifies a scheduling conflict outside of the annual 
meeting at any point prior to the scheduling conflict, 
the Administrator shall work with impacted stake-
holders to develop appropriate operational and com-
munication procedures to ensure for the safety and 
security of both events, pursuant to the authority 
prescribed in subsection (a). 
(3) NOTICE.—Prior to issuing a certificate of 
authorization or waiver pursuant to subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall give appropriate due notice 
to impacted stakeholders and develop appropriate 
operational and communication procedures to ensure 
for the safety and security of all impacted events, 
pursuant to the authority prescribed in subsection 
(a).
770 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
implementation of this section, including the number and 
nature of certificates of authorization or waiver that have 
been issued under subsection (a) subject to restrictions 
under subsection (b). 
(e) 
OPERATIONAL
PURPOSES.—Section 
521(a)(2)(B)(ii) of division F of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2004 (49 U.S.C. 40103 note) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘(or attendees approved by)’’ after ‘‘guests’’. 
SEC. 814. WING-IN-GROUND-EFFECT CRAFT. 
(a) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration and 
the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall execute 
a memorandum of understanding governing the spe-
cific roles, delineations of responsibilities, resources, 
and commitments of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration and the Coast Guard, respectively, pertaining 
to wing-in-ground-effect craft that are—
771 
(A) only capable of operating either in 
water or in ground effect over water; and 
(B) operated exclusively over waters sub-
ject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The memorandum of under-
standing described in paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) cover the processes the Federal Avia-
tion Administration and the United States 
Coast Guard will follow to promote communica-
tions, efficiency, and nonduplication of effort in 
carrying out such memorandum of under-
standing; 
(B) account for the special rule in accord-
ance with subsection (b); and 
(C) provide procedures for, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(i) Approval of wing-in-ground-effect 
craft designs. 
(ii) Operations of wing-in-ground-ef-
fect craft. 
(iii) Pilotage of wing-in-ground-effect 
craft. 
(iv) Inspections of wing-in-ground-ef-
fect craft.
772 
(v) Maintenance of wing-in-ground-ef-
fect craft. 
(b) SPECIAL RULE PROHIBITING SECRETARY FROM 
REGULATING CERTAIN WIG CRAFT OPERATORS AS AIR 
CARRIERS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
or regulation, the Secretary of Transportation may not 
regulate an operator of a wing-in-ground-effect craft as 
an air carrier (as such term is defined in section 40102(a) 
of title 49, United States Code). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to— 
(1) limit the authority of the Secretary or the 
Administrator to regulate aircraft that are not wing- 
in-ground-effect craft, including aircraft that are— 
(A) capable of the operations described in 
subsection (d); and 
(B) capable of sustained flight out of 
ground effect; 
(2) confer upon the Commandant the authority 
to determine the impact of any civil aircraft oper-
ation on the safety or efficiency of the National Air-
space System; or 
(3) confer upon the Administrator the authority 
to issue a certificate of documentation, with or with-
out a registry, fishery or coastwise endorsement, for,
773 
or inspect any vessel as that term is defined in sec-
tion 115 of title 46, United States Code. 
(d) WING-IN-GROUND-EFFECT CRAFT DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘wing-in-ground-effect craft’’ means 
a craft that is capable of operating completely above the 
surface of the water on a dynamic air cushion created by 
aerodynamic lift due to the ground effect between the craft 
and the surface of the water. 
SEC. 815. QUASQUICENTENNIAL OF AVIATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) December 17, 2028, is the 125th anniver-
sary of the first successful manned, free, controlled, 
and sustained flight by an aircraft. 
(2) The first flight by Orville and Wilbur 
Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, is a defining 
moment in the history of the United States and the 
world. 
(3) The Wright brothers’ achievement is a tes-
tament to their ingenuity, perseverance, and commit-
ment to innovation, which has inspired generations 
of aviators and scientists alike. 
(4) The advent of aviation and the air transpor-
tation industry has fundamentally transformed the 
United States and the world for the better.
774 
(5) The 125th anniversary of the Wright broth-
ers’ first flight is worthy of recognition and celebra-
tion to honor their legacy and to inspire a new gen-
eration of Americans as aviation reaches an inflec-
tion point of innovation and change. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of Transportation, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the 
heads of other appropriate Federal agencies should facili-
tate and participate in local, national, and international 
observances and activities that commemorate and cele-
brate the 125th anniversary of powered flight. 
SEC. 816. FEDERAL CONTRACT TOWER WAGE DETERMINA-
TIONS AND POSITIONS. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall request that 
the Secretary of Labor— 
(1) review and update, as necessary, including 
to account for cost-of-living adjustments, the basis 
for the wage determination for air traffic controllers 
who are employed at air traffic control towers oper-
ated under the Contract Tower Program established 
under section 47124 of title 49, United States Code; 
(2) create a new wage determination category 
or occupation code for managers of air traffic con-
775 
trollers who are employed at air traffic control tow-
ers in the Contract Tower Program; and 
(3) consult with the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration in carrying out the re-
quirements of paragraphs (1) and (2). 
SEC. 817. INTERNAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the inspector general of the 
Department of Transportation shall review the coordina-
tion and approval processes of non-regulatory materials 
produced by the Federal Aviation Administration to im-
prove the timeliness, transparency, development, and 
issuance of such materials. 
(b) CONTENTS OF REVIEW.—In conducting the re-
view under subsection (a), the inspector general shall— 
(1) provide recommendations for improving 
processes and eliminating nonvalue-added reviews of 
non-regulatory materials within the Federal Aviation 
Administration and Department of Transportation, 
in consideration of the authority of the Adminis-
trator under section 106 of title 49, United States 
Code, and other applicable laws; 
(2) consider, with respect to each office within 
the Federal Aviation Administration and the Depart-
776 
ment of Transportation that reviews non-regulatory 
materials— 
(A) the timeline assigned to each such of-
fice to complete the review of such materials; 
(B) the actual time spent for such review; 
and 
(C) opportunities to reduce the actual time 
spent for such review; 
(3) describe any organizational changes and ad-
ditional resources that the Administration needs, if 
necessary, to reduce delays in the development and 
publication of proposed non-regulatory materials; 
(4) consider to what extent reporting mecha-
nisms and templates could be used to provide the 
public with more consistent information on the de-
velopment status of non-regulatory materials; 
(5) consider changes to the application of rules 
governing ex parte communications by the Adminis-
trator to provide flexibility for employees of the Ad-
ministration to discuss non-regulatory materials with 
aviation stakeholders and foreign aviation authorities 
to promote United States aviation leadership; 
(6) recommend methods by which the Adminis-
tration can incorporate standards set by recognized 
industry standards organizations, as such term is
777 
defined in section 806, into non-regulatory materials 
to keep pace with rapid changes in aerospace tech-
nology and processes; and 
(7) evaluate the processes and best practices 
other civil aviation authorities and other Federal de-
partments and agencies use to produce non-regu-
latory materials, particularly the processes of enti-
ties that produce such materials in an expedited 
fashion to respond to safety risks, incidents, or new 
technology adoption. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the review under 
subsection (a), the inspector general may, as appropriate, 
consult with industry stakeholders, academia, and other 
individuals with relevant background or expertise in im-
proving the efficiency of Federal non-regulatory material 
production. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the inspec-
tor general initiates the review under subsection (a), the 
inspector general shall submit to the Administrator a re-
port on such review. 
(e) ACTION PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall de-
velop an action plan to implement the recommenda-
tions contained in the report submitted under sub-
section (d).
778 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after 
receiving the report under subsection (d), the Ad-
ministrator shall brief the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on such 
plan. 
(f) NON-REGULATORY MATERIALS DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘non-regulatory materials’’ means 
orders, advisory circulars, statements of policy, guidance, 
technical standards, and other materials related to avia-
tion safety, training, and operation of aeronautical prod-
ucts. 
SEC. 818. ACCEPTANCE OF DIGITAL DRIVER’S LICENSE AND 
IDENTIFICATION CARDS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall take such actions as may be necessary to ac-
cept, in any instance where an individual is required to 
submit government-issued identification to the Adminis-
trator, a digital or mobile driver’s license or identification 
card issued to such individual by a State. 
SEC. 819. BUCKEYE 940 RELEASE OF DEED RESTRICTIONS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to au-
thorize the Secretary to issue a Deed of Release from all
779 
terms, conditions, reservations, restrictions, and obliga-
tions contained in the Quitclaim Deed and permit the 
State of Arizona to deposit all proceeds of the disposition 
of Buckeye 940 in the appropriate fund for the benefit 
of the beneficiaries of the Arizona State Land Trust. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BUCKEYE 940.—The term ‘‘Buckeye 940’’ 
means all of section 12, T.1 N., R.3 W. and all of 
adjoining fractional section 7, T.1 N., R.2 W., Gila 
and Salt River Meridian, Arizona, which property 
was the subject of the Quitclaim Deed between the 
United States and the State of Arizona, dated July 
11, 1949, and which is currently owned by the State 
of Arizona and held in trust for the beneficiaries of 
the Arizona State Land Trust. 
(2) QUITCLAIM
DEED.—The term ‘‘Quitclaim 
Deed’’ means the Quitclaim Deed between the 
United States and the State of Arizona, dated July 
11, 1949. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(c) RELEASE OF ANY AND ALL INTEREST IN BUCK-
EYE 940.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the United States, acting through
780 
the Secretary, shall issue to the State of Arizona a 
Deed of Release to release all terms, conditions, res-
ervations, restrictions, and obligations contained in 
the Quitclaim Deed, including any and all rever-
sionary interest of the United States in Buckeye 
940. 
(2) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—The Deed of 
Release described in paragraph (1) shall be subject 
to such additional terms and conditions, consistent 
with such paragraph, as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate to protect the interests of the United 
States. 
(3) NO RESTRICTION ON USE OF PROCEEDS.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
State of Arizona may dispose of Buckeye 940 and 
any proceeds thereof, including proceeds already col-
lected by the State and held in a suspense account, 
without regard to any restriction imposed by the 
Quitclaim Deed or by section 155.7 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
(4) MINERAL RESERVATION.—The Deed of Re-
lease described in paragraph (1) shall include the re-
lease of all interests of the United States to the min-
eral rights on Buckeye 940 included in the Quit-
claim Deed.
781 
SEC. 820. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM INTEGRITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate a review to 
identify and address aging information technology systems 
within the Administration. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The review required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) identify and inventory critical software and 
hardware systems of the Administration; 
(2) assess the vulnerabilities of such systems to 
degradation, errors (including human errors), and 
malicious attacks (including cyber attacks); and 
(3) identify upgrades to, or replacements for, 
such systems that are necessary to mitigate such 
vulnerabilities. 
(c) MITIGATION.—The Administrator shall take such 
action as may be necessary to mitigate the vulnerabilities 
identified under the review conducted under subsection 
(a). 
(d) LEVERAGING EXTERNAL EXPERTISE.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the actions carried out pur-
suant to this section shall—
782 
(1) be consistent with the acquisition manage-
ment system established and updated pursuant to 
section 40110(d) of title 49, United States Code; 
(2) incorporate input from industry, academia, 
or other external experts on information technology; 
and 
(3) identify technologies in existence or in de-
velopment that, with or without adaptation, are ex-
pected to be suitable to meet the technical informa-
tion technology needs of the Administration. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report detailing the results of the review required under 
subsection (a). 
(f) INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—After the Administrator 
completes the review under subsection (a), the in-
spector general of the Department of Transportation 
shall conduct an audit of the integrity of the infor-
mation technology systems of the Administration 
and assess the efforts of the Administration to ad-
783 
dress the Administration’s aging information tech-
nology systems. 
(2) REPORT.—The inspector general shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
audit carried out under this subsection. 
SEC. 821. BRIEFING ON RADIO COMMUNICATIONS COV-
ERAGE AROUND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. 
(a) BRIEFING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall provide 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
briefing on the radio communications coverage within the 
airspace surrounding the Mena Intermountain Municipal 
Airport in Mena, Arkansas. 
(b) BRIEFING CONTENTS.—The briefing required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) The radio communications coverage within 
the airspace surrounding the Mena Intermountain 
Municipal Airport with the applicable Air Route 
Traffic Control Center.
784 
(2) The altitudes at which radio communica-
tions capabilities are lost within such airspace. 
(3) Recommendations on changes that may in-
crease radio communications coverage below 4,000 
feet above ground level within such airspace. 
SEC. 822. STUDY ON CONGESTED AIRSPACE. 
(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 on the efficiency and 
efficacy of scheduled commercial air service transiting con-
gested airspace. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall exam-
ine— 
(1) various regions of congested airspace and 
the differing factors of such regions; 
(2) commercial air service; 
(3) military flight activity; 
(4) emergency response activity; 
(5) commercial space launch and reentry activi-
ties; 
(6) weather; and 
(7) air traffic controller staffing. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
785 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the results of the study and rec-
ommendations to reduce the impacts to scheduled air serv-
ice transiting congested airspace. 
SEC. 823. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FRANCHISE FUND. 
Title I of the Department of Transportation and Re-
lated Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 (49 U.S.C. 
40113 note) is amended under the heading ‘‘Administra-
tive Services Franchise Fund’’ by striking ‘‘shall be paid 
in advance’’ and inserting ‘‘may be reimbursed after per-
formance or paid in advance’’. 
SEC. 824. USE OF BIOGRAPHICAL ASSESSMENTS. 
Section 44506(f)(2)(A) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(B)(ii)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)(B)’’. 
SEC. 825. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ENFORCEMENT. 
Section 42121(b)(5) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) ENFORCEMENT
OF
ORDER.—Whenever 
any person has failed to comply with an order issued 
under paragraph (3), the Secretary of Labor and the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
786 
tion shall consult with each other to determine the 
most appropriate action to be taken, in which— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Labor may file a 
civil action in the United States district court 
for the district in which the violation was found 
to occur to enforce such order, for which, in ac-
tions brought under this paragraph, the district 
courts shall have jurisdiction to grant all appro-
priate relief including, injunctive relief and com-
pensatory damages; and 
‘‘(B) the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration may assess a civil pen-
alty pursuant to section 46301.’’. 
SEC. 826. FINAL RULEMAKING ON CERTAIN MANUFAC-
TURING STANDARDS. 
Not later than December 16, 2023, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final 
rule for the notice of proposed rulemaking titled ‘‘Airplane 
Fuel Efficiency Certification’’ and published June 15, 
2022 (RIN 2120–AL54). 
SEC. 827. REMOTE DISPATCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 44711(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end;
787 
(2) in paragraph (10) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) work as an aircraft dispatcher outside of 
a physical location designated as a dispatching cen-
ter or flight following center of an air carrier, except 
as provided under section 44747.’’. 
(b) AIRCRAFT DISPATCHING.—Chapter 447 of title 
49, United States Code, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44747. Aircraft dispatching 
‘‘(a) AIRCRAFT DISPATCHING CERTIFICATE.—No 
person may serve as an aircraft dispatcher for an air car-
rier unless that person holds the appropriate aircraft dis-
patcher certificate issued by the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
‘‘(b) PROOF OF CERTIFICATE.—Upon the request of 
the Administrator or an authorized representative of the 
National Transportation Safety Board, or other appro-
priate Federal agency, a person who holds such a certifi-
cate, and is performing dispatching shall present the cer-
tificate for inspection. 
‘‘(c) DISPATCH CENTERS AND FLIGHT FOLLOWING 
CENTERS.—
789 
other event that renders a center inoperable. An air carrier 
may not dispatch aircraft under the emergency authority 
under this subsection for longer than 30 consecutive days 
without the approval of the Administrator.’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44747. Aircraft dispatching.’’. 
SEC. 828. EMPLOYEE ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RE-
SPONSE PLANS AMENDMENT. 
Section 551 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 44903 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act,’’ and 
inserting ‘‘The Administrator shall require’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘shall submit to the Ad-
ministrator’’ and inserting ‘‘to submit’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c) by striking ‘‘A part 121 
air carrier shall’’ and inserting ‘‘The Administrator 
shall require a part 121 air carrier to’’. 
SEC. 829. CREW MEMBER SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING. 
Section 44918(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended—
790 
(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘Neither’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except as provided in paragraph (8), nei-
ther’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) AIR
CARRIER
ACCOMMODATION.—An air 
carrier with a crew member participating in the 
training program under this subsection shall provide 
a process through which each such crew member 
may obtain reasonable accommodations.’’. 
SEC. 830. FORMAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT 
POLICIES ON AIR CARRIERS AND FOREIGN 
AIR CARRIERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 417 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 41729. Formal sexual assault and harassment poli-
cies 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, each air carrier and 
foreign air carrier transporting passengers for compensa-
tion shall issue, in consultation with labor unions rep-
resenting personnel of the air carrier or foreign air carrier, 
a formal policy with respect to transportation sexual as-
sault or harassment incidents.
791 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—The policy required under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) a statement indicating that no transpor-
tation sexual assault or harassment incident is ac-
ceptable under any circumstance; 
‘‘(2) procedures that facilitate the reporting of 
a transportation sexual assault or harassment inci-
dent, including— 
‘‘(A) appropriate public outreach activities; 
and 
‘‘(B) confidential phone and internet-based 
opportunities for reporting; 
‘‘(3) procedures that personnel should follow 
upon the reporting of a transportation sexual assault 
or harassment incident, including actions to protect 
affected individuals from continued sexual assault or 
harassment and to notify law enforcement when ap-
propriate; 
‘‘(4) procedures that may limit or prohibit, to 
the extent practicable, future travel with the air car-
rier or foreign air carrier by any passenger who 
causes a transportation sexual assault or harassment 
incident; and
792 
‘‘(5) training that is required for all appropriate 
personnel with respect to the policy required under 
subsection (a), including— 
‘‘(A) specific training for personnel who 
may receive reports of transportation sexual as-
sault or harassment incidents; and 
‘‘(B) recognizing and responding to poten-
tial human trafficking victims, in the same 
manner as required under section 44734(a)(4). 
‘‘(c) PASSENGER INFORMATION.—An air carrier or 
foreign air carrier described in subsection (a) shall promi-
nently display, on the internet website of the air carrier 
or foreign air carrier and through the use of appropriate 
signage, a written statement that informs passengers and 
personnel of the procedure for reporting a transportation 
sexual assault or harassment incident. 
‘‘(d) STANDARD OF CARE.—Compliance with the re-
quirements of this section, and any policy issued there-
under, shall not determine whether the air carrier or for-
eign air carrier described in subsection (a) has acted with 
any requisite standard of care. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) PERSONNEL.—The term ‘personnel’ means 
an employee or contractor of an air carrier or for-
eign air carrier.
793 
‘‘(2) SEXUAL ASSAULT.—The term ‘sexual as-
sault’ means the occurrence of an act that con-
stitutes any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by 
Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the vic-
tim lacks capacity to consent. 
‘‘(3) TRANSPORTATION
SEXUAL
ASSAULT
OR 
HARASSMENT INCIDENT.—The term ‘transportation 
sexual assault or harassment incident’ means the oc-
currence, or reasonably suspected occurrence, of an 
act that— 
‘‘(A) constitutes sexual assault or sexual 
harassment; and 
‘‘(B) is committed— 
‘‘(i) by a passenger or member of per-
sonnel of an air carrier or foreign air car-
rier against another passenger or member 
of personnel of an air carrier or foreign air 
carrier; and 
‘‘(ii) within an aircraft or in an area 
in which passengers are entering or exiting 
an aircraft.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is further amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘41729. Formal sexual assault and harassment policies.’’.
794 
SEC. 831. INTERFERENCE WITH SECURITY SCREENING 
PERSONNEL. 
Section 46503 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘An individual’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An individual’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) AIRPORT AND AIR CARRIER EMPLOYEES.—For 
purposes of this section, an airport or air carrier employee 
who has security duties within the airport includes an air-
port or air carrier employee performing ticketing, check- 
in, baggage claim, or boarding functions.’’. 
SEC. 832. MECHANISMS TO REDUCE HELICOPTER NOISE. 
(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 study to examine ways 
in which a State, territorial, or local government may miti-
gate the negative impacts of commercial helicopter noise. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall con-
sider— 
(1) the varying degree of commercial helicopter 
operations in different communities; and 
(2) actions that State, and local governments 
have taken, and authorities such governments have
795 
used, to reduce the impact of commercial helicopter 
noise and the success of such actions. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
provide to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the findings of the study conducted 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 833. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) TITLE 49 ANALYSIS.—The analysis for title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking the item relat-
ing to subtitle IX and inserting the following: 
‘‘IX. 
MULTIMODAL 
FREIGHT 
TRANSPOR-
TATION............................................. 70101’’. 
(b) SUBTITLE I ANALYSIS.—The analysis for subtitle 
I of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the item relating to chapter 7. 
(c) SUBTITLE VII ANALYSIS.—The analysis for sub-
title VII of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking the item relating to chapter 448 and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘448. Unmanned Aircraft Systems................................................... 44801’’. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO EXEMPT.—Section 40109(b) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sec-
796 
tions 40103(b)(1) and (2) of this title’’ and inserting 
‘‘paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 40103(b)’’. 
(e) GENERAL PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.—Section 
40110(d)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘, as in 
effect on October 9, 1996’’ after ‘‘Policy Act’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘the Office 
of Federal Procurement Policy Act’’ and inserting 
‘‘division B of subtitle I of title 41’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘section 
27(e)(3)(A)(iv) of the Office of Federal Procurement 
Policy Act’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2105(c)(1)(D) of 
title 41’’. 
(f) 
GOVERNMENT-FINANCED
AIR
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—Section 40118(g)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘detection and reporting of 
potential human trafficking (as described in paragraphs 
(9) and (10)’’ and inserting ‘‘detection and reporting of 
potential severe forms of trafficking in persons and sex 
trafficking (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (11) 
and (12)’’. 
(g) FAA AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT CRIMINAL HIS-
TORY RECORD CHECKS.—Section 40130(a)(1)(A) of title
797 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(42 
U.S.C. 14616)’’ and inserting ‘‘(34 U.S.C. 40316)’’. 
(h) SUBMISSIONS OF PLANS.—Section 41313(c)(16) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘will consult’’ and inserting ‘‘the foreign air carrier shall 
consult’’. 
(i) PLANS AND POLICY.—Section 44501(c) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) 
in 
paragraph 
(2)(B)(i), 
by 
striking 
‘‘40119,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘Subject to 
section 40119(b) of this title and regulations pre-
scribed under section 40119(b),’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subject to section 44912(d)(2) and regulations pre-
scribed under such section,’’. 
(j) USE AND LIMITATION OF AMOUNTS.—Section 
44508 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘40119,’’ each place it appears. 
(k) STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COM-
MERCE OR NATIONAL SECURITY.—Section 44718(h) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘ad-
verse impact on military operations and readiness’ and 
‘unacceptable risk to the national security of the United
798 
States’ have the meaning given those terms in section 
183a(h) of title 10.’’. 
(l) 
METEOROLOGICAL
SERVICES.—Section 
44720(b)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the Administrator to persons’’ 
and inserting ‘‘the Administrator, to persons’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘the Administrator and to’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Administrator, and to’’. 
(m) AERONAUTICAL CHARTS.—Section 44721(c)(1) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘1947,’’ and inserting ‘‘1947’’. 
(n) FLIGHT ATTENDANT CERTIFICATION.—Section 
44728(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘Regulation,’’ and inserting ‘‘Regulations,’’. 
(o) MANUAL SURCHARGE.—The analysis for chapter 
453 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘45306. Manual surcharge.’’. 
(p) SCHEDULE OF FEES.—Section 45301(a) of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘The Ad-
ministrator shall establish’’ and inserting ‘‘The Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall estab-
lish’’. 
(q) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Section 46110(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subsection
799 
(l) or (s) of section 114’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (l) or 
(r) of section 114’’. 
(r) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Section 46301(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading for paragraph (6), by strik-
ing ‘‘FAILURE
TO
COLLECT
AIRPORT
SECURITY 
BADGES’’ and inserting ‘‘FAILURE TO COLLECT AIR-
PORT SECURITY BADGES’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘PENALTIES 
RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS WITH DISABIL-
ITIES’’ in the paragraph heading and inserting 
‘‘PENALTIES RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS 
WITH DISABILITIES’’. 
(s) PAYMENTS UNDER PROJECT GRANT AGREE-
MENTS.—Section 47111(e) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘fee’’ and inserting 
‘‘charge’’. 
(t) AGREEMENTS
FOR STATE
AND LOCAL OPER-
ATION
OF
AIRPORT
FACILITIES.—Section 
47124(b)(1)(B)(ii) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the second period at the end. 
(u) USE
OF FUNDS
FOR REPAIRS
FOR RUNWAY 
SAFETY
REPAIRS.—Section 47144(b)(4) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘(42 U.S.C. 
4121 et seq.)’’ and inserting ‘‘(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.)’’.
800 
(v) METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AU-
THORITY.—Section 49106 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘and 
section 49108 of this title’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(6)(C) by inserting ‘‘the’’ 
before ‘‘jurisdiction’’. 
(w) SEPARABILITY
AND
EFFECT
OF
JUDICIAL 
ORDER.—Section 49112(b) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (1); and 
(2) by striking ‘‘(2) Any action’’ and inserting 
‘‘Any action’’. 
SEC. 834. TRANSPORTATION OF ORGANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation, in consultation with the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration, shall convene a working 
group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘working group’’) 
to assist in developing best practices for transportation of 
an organ in the cabin of an aircraft operating under part 
121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and to iden-
tify regulations that hinder such transportation, if applica-
ble.
801 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The working group shall be com-
prised of representatives from the following: 
(1) Air carriers operating under part 121 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) Organ procurement organizations. 
(3) Organ transplant hospitals. 
(4) Flight attendants. 
(5) Other relevant Federal agencies involved in 
organ transportation or air travel. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing the best prac-
tices described in subsection (a), the working group shall 
consider— 
(1) a safe, standardized process for acceptance, 
handling, management, and transportation of an 
organ in the cabin of such aircraft; and 
(2) protocols to ensure the safe and timely 
transport of an organ in the cabin of such aircraft, 
including through connecting flights. 
(d) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the convening of the working group, such working 
group shall submit to the Secretary a report containing 
recommendations for the best practices described in sub-
section (a). 
(e) DEFINITION
OF ORGAN.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘organ’’—
802 
(1) has the meaning given such term in section 
121.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) includes organ-related tissue. 
SEC. 835. REPORT ON APPLICATION APPROVAL TIMING. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report detailing the amount of time 
the application approval process takes for agricultural air-
craft operations under part 137 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
SEC. 836. STUDY ON AIR CARGO OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall initiate a study on the economic 
sustainability of air cargo operations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress the following: 
(1) Airport and cargo development strategies, 
including the pursuit of new air carriers and plans 
for physical expansion.
803 
(2) Key historical statistics for passenger, cargo 
volumes, including freight, express, and mail cargo, 
and operations, including statistics distinguishing 
between passenger and freight operations. 
(3) A description of air cargo facilities, includ-
ing the age and condition of such facilities and the 
square footage and configuration of the landside and 
airside infrastructure of such facilities, and cargo 
buildings. 
(4) The projected square footage deficit of the 
cargo facilities and infrastructure described in para-
graph (3). 
(5) The projected requirements and square 
footage deficit for air cargo support facilities. 
(6) The general physical and operating issues 
and constraints associated with air cargo operations. 
(7) A description of delays in truck bays associ-
ated with the infrastructure and critical landside 
issues, including truck maneuvering and queuing 
and parking for employees and customers. 
(8) The estimated cost of developing new cargo 
facilities and infrastructure, including the identifica-
tion of percentages for development with a return on 
investment and without a return on investment.
804 
(9) The projected leasing costs to tenants per 
square foot with and without Federal funding of the 
non-return on investment allocation. 
(10) A description of customs and general staff-
ing issues associated with air cargo operations and 
the impacts of such issues on service. 
(11) An assessment of the impact, cost, and es-
timated cost savings of using modern comprehensive 
communications and technology systems in air cargo 
operations. 
(12) A description of the impact of Federal reg-
ulations and local enforcement of interdiction and 
facilitation policies on throughput. 
(c) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate the 
results of the study carried out under this section. 
SEC. 837. NEXT GENERATION RADIO ALTIMETERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with in-
dustry and other relevant government stakeholders, shall 
carry out an accelerated program to assist with the devel-
opment, testing, and certification of the standards and
805 
technology necessary to ensure industry and the Adminis-
tration can certify, produce and meet the installation re-
quirements for next generation radio altimeters across all 
necessary aircraft by January 1, 2028. 
(b) GRANT
PROGRAM.—The Administrator may 
award grants for the purposes of research and develop-
ment, testing, and other activities necessary to ensure that 
next generation radio altimeter technology is developed, 
tested, certified, and installed on necessary aircraft by 
2028, including through public-private partnership grants 
(which shall include protections for necessary intellectual 
property with respect to any private sector entity testing, 
certifying, or producing next generation radio altimeters 
under the program carried out under this section) with 
industry to ensure the accelerated production and installa-
tion by January 1, 2028. 
(c) REVIEW AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report on the steps the Administrator has taken 
as of the date on which such report is submitted and any 
actions the Administrator plans to take, including as part 
of the program carried out under this section, to ensure
806 
that next generation radio altimeter technology is devel-
oped, tested, certified, and installed by 2028. 
SEC. 838. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SAFETY AND 
SECURITY OF AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE. 
It is the sense of Congress that aviation provides es-
sential services critical to the United States economy and 
that it is important to ensure the safety and security of 
aviation infrastructure and protect such infrastructure 
from unlawful breaches with appropriate legal safeguards. 
SEC. 839. RESTRICTED CATEGORY AIRCRAFT MAINTE-
NANCE AND OPERATIONS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
have sole jurisdiction over the maintenance and operations 
of aircraft owned by civilian operators and type-certifi-
cated in the restricted category under section 21.25 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 840. REPORT ON TELEWORK. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives, and make publicly available
807 
on a website of the Administration, a detailed report on 
any direct and indirect costs and inefficiencies associated 
with COVID-era telework policies at the Federal Aviation 
Administration. 
SEC. 841. CREWMEMBER PUMPING GUIDANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall issue guidance to 
part 121 air carriers relating to the expression of milk 
by crewmembers on an aircraft during noncritical phases 
of flight, consistent with the performance of the crew-
member’s duties aboard the aircraft. The guidance shall 
be equally applicable to any lactating crewmember. In de-
veloping the guidance, the Administrator shall— 
(1) consider multiple methods of expressing 
breast milk that could be used by crewmembers, in-
cluding the use of wearable lactation technology; and 
(2) ensure the guidance will not require an air 
carrier or foreign air carrier to incur significant ex-
pense, such as through— 
(A) the addition of an extra crewmember 
in response to providing a break; 
(B) removal or retrofitting of seats on the 
aircraft; or
808 
(C) modification or retrofitting of an air-
craft. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CREWMEMBER.—The term ‘‘crewmember’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 1.1 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(2) CRITICAL PHASES OF FLIGHT.—The term 
‘‘critical phases of flight’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 121.542 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
(3) PART 121.—The term ‘‘part 121’’ means 
part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(c) AVIATION SAFETY.—Nothing in this section shall 
limit the authority of the Administrator relating to avia-
tion safety under subtitle VII of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 842. AIRCRAFT INTERCHANGE AGREEMENT LIMITA-
TIONS. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of Federal 
Aviation Administration shall conduct a study of foreign 
interchange agreements. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall address the 
following:
809 
(1) Methods for updating regulations under 
part 121.569 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, for foreign interchange agreements. 
(2) Time limits for foreign aircraft interchange 
agreements. 
(3) Minimum breaks between foreign aircraft 
interchange agreements. 
(4) Limits for no more than 1 foreign aircraft 
interchange agreement between 2 airlines. 
(5) Limits for no more than 2 foreign aircraft 
on the interchange agreement. 
SEC. 843. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACADEMY 
AND FACILITY EXPANSION PLAN. 
(a) PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
initiate the development of a plan to expand overall 
Federal Aviation Administration capacity relating to 
facilities, instruction, equipment, and training re-
sources to grow the number of developmental air 
traffic controllers enrolled per fiscal year and sup-
port increases in FAA air controller staffing to ad-
vance the safety of the national airspace system.
810 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the plan 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall con-
sider— 
(A) the resources needed to support an in-
crease in the total number of developmental air 
traffic controllers enrolled at the FAA Acad-
emy; 
(B) the resources needed to lessen FAA 
Academy attrition per fiscal year; 
(C) how to modernize the education and 
training of developmental air traffic controllers, 
including through the use of new techniques 
and technologies to support instruction; 
(D) the equipment needed to support ex-
panded instruction, including air traffic control 
simulation systems, virtual reality, and other 
virtual training platforms; 
(E) projected staffing needs associated 
with FAA Academy expansion and the oper-
ation of education platforms, including the 
number of on-the-job instructors needed to edu-
cate and train additional developmental air traf-
fic controllers; 
(F) the costs of expanding Federal Avia-
tion Administration capacity at the existing air
812 
SEC. 844. LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN CARGO AIRCRAFT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The standards adopted by the Ad-
ministrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in 
part 1030 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, and 
the requirements finalized by the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration from the notice of pro-
posed rulemaking titled ‘‘Airplane Fuel Efficiency Certifi-
cation’’, and published on June 15, 2022 (RIN2120- 
AL54) in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall not apply to any covered airplane before the date 
that is 5 years after January 1, 2028. 
(b) OPERATIONAL LIMITATION.—The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall limit the op-
eration of any covered airplane to domestic use or inter-
national operations, consistent with relevant international 
agreements and standards, that— 
(1) does not meet the standards and require-
ments described in subsection (a); and 
(2) received an original certificate of airworthi-
ness issued by the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration on or after January 1, 
2028. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED AIRPLANE.—The term ‘‘covered 
airplane’’ means an airplane that—
813 
(A) is a subsonic jet that is a purpose-built 
freighter; 
(B) has a maximum takeoff mass greater 
than 180,000 kilograms but not greater than 
240,000 kilograms; and 
(C) has a type design certificated prior to 
January 1, 2023. 
(2) PURPOSE-BUILT
FREIGHTER.—The term 
‘‘purpose-built freighter’’ means any airplane that— 
(A) was configured to carry cargo rather 
than passengers prior to receiving an original 
certificate of airworthiness; and 
(B) is configured to carry cargo rather 
than passengers. 
SEC. 845. COPYRIGHT PROTECTION FOR ORIGINAL DE-
SIGNS OF AIRCRAFT FLOATS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall, as appropriate, coordinate 
with the Register of Copyrights to help, to the extent fea-
sible, aircraft float manufacturers receive design protec-
tions provided under section 1301 of title 17, United 
States Code. 
(b) AIRCRAFT FLOAT DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘aircraft float’’ means a device suitable for use on 
an airplane that meets the standards set forth in the tech-
814 
nical standard order related to Twin Seaplane Floats 
issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on July 31, 
2018 (TSO-C27a), or any successor standard. 
SEC. 846. DELIVERY OF CLEARANCE TO PILOTS VIA INTER-
NET PROTOCOL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct testing and 
an evaluation to determine the feasibility of the use, in 
air traffic control towers, technology for delivering clear-
ances via internet protocol to enable mobile device access 
for general aviation and on-demand Part 135 air carriers 
at airports that do not have Towered Data Link Services. 
(b) AIRPORT SELECTION.—The Administrator shall 
designate five airports for participation in the initial air-
port pilot program after consultation with the exclusive 
representatives of air traffic controllers certified under 
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, airport spon-
sors, aircraft and avionics manufacturers, MITRE, and 
aircraft operators and the designation should include air-
ports of different size and complexity. 
(c) PROGRAM OBJECTIVE.—The program shall ad-
dress and include safety, security, and operational require-
ments for mobile clearance delivery at airports and heli-
ports across the United States.
815 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) MOBILE CLEARANCE DELIVERY.—The term 
‘‘mobile clearance delivery’’ means providing access 
to departure clearance and clearance cancellation via 
Internet Protocol via applications to pilots while air-
craft are on the ground where traditional data link 
installations are not feasible or possible. 
(2) PART 135.—The term ‘‘Part 135’’ means 
part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) TOWER DATA LINK SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘tower data link services’’ means communications 
between controllers and pilots using controller-pilot 
data link communications. 
(4) SUITABLE
AIRPORT.—The term ‘‘suitable 
airport’’ shall include towered airports, non-towered 
airports, and heliports. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the mobile clearance delivery program becoming 
operational, the Administrator shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
safety, security, and operational performance of the mobile 
clearance services at airports pursuant to this section and 
recommendations on how best to improve the program.
816 
SEC. 847. REPORT ON INDO-PACIFIC AIRPORTS. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall 
submit to Congress a report on airports of strategic impor-
tance in the Indo-Pacific region that includes each of the 
following: 
(1) An identification of airports and air routes 
critical to national security, defense operations, 
emergency response, and continuity of government 
activities. 
(2) An assessment of the economic impact and 
contribution of airports and air routes to national 
and regional economies. 
(3) An evaluation of the connectivity and acces-
sibility of airports and air routes, including their im-
portance in supporting domestic and international 
travel, trade, and tourism. 
(4) An analysis of infrastructure and techno-
logical requirements necessary to maintain and en-
hance the strategic importance of identified airports 
and air routes. 
(5) An identification of potential vulnerabilities, 
risks, and challenges faced by airports and air 
routes of strategic importance, including cybersecu-
rity 
threats 
and 
physical 
infrastructure 
vulnerabilities.
817 
(6) Any recommendations for improving the se-
curity, resilience, and efficiency of the identified air-
ports and air routes, including potential infrastruc-
ture investments and policy changes. 
SEC. 848. GAO STUDY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
GRANTS AT AIRPORTS. 
The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the implementation of grants provided 
to airports located in the Freely Associated States under 
section 47115(i) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 849. MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PAR-
TICIPATION. 
Section 157(b)(2) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 47113 note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(D) PUBLISHING
DATA.—The Secretary 
of Transportation shall report on a publicly ac-
cessible website the uniform report of DBE 
awards—commitments and payments specified 
in part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, and the uniform report of ACDBE Par-
ticipation for non-car rental and car rental con-
cessions, for each airport sponsor beginning 
with fiscal year 2024.’’.
818 
SEC. 850. STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COM-
MERCE OR NATIONAL SECURITY. 
Section 44718 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘on a publicly 
available website’’ after ‘‘public notice’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (i); 
(3) in subsection (i) (as so redesignated) by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) ENERGY
PROJECT.—The term ‘energy 
project’ has the meaning given such term in section 
183a(h) of title 10. 
‘‘(4) FOREIGN PRINCIPAL; AGENT OF A FOR-
EIGN PRINCIPAL.—The terms ‘foreign principal’ and 
‘agent of a foreign principal’ have the meaning given 
such terms in section 1 of the Foreign Agents Reg-
istration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 611).’’; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (g) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(h) SPECIAL RULE FOR ENERGY PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who is required 
to submit an application for an energy project under 
this section shall include in such application a disclo-
sure of any relationship such person has with a for-
819 
eign principal or with an agent of a foreign prin-
cipal. 
‘‘(2) INACCURATE DISCLOSURE OF RELATION-
SHIP WITH FOREIGN PRINCIPAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Transportation, in consultation with the Attor-
ney General of the United States and the head 
of any other relevant Federal agency, shall es-
tablish a process to evaluate the accuracy of a 
disclosure made under paragraph (1) and deter-
mine whether a person has violated such para-
graph. 
‘‘(B) INITIAL PENALTY FOR INACCURATE 
DISCLOSURE.—If the Secretary determines that 
a person has knowingly violated paragraph (1), 
such person shall be prohibited from submitting 
an application for an energy project under this 
section during the period beginning on the date 
on which the Secretary made the determination 
under subparagraph (A) and ending on the date 
that is 2 years after such determination. 
‘‘(C) PENALTIES FOR SUBSEQUENT INAC-
CURATE DISCLOSURES.—If the Secretary deter-
mines that a person knowingly violates para-
graph (1) after an initial violation under sub-
820 
paragraph (B), such person shall be perma-
nently prohibited from submitting an applica-
tion for an energy project under this section.’’. 
SEC. 851. EFFECT OF AIRLINE MERGERS FOR CONSUMERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit a report to Congress on the 
effect of airline mergers for consumers, including pas-
senger fares (including add-on fees), the number of routes, 
the number of nonstop routes eliminated, and the number 
of flight delays and cancellations. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a report on the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a) to the following congressional com-
mittees: 
(1) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on the Judiciary of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the Senate. 
SEC. 852. TASK FORCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN AVIATION 
SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
821 
Federal Aviation Administration shall convene a task force 
on human factors in aviation safety (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’). 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall consist of 
members appointed by the Administrator and having ex-
pertise in an operational or academic discipline that is rel-
evant to the analysis of human errors in aviation. The 
number of members shall be determined by the Adminis-
trator to ensure sufficient representation of relevant oper-
ational and academic disciplines. 
(c) DURATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Task Force 
shall be appointed for the length of the existence of 
the Task Force. 
(2) LENGTH OF EXISTENCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall 
have an initial length of existence of 2 years. 
(B) OPTION.—The Administrator may ex-
ercise an option to lengthen the duration of the 
existence of the Task Force for a period of 2 
years. 
(d) DISCIPLINES.—For purposes of subsection (b), 
disciplines may include air carrier operations, line pilot ex-
pertise, air traffic control, technical operations, aero-
nautical information, aircraft maintenance and mechanics
822 
psychology, linguistics, human-machine integration, gen-
eral aviation operations, and organizational behavior and 
culture. 
(e) EXPERTISE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—No less than half of the 
members shall have expertise in aviation. 
(2) ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE.—The Task Force 
shall include members with expertise on human fac-
tors but whose experience and training are not in 
aviation specifically and who have not previously 
been engaged in work related to the Federal Avia-
tion Administration or the aviation industry. The 
Task Force shall also include pilot labor organiza-
tion, certificated mechanic labor organizations, and 
at least one member from an air traffic controller 
labor organization. 
(f) FEDERAL
AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION
MEM-
BERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 4 members 
may be employees of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration and National Transportation Safety Board, 
excluding representatives of the labor representatives 
of employees of the air traffic control system. Not 
more than 2 members may be employees of the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board. The Federal
823 
Aviation Administration and the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board members shall be non-voting. 
(2) FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EM-
PLOYEES.—Any member who is an Federal Aviation 
Administration employee shall have expertise in safe-
ty. 
(g) DUTIES.—In coordination with the Research, En-
gineering, and Development Advisory Committee estab-
lished under section 44508 of title 49, United States Code, 
the Task Force shall— 
(1) not later than the date on which the Task 
Force is no longer in existence, produce a written re-
port that— 
(A) to the greatest extent possible, identi-
fies the most significant human factors and the 
relative contribution of such factors to aviation 
safety risk; 
(B) identifies new research priorities for 
research in human factors in aviation safety; 
(C) reviews existing products by other 
working groups related to human factors in 
aviation safety including the Commercial Avia-
tion Safety Team (CAST)’s work pertaining to 
flight crew responses to abnormal events;
824 
(D) provides recommendations on potential 
revisions to any Federal Aviation Administra-
tion regulations and guidance pertaining to the 
certification of aircraft under part 25 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations, including sec-
tions related to presumed pilot response times 
and assumptions about the reliability of pilot 
performance 
during 
unexpected, 
stressful 
events; 
(E) reviews rules, regulations, or standards 
regarding flight crew rest and fatigue, as well 
as maintenance personnel rest and fatigue, that 
are used by a sample of international air car-
riers, including those deemed to be more strin-
gent and less stringent than the current stand-
ards pertaining to United States air carriers, 
and identify risks to the National Airspace Sys-
tem from any such variation in standards 
across countries; 
(F) reviews pilot training requirements and 
recommend any revisions necessary to ensure 
adequate understanding of automated systems 
on aircraft;
825 
(G) reviews approach and landing mis-
alignment and make any recommendations for 
improving these events; 
(H) identifies ways to enhance instrument 
landing system maintenance schedules; deter-
mines how a real-time smart system should be 
developed that informs the Air Traffic Control 
System, Airlines, and Airports about any 
changes in the state of runway and taxiway 
lights; and identifies how this system could be 
connected to the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion’s maintenance system; 
(I) analyzes, with respect to human errors 
related to aviation safety of part 121 air car-
riers— 
(i) fatigue and distraction during crit-
ical phases of work among pilots or other 
aviation personnel; 
(ii) tasks and workload; 
(iii) organizational culture; 
(iv) communication among personnel; 
(v) adherence to safety procedures; 
(vi) mental state of personnel; and
826 
(vii) any other relevant factors that 
are the cause or potential cause of human 
error related to aviation safety; 
(J) includes a tabulation of the number of 
accidents, incidents, or aviation safety database 
entries received in which an item identified 
under subparagraph (I) was a cause or poten-
tial cause of human error related to aviation 
safety; and 
(K) includes a list of causes or potential 
causes of human error related to aviation safety 
about which the Administrator believes addi-
tional information is needed; and 
(2) if the Secretary exercises the option de-
scribed in subsection (c)(2)(B), not later than the 
date that is 2 years after the date of establishment 
of the Task Force, produce an interim report con-
taining the information described in paragraph (1). 
(h) METHODOLOGY.—To complete the report under 
subparagraphs (I) through (K) of subsection (g)(1), the 
Task Force shall consult with the National Transportation 
Safety Board and use all available data compiled and anal-
ysis conducted on safety incidents and irregularities col-
lected during the relevant fiscal year from the following: 
(1) Flight Operations Quality Assurance.
827 
(2) Aviation Safety Action Program. 
(3) Aviation Safety Information Analysis and 
Sharing. 
(4) The Aviation Safety Reporting System. 
(5) Aviation safety recommendations and inves-
tigation findings of the National Transportation 
Safety Board. 
(6) Other relevant programs or sources. 
(i) APPLICABLE LAW.—Section 1013 of title 5, 
United States Code, shall not apply to the Task Force. 
SEC. 853. SENSE OF CONGRESS ENCOURAGING THE FAA TO 
WELCOME THE USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL 
VEHICLES. 
It is the sense of Congress that Congress encourages 
the Federal Aviation Administration to welcome the use 
of unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, to bolster and 
augment traditional manual inspection, survey, and main-
tenance operations, including operations that relate to 
electric transmission infrastructure, water quality and the 
presence of harmful algal blooms, transportation infra-
structure, national parks, and telecommunications infra-
structure. 
SEC. 854. EVALUATION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall, in consultation with industry stake-
828 
holders and the owners or operators of airports certified 
by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion, conduct an evaluation of a representative sample of 
the emergency plans in place at such airports. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the evaluation under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall assess, with 
respect to such airports, the following: 
(1) Electricity supply on normal operating pro-
cedures. 
(2) Resiliency plans for maintaining appropriate 
electricity supply to continue airport operations in 
the case a natural disaster disrupts the airport’s pri-
mary power source. 
(3) Backup electricity plans in the event a nat-
ural disaster disrupts, partially or completely, the 
airport’s primary power source. 
(4) A comparison of previous versions of the 
airport’s emergency response plans and how current 
and future airport emergency response plans may be 
similar or different than the emergency response 
plans of the past. 
(5) The overall impact of an airport losing its 
primary power source on communities surrounding 
the airport and any public health and safety risks 
that may result.
829 
(c) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing the results of the evaluation 
conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 855. STUDY ON AIR CARGO OPERATIONS IN PUERTO 
RICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—No later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall conduct a study on air cargo 
operations in Puerto Rico. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress the following: 
(1) The economic impact of waivers authorized 
by the Secretary of the Department of Transpor-
tation related to air cargo operations in Puerto Rico. 
(2) Recommendations for security measures 
that may be necessary to support increased air cargo 
operations in Puerto Rico. 
(3) Potential need for additional staff to safely 
accommodate additional air cargo operations.
830 
(4) Airport infrastructure improvements that 
may be needed in the 3 international airports lo-
cated in Puerto Rico to support increased air cargo 
operations. 
(5) Alternatives to increase private stakeholder 
engagement and use of the 3 international airports 
in Puerto Rico to attract increased air cargo oper-
ations. 
(6) Possible national benefits of increasing air 
cargo operations in Puerto Rico. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
shall submit to the appropriate Committees of Congress 
a report on the results of the study described in subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 856. PROHIBITION ON OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT OVER 
RUSSIAN AIRSPACE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Trans-
portation, in consultation with the Secretary of State and 
other relevant Federal officials, shall— 
(1) amend NOTAM KICZ NOTAM A0005/22- 
Security, titled ‘‘United States of America Prohibi-
tion Against Certain Flights in specified areas of the 
Moscow (UUWV), Samara (UWWW) and Rostov-Na
831 
Donu (URRV) Flight Information Regions (FIR))’’ 
to apply the prohibitions equally to air carriers and 
foreign air carriers landing in or taking off from an 
airport in the United States; 
(2) take other actions within the authorities of 
the Secretary to apply to foreign air carriers landing 
in, or taking off from, an airport in the United 
States prohibitions consistent with the prohibitions 
in the NOTAM referred to in paragraph (1); or 
(3) provide to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, a briefing, in a classi-
fied or unclassified setting, if the Secretary finds 
that the implementation of paragraph (1) or (2) is— 
(A) unnecessary; 
(B) not in the public interest; or 
(C) not consistent with the foreign policy 
priorities of the United States. 
(b) SUNSET.—Any prohibition implemented pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall terminate on the date on which the 
NOTAM referred to in subsection (a) is rescinded. 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed as putting any limitation on the authority 
of the Secretary of Transportation to implement any pro-
832 
hibition in addition or subsequent to a prohibition imple-
mented under subsection (a). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—Each of the terms used in this 
section shall have the meanings given such terms in sec-
tion 40102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 
SEC. 857. GAO STUDY ON AVIATION WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on methods related 
to the recruitment, retention, employment, education, 
training, and well-being of the aviation workforce specifi-
cally within rural communities. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—In conducting the study 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall col-
laborate with industry stakeholders and rural aviation fa-
cilities to ascertain the best policies for increasing partici-
pating in the aviation workforce community from individ-
uals from rural communities. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General shall submit the results of the study under sub-
section (a) to the appropriate congressional committees. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS.—The Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall take such ac-
tions as are reasonable to implement the recommendations
833 
made by the Comptroller General from the study con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 858. ASSESSMENT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
TRANSPORTATION 
OF 
COUNTER-UAS SYSTEM OPERATIONS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General 
of the Department of Transportation shall assess all ac-
tions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration affect-
ing the ability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to 
conduct counter-UAS system operations at the southern 
border of the United States from January 1, 2021, to such 
date of enactment. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The assessment under sub-
section (a) shall consider the following impacts: 
(1) Operational capabilities of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection in detecting and mitigating 
unauthorized unmanned aircraft systems. 
(2) Coordination efforts and information shar-
ing between the Federal Aviation Administration 
and U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding 
counter-UAS system operations. 
(3) Any other impacts or considerations the In-
spector General of the Department of Transpor-
tation determines relevant.
834 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the com-
pletion of the assessment under subsection (a), the Inspec-
tor General of the Department of Transportation shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report detailing the findings of such assessment. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
COUNTER-UAS 
SYSTEM.—The 
term 
‘‘counter-UAS system’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(2) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 859. BRIEFING ON LIT VORTAC PROJECT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall provide a briefing 
on the Little Rock Port Authority Very High Frequency 
Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation 
Aid Project (LIT VORTAC) to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
835 
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
(b) BRIEFING CONTENTS.—The briefing required 
under subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) (1) The status of the efforts by the Federal 
Aviation 
Administration 
to 
relocate 
the 
LIT 
VORTAC. 
(2) The status of new flight planning of the re-
located VORTAC. 
(3) A description of and timeline for each re-
maining phase of the relocation project. 
SEC. 860. REIMBURSEMENT FOR FINANCIAL LOSSES DUE 
TO CERTAIN AIRPORT CLOSURES. 
(a) NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 30 
days after the date on which a President takes office, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall provide notification to specified aviation entities lo-
cated at any airports that may be expected to close at any 
point during the term of such President due to temporary 
flight restrictions related to any residence of the President 
that is designated or identified to be secured by the United 
States Secret Service. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT REQUIRED.—Subject to the 
availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall pro-
vide financial reimbursement to specified aviation entities
836 
in an amount equal to the direct and incremental financial 
losses incurred while an airport, or portion thereof, is 
closed solely due to the actions of the Federal Government 
as described in subsection (a). The Administrator shall 
provide reimbursement for such losses. 
(c) AUDIT REQUIRED.—The Administrator may not 
obligate or distribute reimbursement funding described in 
subsection (b) until an audit of the financial losses in-
curred by a specified aviation entity is completed by the 
Administrator. The Administrator may request that speci-
fied aviation entities provide documentation which the Ad-
ministrator determines is necessary to complete such 
audit. 
(d) INELIGIBLE COSTS.—In carrying out this section, 
the Administrator shall ensure that any loss incurred as 
a result of a violation of law, or through fault or neg-
ligence, of a specified aviation entity are not eligible for 
reimbursements 
(e) GOVERNMENT RELEASE FROM LIABILITY.—The 
United States Government shall not be liable for claims 
for financial losses resulting from airport closures de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
(f) SPECIFIED AVIATION ENTITY DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘specified aviation entity’’ means—
837 
(1) an airport sponsor that does not provide 
gateway operations; 
(2) a provider of general aviation ground sup-
port services; or 
(3) an impacted aviation tenant. 
SEC. 861. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN RUNWAY LENGTH RE-
QUIREMENTS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
retary of Transportation may not require an airport to 
shorten the length or width of the airport’s runway, apron, 
or taxiway as a condition for the receipt of federal finan-
cial assistance if the airport directly supports a base of 
the United States Air Force or the Air National Guard 
at the airport, regardless of the stationing of military air-
craft. 
SEC. 862. STUDY ON PILOT SUPPLY ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on the shortage of 
pilots faced by air carriers. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under sub-
section (a), the Comptroller General shall address ways 
to overcome challenges to the pilot workforce.
838 
SEC. 863. GAO STUDY ON FAA RESPONSIVENESS TO CON-
GRESS. 
(a) GAO STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct a study on— 
(1) the level of responsiveness of the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration to a 
request for information from a Member of Congress, 
including a written congressional inquiry and staff-
ing a meeting at the request of such a Member; and 
(2) the average timeframe responses are pro-
vided to the requests described in paragraph (1). 
(b) ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Section 106 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(u) ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—The Ad-
ministrator shall annually brief the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on— 
‘‘(1) the efforts, activities, objectives, and plans 
of the Administration; and 
‘‘(2) the efforts of the Administration to engage 
with Congress and the public.’’. 
SEC. 864. GAO STUDY ON TRANSIT ACCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
839 
of the United States shall conduct a study, and make the 
results of such study publicly accessible, on transit access 
to airports. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review public 
transportation access to commercial service airports 
throughout the United States, including cost, disability ac-
cessibility, and other potential barriers for individuals. 
SEC. 865. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PILOTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPRENTICE.—The 
term 
‘‘apprentice’’ 
means a student enrolled at a flight school. 
(2) FLIGHT SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘flight school’’ 
means a flight academy certified under part 141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with flight schools and other industry stakeholders, 
shall establish an apprenticeship program with flight 
schools to establish a pipeline of qualified and interested 
individuals to become commercial pilots. 
(c) SELECTION.—Under the apprenticeship program 
established under subsection (b), each flight school partici-
pating in the apprenticeship program established under
840 
subsection (b) may select up to 8 applicants to flight 
school to serve as apprentices each academic year. 
(d) CURRICULUM AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To graduate from an ap-
prenticeship program established under subsection 
(b), an apprentice shall satisfy any relevant require-
ments and minimum curriculum under part 141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations), including all curriculum under subpart 
C of such part. 
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this 
Act prevents a flight school from imposing additional 
requirements, such as modifying the terms of service 
of the apprenticeship program, on an apprentice tak-
ing part in an apprenticeship program established 
pursuant to this section. 
(e) OPTIONAL
PROGRAM.—A flight school may 
choose not to participate in an apprenticeship program es-
tablished under this section. 
(f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to implement this Act. 
(g) INCENTIVIZING RETIRED PILOTS.—The Sec-
retary shall take such actions as may be appropriate to 
develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired
841 
military pilots, retiring airline pilots, and graduates of the 
apprenticeship program established under this section, to 
become instructors at flight schools, including through the 
development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain 
initial qualification or concurrent qualification as certified 
flight instructors under part 61 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
SEC. 866. WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To ensure that sufficient fire-
fighting resources are available to suppress wildfires and 
protect public safety and property, and notwithstanding 
any other provision of law or agency regulation, not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall promulgate an interim final rule under 
which— 
(1) 
an 
operation 
described 
in 
section 
21.25(b)(7) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall allow for the transport of firefighters to and 
from the site of a wildfire to perform ground wildfire 
suppression and designate the firefighters con-
ducting such an operation as essential crewmembers 
on board a covered aircraft operated on a mission to 
suppress wildfire;
842 
(2) the aircraft maintenance, inspections, and 
pilot training requirements under part 135 of such 
title 14 may apply to such an operation, if deter-
mined by the Administrator to be necessary to main-
tain the safety of firefighters carrying out wildfire 
suppression missions; and 
(3) the noise standards described in part 36 of 
such title 14 shall not apply to such an operation. 
(b) SURPLUS
MILITARY
AIRCRAFT.—In promul-
gating any rule under subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall not enable any aircraft of a type that has been manu-
factured in accordance with the requirements of and ac-
cepted for use by any branch of the United States Military 
and has been later modified to be used for wildfire sup-
pression operations, unless such aircraft is later type-rated 
by the Administrator. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
TO FAA DOCU-
MENTS.—In promulgating an interim final rule under sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall amend FAA Order 
8110.56, Restricted Category Type Certification (dated 
February 27, 2006), as well as any corresponding policy 
or guidance material, to reflect the requirements of sub-
section (a). 
(d) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to limit the Administrator’s authority
843 
to take action otherwise authorized by law to protect avia-
tion safety or passenger safety. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘covered 
aircraft’’ means an aircraft type-certificated in the 
restricted category under section 21.25 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, used for transporting 
firefighters to and from the site of a wildfire in 
order to perform ground wildfire suppression for the 
purpose of extinguishing a wildfire on behalf of, or 
pursuant to a contract with, a Federal, State, or 
local government agency. 
(2) FIREFIGHTERS.—The term ‘‘firefighters’’ 
means a trained fire suppression professional the 
transport of whom is necessary to accomplish a wild-
fire suppression operation. 
SEC. 867. AIR STATISTIC REPORTS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
ensure that the Bureau of Transportation Statistics re-
vises and maintains Technical Reporting Directive No. 31 
(14 CFR Part 234) to provide that the following events 
are not included within the air carrier codes specified in 
such Directive:
844 
(1) Aircraft cleaning necessitated by such inci-
dents as the death of a passenger, excessive bleed-
ing, service animal (SVAN) soiling, and extensive 
debris left by customers. 
(2) Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, 
bird strike, foreign object debris (FOD), sabotage, 
and other similar causes. 
(3) Awaiting the arrival of connecting pas-
sengers or crew due to weather or local or National 
Airspace System logistics. 
(4) Awaiting the results of an unexpected alco-
hol test of a crewmember caused by the suspicion or 
accusation of a customer. 
(5) Awaiting gate space due to congestion not 
within the carrier’s control, including the utilization 
of common gates or uncontrollable gate returns re-
sulting from constraints of the National Airspace 
System. 
(6) A baggage or cargo loading delay caused by 
an outage of a bag system not controlled by a car-
rier, including wind affecting ramp conditions, late 
connecting bags resulting from an air traffic con-
troller delay, airport infrastructure failure, and simi-
lar causes.
845 
(7) Cabin servicing or catering delays due to 
weather or wind. 
(8) Vendor computer outages, cybersecurity at-
tacks (provided that the carrier is in compliance 
with applicable cybersecurity regulations), or issues 
related to the use of airport-supplied communica-
tions equipment (such as common-use gates and ter-
minals, power outage, and lighting). 
(9) Availability of crew related to hours flown, 
rest periods, and on-duty times not caused by a car-
rier, including a delay of a crew replacement or re-
serve necessitated by a non-controllable event, and 
pilot or flight attendant rest related to weather, air 
traffic controller, or local logistics. 
(10) An unscheduled engineering or safety in-
spection. 
(11) Public health issues. 
(12) Fueling delays related to weather or air-
port fueling infrastructure issues, including the inop-
erability of a fuel farm or unusable fuel which does 
not meet specified requirements at delivery to an 
airport due to contamination in the supply chain. 
(13) Government systems that are inoperable or 
otherwise unable to receive forms which have been 
properly completed by an air carrier.
846 
(14) Overheated brakes resulting from a safety 
incident, including those resulting from emergency 
procedures. 
(15) Mail from the U.S. Postal Service that was 
delayed in arrival. 
(16) Unscheduled maintenance, including air-
worthiness issues manifesting outside a scheduled 
maintenance program and that cannot be deferred 
or must be addressed before flight. 
(17) A medical emergency. 
(18) Positive passenger bag match flags that 
require removal of a bag in order to ensure security. 
(19) The removal of an unruly passenger. 
(20) Ramp service from a third-party con-
tractor, including servicing of potable water, lavatory 
servicing, and shortage of third-party ramp equip-
ment. 
(21) Snow removal or aircraft de-icing due to 
the occurrence of extreme weather despite adequate 
carrier resources, or the removal of snow on ramps. 
(22) An airport closure due to such factors as 
the presence of volcanic ash, wind or wind shear.
847 
SEC. 868. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FAA ENGAGEMENT AND 
COLLABORATION WITH HBCUS AND MSIS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Aviation 
Administration should continue to partner with histori-
cally Black colleges and universities and minority-serving 
institutions to promote awareness of career opportunities 
and develop curriculum related to aerospace, aviation and 
air traffic control. 
SEC. 869. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDA-
TIONS OF FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA-
TION YOUTH ACCESS TO AMERICAN JOBS IN 
AVIATION TASK FORCE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting 
through the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration, shall submit to Congress a report on the imple-
mentation of the following recommendations of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration Youth Access to American 
Jobs in Aviation Task Force established under section 602 
of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–254): 
(1) The recommendation to improve informa-
tion access about careers in aviation and aerospace. 
(2) The recommendation to collaboration across 
regions of the Federal Aviation Administration on 
outreach and workforce development programs.
848 
(3) The recommendation to increase opportuni-
ties for mentoring, pre-apprenticeships, and appren-
ticeships in aviation. 
SEC. 870. IMPLEMENTATION OF DYNAMIC SCHEDULING 
AND MANAGEMENT OF CERTAIN AIRSPACE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pilot program 
established under section 1093 of Public Law 117-263 (49 
U.S.C. 40103 note), the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of Defense, shall— 
(1) evaluate the impact on the operation of the 
national airspace system of process improvements in 
how the Department of Defense shares real-time up-
dates on the status of special activity airspace and 
special use airspace for activities described in para-
graph (1) of section 1093 of Public Law 117-263 
(49 U.S.C. 40103, note); and 
(2) ensure that such improvements make the 
Federal Aviation Administration able to use such 
status changes to effectively grant access to special 
activity airspace and special use airspace to civil op-
erators in the national airspace system. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT, TEST AND ASSESSMENT OF DY-
NAMIC AIRSPACE TOOLS AND SYSTEMS.—
849 
(1) TESTS.—Under the pilot program referred 
to in subsection (a), and to complete the evaluations 
prescribed above, the Administrator and Secretary 
shall jointly test software and services that automate 
the means by which the Department of Defense 
shares changes in the status of special activity air-
space and special use airspace established by the 
Federal Aviation Administration for use by civil op-
erators in the national airspace system. 
(2) AUTOMATION.—The Secretary and the Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that the processes referred 
to in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1093 of Public 
Law 117-263 (49 U.S.C. 40103, note) are auto-
mated, adhere to advanced data protection protocols, 
and use tools and systems developed for this purpose 
that are in use by the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion and by civil operators in the national airspace 
system. 
(c) REPORT.—Not more than 365 days following the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary and the 
Administrator shall jointly submit a report to Congress 
on the impact of dynamic scheduling and management of 
special activity airspace and special use airspace, with spe-
cific information on— 
(1) impact on military training and readiness;
850 
(2) impact on workload and accuracy of sharing 
status changes on airspace with the Federal Aviation 
Administration; and 
(3) impact on the operation of the national air-
space system including reductions in miles flown. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS.—The capabilities referred to in 
subsection (a) shall not interfere with— 
(1) the public’s right of transit consistent with 
national security; 
(2) the use of airspace necessary to ensure the 
safety of aircraft within the national airspace sys-
tem; or 
(3) the use of airspace necessary to ensure the 
efficient use of the national airspace system. 
SEC. 871. PROHIBITION ON PROCUREMENT OF FOREIGN- 
MADE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 
is prohibited from entering into a contract or awarding 
a grant for the procurement of a small unmanned aircraft 
system manufactured or assembled by a covered foreign 
entity. 
(b) EXEMPTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary is exempt 
from any restrictions under subsection (a) if the pro-
851 
curement is for the purposes of testing, evaluation, 
analysis, or training related to— 
(A) counter-unmanned aircraft systems, in-
cluding activities conducted under the Federal 
Aviation Administration’s Alliance for System 
Safety of UAS through Research Excellence 
Center of Excellence or by the UAS test sites 
under section 44803 of title 49, United States 
Code; or 
(B) the safe, secure, or efficient operation 
of the National Airspace System or mainte-
nance of public safety. 
(2) 
NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY 
BOARD EXEMPTION.—The National Transportation 
Safety Board, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, is exempt from any restrictions 
under subsection (a) if the procurement is necessary 
for the sole purpose of conducting safety investiga-
tions. 
(c) WAIVER.—The Secretary of Transportation (or 
the Secretary’s designee) may waive any restrictions under 
subsection (a) on a case by case basis by certifying in writ-
ing not later than 15 days after exercising such waiver 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation
852 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that 
the procurement is required in the national interest of the 
United States. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary may not award a 
new grant for the procurement of an unmanned air-
craft system manufactured by a covered foreign enti-
ty. 
(2) EXISTING GRANT.—This section shall not 
apply to grants awarded before the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
FOREIGN
ENTITY.—The term 
‘‘covered foreign entity’’ means an entity— 
(A) included on the Consolidated Screening 
List or Entity List as designated by the Sec-
retary of Commerce; 
(B) domiciled in the People’s Republic of 
China or the Russian Federation; 
(C) subject to influence or control by the 
government of the People’s Republic of China 
or by the Russian Federation; or
853 
(D) that is a subsidiary or affiliate of an 
entity described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(C). 
(2) SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT; UNMANNED 
AIRCRAFT; 
UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The 
terms ‘‘small unmanned aircraft’’, ‘‘unmanned air-
craft’’, and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the 
meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 
49, United States Code. 
SEC. 872. BANNING MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall initiate a study on the Banning 
Municipal Airport to identify— 
(1) aviation traffic at the Airport in each of the 
last 10 years, and estimated future traffic each year 
in the next 10 years; 
(2) associated annual revenues and costs in 
each year to service aviation traffic during the last 
10 years, and to continue to service it for another 
10 years; 
(3) use of the facility for fighting wildfires and 
the degree of its utility to the local County fire de-
partment or other emergency first responders;
854 
(4) status of the Airport’s current infrastruc-
ture and planned improvements, if any, and during 
the next 5 years and their associated costs; 
(5) perspectives of and impact on the Morongo 
Band of Indians resulting from operation of the air-
port near tribal lands; and 
(6) Federal funds that would be required to 
modernize the Airport’s infrastructure to assure no 
annual operating financial losses for the next 10 
years. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
General shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the results of the study. 
SEC. 873. FEASIBILITY STUDY OF HARDENING SATELLITES 
THAT 
CONTRIBUTE 
TO 
UNITED 
STATES 
AEROSPACE NAVIGATION. 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall conduct a feasibility study to determine the 
cost to harden satellites that contribute to United States 
aerospace navigation. 
SEC. 874. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF UNMANNED 
FREE BALLOONS ON AVIATION SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the
855 
Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit a 
report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the 
effects unmanned free balloon operations, that do not emit 
electronic or radio signals for identification purposes, 
launched within the United States and its territories may 
have on aviation safety. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out this section, 
the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) current technology available and employed 
to track unmanned free balloon operations described 
under subsection (a); 
(2) how the flights of such operations have af-
fected, or could affect, aviation safety; 
(3) how such operations have contributed, or 
could contribute, to misidentified threats to civil or 
military aviation operations or infrastructure; and 
(4) how such operations have impacted, or 
could impact, national security and air traffic con-
trol operations. 
(c) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report specified under 
subsection (a) shall contain recommendations on the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The need for unmanned free balloons 
launched within the United States and its territories
856 
to be equipped with technology that may increase 
the near real-time trackability of such balloons to 
deconflict airspace and maintain aviation safety of 
the national airspace system in support of Adminis-
tration and Department of Defense aviation oper-
ations. 
(2) The feasibility and efficacy in requiring the 
equipage and usage of such technology. 
(d) APPROPRIATE.—In this section, the term ‘‘appro-
priate congressional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services of the 
House of Representatives; 
(2) the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives; 
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the 
Senate; and 
(4) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 875. UPDATE TO FAA ORDER ON AIRWAY PLANNING 
STANDARD. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration shall take such actions as may be necessary 
to update FAA Order 7031.2c, titled ‘‘Airway Planning 
Standard Number One–Terminal Air Navigation Facilities
857 
and Air Traffic Control Services’’, to lower the remote 
radar bright display scope installation requirement from 
30,000 annual itinerant operations to 15,000 annual 
itinerant operations. 
SEC. 876. SURFACE SURVEILLANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after en-
actment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a 
study of surface surveillance systems that are operational 
as of the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) demonstrate that any change to the configu-
ration of such systems or decommissioning of a sen-
sor from such systems provides an equivalent level of 
safety as the current system; 
(2) determine how a technology refresh of leg-
acy sensor equipment can reduce operational and 
maintenance costs compared to current costs and ex-
tend the useful life and affordability of such sys-
tems; and, 
(3) consider how to enhance such systems 
through new capabilities and software tools that im-
prove the safety of terminal airspace and the airport 
surface.
858 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consult with rep-
resentatives of— 
(1) National Transportation Safety Board; 
(2) aviation safety experts with specific knowl-
edge of surface surveillance technology, including 
multilateration and ADS-B; and, 
(3) representatives with expertise in surface 
safety of the exclusive bargaining representative of 
the air traffic controllers certified under section 
7111 of title 5, United 24 States Code; and 
(4) representatives of the certified bargaining 
representative of airway transportation systems spe-
cialists for the Federal Aviation Administration. 
(d) REPORT.—Upon completion of the review initi-
ated under subsection (a), the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report describing the findings of such review and shall 
make all data related to the safety analysis and conclu-
sions developed under subsection (b) available to the pub-
lic on the website of the Administration in a downloadable 
format.
859 
(e) IMPLEMENTATION.—Upon submission of the re-
port required by subsection (d), the Administrator may 
implement changes to surface surveillance systems based 
on the outcome of the review in subsection (b). 
SEC. 877. CERTIFICATION AND REPORT BY INSPECTOR 
GENERAL RELATING TO RADAR IMPACTS 
AND OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT AP-
PROVAL PROCESS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President (or 
a designee) shall certify in writing that— 
(1) offshore wind projects in the North Atlantic 
and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas will not weaken, 
degrade, interfere with, or nullify the performance 
and capabilities of radar relied upon by commercial 
aviation, military aviation, space launch vehicles, or 
other commercial space launch activities; and 
(2) the development of offshore wind projects in 
the North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas 
will not degrade the capabilities of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration to monitor United States air-
space, or hinder commercial, private, or military 
aviation activities. 
(b) AUDIT AND REPORT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—
860 
(1) AUDIT AND REPORT.—The Inspector Gen-
eral of the Department of Transportation shall audit 
and report to Congress on the effects of offshore 
wind industrialization related to radar, impacts to 
commercial air and military traffic, and the suffi-
ciency of the review and approval process for off-
shore wind projects in the North Atlantic and Mid- 
Atlantic Planning Areas. Such report shall also in-
clude the following: 
(A) An investigation of the sufficiency of 
the 
process 
for 
approving 
offshore 
wind 
projects, and these projects impact on radar, in-
cluding the consultation process between the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the 
Federal Aviation Administration, and the Mili-
tary Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting 
Clearinghouse, and whether concerns voiced by 
the 
Federal 
Aviation 
Administration, 
the 
United States Armed Forces were sufficiently 
considered in the approval process. 
(B) A specific study on the impact of such 
projects on shore based radar capabilities. 
(C) A determination whether offshore wind 
projects will weaken, compromise, or interfere 
with, or nullify the usage of radar utilized by
861 
the 
Federal 
Aviation 
Administration, 
the 
United States Armed Forces, and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well 
as commercial space launch activities. 
(D) An audit of the approval applications 
by the Military Aviation and Installation Assur-
ance Siting Clearinghouse regarding concerns 
voiced over the impact to radar and ability to 
identify airborne threats, freedom to navigate 
United States airspace, and ability to train 
within United States airspace. 
(E) A determination whether any offshore 
wind projects will impact, alter, or disrupt com-
mercial, private, or military aviation flight 
paths. 
(F) A determination whether any offshore 
wind projects will impact, compromise, inhibit, 
or nullify the usage of radar and sonar tech-
nologies utilized by the armed forces and any 
agencies carrying out space launch programs. 
(G) A determination whether any offshore 
wind projects will impact, compromise, or in-
hibit the ability of the United States Coast 
Guard to conduct maritime safety and life-
saving operations.
862 
(H) An assessment of how offshore wind 
energy projects impact low-level military air-
space off the Atlantic Coast. 
(I) A determination whether the mitigation 
strategies laid out in the 2016 Report on the 
Impact of Wind Energy Developments on Mili-
tary Installations are sufficient, achievable and, 
realistic. 
(2) SURVEY REQUIRED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General 
of the Department of Transportation shall con-
duct a survey of individuals directly responsible 
for installations and units effected by offshore 
wind development projects, including those cur-
rently underway and those proposed, with re-
spect to— 
(i) mission critical capabilities related 
to radar interference, sonar interference, 
lifesaving operations, and training mis-
sions; and 
(ii) the sufficiency of local military in-
stallation commander input in the approval 
process. 
(B) REPORT.—The Inspector General of 
the Department of Transportation shall submit
863 
to Congress a report containing the results of 
the survey required by subparagraph (A) not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The reports required under 
subsection(b)(1) and (b)(2)(B) shall be submitted in un-
classified form, but may include a classified annex. 
TITLE IX—NATIONAL TRANSPOR-
TATION 
SAFETY 
BOARD 
AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2023 
SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 902. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 1118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated for the purposes of this chapter $142,000,000 
for fiscal year 2024, $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, 
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $155,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2027, and $161,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended.’’.
864 
SEC. 903. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF TERRI-
TORIES. 
Section 1101 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 1101. Definitions 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) ACCIDENT.—The term ‘accident’ includes 
damage to or destruction of vehicles in surface or air 
transportation or pipelines, regardless of whether the 
initiating event is accidental or otherwise. 
‘‘(2) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State 
of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puer-
to Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. 
‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Sec-
tion 2101(23) of title 46 and section 40102(a) shall apply 
to this chapter.’’. 
SEC. 904. ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING. 
(a) TRAINING
ON
EMERGING
TRANSPORTATION 
TECHNOLOGIES.—Section 1113(b)(1) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (J) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
865 
‘‘(K) notwithstanding section 3301 of title 41, 
acquire training on emerging transportation tech-
nologies.’’. 
(b) 
ADDITIONAL
TRAINING
NEEDS.—Section 
1115(d) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting ‘‘and in those subjects furthering the personnel 
and workforce development needs set forth in the strategic 
workforce plan of the Board as required under section 
1113(h)’’ after ‘‘of accident investigation’’. 
SEC. 905. ACQUIRING MISSION-ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE 
AND SKILLS. 
Section 1113(b) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
3304 and sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, the 
Chairman may, on a determination that there is a 
severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring 
need for particular positions, recruit and directly ap-
point into the competitive service highly qualified 
personnel with specialized knowledge important to 
the function of the Board. 
‘‘(B) 
LIMITATION.—The 
authority 
granted 
under subparagraph (A) shall terminate on the date
866 
that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(C) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
authority 
granted 
under subparagraph (A) shall not apply to positions 
in the excepted service or the Senior Executive Serv-
ice. 
‘‘(D) REQUIREMENTS.—In exercising the au-
thority granted under subparagraph (A), the Board 
shall ensure that any action taken by the Board— 
‘‘(i) is consistent with the merit principles 
of section 2301 of title 5; and 
‘‘(ii) complies with the public notice re-
quirements of section 3327 of title 5.’’. 
SEC. 906. OVERTIME ANNUAL REPORT TERMINATION. 
Section 1113(g)(5) of title 49, United States Code, 
is repealed. 
SEC. 907. STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLAN. 
Section 1113 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall develop a 
strategic workforce plan that addresses the imme-
diate and long-term workforce needs of the Board 
with respect to carrying out the authorities and du-
ties of the Board under this chapter.
867 
‘‘(2) ALIGNING THE WORKFORCE TO STRATEGIC 
GOALS.—In developing the strategic workforce plan 
under paragraph (1), the Board shall take into con-
sideration— 
‘‘(A) the current state and capabilities of 
the Board, including a high-level review of mis-
sion requirements, structure, workforce, and 
performance of the Board; 
‘‘(B) the significant workforce trends, 
needs, issues, and challenges with respect to the 
Board and the transportation industry; 
‘‘(C) the workforce policies, strategies, per-
formance measures, and interventions to miti-
gate succession risks that guide the workforce 
investment decisions of the Board; 
‘‘(D) a workforce planning strategy that 
identifies workforce needs, including the knowl-
edge, skills, and abilities needed to recruit and 
retain skilled employees at the Board; 
‘‘(E) a workforce management strategy 
that is aligned with the mission, goals, and or-
ganizational objectives of the Board; 
‘‘(F) an implementation system for work-
force goals focused on addressing continuity of
868 
leadership and knowledge sharing across the 
Board; 
‘‘(G) an implementation system that ad-
dresses workforce competency gaps, particularly 
in mission-critical occupations; and 
‘‘(H) a system for analyzing and evalu-
ating the performance of the Board’s workforce 
management policies, programs, and activities. 
‘‘(3) PLANNING PERIOD.—The strategic work-
force plan developed under paragraph (1) shall ad-
dress a 5-year forecast period, but may include plan-
ning for longer periods based on information about 
trends in the transportation sector. 
‘‘(4) PLAN UPDATES.—The Board shall update 
the strategic workforce plan developed under para-
graph (1) not less than once every 5 years. 
‘‘(5) RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN.—The 
strategic workforce plan developed under paragraph 
(1) may be developed separately from, or incor-
porated into, the strategic plan required under sec-
tion 306 of title 5. 
‘‘(6) AVAILABILITY.—The strategic workforce 
plan under paragraph (1) and the strategic plan re-
quired under section 306 of title 5 shall be—
869 
‘‘(A) submitted to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate; and 
‘‘(B) made available to the public on a 
website of the Board.’’. 
SEC. 908. TRAVEL BUDGETS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1113 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(i) NONACCIDENT RELATED TRAVEL BUDGET.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall establish 
annual fiscal year budgets for non accident-related 
travel expenditures for each Board member. 
‘‘(2) NOTIFICATION.—The Board shall notify 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate of any non accident-related travel budget 
overrun for any Board member not later than 30 
days of such overrun becoming known to the 
Board.’’.
870 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the 
National Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act 
of 2000 (49 U.S.C. 1113 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 909. RETENTION OF RECORDS. 
Section 1113 of title 49, United States Code, is fur-
ther amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) RETENTION
OF
RECORDS.—Notwithstanding 
chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33 of title 44, the Board may 
retain investigative records for such periods as determined 
by the Board.’’. 
SEC. 910. NONDISCLOSURE OF INTERVIEW RECORDINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1114 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘TRADE SECRETS’’ and inserting ‘‘CERTAIN 
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The Board’’ and in-
serting ‘‘IN GENERAL.—The Board’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘information related to 
a trade secret referred to in section 1905 
of title 18’’ and inserting ‘‘confidential in-
formation described in section 1905 of title 
18, including trade secrets,’’; and
871 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) INTERVIEW RECORDINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board may not pub-
licly disclose any part of any audio or video record-
ing of an interview of participants in, or witnesses 
to, an accident or incident investigated by the 
Board. 
‘‘(2) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Paragraph (1) shall 
not be construed to apply to transcripts or sum-
maries of such interviews.’’. 
(b) AVIATION ENFORCEMENT.—Section 1151 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—If the Board or 
Attorney General carry out such civil actions described in 
subsection (a) or (b) of this section against an airman em-
ployed at the time of the accident or incident by an air 
carrier operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, the Board shall immediately notify the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of such 
civil actions, including— 
‘‘(1) the labor union representing the airman 
involved, if applicable;
872 
‘‘(2) the air carrier at which the airman is em-
ployed; 
‘‘(3) the docket information of the incident or 
accident in which the airman was involved; 
‘‘(4) the date of such civil actions taken by the 
Board or Attorney General; and 
‘‘(5) a description of why such civil actions were 
taken by the Board or Attorney General. 
‘‘(e) SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.— 
Not later than 15 days after the notification described in 
subsection (d), the Board shall submit a report to or brief 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describ-
ing the status of compliance with the civil actions taken.’’. 
SEC. 911. CLOSED UNACCEPTABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
Section 1116(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 
(6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) a list of each recommendation made by the 
Board to the Secretary of Transportation or the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard that was closed in
873 
an unacceptable status in the preceding 12 
months;’’. 
SEC. 912. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF OVERSIGHT, AC-
COUNTABILITY, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 11 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 1120. Office of Oversight, Accountability, and Qual-
ity Assurance 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Board shall es-
tablish in the National Transportation Safety Board an 
Office of Oversight, Accountability, and Quality Assurance 
to provide oversight of the duties and responsibilities of 
the Board. 
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The head of the Office of 
Oversight, Accountability, and Quality Assurance 
shall be the Director, who shall be appointed by the 
Chairman of the Board and shall be approved by the 
Board. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Director shall 
have demonstrated ability in investigations. 
‘‘(3) TERM.—The Director shall be appointed 
for a term of 5 years.
874 
‘‘(4) VACANCIES.—Any individual approved to 
fill a vacancy in the position of the Director occur-
ring before the expiration of the term for which the 
predecessor of the individual was approved shall be 
approved for the remainder of the term or for a new 
term. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(1) establish and ensure policies that promote 
integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness; 
‘‘(2) prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse 
in programs and operations; 
‘‘(3) provide policy direction related to the con-
duct, supervision, and coordination of audits and in-
vestigations relating to the activities of the Board; 
‘‘(4) identify trends and systemic issues within 
the agency and create strategies and recommenda-
tions to address such issues; 
‘‘(5) conduct impartial information gathering 
about complaints or concerns, and ensure the Board 
is meeting any quality and timeliness standards; and 
‘‘(6) not conduct any of the duties under this 
subsection in a manner that interferes with an ongo-
ing safety investigation of the Board. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS TO DEPART-
MENT
OF JUSTICE.—If the Director has reasonable
875 
grounds to believe that there has been a violation of Fed-
eral criminal law, the Director shall refer the matter to 
the Department of Justice. 
‘‘(e) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to interfere or give the Office jurisdiction 
over any active investigation by the Board or the content 
of products approved by a vote of the Board. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall submit 
to the Board, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate an annual report on the ac-
tivities, investigations, findings, and recommenda-
tions of the Director. 
‘‘(2) SUNSET.—This subsection shall cease to 
have effect on October 1, 2028.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 11 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing after the item relating to section 1119 the following: 
‘‘1120. Office of Oversight, Accountability, and Quality Assurance.’’. 
(c) PEER REVIEW.—Not earlier than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act and not later than 5 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
of the Office of Oversight, Accountability, and Quality As-
surance of the National Transportation Safety Board shall
876 
enter into the necessary arrangements with an inspector 
general, or similar Federal entity, to perform a peer review 
of the Office. 
SEC. 913. MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITIES. 
(a) 
HIGHWAY
INVESTIGATIONS.—Section 
1131(a)(1)(B) of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘selects in cooperation with a State’’ and in-
serting ‘‘selects, concurrent with any State investigation’’. 
(b) RAIL INVESTIGATIONS.—Section 1131(a)(1)(C) 
of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘accident in which there is a fatality or substantial prop-
erty damage, or that involves a passenger train’’ and in-
serting ‘‘accident, including a railroad grade crossing or 
trespasser accident that the Board selects, or in which 
there is otherwise a fatality or substantial property dam-
age, or that involves a passenger train’’. 
SEC. 914. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF ACCIDENT REPORTS. 
Section 1131(e) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘public at reasonable cost.’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘public 
‘‘(1) in printed form at reasonable cost; and 
‘‘(2) in electronic form at no cost in a publicly 
accessible database on a website of the Board.’’.
877 
SEC. 915. ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TIMELINESS OF 
REPORTS. 
Section 1131 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) TIMELINESS OF REPORTS.—If any accident re-
port under subsection (e) is not completed within 2 years 
from the date of the accident, the Board shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
identifying such accident report and the reasons for which 
such report has not been completed. The Board shall re-
port progress toward completion of the accident report to 
each such Committees every 90 days thereafter, until such 
time as the accident report is completed.’’. 
SEC. 916. ENSURING ACCESS TO DATA. 
Section 1134 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) RECORDERS AND DATA.—In investigating an 
accident under this chapter, the Board may— 
‘‘(1) obtain any recorder or recorded informa-
tion pertinent to the accident; 
‘‘(2) require a manufacturer or the vendors, 
suppliers, or affiliates of such manufacturer, to pro-
vide to the Board, without delay, information the 
Board determines necessary to enable the Board to
878 
read and interpret any recording device or recorded 
information pertinent to the accident; and 
‘‘(3) require a manufacturer or the vendors, 
suppliers, or affiliates of such manufacturer, to pro-
vide to the Board, without delay, data and other in-
tellectual property the Board determines necessary 
to enable the Board to perform independent physics- 
based simulations and analyses of the accident situa-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 917. PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF SAFETY RECOMMENDA-
TIONS. 
Section 1135(c) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘public at reasonable cost.’’ and in-
serting the following: ‘‘public— 
‘‘(1) in printed form at reasonable cost; and 
‘‘(2) in electronic form in a publicly accessible 
database on a website of the Board at no cost.’’. 
SEC. 918. IMPROVING DELIVERY OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE. 
(a) AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS.—Section 1136 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘to families of 
passengers involved in aircraft acci-
dents’’ and inserting ‘‘to passengers involved 
in aircraft accidents and families of such 
passengers’’;
879 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘within United States air-
space or airspace delegated to the United 
States’’ after ‘‘aircraft accident’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘National Transportation 
Safety Board shall’’ and inserting ‘‘Board 
shall’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘emotional care and 
support’’ and inserting ‘‘emotional, psycho-
logical, and spiritual care and support 
services’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the families of pas-
sengers involved in the accident’’ and in-
serting ‘‘passengers involved in the acci-
dent and the families of such passengers’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘the families of passengers involved 
in the accident’’ and inserting ‘‘passengers in-
volved in the accident and the families of such 
passengers’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘mental 
health and counseling services’’ and inserting
880 
‘‘emotional, psychological, and spiritual care 
and support services’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the families who have 
traveled to the location of the accident’’ 
and inserting ‘‘passengers involved in the 
accident and the families of such pas-
sengers who have traveled to the location 
of the accident’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ be-
fore ‘‘affected families’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘pas-
sengers and’’ before ‘‘families’’; 
(4) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) PASSENGER LISTS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY THE 
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY SERVICES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DIRECTOR OF FAMILY 
SUPPORT SERVICES.—It shall be the responsi-
bility of the director of family support services 
designated for an accident under subsection 
(a)(1) to request, as soon as practicable, from 
the air carrier or foreign air carrier involved in 
the accident a passenger list, which is based on
881 
the best available information at the time of the 
request. 
‘‘(B) USE OF INFORMATION.—The director 
of family support services may not release to 
any person information on a list obtained under 
subparagraph (A), except that the director may, 
to the extent the director considers appropriate, 
provide information on the list about a pas-
senger to— 
‘‘(i) the family of the passenger; or 
‘‘(ii) a local, State, or Federal agency 
responsible for determining the where-
abouts or welfare of a passenger. 
‘‘(2) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY DES-
IGNATED ORGANIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DESIGNATED ORGANI-
ZATION.—The organization designated for an 
accident under subsection (a)(2) may request 
from the air carrier or foreign air carrier in-
volved in the accident a passenger list. 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
INFORMATION.—The des-
ignated organization may not release to any 
person information on a passenger list but may 
provide information on the list about a pas-
882 
senger to the family of the passenger to the ex-
tent the organization considers appropriate.’’; 
(5) in subsection (g)(1) by striking ‘‘the fami-
lies of passengers involved in the accident’’ and in-
serting ‘‘passengers involved in the accident and the 
families of such passengers’’; 
(6) in subsection (g)(3)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading by striking 
‘‘PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING’’ 
and inserting ‘‘PREVENT CERTAIN CARE AND 
SUPPORT’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘providing mental health 
and counseling services’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
viding emotional, psychological, and spiritual 
care and support’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ before 
‘‘families’’; 
(7) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘National Transportation 
Safety’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) PASSENGER LIST.—The term ‘passenger 
list’ means a list based on the best available infor-
mation at the time of a request, of the name of each
883 
passenger aboard the aircraft involved in the acci-
dent.’’; and 
(8) in subsection (i) by striking ‘‘the families of 
passengers involved in an aircraft accident’’ and in-
serting ‘‘passengers involved in the aircraft accident 
and the families of such passengers’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 11 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended 
by striking the item relating to section 1136 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘1136. Assistance to passengers involved in aircraft accidents and families of 
such passengers.’’. 
(c) RAIL ACCIDENTS.—Section 1139 of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘to families of 
passengers involved in rail passenger ac-
cidents’’ and inserting ‘‘to passengers in-
volved in rail passenger accidents and 
families of such passengers’’; 
(2) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘National 
Transportation Safety Board shall’’ and inserting 
‘‘Board shall’’; 
(3) in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘emotional care and sup-
port’’ and inserting ‘‘emotional, psychological 
and spiritual care and support services’’; and
884 
(B) by striking ‘‘the families of passengers 
involved in the accident’’ and inserting ‘‘pas-
sengers involved in the accident and the fami-
lies of such passengers’’; 
(4) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘the families of passengers involved 
in the accident’’ and inserting ‘‘passengers in-
volved in the accident and the families of such 
passengers’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘mental 
health and counseling services’’ and inserting 
‘‘emotional, psychological, and spiritual care 
and support services’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the families who have 
traveled to the location of the accident’’ 
and inserting ‘‘passengers involved in the 
accident and the families of such pas-
sengers who have traveled to the location 
of the accident’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ be-
fore ‘‘affected families’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘pas-
sengers and’’ before ‘‘families’’;
885 
(5) by amending subsection (d) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(d) PASSENGER LISTS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY THE 
DIRECTOR OF FAMILY SERVICES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DIRECTOR OF FAMILY 
SUPPORT SERVICES.—It shall be the responsi-
bility of the director of family support services 
designated for an accident under subsection 
(a)(1) to request, as soon as practicable, from 
the rail passenger carrier involved in the acci-
dent a passenger list, which is based on the best 
available information at the time of the request. 
‘‘(B) USE OF INFORMATION.—The director 
of family support services may not release to 
any person information on a list obtained under 
subparagraph (A), except that the director may, 
to the extent the director considers appropriate, 
provide information on the list about a pas-
senger to— 
‘‘(i) the family of the passenger; or 
‘‘(ii) a local, State, or Federal agency 
responsible for determining the where-
abouts or welfare of a passenger.
886 
‘‘(2) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY DES-
IGNATED ORGANIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DESIGNATED ORGANI-
ZATION.—The organization designated for an 
accident under subsection (a)(2) may request 
from the rail passenger carrier involved in the 
accident a passenger list. 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
INFORMATION.—The des-
ignated organization may not release to any 
person information on a passenger list but may 
provide information on the list about a pas-
senger to the family of the passenger to the ex-
tent the organization considers appropriate.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ‘‘the fami-
lies of passengers involved in the accident’’ and in-
serting ‘‘passengers involved in the accident and the 
families of such passengers’’; 
(7) in subsection (g)(3)— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING’’ 
and inserting ‘‘PREVENT CERTAIN CARE AND 
SUPPORT’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘providing mental health 
and counseling services’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
887 
viding emotional, psychological, and spiritual 
care and support’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ before 
‘‘families’’; and 
(8) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘National Transportation 
Safety’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) PASSENGER LIST.—The term ‘passenger 
list’ means a list based on the best available infor-
mation at the time of the request, of the name of 
each passenger aboard the rail passenger carrier’s 
train involved in the accident. A rail passenger car-
rier shall use reasonable efforts, with respect to its 
unreserved trains, and passengers not holding res-
ervations on its other trains, to ascertain the names 
of passengers aboard a train involved in an acci-
dent.’’. 
(d) PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF 
PASSENGERS
INVOLVED
IN
RAIL
PASSENGER
ACCI-
DENTS.—Section 24316(a) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘a major’’ and inserting 
‘‘any’’. 
(e) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chap-
ter 11 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended
888 
by striking the item relating to section 1139 and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘1139. Assistance to passengers involved in rail passenger accidents and families 
of such passengers.’’. 
SEC. 919. UPDATING CIVIL PENALTY AUTHORITY. 
Section 1155 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Aviation 
penalties’’ and inserting ‘‘Penalties’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or section 
1136(g) (related to an aircraft accident)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 1136(g), or 1139(g)’’. 
SEC. 920. ELECTRONIC AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC DOCKET 
RECORDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 24 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board shall make all records included in the 
public docket of an accident or incident investigation con-
ducted by the Board (or the public docket of a study, re-
port, or other product issued by the Board) electronically 
available in a publicly accessible database on a website of 
the Board, regardless of the date on which such public 
docket or record was created. 
(b) DATABASE.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Board may utilize the multimodal accident database man-
agement system established pursuant to section 1108 of
889 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 1119 
note) or such other publicly available database as the 
Board determines appropriate. 
(c) BRIEFINGS.—The Board shall provide the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate an annual 
briefing on the implementation of this section until re-
quirements of subsection (a) are fulfilled. Such briefings 
shall include— 
(1) the number of public dockets that have been 
made electronically available pursuant to this sec-
tion; and 
(2) the number of public dockets that were un-
able to be made electronically available, including all 
reasons for such inability. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘‘public 
docket’’ and ‘‘record’’ have the same meanings given such 
terms in section 801.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 921. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE. 
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the National Transportation Safety Board 
shall implement a drug testing program applicable to 
Board employees, including employees in safety or security
890 
sensitive positions, in accordance with Executive Order 
No. 12564 (51 Fed. Reg. 32889). 
SEC. 922. ACCESSIBILITY IN WORKPLACE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the National Transpor-
tation Safety Board shall conduct an assessment of the 
headquarters and regional offices of the Board to deter-
mine barriers to accessibility to facilities. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the assessment under 
subsection (a), the Board shall consider— 
(1) compliance with— 
(A) the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 
(42 U.S.C. 4151 et seq.) and the corresponding 
accessibility guidelines established under part 
1191 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations; 
and 
(B) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); and 
(2) the best accessibility practices that exceed 
the requirements and recommendations of the Acts 
and guidelines described in paragraph (1). 
SEC. 923. MOST WANTED LIST. 
(a) TERMINATION OF PUBLICATION.—Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chair-
man of the National Transportation Safety Board shall
891 
terminate publication of the Most Wanted List and any 
activities associated with production of any future Most 
Wanted List. 
(b) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to prohibit the Board from— 
(1) conducting advocacy activities unrelated to 
the Most Wanted List that the Board had the au-
thority to conduct prior to the date of enactment of 
this Act; and 
(2) maintaining materials related to previously 
issued Most Wanted Lists. 
(c) MOST WANTED LIST DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Most Wanted List’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1102 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
2018 (49 U.S.C. 1101 note). 
SEC. 924. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) EVALUATION AND AUDIT OF NATIONAL TRANS-
PORTATION SAFETY BOARD.—Section 1138(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘expenditures 
of the National Transportation Safety’’ and inserting ‘‘ex-
penditures of the’’. 
(b) ORGANIZATION
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE.—The 
analysis for chapter 11 of title 49, United States Code, 
is further amended—
892 
(1) by striking the items relating to sections 
117 and 1117; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 1116 the following: 
‘‘1117. Methodology.’’. 
(c) SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.—The anal-
ysis for subtitle II of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 
11 the following: 
‘‘13. Surface Transportation Board.’’. 
SEC. 925. AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS. 
(a) REMOVAL OF FAA MEDICAL CERTIFICATE RE-
QUIREMENT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Per-
sonnel Management, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, 
shall take such actions as may be necessary to revise the 
eligibility requirements for the Air Safety Investigating 
Series 1815 occupational series (and any similar occupa-
tional series relating to transportation accident inves-
tigating) to remove any requirement that an individual 
hold a current medical certificate issued by Administrator. 
(b) UPDATES TO OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in
893 
coordination with the with the Administrator and 
Chairman, shall take such actions as may be nec-
essary to update and revise experiential, educational, 
and other eligibility requirements for the Air Safety 
Investigating Series 1815 occupational series (and 
any similar occupational series relating to transpor-
tation accident investigating). 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In updating the re-
quirements under paragraph (1), the Director shall 
consider— 
(A) the direct relationship between any re-
quirement and the duties expected to be per-
formed by the position; 
(B) changes in the skills and tools nec-
essary to perform transportation accident inves-
tigations; and 
(C) such other considerations as the Direc-
tor, Administrator, or Chairman determines ap-
propriate. 
TITLE X—FREEDOM TO FLY ACT 
OF 2023 
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Freedom to Fly Act 
of 2023’’.
894 
SEC. 1002. PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF VAC-
CINATION MANDATE. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that employees of air carriers be vaccinated 
against COVID–19. 
SEC. 1003. PROHIBITION ON VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS 
FOR FAA CONTRACTORS. 
The Administrator may not require any contractor to 
mandate that employees of such contractor obtain a 
COVID–19 vaccine or enforce any condition regarding 
COVID–19 vaccination status of employees of a con-
tractor. 
SEC. 1004. PROHIBITION ON VACCINE MANDATE FOR FAA 
EMPLOYEES. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that employees of the Administration be vac-
cinated against COVID–19. 
SEC. 1005. PROHIBITION ON VACCINE MANDATE FOR PAS-
SENGERS OF AIR CARRIERS. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that passengers of air carriers be vaccinated 
against COVID–19. 
SEC. 1006. PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF A MASK 
MANDATE. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that employee of air carriers wear a mask.
895 
SEC. 1007. PROHIBITION ON MASK MANDATES FOR FAA 
CONTRACTORS. 
The Administrator may not require any contractor to 
mandate that employees of such contractor wear a mask. 
SEC. 1008. PROHIBITION ON MASK MANDATE FOR FAA EM-
PLOYEES. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that employees of the Administration wear a 
mask. 
SEC. 1009. PROHIBITION ON MASK MANDATE FOR PAS-
SENGERS OF AIR CARRIERS. 
The Administrator may not implement or enforce any 
requirement that passengers of air carriers wear a mask. 
SEC. 1010. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Administra-
tion’’ means the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration. 
(2) AIR CARRIER.—The term ‘‘air carrier’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 40102 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
TITLE XI—FAA RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘FAA Research and 
Development Act of 2023’’.
896 
SEC. 1102. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration. 
(2) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
(3) FAA.—The term ‘‘FAA’’ means the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration. 
(4) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
Subtitle A—Authorization of 
Appropriations 
SEC. 1111. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Subsection (a) of section 48102 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (14), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (15) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
897 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(16) $255,130,000; for fiscal year 2024; 
‘‘(17) $261,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
‘‘(18) $267,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(19) $273,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
‘‘(20) $279,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.’’. 
Subtitle B—FAA Research and 
Development Organization 
SEC. 1121. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION; FUNDING FOR 
SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this title, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report on the allocation of funding pursuant to 
section 48102 of title 49, United States Code, to the Sec-
retary of Transportation to conduct civil aviation research 
and development and to assess the implementation of sec-
tion 48102(b)(2) of such title. 
Subtitle C—FAA Research and 
Development Activities 
SEC. 1131. AVIATION FUEL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
USAGE. 
(a) ROADMAP.—Not later than nine months after the 
date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary of Trans-
898 
portation shall coordinate with the Administrator of 
NASA, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency, and consult rel-
evant stakeholders, including those in industry and aca-
demia, to prepare and submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress a coordinated research and development 
roadmap to safely eliminate the use of leaded aviation fuel 
in existing and future certified piston-engine aircraft. 
Such roadmap shall— 
(1) identify activities to accelerate the develop-
ment, testing, and certification of safe and lead-free 
fuel for use in general aviation aircraft, including 
requisite airport refueling infrastructure; and 
(2) consider the feasibility of widespread use of 
such safe and lead-free aviation fuel by not later 
than 2028. 
(b) PARTNERSHIP WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY.—The 
Administrator shall coordinate with industry and pilot op-
erators regarding research programs for mass production 
and distribution of unleaded aviation gasoline for market 
viability engine safety, and define criteria to explore incen-
tive programs to reduce lead emissions for communities 
in need.
899 
SEC. 1132. CONTINUOUS LOWER ENERGY, EMISSION, AND 
NOISE (CLEEN). 
The Administrator shall consider expanding the 
CLEEN program under section 47511 of title 49, United 
States Code, and broadening eligibility for the CLEEN 
program to new entrants to the aviation system. 
SEC. 1133. STRATEGY ON HYDROGEN AVIATION RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of NASA and the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall lead the develop-
ment of a research and development strategy on the safe 
use of hydrogen as part of a sustainable future for avia-
tion. Such strategy shall consider the following: 
(1) The feasibility, opportunities, challenges, 
and pathways toward the potential and safe uses of 
hydrogen in aviation. 
(2) The use of hydrogen in addition to research 
and development efforts, including electrification, 
operational efficiencies and other alternatives to tra-
ditional aviation fuel. 
(b) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of the Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress the 
research and development strategy required under sub-
section (a).
900 
(c) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—Based on the 
results of the research and development strategy under 
subsection (a), the Administrator, in coordination with the 
Administrator of NASA, may conduct research and devel-
opment activities into the following: 
(1) The qualification of hydrogen aviation fuel. 
(2) The safe transition to such fuel for aircraft. 
(3) The advancement of certification efforts for 
such fuel. 
(4) Risk mitigation measures for the use of 
such fuel in aircraft systems, including propulsion 
and storage systems. 
SEC. 1134. REPORT ON FUTURE ELECTRIC GRID RESIL-
IENCY. 
Not later than two years after the date of the enact-
ment of this title, the Administrator, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress, and make publicly available on 
a website of the Administration, a report on the model 
use of the electrical grid to support future electric ad-
vanced air mobility, including cost, challenges, and oppor-
tunities for clean generation of electricity relating to such 
support.
901 
SEC. 1135. AIR TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE OVER OCEANS AND 
OTHER REMOTE LOCATIONS. 
(a) AIR TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE OVER OCEANS.— 
Subject to the availability of appropriations for such pur-
pose, the Administrator, in consultation with the Adminis-
trator of NASA and the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, shall carry out research, development, dem-
onstration, and testing on civilian air traffic surveillance 
over oceans and other remote locations. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the research, 
development, demonstration, and testing under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) consider the need for international inter-
operability of technologies, data, operations, and air 
traffic control systems; 
(2) examine the status of using air traffic sur-
veillance technologies, including space-based Auto-
matic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, to facili-
tate the implementation of minimal separation 
standards over United States-controlled oceanic air-
space; 
(3) identify mitigating approaches to reducing 
any operational challenges, associated costs, or work-
load impacts; and 
(4) use testing, data collection, evaluation, and 
analysis on the use of air traffic surveillance tech-
902 
nologies, including space-based Automatic Depend-
ent Surveillance-Broadcast, to support the activities 
described in paragraphs (1) through (3). 
(c) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Administrator may carry 
out a pilot program to test and evaluate air traffic surveil-
lance equipment over United States-controlled oceanic air-
space and other remote locations. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the activities carried out under this section. 
SEC. 1136. UTILIZATION OF SPACE-BASED ASSETS TO IM-
PROVE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND AVIA-
TION SAFETY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in co-
ordination with the Administrator of NASA, and in con-
sultation with industry stakeholders, shall carry out re-
search, development, and testing of the use of air traffic 
Space-Based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broad-
cast (ADS-B) data. 
(b) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the re-
search, development, and testing under subsection (a) the 
Administrator shall focus on the following:
903 
(1) Monitoring and automatically reporting air 
turbulence events. 
(2) Providing space-based multilateration sur-
veillance. 
(3) Identifying global positioning system (GPS) 
and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) dis-
ruptions affecting air traffic services and assessing 
the impact of such events on the safety of air traffic 
and the National Airspace System. 
(4) Evaluating the feasibility of implementing 
and using aviation safety technologies and systems 
using space-based Automatic Dependent Surveil-
lance-Broadcast data. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall pro-
vide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the research and development under subsection (a) and 
the activities researched pursuant to subsection (b). 
SEC. 1137. AVIATION WEATHER TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, shall conduct a review of cur-
rent and planned research, modeling, and technology capa-
bilities that have the potential to more accurately detect 
and predict weather impacts to aviation, including for un-
904 
manned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility oper-
ations, inform how advanced predictive models can en-
hance aviation operations, and increase national airspace 
system safety and efficiency. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing the results of the review conducted under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 1138. AIR TRAFFIC SURFACE OPERATIONS SAFETY. 
(a) RESEARCH.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations for such purpose, the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of NASA and the heads of 
other appropriate Federal agencies, shall continue to carry 
out research on technologies and operations to enhance air 
traffic surface operations safety. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The research program under 
subsection (a) shall examine the following: 
(1) The safety of current air traffic control op-
erations related to air traffic surface operations. 
(2) Emerging in-cockpit technologies to enhance 
ground situational awareness. 
(3) Emerging technologies to enhance air traffic 
control situational awareness.
905 
(4) Air traffic surface operations safety for di-
verse advanced air mobility operations. 
(5) Safety and operational data needed to in-
form current and future safety programs on ad-
vanced air mobility vehicles. 
(6) Economic benefits of utilizing existing air-
port infrastructure for use in advanced air mobility 
operations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the research carried out under this section, including 
regarding the transition into operational use of such re-
search. 
SEC. 1139. AIRPORT AND AIRFIELD PAVEMENT TECH-
NOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 744 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–254; 49 U.S.C. 44505 note) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘durable air-
field pavements.’’ and inserting ‘‘resilient and sus-
tainable airfield and vertiport pavements; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
906 
‘‘(5) develop sustainability and resiliency guide-
lines to improve long-term pavement performance 
and reduce carbon emissions.’’. 
SEC. 1140. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW OF ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING TECH-
NOLOGIES. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall conduct a re-
view of current and planned artificial intelligence and ma-
chine learning technologies to improve airport efficiency 
and safety. 
(b) SUMMARIES.—The review conducted under sub-
section (a) shall include examination of the application of 
artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to 
the following: 
(1) Jet bridges. 
(2) Airport service vehicles on airport move-
ment areas. 
(3) Aircraft taxi. 
(4) Any other areas the Administrator deter-
mines necessary to help improve airport efficiency 
and safety. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing the results of the review conducted under sub-
907 
section (a). The report shall also include an examination 
of China’s domestic application of artificial intelligence 
and machine learning technologies identified under sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 1141. RESEARCH PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL SUPER-
SONIC RESEARCH. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this title, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Administrator of NASA and industry, shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive 
research plan to build on existing research and develop-
ment activities and identify any further research and de-
velopment needed to inform the development of Federal 
and international policies, regulations, standards, and rec-
ommended practices relating to the certification and safe 
and efficient operation of civil supersonic aircraft and su-
personic overland flight. 
SEC. 1142. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall conduct 
research, engineering, and development related to the ef-
fective and efficient use and management of radio fre-
quency spectrum in the civil aviation domain, including for 
aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and advanced air
908 
mobility. Such research, engineering, and development 
shall, at a minimum, address the following: 
(1) How reallocation or repurposing of radio 
frequency spectrum adjacent to spectrum allocated 
for communication, navigation, and surveillance may 
impact the safety of civil aviation. 
(2) The effectiveness of measures to identify 
risks, protect, and mitigate against spectrum inter-
ference in frequency bands used in civil and commer-
cial aviation operations to ensure public safety. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing the results of the research, engineering, and de-
velopment conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1143. AVIATION STRUCTURES, MATERIALS, AND AD-
VANCED MANUFACTURING RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Using the amounts available 
under section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, 
the Administrator, in coordination with the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall 
carry out a research and development program for advanc-
ing aviation structures, materials, and manufacturing for 
the safe use in and on aircraft.
909 
(b) INCLUSION.—The program under subsection (a) 
shall, to the extent practicable, include research and devel-
opment relating to the following: 
(1) Metallic and non-metallic based additive 
materials and processes, composites, and other ad-
vanced materials. 
(2) Process development for the development of 
design and manufacturing standards for aviation 
structures, materials, and additive manufacturing. 
(3) Improving certification efficiency of aviation 
structures, materials, and additively manufactured 
aviation products and components. 
(4) Evaluating long-term material and struc-
tural behavior and associated maintenance, including 
support for fatigue life determination, structural 
changes related to fatigue, thermal, corrosive envi-
ronments, and expected maintenance of such mate-
rials, including recommended repair techniques. 
(5) Partnering with commercial entities to ma-
ture and certify, as appropriate, the following capa-
bilities for use in aircraft manufacturing: 
(A) Additive manufacturing, including 
large-scale additive manufacturing. 
(B) Aviation structures.
910 
(C) Advanced materials capabilities, in-
cluding the development and qualification of 
new material chemistries. 
(6) Inspection and quality assurance tech-
nologies for use with complex geometries enabled by 
advanced manufacturing methods. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall pro-
vide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the findings of the research under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1144. RESEARCH PLAN ON THE REMOTE TOWER PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a com-
prehensive plan for research, development, testing, and 
evaluation needed to mature remote tower technology and 
provide a strategic roadmap to support standards develop-
ment, validation, and operational certification of such 
technology. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—As part of the plan required 
under subsection (a), the Administrator should consider 
the use of remote tower technologies for advanced air mo-
bility operations.
911 
SEC. 1145. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING. 
(a) RESEARCH.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations for such purpose, the Administrator shall carry 
out a research program to evaluate opportunities to mod-
ernize, enhance, and streamline training time to become 
a Certified Professional Controller. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The research under subsection 
(a) shall— 
(1) assess the use of advanced technologies, 
such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, 
adaptive computer-based simulation, virtual reality, 
or augmented reality, to enhance controller knowl-
edge retention, improve performance, and improve 
the effectiveness of training time; 
(2) develop a timeline to deploy proven ad-
vanced technologies and associated processes for ac-
creditation in training programs and training facili-
ties within the national airspace system; and 
(3) include collaboration with labor organiza-
tions and other stakeholders. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this title, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the findings of the research under subsection (a).
912 
SEC. 1146. REPORT ON AVIATION CYBERSECURITY DIREC-
TIVES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this title, the Administrator shall submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report on the status of 
the FAA’s implementation of section 2111 of the FAA Ex-
tension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 
114–190; 49 U.S.C. 44903 note; relating to the develop-
ment of a comprehensive and strategic aviation cybersecu-
rity framework and establishment of a research and devel-
opment plan to mitigate cybersecurity risks in the Na-
tional Airspace System). The report, at minimum, shall 
include the following: 
(1) A description of the FAA’s progress in de-
veloping, implementing, and updating such frame-
work. 
(2) A description of prioritized research and de-
velopment activities for the most needed improve-
ments, with target dates, to safeguard the National 
Airspace System. 
(3) An explanation for any delays or challenges 
in so implementing such section. 
SEC. 1147. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING COLLABO-
RATIONS. 
Nothing in this title may be construed as modifying 
or limiting existing collaborations, or limiting potential en-
913 
gagement on future collaborations, between the Adminis-
trator, stakeholders, and labor organizations, including 
the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic con-
trollers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, pertaining to Federal Aviation Administra-
tion research, development, demonstration, and testing ac-
tivities. 
SEC. 1148. TURBULENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations for such purpose, the Administrator, in col-
laboration with the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, and in consultation with 
the Administrator of NASA, shall carry out applied re-
search and development to— 
(1) enhance the monitoring and understanding 
of severe turbulence, including clear-air turbulence; 
and 
(2) inform the development of measures to miti-
gate safety impacts on crew and the flying public 
that may result from severe turbulence. 
(b) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.—In 
conducting the research and development on severe turbu-
lence in accordance with subsection (a), the Administrator 
shall—
914 
(1) establish processes and procedures for com-
prehensive and systematic data collection through 
both instrumentation and pilot reporting, of severe 
turbulence, including clear-air turbulence; 
(2) establish measures for storing and man-
aging such data collection; 
(3) support measures for monitoring and char-
acterizing incidents of severe turbulence; 
(4) consider relevant existing research and de-
velopment from other entities, including Federal de-
partments and agencies, academia, and the private 
sector; and 
(5) carry out research and development— 
(A) to understand the impacts of climate 
change and other factors on the nature of tur-
bulence, including severe turbulence and clear- 
air turbulence; 
(B) to enhance turbulence forecasts for 
flight planning and execution, seasonal pre-
dictions for schedule and route-planning, and 
long-term projections of severe turbulence, in-
cluding clear-air turbulence; and 
(C) on other subject matters areas related 
to severe turbulence, as determined by the Ad-
ministrator; and
915 
(6) support the effective transition of the re-
sults of research and development to operations, 
where appropriate. 
(c) NO DUPLICATION.—The Administrator shall en-
sure that research and development activities under this 
section do not duplicate other Federal programs relating 
to turbulence. 
(d) TURBULENCE DATA.— 
(1) COMMERCIAL
PROVIDERS.—In conducting 
research and development activities under subsection 
(b), the Administrator may enter into agreements 
with commercial providers for the following: 
(A) The purchase of turbulence data. 
(B) The placement on aircraft of instru-
ments relevant to understanding and moni-
toring turbulence. 
(2) DATA
ACCESS.—The Administrator shall 
make the data collected pursuant to subsection (b) 
widely available and accessible to the scientific re-
search, user, and stakeholder communities, including 
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, to the greatest extent 
practicable and in accordance with Federal Aviation 
Administration data management policies.
916 
(e) REPORT ON TURBULENCE RESEARCH.—Not later 
than 15 months after the date of the enactment of this 
title, the Administrator, in collaboration with the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report that— 
(1) details the activities conducted under this 
section, including how the research and development 
activities under subsection (b) have contributed to 
the goals specified in subsection (a); 
(2) assesses the current state of scientific un-
derstanding of the causes, occurrence rates, and past 
and projected future trends in occurrence rates of 
severe turbulence, including clear-air turbulence; 
(3) describes the processes and procedures for 
collecting, storing, and managing, data in pursuant 
to subsection (b); 
(4) assesses— 
(A) the use of commercial providers pursu-
ant to subsection (d)(1); and 
(B) the need for any future Federal Gov-
ernment collection or procurement of data and 
instruments related to turbulence, including an 
assessment of costs;
917 
(5) describes how such data will be made avail-
able to the scientific research, user, and stakeholder 
communities; and 
(6) identifies future research and development 
needed to inform the development of measures to 
predict and mitigate the safety impacts that may re-
sult from severe turbulence, including clear-air tur-
bulence. 
SEC. 1149. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRA-
TION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall carry out 
research, development, testing, evaluation, and demonstra-
tion programs for low-carbon alternative aviation fuels, 
which may include next-generation feedstocks, biofuels, 
and bioderived chemicals. 
(b) COLLABORATION.—The Administrator shall col-
laborate with Federal agencies, industry stakeholders, re-
search institutions, and other relevant stakeholders, to ac-
celerate the research, development, testing, evaluation, 
and demonstrations programs described in subsection (a) 
and facilitate United States sustainability and competi-
tiveness in aviation. 
SEC. 1150. LIMITATION. 
None of the funds authorized in this title may be used 
to conduct research, develop, design, plan, promulgate, im-
918 
plement, or execute a policy, program, order, or contract 
of any kind with the Chinese Communist Party or any 
Chinese-owned entity unless such activities are specifically 
authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment 
of this title. 
SEC. 1151. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE 
JET FUELS AND ENVIRONMENT (ASCENT). 
The Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels 
and Environment (ASCENT) shall subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations for such purpose and consistent 
with the research and development strategy in section 
1133, conduct research on hydrogen to increase aviation 
decarbonization. Such research shall be in addition to any 
other research authorized to be carried out by the Center, 
including other research relating to hydrogen. 
SEC. 1152. STUDY ON AERONAUTICAL STANDARDS. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, shall conduct a study on the modernization of 
aeronautical standards.
921 
not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE.—The term ‘‘air-
craft performance’’ includes the following: 
(A) Range. 
(B) Payload capacity. 
(C) Runway length requirement. 
(D) Climb rate. 
(E) Turn rate. 
(F) Operating altitude. 
(G) Acceleration. 
(2) ATMOSPHERIC STANDARDS.—The term ‘‘at-
mospheric standards’’ means the following: 
(A) The United States Standard Atmos-
phere of 1976. 
(B) MIL–HDBK–310, Climatic Informa-
tion to Determine Design and Test Require-
ments for Military Systems and Equipment. 
(C) Any other standard as determined by 
the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration. 
(3) BASELINE
ATMOSPHERIC
CONDITIONS.— 
The term ‘‘baseline atmospheric conditions’’ means
922 
the atmospheric conditions referred to in the most 
recent release of an atmospheric standard. 
(4) COVERED
COMMERCIAL
AIRPORTS.—The 
term ‘‘covered commercial airports’’ means the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The 30 commercial service airports (as 
such term is defined in section 47102(7) of title 
49, United States Code) with the most pas-
senger boardings in the most recent calendar 
year ending before the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(B) The five public airports (as such term 
is defined in section 47102(21) of title 49, 
United States Code) not described in clause (i) 
with the highest all-cargo landed weight in the 
most recent calendar year ending before the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(5) COVERED
COMMERCIAL
AIRCRAFT.—The 
term ‘‘covered commercial aircraft’’ means the ten 
aircraft types still in production with the highest 
number of operations at covered commercial airports 
in the most recent calendar year ending before the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(6) COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘com-
mercial aircraft’’ means an air carrier operating
923 
under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions. 
(7) CONGRESSIONAL DEFENSE COMMITTEES.— 
The term ‘‘congressional defense committees’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) 
of title 10, United States Code. 
(8) CURRENT ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.—The 
term ‘‘current atmospheric conditions’’ means the 
atmospheric conditions observed in the five most re-
cent calendar years ending before the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
(9) PROJECTED ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.— 
The term ‘‘projected atmospheric conditions’’ means 
the mean atmospheric conditions projected by the 
International Panel on Climate Change under the 
Sixth Assessment Report in scenarios— 
(A) SSP1–1.9; 
(B) SSP1–2.6; 
(C) SSP2–4.5; 
(D) SSP3–7.0; and 
(E) SSP5–8.5. 
(10) MILITARY AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘military 
aircraft’’ means an aircraft that— 
(A) is currently being developed, procured, 
or operated by the Department of Defense; and
924 
(B) is a bomber, fighter, attack helicopter, 
transport helicopter, strategic transport, tac-
tical transport, or surveillance aircraft. 
(11) PASSENGER BOARDINGS.—The term ‘‘pas-
senger boardings’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 47102(15) of title 49, United States Code. 
(12) WEIGHT RESTRICTION HOUR.—The term 
‘‘weight restriction hour’’ means an hour when the 
maximum temperature for that hour matches or ex-
ceeds the weight-restriction temperature threshold 
for a specific aircraft. 
TITLE XII—AVIATION REVENUE 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 1201. AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND EXPENDI-
TURE AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 9502(d)(1) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) 
by striking ‘‘October 1, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘Octo-
ber 1, 2028’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A) by striking the semi-
colon at the end and inserting ‘‘or the Securing 
Growth and Robust Leadership in American Avia-
tion Act;’’.
925 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9502(e)(2) 
of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2023’’ 
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2028’’. 
SEC. 1202. EXTENSION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND 
AIRWAY TRUST FUND. 
(a) FUEL TAXES.—Section 4081(d)(2)(B) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2028’’. 
(b) TICKET TAXES.— 
(1) PERSONS.—Section 4261(k)(1)(A)(ii) of 
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2028’’. 
(2) PROPERTY.—Section 4271(d)(1)(A)(ii) of 
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2028’’. 
(c) FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS.— 
(1) FUEL TAX.—Section 4043(d) of such Code 
is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2028’’. 
(2) TREATMENT
AS
NONCOMMERCIAL
AVIA-
TION.—Section 4083(b) of such Code is amended by 
striking ‘‘October 1, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘October 
1, 2028’’. 
(3) EXEMPTION
FROM
TICKET
TAX.—Section 
4261(j) of such Code is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
926 
tember 30, 2023’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 
2028’’. 
SEC. 1203. DESIGNATION OF CERTAIN AIRPORTS AS PORTS 
OF ENTRY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall— 
(1) pursuant to the Act of August 1, 1914 (38 
Stat. 623, chapter 223; 19 U.S.C. 2), designate each 
airport described in subsection (b) as a port of 
entry; and 
(2) terminate the application of the user fee re-
quirement under section 236 of the Trade and Tar-
iff Act of 1984 (19 U.S.C. 58b) with respect to the 
airport. 
(b) AIRPORTS DESCRIBED.—An airport described in 
this subsection is an airport that— 
(1) is a primary airport (as defined in section 
47102 of title 49, United States Code); 
(2) is located not more than 30 miles from the 
northern or southern international land border of 
the United States; 
(3) is associated, through a formal, legal instru-
ment, including a valid contract or governmental or-
dinance, with a land border crossing or a seaport not 
more than 30 miles from the airport; and
927 
(4) through such association, meets the numer-
ical criteria considered by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection for establishing a port of entry, as set 
forth in— 
(A) Treasury Decision 82–37 (47 Fed. 
Reg. 10137; relating to revision of customs cri-
teria for establishing ports of entry and sta-
tions), as revised by Treasury Decisions 86–14 
(51 Fed. Reg. 4559) and 87–65 (52 Fed. Reg. 
16328); or 
(B) any successor guidance or regulation. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 2023. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 3935 
AN ACT 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to reau-
thorize and improve the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration and other civil aviation programs, and 
for other purposes.