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(B) an entity included on the Consolidated 
Screening List or Entity List as designated by 
the Secretary of Commerce; 
(C) an entity that is domiciled in, or under 
the influence or control of, a covered foreign 
country; or 
(D) an entity that is a subsidiary or affil-
iate of an entity described under subparagraphs 
(A) through (C). 
(3) COVERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.— 
The term ‘‘covered unmanned aircraft system’’ 
means— 
(A) a small unmanned aircraft, an un-
manned aircraft, and unmanned aircraft system, 
or the associated elements of such aircraft and 
aircraft systems related to the collection and 
transmission of sensitive information (consisting 
of communication links and the components that 
control the unmanned aircraft) that enable the 
operator to operate the aircraft in the National 
Airspace System which is manufactured or as-
sembled by a covered foreign entity; and 
(B) an unmanned aircraft detection system 
or counter-UAS system that is manufactured or 
assembled by a covered foreign entity.
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SEC. 937. EXPANDING USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES 
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall prioritize 
the authorization of an eligible UAS test range sponsor 
partnering with an eligible airport authority to achieve the 
goals specified in subsection (b). 
(b) GOALS.—The goals of a partnership authorized 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be to test the operations 
of innovative technologies in both commercial and non-com-
mercial applications, consistent with existing law, to— 
(1) identify challenges associated with aviation 
operations over large bodies of water; 
(2) provide transportation of cargo and pas-
sengers to offshore energy infrastructure; 
(3) assess the impacts of operations in saltwater 
environments; 
(4) identify the challenges of integrating such 
technologies in complex airspace, including with com-
mercial rotorcraft; and 
(5) identify the differences between coordinating 
with Federal air traffic control towers and towers op-
erated under the FAA Contract Tower Program. 
(c) BRIEFING
TO
CONGRESS.—The Administrator 
shall provide an annual briefing to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress on the status of the partnership author-
ized under this section, including detailing any barriers to
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† HR 3935 EAS 
the commercialization of innovative technologies in the Gulf 
of Mexico. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.—The term 
‘‘eligible airport authority’’ means an AIP-eligible 
airport authority that is— 
(A) located in a state bordering the Gulf of 
Mexico which does not already contain a UAS 
Test Range; 
(B) has an air traffic control tower oper-
ated under the FAA Contract Tower Program; 
(C) is located within 60 miles of a port; 
and 
(D) does not have any scheduled passenger 
airline service as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(2) INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.—The term ‘‘in-
novative technologies’’ means unmanned aircraft sys-
tems and powered-lift aircraft. 
(3) UAS.—The term ‘‘UAS’’ means an un-
manned aircraft system. 
Subtitle B—Advanced Air Mobility 
SEC. 951. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle:
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.—The terms ‘‘ad-
vanced air mobility’’ and ‘‘AAM’’ mean a transpor-
tation system that is comprised of urban air mobility 
and regional air mobility using manned or un-
manned aircraft. 
(2) POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘pow-
ered-lift aircraft’’ has the meaning given the term 
‘‘powered-lift’’ in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
(3) REGIONAL
AIR
MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘re-
gional air mobility’’ means the movement of pas-
sengers or property by air between 2 points using an 
airworthy aircraft that— 
(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, 
powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or 
autonomous technologies; 
(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of great-
er than 1,320 pounds; and 
(C) is not urban air mobility. 
(4) URBAN AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘urban air 
mobility’’ means the movement of passengers or prop-
erty by air between 2 points in different cities or 2 
points within the same city using an airworthy air-
craft that—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, 
powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or 
autonomous technologies; and 
(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of great-
er than 1,320 pounds. 
(5) VERTIPORT.—The term ‘‘vertiport’’ means an 
area of land, water, or a structure used or intended 
to be used to support the landing, takeoff, taxiing, 
parking, and storage of powered-lift aircraft or other 
aircraft that vertiport design and performance stand-
ards established by the Administrator can accommo-
date. 
SEC. 952. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FAA LEADERSHIP IN AD-
VANCED AIR MOBILITY. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States should take actions to be-
come a global leader in advanced air mobility; 
(2) as such a global leader, the FAA should— 
(A) prioritize work on the type certification 
of powered-lift aircraft; 
(B) publish, in line with stated deadlines, 
rulemakings and policy necessary to enable com-
mercial operations, such as the Special Federal 
Aviation Regulation of the FAA titled ‘‘Integra-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
tion of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Op-
erations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to 
Rotorcraft and Airplanes’’, issued on June 14, 
2023 (2120-AL72); 
(C) work with global partners to promote 
acceptance of advanced air mobility products; 
and 
(D) leverage the existing aviation system to 
the greatest extent possible to support advanced 
air mobility operations; and 
(3) the FAA should work with manufacturers, 
prospective operators of powered-lift aircraft, and 
other relevant stakeholders to enable the safe entry of 
such aircraft into the national airspace system. 
SEC. 953. APPLICATION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL 
POLICY ACT CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS FOR 
VERTIPORT PROJECTS. 
In considering the environmental impacts of a pro-
posed vertiport project on an airport for purposes of compli-
ance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Administrator shall— 
(1) apply any applicable categorical exclusions 
in accordance with the National Environmental Pol-
icy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and sub-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
chapter A of chapter V of title 40, Code of Federal 
Regulations; and 
(2) after consultation with the Council on Envi-
ronmental Quality, take steps to establish additional 
categorical exclusions, as appropriate, for vertiports 
on an airport, in accordance with the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
and subchapter A of chapter V of title 40, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 954. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY WORKING GROUP 
AMENDMENTS. 
Section 2 of the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination 
and Leadership Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘, particularly 
passenger-carrying aircraft,’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(1) by striking subpara-
graph (D) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(D) operators of airports, heliports, and 
vertiports, and fixed-base operators;’’; 
(3) in subsection (e)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘1 year’’ and inserting ‘‘18 months’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3) by inserting ‘‘or that 
may impede such maturation’’ after ‘‘AAM in-
dustry’’;
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(C) in paragraph (7) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(D) in paragraph (8) by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(E) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) processes and programs that can be lever-
aged to improve the efficiency of Federal reviews re-
quired for infrastructure development, including for 
electrical capacity projects.’’; 
(4) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) recommendations for sharing expertise and 
data on critical items, including long-term electrifica-
tion requirements and the needs of cities (from a 
macro-electrification standpoint) to enable the deploy-
ment of AAM; and’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by 
paragraph (2) of this section, by striking ‘‘para-
graph (1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1) and 
(2)’’.
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(5) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) 
by striking ‘‘working group’’ and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Transportation’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) summarizing any dissenting views and 
opinions of a participant of the working group de-
scribed in subsection (c)(3); and’’; 
(6) in subsection (h)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Not later than 30 days’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS
FOR
TERMINATION
OF 
WORKING GROUP.—In deciding whether to terminate 
the working group under this subsection, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, shall consider other 
interagency coordination activities associated with 
AAM, or other new or novel users of the national air-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
space system, that could benefit from continued wider 
interagency coordination.’’; and 
(7) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘trans-
ports people and property by air between two 
points in the United States using aircraft with 
advanced technologies, including electric aircraft 
or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘is comprised of urban air mobil-
ity and regional air mobility using manned or 
unmanned aircraft’’; 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (7); 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as 
paragraph (9); 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(5) POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘pow-
ered-lift aircraft’ has the meaning given the term 
‘powered-lift’ in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations. 
‘‘(6) REGIONAL
AIR
MOBILITY.—The term ‘re-
gional air mobility’ means the movement of pas-
sengers or property by air between 2 points using an 
airworthy aircraft that—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical take-off and land-
ing, powered-lift, non-traditional power systems, 
or autonomous technologies; 
‘‘(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of 
greater than 1,320 pounds; and 
‘‘(C) is not urban air mobility.’’; 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so 
redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(8) URBAN
AIR
MOBILITY.—The term ‘urban 
air mobility’ means the movement of passengers or 
property by air between 2 points in different cities or 
2 points within the same city using an airworthy air-
craft that— 
‘‘(A) has advanced technologies, such as dis-
tributed propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, 
powered lift, nontraditional power systems, or 
autonomous technologies; and 
‘‘(B) has a maximum takeoff weight of 
greater than 1,320 pounds.’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) VERTIPORT.—The term ‘vertiport’ means 
an area of land, water, or a structure, used or in-
tended to be used to support the landing, take-off, tax-
iing, parking, and storage of powered lift or other
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† HR 3935 EAS 
aircraft that vertiport design and performance stand-
ards established by the Administrator can accommo-
date.’’. 
SEC. 955. RULES FOR OPERATION OF POWERED-LIFT AIR-
CRAFT. 
(a) SFAR RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 7 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall publish a final rule for the Special Federal 
Aviation Regulation of the FAA titled ‘‘Integration of 
Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; 
Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and 
Airplanes’’, issued on June 14, 2023 (2120–AL72), es-
tablishing procedures for certifying pilots of powered- 
lift aircraft and providing operational rules for pow-
ered-lift aircraft capable of transporting passengers 
and cargo. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—With respect to any pow-
ered-lift aircraft type certificated by the Adminis-
trator, the regulations established under paragraph 
(1) shall— 
(A) provide a practical pathway for pilot 
qualification and operations; 
(B) establish performance-based require-
ments for energy reserves and other range- and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
endurance-related requirements that reflect the 
capabilities and intended operations of the air-
craft; 
(C) provide for a combination of pilot 
training requirements, including simulators, to 
ensure the safe operation of powered-lift aircraft; 
and 
(D) to the maximum extent practicable, 
align powered-lift pilot qualifications with sec-
tion 2.1.1.4 of Annex 1 to the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation published by the 
International Civil Aviation Organization. 
(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the regula-
tions required under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator shall— 
(A) consider whether to grant an individual 
with an existing commercial airplane (single- or 
multi-engine) or helicopter pilot certificate the 
authority to serve as pilot-in-command of a pow-
ered-lift aircraft in commercial operation fol-
lowing the completion of an FAA-approved pilot 
type rating for such type of aircraft; 
(B) consult with the Secretary of Defense 
with regard to—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(i) the Agility Prime program of the 
United States Air Force; 
(ii) powered-lift aircraft evaluated and 
deployed for military purposes, including 
the F–35B program; and 
(iii) the commonalities and differences 
between powered-lift aircraft types and the 
handling qualities of such aircraft; and 
(C) consider the adoption of the rec-
ommendations for powered-lift operations, as ap-
propriate, contained in document 10103 of the 
International Civil Aviation Organization titled 
‘‘Guidance on the Implementation of ICAO 
Standards and Recommended Practices for Tilt- 
rotors’’, published in 2019. 
(b) INTERIM APPLICATION OF RULES AND PRIVILEGES 
IN LIEU OF RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning 16 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, if a final rule has 
not been published pursuant to subsection (a)— 
(A) the rules in effect on the date that is 16 
months after the date of enactment of this Act 
that apply to the operation and the operator of 
rotorcraft or fixed-wing aircraft under sub-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
chapters F, G, H, and I of chapter 1 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations, shall be— 
(i) deemed to apply to— 
(I) the operation of a powered-lift 
aircraft in the national airspace sys-
tem; and 
(II) the operator of such a pow-
ered-lift aircraft; and 
(ii) applicable, as determined by the 
operator of an airworthy powered-lift air-
craft in consultation with the Adminis-
trator, and consistent with sections 91.3 
and 91.13 of title 14, Code of Federal Regu-
lations; and 
(B) upon the completion of a type rating 
for a specific powered-lift aircraft, airmen that 
hold a pilot or instructor certification with air-
plane category ratings in any class or rotorcraft 
category ratings in the helicopter class shall be 
deemed to have privileges of a powered-lift rating 
for such specific powered-lift aircraft. 
(2) TERMINATION OF INTERIM RULES AND PRIVI-
LEGES.—This subsection shall cease to have effect 1 
month after the effective date of a final rule issued 
pursuant to subsection (a).
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(c) POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT AVIATION RULEMAKING 
COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date on which the Administrator issues the first 
certificate to commercially operate a powered-lift air-
craft, the Administrator shall establish an aviation 
rulemaking committee (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Committee’’) to provide the Administrator with 
specific findings and recommendations for, at a min-
imum, the creation of a standard pathway for the— 
(A) performance-based certification of pow-
ered-lift aircraft; 
(B) certification of airmen capable of serv-
ing as pilot-in-command of a powered-lift air-
craft; and 
(C) operation of powered-lift aircraft in 
commercial service and air transportation. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In providing findings 
and recommendations under paragraph (1), the Com-
mittee shall consider the following: 
(A) Outcome-driven safety objectives to spur 
innovation and technology adoption and promote 
the development of performance-based regula-
tions.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(B) Lessons and insights learned from pre-
viously published special conditions and other 
Federal Register notices of airworthiness criteria 
for powered-lift aircraft. 
(C) To the maximum extent practicable, 
aligning powered-lift pilot qualifications with 
section 2.1.1.4 of Annex 1 to the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation published by the 
International Civil Aviation Organization. 
(D) The adoption of the recommendations 
contained in document 10103 of the Inter-
national Civil Aviation Organization titled 
‘‘Guidance on the Implementation of ICAO 
Standards and Recommended Practices for Tilt- 
rotors’’, published in 2019, as appropriate. 
(E) Practical pathways for pilot qualifica-
tion and operations. 
(F) Performance-based requirements for en-
ergy reserves and other range- and endurance-re-
lated designs and technologies that reflect the ca-
pabilities and intended operations of the air-
craft. 
(G) A combination of pilot training re-
quirements, including simulators, to ensure the 
safe operation of powered-lift aircraft.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(3) REPORT.—The Committee shall submit to the 
Administrator a report detailing the findings and 
recommendations of the Committee. 
(d) POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT RULEMAKING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date on which the Committee submits the report 
under subsection (c)(3), the Administrator shall ini-
tiate a rulemaking to implement the findings and rec-
ommendations of the Committee, as determined ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing the rule-
making under paragraph (1), the Administrator 
shall— 
(A) consult with the Secretary of Defense 
with regard to methods for pilots to gain pro-
ficiency and earn the necessary ratings required 
to act as a pilot-in-command of powered-lift air-
craft; 
(B) consider and plan for unmanned and 
remotely piloted powered-lift aircraft, and the 
associated elements of such aircraft, through the 
promulgation of performance-based regulations; 
(C) consider any information and experi-
ence gained from operations and efforts that 
occur as a result of the Special Federal Aviation
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† HR 3935 EAS 
Regulation of the FAA titled ‘‘Integration of 
Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; 
Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft 
and Airplanes’’, issued on June 14, 2023 (2120– 
AL72); 
(D) consider whether to grant an individual 
with an existing commercial airplane (single- or 
multi-engine) or helicopter pilot certificate the 
authority to serve as pilot-in-command of a pow-
ered-lift aircraft in commercial operation fol-
lowing the completion of an FAA-approved pilot 
type rating for such type of aircraft; 
(E) work to harmonize the certification and 
operational requirements of the FAA with those 
of civil aviation authorities with bilateral safety 
agreements in place with the United States, to 
the extent such harmonization does not nega-
tively impact domestic manufacturers and opera-
tors; and 
(F) consider and plan for the use of alter-
native fuel types and propulsion methods, in-
cluding reviewing the performance-based nature 
of parts 33 and 35 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, and any related recommendations 
provided to the Administrator by the aviation
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† HR 3935 EAS 
rulemaking advisory committee described in sec-
tion 956. 
SEC. 956. ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall task 
the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’) to provide the Admin-
istrator with specific findings and recommendations for 
regulations related to the certification and installation of— 
(1) electric engines and propellers; 
(2) hybrid electric engines and propulsion sys-
tems; 
(3) hydrogen fuel cells; 
(4) hydrogen combustion engines or propulsion 
systems; and 
(5) other new or novel propulsion mechanisms 
and methods as determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Committee shall consider, at a minimum, the following: 
(1) Outcome-driven safety objectives to spur in-
novation and technology adoption, and promote the 
development of performance-based regulations. 
(2) Lessons and insights learned from previously 
published special conditions and other published air-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
worthiness criteria for novel engines, propellers, and 
aircraft. 
(3) The requirements of part 33 and part 35 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, any boundaries 
of applicability for standalone engine type certificates 
(including highly integrated systems), and the use of 
technical standards order authorizations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after providing 
findings and recommendations under subsection (a), the 
Committee shall submit to the Administrator and the ap-
propriate committees of Congress a report containing such 
findings and recommendations. 
(d) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the Committee submits the report under subsection 
(c), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress regarding plans of the FAA in response 
to the findings and recommendations contained in the re-
port. 
SEC. 957. POWERED-LIFT AIRCRAFT ENTRY INTO SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, in con-
sultation with exclusive bargaining representatives of air 
traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, 
United States Code, and any relevant stakeholder as deter-
mined appropriate by the Administrator, take such actions 
as may be necessary to safely integrate powered-lift aircraft
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† HR 3935 EAS 
into the national airspace system, including in controlled 
airspace, and learn from any efforts to adopt and update 
related policy and guidance. 
(b) AIR TRAFFIC POLICIES FOR ENTRY INTO SERV-
ICE.—Not later than 40 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall update air traffic orders 
and policies, to the extent necessary, and address air traffic 
control system challenges in order to allow for— 
(1) the use of existing air traffic procedures, 
where determined to be safe by the Administrator, by 
powered-lift aircraft; and 
(2) the approval of letters of agreement between 
air traffic control system facilities and powered-lift 
operators and infrastructure operators to minimize 
the amount of active coordination required for safe re-
curring powered-lift aircraft operations, as appro-
priate. 
(c) LONG-TERM AIR TRAFFIC POLICIES.—Beginning 
40 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall— 
(1) continue to update air traffic orders and 
policies to support the operation of powered-lift air-
craft;
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(2) to the extent necessary, develop powered-lift 
specific procedures for airports, heliports, and 
vertiports; 
(3) evaluate the human factors impacts on con-
trollers associated with managing powered-lift air-
craft operations, consider the impact of additional op-
erations on air traffic controller staffing, and make 
necessary changes to staffing, procedures, regulations, 
and orders; and 
(4) consider the use of third-party service pro-
viders to manage increased operations in controlled 
airspace to support, supplement, and enhance the 
work of air traffic controllers. 
SEC. 
958. 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
SUPPORTING 
VERTICAL 
FLIGHT. 
(a) UPDATE TO DESIGN STANDARDS.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(1) not later than December 31, 2024, publish an 
update to the memorandum of the FAA titled ‘‘Engi-
neering Brief No. 105, Vertiport Design’’, issued on 
September 21, 2022 (EB No. 105); 
(2) not later than December 31, 2025, publish a 
performance-based vertiport design advisory circular; 
and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(3) begin the work necessary to update the advi-
sory circular of the FAA titled ‘‘Heliport Design’’ 
(Advisory Circular 150/5390) in order to provide per-
formance-based guidance for heliport design, includ-
ing consideration of alternative fuel and propulsion 
mechanisms. 
(b) ENGINEERING BRIEF SUNSET.—Upon the publica-
tion of an advisory circular pursuant to subsection (a)(2), 
the Administrator shall cancel the memorandum described 
in subsection (a)(1). 
(c) DUAL USE FACILITIES.—The Administrator shall 
establish a mechanism by which owners and operators of 
aviation infrastructure can safely accommodate, or file a 
notice to accommodate, powered-lift aircraft if such infra-
structure meets the safety requirements or guidance of the 
FAA for such aircraft. 
(d) GUIDANCE, FORMS, AND PLANNING.—The Admin-
istrator shall— 
(1) not later than 18 months after the date of en-
actment of this Act, ensure airport district offices of 
the FAA have sufficient guidance and policy direction 
regarding the use and applicability of heliport and 
vertiport design standards of the FAA, and update 
such guidance routinely;
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(2) determine if updates to FAA Form 7460 and 
Form 7480 are necessary and update such forms, as 
appropriate; and 
(3) ensure that the methodology and underlying 
data sources of the Terminal Area Forecast of the 
FAA include commercial operations conducted by air-
craft regardless of propulsion type or fuel type. 
SEC. 959. CHARTING OF AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE. 
The Administrator shall increase efforts to update and 
keep current the Airport Master Record of the FAA, includ-
ing by establishing a streamlined process by which the own-
ers and operators of public and private aviation facilities 
with nontemporary, nonintermittent operations are encour-
aged to keep the information on such facilities current. 
SEC. 960. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE 
PILOT PROGRAM EXTENSION. 
Section 101 of division Q of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2023 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘, 
as well as the use of existing airport and 
heliport infrastructure that may require 
modifications to safely accommodate AAM
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† HR 3935 EAS 
operations,’’ after ‘‘vertiport infrastruc-
ture’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (iii) by striking 
‘‘vertiport’’ and inserting ‘‘locations 
for’’; 
(II) in clause (iv) by inserting 
‘‘and guidance’’ after ‘‘any standards’’; 
(III) in clause (v) by striking 
‘‘vertiport infrastructure’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘urban air mobility and regional 
air mobility operations’’; and 
(IV) in clause (x) by inserting ‘‘or 
the modification of aviation infrastruc-
ture’’ after ‘‘operation of a vertiport’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B) by inserting ‘‘the 
Department of Defense, the National Guard,’’ be-
fore ‘‘or’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A) by striking 
‘‘September 30, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2027’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end;
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(II) in clause (ii) by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) a description of— 
‘‘(I) initial community engage-
ment efforts and responses from the 
public on the planning and develop-
ment efforts of eligible entities related 
to urban air mobility and regional air 
mobility operations; 
‘‘(II) how eligible entities are 
planning for and encouraging early 
adoption of urban air mobility and re-
gional air mobility operations; 
‘‘(III) what role each level of gov-
ernment plays in the process; and 
‘‘(IV) whether such entities rec-
ommend specific regulatory or guid-
ance actions be taken by the Secretary 
or any other head of a Federal agency 
in order to support such early adop-
tion.’’;
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(2) by striking subsection (c)(1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—Out of amounts made 
available under section 106(k) of title 49, United 
States Code, there are authorized to carry out this 
section $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 
through 2026, to remain available until expended.’’; 
(3) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘2024’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2026’’ each place it appears; and 
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY; AAM; REGIONAL 
AIR MOBILITY; URBAN AIR MOBILITY; VERTIPORT.— 
The terms ‘advanced air mobility’, ‘AAM’, ‘regional 
air mobility’, ‘urban air mobility’, and ‘vertiport’ 
have the meaning given such terms in section 2(i) of 
the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leader-
ship Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note).’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10). 
SEC. 
961. 
CENTER 
FOR 
ADVANCED 
AVIATION 
TECH-
NOLOGIES. 
(a) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a 
plan to establish a Center for Advanced Aviation Tech-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
nologies to support the testing and advancement of new and 
emerging aviation technologies. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the plan under 
subsection (a), the Administrator may consult with the Ad-
vanced Air Mobility Working Group established in the Ad-
vanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act 
(Public Law 117–203), as amended by this Act, and the 
interagency working group established in section 1042 of 
this Act. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the plan under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider as roles and 
responsibilities for the Center for Advanced Aviation Tech-
nologies— 
(1) developing an airspace laboratory and flight 
demonstration zones to facilitate the safe integration 
of advanced air mobility aircraft into the national 
airspace system, with at least 1 such zone to be estab-
lished within the same geographic region as the Cen-
ter for Advanced Aviation Technologies and that also 
has aviation manufacturers with relevant expertise, 
such as powered-lift; 
(2) establishing testing corridors for the purposes 
of validating air traffic requirements for advanced 
air mobility operations, operational procedures, and 
performance requirements, with at least 1 such cor-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
ridor to be established within the same geographic re-
gion as the Center for Advanced Aviation Tech-
nologies; 
(3) developing and facilitating technology part-
nerships with, and between, industry, academia, and 
other government agencies, and supporting such part-
nerships; 
(4) identifying new and emerging aviation tech-
nologies, innovative aviation concepts, and relevant 
aviation services, including advanced air mobility, 
powered-lift aircraft, and other advanced aviation 
technologies, as determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator; and 
(5) any other duties, as determined appropriate 
by the Administrator. 
(d) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate the plan developed under subsection (a). 
(e) CENTER.—Not later than September 30, 2026, the 
Administrator shall establish the Center for Advanced Avia-
tion Technologies in accordance with the plan developed
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under subsection (a). In choosing the location for the Center 
for Advanced Aviation Technologies, the Administrator 
shall give preference to a community or region with a 
strong aeronautical presence, specifically the presence of— 
(1) a large commercial airport or large air logis-
tics center; 
(2) aviation manufacturing with expertise in ad-
vanced aviation technologies, such as powered-lift; 
(3) existing FAA facilities or offices, such as a 
Center, Institute, certificate management office, or a 
regional headquarters; 
(4) airspace utilized for advanced aviation tech-
nology testing activity, and capable of supporting a 
wide range of use cases; 
(5) proximity to both rural and urban commu-
nities; 
(6) State, local, or Tribal governments; 
(7) programs to support public-private partner-
ships for advanced aviation technologies; and 
(8) academic institutions that offer programs re-
lating to advanced aviation technologies engineering. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION.—Out of amounts made available 
under section 106(k) of title 49, United States Code, 
$35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028 is 
authorized to carry out this section.
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(g) INTERACTION WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—The Ad-
ministrator, in carrying out this section, shall, to the max-
imum extent practicable, leverage the research and testing 
capacity and capabilities of the Center of Excellence for Un-
manned Aircraft Systems and, as appropriate, the un-
manned aircraft test ranges established in section 44803 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(h) SAVINGS CLAUSES.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed to interfere with any of the following activities: 
(1) The ongoing activities of the unmanned air-
craft test ranges established in section 44803 of title 
49, United States Code, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable. 
(2) The ongoing activities of the William J. 
Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace, to 
the maximum extent practicable. 
(3) The ongoing activities of the Center of Excel-
lence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, to the max-
imum extent practicable. 
(4) The ongoing activities of the Mike Monroney 
Aeronautical Center, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
TITLE X—RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
Subtitle A—General Provisions 
SEC. 1001. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) COVERED COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—The 
term ‘‘covered committees of Congress’’ means the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(2) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
SEC. 1002. RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (15) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (16) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(16) $280,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
‘‘(17) $311,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
‘‘(18) $323,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(19) $334,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
‘‘(20) $345,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.’’.
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SEC. 1003. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION; FUNDING FOR 
SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the cov-
ered committees of Congress a report on the allocation of 
funding pursuant to section 48102 of title 49, United States 
Code, to the Secretary to conduct civil aviation research 
and development and to assess the implementation of sec-
tion 48102(b)(2) of such title. 
SEC. 1004. NATIONAL AVIATION RESEARCH PLAN MODI-
FICATION. 
(a) MODIFICATION OF SUBMISSION DEADLINE.—Sec-
tion 44501(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the date of submission’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the date that is 30 days after the date of sub-
mission’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following ‘‘If such 
report cannot be prepared and submitted by the date 
that is 30 days after the date of submission of the 
President’s budget to Congress, the Administrator 
shall submit, before such date, a letter to the Chair-
man and Ranking Member of the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee of Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives stating the reason for de-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
layed submission, impacts of the delay, and actions 
taken to address circumstances that led to the delay.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 48102(g) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘the 
date of submission’’ and inserting ‘‘the date that is 30 days 
after the date of submission’’. 
SEC. 1005. ADVANCED MATERIALS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE 
ENHANCEMENTS. 
Section 44518 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) CONTINUED
OPERATIONS.—The Adminis-
trator shall— 
‘‘(A) continue operation of the Advanced 
Materials Center of Excellence (referred to in this 
section as the ‘Center’); and 
‘‘(B) make a determination on whether to 
award a grant to the Center not later than 90 
days after the date on which the grants officer of 
the 
Federal 
Aviation 
Administration 
rec-
ommends a proposal for award of such grant to 
the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The Center shall—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(A) focus on applied research and training 
on the safe use of composites and advanced mate-
rials, and related manufacturing practices, in 
airframe structures; and 
‘‘(B) conduct research and development into 
aircraft structure crash worthiness and passenger 
safety, as well as address safe and accessible air 
travel of individuals with a disability (as de-
fined in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation)), in-
cluding materials required to facilitate safe 
wheelchair restraint systems on commercial air-
craft.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) promote and facilitate collaboration among 
member universities, academia, the Administration, 
the commercial aircraft industry, including manufac-
turers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers, and 
other appropriate stakeholders for the purposes under 
subsection (a) and the activities described in para-
graphs (2) through (4); 
‘‘(2) carry out research and development activi-
ties to advance technology, improve engineering prac-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
tices, and facilitate continuing education in relevant 
areas of study, which shall include— 
‘‘(A) all structural materials, including— 
‘‘(i) metallic and non-metallic based 
additive materials, ceramic materials, car-
bon fiber polymers, and thermoplastic com-
posites; 
‘‘(ii) the long-term material and struc-
tural behavior of such materials; and 
‘‘(iii) evaluating the resiliency and 
long-term durability of advanced materials 
in high temperature conditions and in en-
gines for applications in advanced aircraft; 
and 
‘‘(B) structural technologies, such as addi-
tive manufacturing, to be used in applications 
within the commercial aircraft industry, includ-
ing traditional fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, 
and emerging aircraft types such as advanced 
air mobility aircraft; and 
‘‘(3) conduct research activities for the purpose of 
improving the safety and certification of aviation 
structures, materials, and additively manufactured 
aviation products and components; and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(4) conducting research activities to advance 
the safe movement of all passengers, including indi-
viduals with a disability (as defined in section 382.3 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any suc-
cessor regulation)), and individuals using personal 
wheelchairs in flight, that takes into account the mod-
eling, engineering, testing, operating, and training 
issues significant to all passengers and relevant stake-
holders.’’. 
SEC. 1006. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR UNMANNED AIR-
CRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 44813. Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall continue operation of the 
Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall carry out 
the following responsibilities: 
‘‘(1) Conduct applied research and training on 
the safe and efficient integration of unmanned air-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
craft systems and advanced air mobility into the na-
tional airspace system. 
‘‘(2) Promote and facilitate collaboration among 
academia, the Federal Aviation Administration, Fed-
eral agency partners, and industry stakeholders (in-
cluding manufacturers, operators, service providers, 
standards development organizations, carriers, and 
suppliers), with respect to the safe and efficient inte-
gration of unmanned aircraft systems and advanced 
air mobility into the national airspace system. 
‘‘(3) Establish goals set to advance technology, 
improve engineering practices, and facilitate con-
tinuing education with respect to the safe and effi-
cient integration of unmanned aircraft systems and 
advanced air mobility into the national airspace sys-
tem. 
‘‘(c) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION.—The Administrator 
shall ensure the participation in the Center of institutions 
of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) and research in-
stitutions that provide accredited bachelor’s degree pro-
grams in aeronautical sciences that provide pathways to 
commercial pilot certifications and that include a focus on 
pilot training for women aviators.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(d) LEVERAGING OF CERTAIN CAPACITY AND CAPA-
BILITIES.—The Administrator shall, in carrying out re-
search necessary to validate consensus safety standards ac-
cepted pursuant to section 44805, to the maximum extent 
practicable, leverage the research and testing capacity and 
capabilities of— 
‘‘(1) the Center; 
‘‘(2) the test ranges designated under section 
44803; 
‘‘(3) existing Federal and non-Federal test 
ranges and testbeds; 
‘‘(4) the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration; and 
‘‘(5) the William J. Hughes Technical Center for 
Advanced Aerospace.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
448 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44813. Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems.’’. 
SEC. 1007. ASSURED SAFE CREDENTIALING AUTHORITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 44814. ASSUREd Safe credentialing authority 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator of the
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† HR 3935 EAS 
Federal 
Aviation 
Administration 
shall 
establish 
a 
credentialing authority for the program of record of the 
Federal Aviation Administration (referred to in this section 
as ‘ASSUREd Safe’) under the Center of Excellence for Un-
manned Aircraft Systems. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—ASSUREd Safe shall offer services 
throughout the United States, and to allies and partners 
of the United States, including— 
‘‘(1) online and in-person standards, education, 
and testing for the use of unmanned aircraft systems 
by first responders for emergency and disaster man-
agement operations; 
‘‘(2) uniform communications standards, oper-
ational standards, and reporting standards for civil-
ian, military, and international allies and partners; 
and 
‘‘(3) any other relevant standards development 
related to operation of unmanned aircraft systems, as 
determined appropriate by the Administrator. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—The Administrator shall ensure 
that the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Sys-
tems coordinates with the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology and the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency on establishment of ASSUREd Safe, and on any 
services offered by ASSUREd Safe.’’.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
448 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44814. ASSUREd Safe credentialing authority.’’. 
SEC. 1008. CLEEN ENGINE AND AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY 
PARTNERSHIP. 
Section 47511 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsonic’’ 
after ‘‘fuels for civil’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) SELECTION.—In carrying out the program, the 
Administrator may provide that not less than 2 of the coop-
erative agreements entered into under this section involve 
the participation of an entity that is a small business con-
cern (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 632)), provided that the submitted technology pro-
posal of the entity meets, at a minimum, FAA Acquisition 
Management System requirements and requisite technology 
readiness levels for entry into the agreement, as determined 
by the Administrator.’’. 
SEC. 1009. HIGH-SPEED FLIGHT TESTING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of NASA, shall establish procedures 
for the exclusive purposes of developmental and airworthi-
ness testing and demonstration flights, which may include
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† HR 3935 EAS 
the establishment of high-speed testing corridors in the na-
tional airspace system— 
(1) with respect to manufacturers and operators 
of high-speed aircraft that conduct flights operating 
with supersonic speed, not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act; and 
(2) with respect to manufacturers and operators 
of high-speed aircraft that conduct flights operating 
with hypersonic speed, not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) AREAS OF TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION.—The 
Administrator shall take action, as appropriate, to ensure 
flight testing and demonstration flights occur in areas 
where such flights will not interfere with the safety of other 
aircraft or the efficient use of airspace in the national air-
space system. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall consider— 
(1) sections 91.817 and 91.818 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations; 
(2) applications for special flight authorizations 
for flights operating at supersonic or hypersonic 
speed, as described in section 91.818 of such title; 
(3) the environmental impacts of developmental 
and airworthiness testing operations;
949 
† HR 3935 EAS 
(4) requiring applicants to include specification 
of proposed flight areas; 
(5) the authorization of flights to and from air-
ports in Class D airspace within 10 nautical miles of 
oceanic coastline; 
(6) developing the vertical limits at or above the 
altitude necessary for safe supersonic and hypersonic 
operations; 
(7) proponent-provided data regarding the de-
sign and operational analysis of the aircraft, as well 
as data regarding sonic boom overpressures; 
(8) the safety of the uninvolved public; and 
(9) community outreach, education, and engage-
ment. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Environmental Protection Agency and 
other stakeholders, shall assess and report to the covered 
committees of Congress on a means for supporting contin-
ued compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The Administrator 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate 
federally funded research and development center, or other 
independent nonprofit organization that recommends long 
term solutions for maintaining compliance with such Act
950 
† HR 3935 EAS 
for 1 or more over-land or near-land hypersonic and super-
sonic test areas as established by the Administrator. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HIGH-SPEED
AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘high- 
speed aircraft’’ means an aircraft operating at speeds 
in excess of Mach 1, including supersonic and 
hypersonic aircraft. 
(2) 
HYPERSONIC.—The 
term 
‘‘hypersonic’’ 
means flights operating at speeds that exceed Mach 5. 
(3) SUPERSONIC.—The term ‘‘supersonic’’ means 
flights operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1 but less 
than Mach 5. 
SEC. 1010. HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT PATHWAY TO INTEGRA-
TION STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with aircraft manufacturers and operators, 
institutions of higher education (as defined in section 
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001)), the Administrator of NASA, the Secretary of 
Defense, and any other agencies the Administrator de-
termines appropriate, shall conduct a study assessing 
actions necessary to facilitate the safe operation and 
integration of high-speed aircraft into the national 
airspace system.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(2) CONTENTS.—The study conducted under 
paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum— 
(A) an initial assessment of cross-agency eq-
uities related to high-speed aircraft technologies 
and flight; 
(B) the identification and collection of data 
required to develop certification, flight stand-
ards, and air traffic requirements for the deploy-
ment and integration of high-speed aircraft; 
(C) the development of a framework and po-
tential timeline to establish the appropriate reg-
ulatory requirements for conducting high-speed 
aircraft flights; 
(D) strategic plans to improve the FAA’s 
state of preparedness and response capability in 
advance of receiving applications to conduct 
high-speed aircraft flights; and 
(E) a survey of global high-speed aircraft- 
related regulatory and testing developments or 
activities. 
(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study 
under paragraph (1), the Administrator may con-
sider— 
(A) feedback and input reflecting the tech-
nical expertise of the aerospace industry and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
other stakeholders, as the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate, to inform future development 
of policies, regulations, and standards that en-
able the safe operation and integration of high- 
speed aircraft into the national airspace system; 
(B) opportunities for— 
(i) demonstrating United States global 
leadership in high-speed aircraft and re-
lated technologies; and 
(ii) strengthening global harmonization 
in aeronautics including in the development 
of international policies relating to the safe 
operation of high-speed aircraft; and 
(C) methods and opportunities for commu-
nity outreach, education, and engagement. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the covered committees of Congress and the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the results of the study conducted 
under subsection (a) and recommendations, if appropriate, 
to facilitate the safe operation and integration of high-speed 
aircraft into the national airspace system. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(1) HIGH-SPEED
AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘high- 
speed aircraft’’ means an aircraft operating at speeds 
in excess of Mach 1, including supersonic and 
hypersonic aircraft. 
(2) 
HYPERSONIC.—The 
term 
‘‘hypersonic’’ 
means flights operating at speeds that exceed Mach 5. 
(3) SUPERSONIC.—The term ‘‘supersonic’’ means 
flights operating at speeds in excess of Mach 1 but less 
than Mach 5. 
SEC. 1011. OPERATING HIGH-SPEED FLIGHTS IN HIGH ALTI-
TUDE CLASS E AIRSPACE. 
(a) RESEARCH.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of NASA and any other relevant 
stakeholders the Administrator determines appropriate, in-
cluding industry and academia, shall undertake research 
to identify, to the maximum extent practicable, the min-
imum altitude above the upper boundary of Class A air-
space, at or above which flights operating with speeds above 
Mach 1 generate sonic booms that do not produce appre-
ciable sonic boom overpressures that reach the surface under 
prevailing atmospheric conditions. 
(b) HYPERSONIC DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘hypersonic’’ means a flight operating at speeds that exceed 
Mach 5.
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SEC. 1012. ELECTRIC PROPULSION AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS 
STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
initiate a study assessing the safe and scalable operation 
and integration of electric aircraft into the national air-
space system. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall ad-
dress— 
(1) identification of the workforce technical ca-
pacity and competencies needed for the Administrator 
to certify aircraft systems specific to electric aircraft; 
(2) the data development and collection required 
to develop standards specific to electric aircraft; 
(3) the regulatory standards and guidance mate-
rial needed to facilitate the safe operation and main-
tenance of electric aircraft, including— 
(A) fire protection; 
(B) high voltage electromagnetic environ-
ments; 
(C) engine and human machine interfaces; 
(D) reliability of high voltage components 
and insulation; 
(E) lithium batteries for propulsion use; 
(F) operating and pilot qualifications; and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(G) airspace integration; 
(4) the airport infrastructure requirements to 
support electric aircraft operations, including an as-
sessment of— 
(A) the capabilities of airport infrastruc-
ture, including, to the extent practicable, the ca-
pabilities and capacity of the electrical power 
grid of the United States to support such oper-
ations, including cost, challenges, and opportuni-
ties for clean generation of electricity relating to 
such support, existing as of the date of enactment 
of this Act; 
(B) aircraft operations specifications; 
(C) projected operations demand by carriers 
and other operators; 
(D) potential modifications to existing air-
port infrastructure; 
(E) additional investments in new infra-
structure and systems required to meet oper-
ations demand; 
(F) management of infrastructure relating 
to hazardous materials used in hybrid and elec-
tric propulsion; and 
(G) ability of such current and future air-
port infrastructure capabilities to adapt to meet
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† HR 3935 EAS 
the evolving needs of electric aircraft operations; 
and 
(5) varying types of electric aircraft, including 
advanced air mobility aircraft and small or regional 
passenger or cargo aircraft. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General may consider the 
following: 
(1) The potential for improvements to air service 
connectivity for communities through the deployment 
of electric aircraft operations, including by— 
(A) establishing routes to small and rural 
communities; and 
(B) introducing alternative modes of trans-
portation for multimodal operations within com-
munities. 
(2) Impacts to airport-adjacent communities, in-
cluding implications due to changes in airspace utili-
zation and land use compatibility. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the covered committees of Congress and 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
House of Representatives a report on the results of the study 
conducted under subsection (a) and recommendations for
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† HR 3935 EAS 
such legislation and administrative action as the Comp-
troller General determines appropriate. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELECTRIC
AIRCRAFT.—The term ‘‘electric 
aircraft’’ means an aircraft with a fully electric or 
hybrid electric driven propulsion system used for 
flight. 
(2) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘ad-
vanced air mobility’’ means a transportation system 
that transports passengers and cargo by air between 
two points in the United States using aircraft with 
advanced technologies, including aircraft with hybrid 
or electric vertical take-off and landing capabilities, 
in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. 
SEC. 1013. CONTRACT WEATHER OBSERVERS PROGRAM. 
Section 2306 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Secu-
rity Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–190; 130 Stat. 641) is 
amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) CONTINUED USE OF CONTRACT WEATHER OB-
SERVERS.—The Administrator may not discontinue or di-
minish the contract weather observer program at any air-
port until September 30, 2028.’’.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
SEC. 1014. AIRFIELD PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
Section 744 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–254; 49 U.S.C. 44505 note) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 744. RESEARCH AND DEPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN AIR-
FIELD PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGIES. 
‘‘Using amounts made available under section 
48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary may 
carry out a program for the research and development of 
airfield pavement technologies under which the Secretary 
makes grants to, and enters into cooperative agreements 
with, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 
and nonprofit organizations that— 
‘‘(1) research concrete and asphalt pavement 
technologies that extend the life of airfield pavements; 
‘‘(2) develop sustainability and resiliency guide-
lines to improve long-term pavement performance; 
‘‘(3) develop and conduct training with respect 
to such airfield pavement technologies; 
‘‘(4) provide for demonstration projects of such 
airfield pavement technologies; and 
‘‘(5) promote the latest airfield pavement tech-
nologies to aid the development of safer, more cost ef-
fective, and more resilient and sustainable airfield 
pavements.’’.
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SEC. 1015. REVIEW OF FAA MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall con-
duct a review of the management of research and develop-
ment activities of the FAA, and the insight of the Adminis-
trator into, and coordination with, other Federal govern-
ment research and development activities relating to civil 
aviation. 
(b) REVIEW OF FAA MANAGEMENT.—The review of the 
Comptroller General under subsection (a) shall include an 
assessment of how the Administrator— 
(1) plans, manages, and tracks progress of re-
search and development projects and activities and 
how FAA processes and procedures compare with 
leading practices related to research and development 
management and collaboration, as determined by the 
Comptroller General; 
(2) prioritizes research and development objec-
tives; 
(3) applies leading practices related to manage-
ment of research and development, enhancement of 
collaboration and cooperation, and minimization of 
duplication, waste, and inefficiencies, in conducting 
activities—
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(A) among FAA research and development 
programs; 
(B) with NASA, including— 
(i) the extent to which NASA and the 
FAA leverage each other’s laboratory and 
testing capabilities, facilities, resources, and 
subject matter expert personnel in support 
of aeronautics research and development 
programs and projects; 
(ii) an assessment of— 
(I) the fiscal year in which the re-
view is conducted, and the 3 fiscal 
years prior to such year, of Federal ex-
penditures and any applicable fluctua-
tion in the appropriated funds, for 
FAA and NASA research and develop-
ment programs and projects and the 
impact of any funding changes on 
agency programs and projects; and 
(II) the extent to which other Fed-
eral agencies, industry partners, and 
research organizations are involved in 
such programs and projects; and
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(iii) recommendations, as appropriate, 
for the improvement of such coordination 
and collaboration with NASA; 
(C) with other relevant Federal agencies; 
(D) with international partners; and 
(E) with academia, research organizations, 
standards groups, and industry; 
(4) interacts with the private sector, including 
by examining the extent to which FAA— 
(A) takes into account private sector re-
search and development efforts in the manage-
ment and investment of the research and develop-
ment activities and investments of the FAA; and 
(B) assesses the impact of FAA research and 
development on U.S. private sector aeronautics 
research and development investments; 
(5) transitions the results of research and devel-
opment projects into operational use; 
(6) has implemented the recommendations in the 
report issued by the Comptroller General titled ‘‘Avia-
tion Research and Development’’ issued April 2017 
(GAO report 17–372) and the results of the efforts to 
implement such recommendations; and 
(7) can improve management of research and de-
velopment activities and any recommendations as the
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Comptroller General determines appropriate based on 
the results of the review. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after com-
pleting the review under required under subsection (a), the 
Comptroller General shall submit to the covered committees 
of Congress— 
(1) a report on such review and relevant find-
ings; and 
(2) 
recommendations, 
including 
the 
rec-
ommendations 
developed 
under 
paragraphs 
(3)(B)(iii) and (7) of subsection (b). 
SEC. 1016. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF FAA’S AERO-
NAUTICAL 
INFORMATION 
SYSTEMS 
MOD-
ERNIZATION ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Using amounts made available 
under section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, and 
subject to the availability of appropriations, the Adminis-
trator, in coordination with the John A. Volpe National 
Transportation Systems Center, shall establish a research 
and development program, not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, to inform the continuous mod-
ernization of the aeronautical information systems of the 
FAA, including—
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(1) the Aeronautical Information Management 
Modernization, including the Notice to Air Missions 
system of the FAA; 
(2) the Aviation Safety Information Analysis 
and Sharing system; and 
(3) the Service Difficulty Reporting System. 
(b) REVIEW AND REPORT.— 
(1) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with a federally fund-
ed research and development center to conduct and 
complete a review of planned and ongoing moderniza-
tion efforts of the aeronautical information systems of 
the FAA. Such review shall identify opportunities for 
additional coordination between the Administrator 
and the John A. Volpe National Transportation Sys-
tems Center to further modernize such systems. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
Administrator enters into the agreement with the cen-
ter under paragraph (1), the Center shall submit to 
the Administrator, the covered committees of Con-
gress, and the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure of the House of Representatives a report 
on the review conducted under paragraph (1) and
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such recommendations as the Center determines ap-
propriate. 
SEC. 1017. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR ALTERNATIVE JET 
FUELS AND ENVIRONMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 445 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 44520. Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet 
Fuels and Environment 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall continue 
operation of the Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet 
Fuels and Environment (in this section referred to as the 
‘Center’). 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Center shall— 
‘‘(1) focus on research to— 
‘‘(A) assist in the development, qualifica-
tion, and certification of the use of aviation fuel 
from alternative and renewable sources (such as 
biomass, next-generation feedstocks, alcohols, or-
ganic acids, hydrogen, bioderived chemicals and 
gaseous carbon) for commercial aircraft; 
‘‘(B) assist in informing the safe use of al-
ternative aviation fuels in commercial aircraft 
that also apply electrified aircraft propulsion 
systems;
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‘‘(C) reduce community exposure to civilian 
aircraft noise and pollutant emissions; 
‘‘(D) inform decision making to support 
United States leadership on international avia-
tion environmental issues, including the develop-
ment of domestic and international standards; 
and 
‘‘(E) improve and expand the scientific un-
derstanding of civil aviation noise and pollutant 
emissions and their impacts, as well as support 
the development of improved modeling ap-
proaches and tools; 
‘‘(2) examine the use of novel technologies and 
other forms of innovation to reduce noise, emissions, 
and fuel burn in commercial aircraft; and 
‘‘(3) support collaboration with other Federal 
agencies, industry stakeholders, research institutions, 
and other relevant entities to accelerate the research, 
development, testing, evaluation, and demonstration 
programs and facilitate United States sustainability 
and competitiveness in aviation. 
‘‘(c) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Administrator shall 
carry out the work of the Center through the use of grants 
or other measures, as determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator pursuant to section 44513, including through
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interagency agreements and coordination with other Fed-
eral agencies. 
‘‘(d) PARTICIPATION.— 
‘‘(1) PARTICIPATION OF EDUCATIONAL AND RE-
SEARCH INSTITUTIONS.—In carrying out the respon-
sibilities described in subsection (b), the Center shall 
include, as appropriate, participation by— 
‘‘(A) institutions of higher education and 
research institutions that— 
‘‘(i) have existing facilities for re-
search, development, and testing; and 
‘‘(ii) leverage private sector partner-
ships; 
‘‘(B) other Federal agencies; 
‘‘(C) consortia with experience across the al-
ternative fuels supply chain, including with re-
search, feedstock development and production, 
small-scale development, testing, and technology 
evaluation related to the creation, processing, 
production, and transportation of alternative 
aviation fuel; and 
‘‘(D) consortia with experience in innova-
tive technologies to reduce noise, emissions, and 
fuel burn in commercial aircraft.
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‘‘(2) USE
OF
NASA
FACILITIES.—The Center 
shall, in consultation with the Administrator of 
NASA, consider using, on a reimbursable basis, the 
existing and available capacity in aeronautics re-
search facilities at the Langley Research Center, the 
NASA John H. Glenn Center at the Neil A. Arm-
strong Test Facility, and other appropriate facilities 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
445 of such title, as amended by section 817, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 44519 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘44520. Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment.’’. 
SEC. 1018. NEXT GENERATION RADIO ALTIMETERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordi-
nation with the aviation and commercial wireless indus-
tries, the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, the Federal Communications Commission, 
and other relevant government stakeholders, shall carry out 
an accelerated research and development program to inform 
the development and testing of the standards and technology 
necessary to ensure appropriate FAA certification actions 
and industry production that meets the installation require-
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ments for next generation radio altimeters across all nec-
essary aircraft by January 1, 2028. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations, the Administrator may award grants for 
the purposes of research and development, testing, and other 
activities necessary to ensure that next generation radio al-
timeter technology is developed, tested, certified, and in-
stalled on necessary aircraft by 2028, including through 
public-private partnership grants (which shall include pro-
tections 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 acceler-
ated production and installation by January 1, 2028. 
(c) REVIEW AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the covered committees of Congress and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives 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 that next generation radio altimeter technology is 
developed, tested, certified, and installed by 2028.
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(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to apply to efforts to retrofit the existing 
supply of altimeters in place as of the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 1019. HYDROGEN AVIATION STRATEGY. 
(a) FAA AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LEADERSHIP 
ON USING HYDROGEN
TO PROPEL COMMERCIAL AIR-
CRAFT.—The Secretary, acting through the Administrator 
and jointly with the Secretary of Energy, shall exercise 
leadership in and shall conduct research and development 
activities relating to enabling the safe use of hydrogen in 
civil aviation, including the safe and efficient use and 
sourcing of hydrogen to propel commercial aircraft. 
(b) RESEARCH STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, 
in consultation with the Administrator of NASA and other 
relevant Federal agencies, shall complete the development 
of a research and development strategy on the safe use of 
hydrogen in civil aviation. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—The strategy developed under 
subsection (b) shall consider the following: 
(1) The feasibility, opportunities, challenges, and 
pathways toward the potential and safe uses of hydro-
gen in civil aviation.
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(2) The use of hydrogen in addition to electric 
propulsion to propel commercial aircraft and any re-
lated operational efficiencies. 
(d) EXERCISE OF LEADERSHIP.—The Secretary, the 
Administrator, and the Secretary of Energy shall carry out 
the research activities consistent with the strategy in sub-
section (b), and that may include the following: 
(1) Establishing positions and goals for the safe 
use of hydrogen in civil aviation, including to propel 
commercial aircraft. 
(2) Understanding of the qualification of hydro-
gen aviation fuel, the safe transition to such fuel for 
aircraft, the advancement of certification efforts for 
such fuel, and risk mitigation measures for the use of 
such fuel in aircraft systems, including propulsion 
and storage systems. 
(3) Through grant, contract, or interagency 
agreements, carrying out research and development to 
understand the contribution that the use of hydrogen 
would have on civil aviation, including hydrogen as 
an input for conventional jet fuel, hydrogen fuel cells 
as a source of electric propulsion, sustainable aviation 
fuel, and power to liquids or synthetic fuel, and re-
searching ways of accelerating the introduction of hy-
drogen-propelled aircraft.
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(4) Reviewing grant eligibility requirements, 
loans, loan guarantees, and other policies and re-
quirements of the FAA and the Department of Energy 
to identify ways to increase the safe and efficient use 
of hydrogen in civil aviation. 
(5) Considering the needs of the aerospace indus-
try, aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, 
airport sponsors, fixed base operators, and other 
stakeholders in creating policies that enable the safe 
use of hydrogen in civil aviation. 
(6) Coordinating with NASA, and obtaining 
input from the aerospace industry, aviation suppliers, 
hydrogen producers, airlines, airport sponsors, fixed 
base operators, academia and other stakeholders re-
garding— 
(A) the safe and efficient use of hydrogen in 
civil aviation, including— 
(i) updating or modifying existing 
policies on such use; 
(ii) assessing barriers to, and benefits 
of, the introduction of hydrogen in civil 
aviation, including aircraft propelled by 
hydrogen;
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(iii) the operational differences between 
aircraft propelled by hydrogen and aircraft 
propelled with other types of fuels; and 
(iv) public, economic, and noise bene-
fits of the operation of commercial aircraft 
propelled by hydrogen and associated aero-
space industry activity; and 
(B) other issues identified by the Secretary, 
the Administrator, the Secretary of Energy, or 
the advisory committee established under para-
graph (7) that must be addressed in order to en-
able the safe and efficient use of hydrogen in 
civil aviation. 
(7) Establish an advisory committee composed of 
representatives of NASA, the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders to advise the Secretary, the Administrator, 
and the Secretary of Energy on the activities carried 
out under this subsection. 
(e) INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP.—The Secretary, the 
Administrator, and the Secretary of Energy, in the appro-
priate international forums, shall take actions that— 
(1) demonstrate global leadership in carrying 
out the activities required by subsections (a) and (b);
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(2) consider the needs of the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders identified under subsection (b); 
(3) consider the needs of fuel cell manufacturers; 
and 
(4) seek to advance the competitiveness of the 
United States in the safe use of hydrogen in civil 
aviation. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator and jointly with the Secretary 
of Energy, shall submit to the covered committees of Con-
gress and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives a report detailing— 
(1) the actions of the Secretary, the Adminis-
trator, and the Secretary of Energy to exercise leader-
ship in conducting research relating to the safe and 
efficient use of hydrogen in civil aviation; 
(2) the planned, proposed, and anticipated ac-
tions to update or modify existing policies related to 
the safe and efficient use of hydrogen in civil avia-
tion, based on the results of the research and develop-
ment carried out under this section, including such 
actions identified as a result of consultation with,
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and feedback from, the aerospace industry, aviation 
suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, airport spon-
sors, fixed base operators, academia and other stake-
holders identified under subsection (b); and 
(3) a proposed timeline for any such actions 
pursuant to paragraph (2). 
SEC. 1020. AVIATION FUEL SYSTEMS. 
(a) COORDINATION.—The Secretary, in coordination 
with the stakeholders identified in subsection (b), shall re-
view, plan, and make recommendations with respect to co-
ordination and implementation issues relating to aircraft 
powered by new aviation fuels or fuel systems, including 
at a minimum, the following: 
(1) Research and technical assistance related to 
the development, certification, operation, and mainte-
nance of aircraft powered by new aviation fuels and 
fuel systems, along with refueling and charging infra-
structure and associated technologies critical to their 
deployment. 
(2) Data sharing with respect to the installation, 
maintenance, and utilization of charging and refuel-
ing infrastructure at airports. 
(3) Development and deployment of training and 
certification programs for the development, construc-
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tion, and maintenance of aircraft, related fuel sys-
tems, and charging and refueling infrastructure. 
(4) Any other issues that the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall deem of 
interest related to the validation and certification of 
new fuels for use or fuel systems in aircraft. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with— 
(1) the Department of Energy; 
(2) NASA; 
(3) the Department of the Air Force; and 
(4) other Federal agencies, as determined by the 
Secretary. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON DUPLICATION.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that activities conducted under this section do 
not duplicate other Federal programs or efforts. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section shall 
be construed as granting the Environmental Protection 
Agency additional authority to establish alternative fuel 
emissions standards. 
(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the 
covered committees of Congress a briefing on the results of 
the review of coordination efforts conducted under this sec-
tion.
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SEC. 1021. AIR TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE OVER UNITED 
STATES CONTROLLED OCEANIC AIRSPACE 
AND OTHER REMOTE LOCATIONS. 
(a) PERSISTENT
AVIATION
SURVEILLANCE
OVER 
OCEANS AND REMOTE LOCATIONS.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of NASA and other relevant 
Federal agencies, shall carry out research, development, 
demonstration, and testing to enable civil aviation surveil-
lance over oceans and other remote locations to improve 
safety. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the covered committees of Congress a report on the activities 
carried out under this section. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to duplicate existing efforts conducted by 
the Administrator, in coordination with other Federal agen-
cies. 
SEC. 1022. AVIATION WEATHER TECHNOLOGY REVIEW. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, shall conduct a review of current 
and planned research, modeling, and technology capabili-
ties that have the potential to—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(1) more accurately detect and predict weather 
impacts to aviation; 
(2) inform how advanced predictive models can 
enhance aviation operations; and 
(3) increase national airspace system safety and 
efficiency. 
(b) CONSIDERATION.—The review required under sub-
section (a) shall include consideration of the unique impacts 
of weather on unmanned aircraft systems (as defined in sec-
tion 44801 of title 49, United States Code) and advanced 
air mobility operations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the covered committees of Congress a report containing the 
results of the review conducted under subsection (a). 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to duplicate existing efforts conducted by 
the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
SEC. 1023. AIR TRAFFIC SURFACE OPERATIONS SAFETY. 
(a) RESEARCH.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Administrator, in consultation with the Ad-
ministrator of NASA and other appropriate Federal agen-
cies, shall continue to carry out research and development
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† HR 3935 EAS 
activities relating to technologies and operations to enhance 
air traffic surface operations safety. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the research 
and development under subsection (a) shall examine the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Methods and technologies to enhance the safe-
ty and efficiency of air traffic control operations re-
lated to air traffic surface operations. 
(2) Emerging technologies installed in aircraft 
cockpits to enhance ground situational awareness, in-
cluding enhancements to the operational performance 
of runway traffic alerting and runway landing safety 
technologies. 
(3) Safety enhancements and adjustments to air 
traffic surface operations to account for and enable 
safe operations of advanced aviation technology. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the covered committees of Congress a report on the re-
search and development activities carried out under this 
section, including regarding the transition into operational 
use of such activities.
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SEC. 1024. 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) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the review re-
quired under subsection (a), the Administrator may con-
sider— 
(1) identifying best practices and lessons learned 
from both domestic and international artificial intel-
ligence and machine learning technology applications 
to improve airport operations; and 
(2) coordinating with other relevant Federal 
agencies to identify China’s domestic application of 
artificial intelligence and machine learning tech-
nologies relating to airport operations. 
(c) 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 movement 
areas. 
(3) Aircraft taxi.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(4) Air traffic control operations. 
(5) Any other areas the Administrator deter-
mines necessary to help improve airport efficiency 
and safety. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the covered committees of Congress a report containing the 
results of the review conducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1025. RESEARCH PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL SUPERSONIC 
RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of NASA and industry, shall pro-
vide to the covered committees of Congress a briefing on any 
plans to build on existing research and development activi-
ties and identify any further research and development 
needed to inform the development of Federal and inter-
national policies, regulations, standards, and recommended 
practices relating to the certification and safe and efficient 
operation of civil supersonic aircraft and supersonic over-
land flight. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to duplicate existing research and devel-
opment efforts conducted by the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of NASA.
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(c) SUPERSONIC DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘supersonic’’ means flights operating at speeds in excess of 
Mach 1 but less than Mach 5. 
SEC. 1026. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consultation 
with the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration and the Federal Communications Commis-
sion, shall conduct research, engineering, and development 
related to the effective and efficient use and management 
of radio frequency spectrum in the civil aviation domain, 
including for aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and ad-
vanced air mobility. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The research, engineering, and devel-
opment conducted under subsection (a) shall, at a min-
imum, address the following: 
(1) How reallocation or repurposing of radio fre-
quency 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 interference in 
frequency bands used in civil aviation operations to 
ensure public safety.
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(3) The identification of any emerging civil 
aviation systems and their anticipated spectrum re-
quirements. 
(4) The implications of paragraphs (1) through 
(3) on existing civil aviation systems that use radio 
frequency spectrum, including on the operational 
specifications of such systems, as it relates to existing 
and to future radio frequency spectrum requirements 
for civil aviation. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
the covered committees of Congress a report containing the 
results of the research, engineering, and development con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1027. RESEARCH PLAN ON THE REMOTE TOWER PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the covered committees of Congress a comprehensive 
plan for research, development, testing, and evaluation 
needed to further mature remote tower technologies and sys-
tems and related requirements and provide a strategic road-
map to support deployment of such technologies. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the plan under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall consider—
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SEC. 1028. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING. 
(a) RESEARCH.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Administrator shall carry out a research pro-
gram to evaluate opportunities to modernize, enhance, and 
streamline on-the-job training and training time for indi-
viduals seeking to become certified professional controllers 
of the FAA, as required by the Administrator. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the research 
program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) assess the benefits of deploying and using ad-
vanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, 
machine learning, adaptive computer-based simula-
tion, virtual reality, or augmented reality, or any 
other technology determined appropriate by the Ad-
ministrator, to enhance air traffic controller knowl-
edge retention and controller performance, strengthen 
safety, and improve the effectiveness of training time; 
and 
(2) include collaboration with labor organiza-
tions, including the exclusive bargaining representa-
tive of air traffic controllers of the FAA certified 
under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, and 
other stakeholders. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
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the covered committees of Congress a report on the findings 
of the research under subsection (a). 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to delay the installation of tower simula-
tion systems by the Administrator at FAA air traffic facili-
ties across the national airspace system. 
SEC. 1029. REPORT ON AVIATION CYBERSECURITY DIREC-
TIVES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the covered committees of Congress a report on the 
status of the implementation by the Administrator of the 
framework developed under section 2111 of the FAA Exten-
sion, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114– 
190; 49 U.S.C. 44903 note). 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report, at a minimum, shall in-
clude the following: 
(1) A description of the progress of the Adminis-
trator in developing, implementing, and updating 
such framework. 
(2) An overview of completed research and devel-
opment projects to date and a description of remain-
ing research and development activities prioritized for 
the most needed improvements, with target dates, to 
safeguard the national airspace system.
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(3) An explanation for any delays or challenges 
in so implementing such section. 
SEC. 1030. TURBULENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations, the Administrator, in collaboration with the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, and in consultation with the Administrator 
of NASA, shall carry out applied research 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 
carrying out the research and development under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall— 
(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 managing 
such data collection;
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(3) support measures for monitoring and charac-
terizing incidents of severe turbulence; 
(4) consider relevant existing research and devel-
opment from other entities, including Federal depart-
ments and agencies, academia, and the private sector; 
and 
(5) carry out research and development— 
(A) to understand the impacts of relevant 
factors on the nature of turbulence, including se-
vere turbulence and clear-air turbulence; 
(B) to enhance turbulence forecasts for flight 
planning and execution, seasonal predictions for 
schedule and route-planning, and long-term pro-
jections of severe turbulence, including clear-air 
turbulence; and 
(C) on other subject matters areas related to 
severe turbulence, as determined by the Adminis-
trator; and 
(6) support the effective transition of the results 
of research and development to operations, in cases in 
which such transition is appropriate. 
(c) DUPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AC-
TIVITIES.—The Administrator shall ensure that research 
and development activities under this section do not dupli-
cate other Federal programs relating to turbulence.
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(d) TURBULENCE DATA.— 
(1) COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS.—In carrying out 
the research and development under subsection (a) 
and the activities described in subsection (b), the Ad-
ministrator may enter into agreements with commer-
cial providers for the following: 
(A) The purchase of turbulence data. 
(B) The placement on aircraft of instru-
ments relevant to understanding and monitoring 
turbulence. 
(2) DATA
ACCESS.—The Administrator shall 
make the data collected under subsection (b) widely 
available and accessible to the scientific research, 
user, and stakeholder communities, including the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, to the greatest extent practicable and 
in accordance with FAA data management policies. 
(e) REPORT ON TURBULENCE RESEARCH.—Not later 
than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator, in collaboration with the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
shall submit to the covered committees of Congress a report 
that— 
(1) details the activities conducted under this 
section, including how the requirements of subsection
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(b) have contributed to the goals described in para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a); 
(2) assesses the current state of scientific under-
standing 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 col-
lecting, 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 Govern-
ment collection or procurement of data and in-
struments related to turbulence, including an as-
sessment of costs; 
(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 pre-
dict and mitigate the safety impacts that may result 
from severe turbulence, including clear-air turbulence.
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SEC. 1031. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING COLLABO-
RATIONS. 
Nothing in this title may be construed as modifying 
or limiting existing collaborations, or limiting potential en-
gagement on future collaborations, between the Adminis-
trator, stakeholders, and labor organizations, including the 
exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers 
certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, 
pertaining to FAA research, engineering, development, dem-
onstration, and testing activities. 
SEC. 1032. LIMITATION. 
(a) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.—None of the funds au-
thorized in this title may be used to conduct research, de-
velop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a 
policy, program, order, or contract of any kind with the 
Chinese Communist Party or any entity that is domiciled 
in China or under the influence of China unless such activi-
ties are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) EXEMPTION.—The Administrator is exempt from 
the prohibitions under subsection (a) if the prohibited ac-
tivities are executed for the purposes of testing, research, 
evaluating, analyzing, or training related to— 
(1) counter-unmanned aircraft detection and 
mitigation systems, including activities conducted—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(A) under the Center of Excellence for Un-
manned Aircraft Systems of the FAA; or 
(B) by the test ranges designated under sec-
tion 44803 of title 49, United States Code; 
(2) the safe, secure, or efficient operation of the 
national airspace system or maintenance of public 
safety; 
(3) the safe integration of advanced aviation 
technologies into the national airspace system, includ-
ing activities carried out by the Center of Excellence 
for Unmanned Aircraft Systems of the FAA; 
(4) in coordination with other relevant Federal 
agencies, determining security threats of unmanned 
aircraft systems; and 
(5) intelligence, electronic warfare, and informa-
tion warfare operations. 
(c) WAIVERS.— 
(1) PUBLIC
INTEREST
DETERMINATION.—The 
Administrator may waive any prohibitions under 
subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis if the Adminis-
trator determines that activities described in sub-
section (a) are in the public interest. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—If the Administrator pro-
vides a waiver under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator shall notify the covered committees of Congress
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in writing not later than 15 days after exercising 
such waiver. 
Subtitle B—Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems and Advanced Air Mobility 
SEC. 1041. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.—The term ‘‘ad-
vanced air mobility’’ means a transportation system 
that is comprised of urban air mobility and regional 
air mobility using manned or unmanned aircraft. 
(2) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The term 
‘‘interagency working group’’ means the advanced air 
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems interagency 
working group of the National Science and Tech-
nology Council established under section 1042. 
(3) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘labor or-
ganization’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term shall also in-
clude— 
(A) any organization composed of labor or-
ganizations, such as a labor union federation or 
a State or municipal labor body; and 
(B) any organization which would be in-
cluded in the definition for such term under such
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† HR 3935 EAS 
section 2(5) but for the fact that the organization 
represents— 
(i) individuals employed by the United 
States, any wholly owned Government cor-
poration, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any 
State or political subdivision thereof; 
(ii) individuals employed by persons 
subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 
151 et seq.); or 
(iii) individuals employed as agricul-
tural laborers. 
(4) NATIONAL
LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(5) TECHNICAL STANDARD.—The term ‘‘technical 
standard’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
12(d)(5) of the National Technology Transfer and Ad-
vancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note). 
(6) UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 44801 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 1042. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—The National Science and 
Technology Council shall establish or designate an 
interagency working group on advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems to coordinate Federal 
research, development, deployment, testing, and edu-
cation activities to enable advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The interagency working 
group shall be comprised of senior representatives 
from NASA, the Department of Transportation, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the National Science Foundation, the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Homeland Security, and such other Federal agencies 
as appropriate. 
(b) DUTIES.—The interagency working group shall— 
(1) develop a strategic research plan to guide 
Federal research to enable advanced air mobility and 
unmanned aircraft systems and oversee implementa-
tion of the plan; 
(2) oversee the development of— 
(A) an assessment of the current state of 
United States competitiveness and leadership in 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
systems, including the scope and scale of United
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States investments in relevant research and de-
velopment; and 
(B) strategies to strengthen and secure the 
domestic supply chain for advanced air mobility 
systems and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(3) facilitate communication and outreach op-
portunities with academia, industry, professional so-
cieties, State, local, Tribal, and Federal governments, 
and other stakeholders; 
(4) facilitate partnerships to leverage knowledge 
and resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and 
Federal governments, National Laboratories, un-
manned aircraft systems test range (as defined in sec-
tion 44801 of title 49, United States Code), academic 
institutions, and others; 
(5) coordinate with the advanced air mobility 
working group established under section 2 of the Ad-
vanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership 
Act (Public Law 117–203) and heads of other Federal 
departments and agencies to avoid duplication of re-
search and other activities to ensure that the activities 
carried out by the interagency working group are 
complementary to those being undertaken by other 
interagency efforts; and
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(6) coordinate with the National Security Coun-
cil and other authorized agency coordinating bodies 
on the assessment of risks affecting the existing Fed-
eral unmanned aircraft systems fleet and outlining 
potential steps to mitigate such risks. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years 
thereafter until December 31, 2028, the interagency working 
group shall transmit to the covered committees of Congress 
a report that includes a summary of federally funded ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems re-
search, development, deployment, and testing activities, in-
cluding the budget for each of the activities described in this 
paragraph. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The interagency work-
ing group shall not be construed to conflict with or dupli-
cate the work of the interagency working group established 
under the advanced air mobility working group established 
by the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership 
Act (Public Law 117–203). 
SEC. 1043. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the interagency working 
group shall develop and periodically update, as appro-
priate, a strategic plan for Federal research, development,
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deployment, and testing of advanced air mobility systems 
and unmanned aircraft systems. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the plan re-
quired under subsection (a), the interagency working group 
shall consider and use— 
(1) information, reports, and studies on ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
that have identified research, development, deploy-
ment, and testing needed; 
(2) information set forth in the national avia-
tion research plan developed under section 44501(c) of 
title 49, United States Code; and 
(3) recommendations made by the National 
Academies in the review of the plan under subsection 
(d). 
(c) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.—In developing the plan 
required under subsection (a), the interagency working 
group shall— 
(1) determine and prioritize areas of advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, 
development, demonstration, and testing requiring 
Federal Government leadership and investment; 
(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in 
the calendar year the plan is submitted, the goals and
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priorities for Federal research, development, and test-
ing which will— 
(A) support the development of advanced 
air mobility technologies and the development of 
an advanced air mobility research, innovation, 
and manufacturing ecosystem; 
(B) take into account sustained, consistent, 
and coordinated support for advanced air mobil-
ity and unmanned aircraft systems research, de-
velopment, 
and 
demonstration, 
including 
through grants, cooperative agreements, testbeds, 
and testing facilities; 
(C) apply lessons learned from unmanned 
aircraft systems research, development, dem-
onstration, and testing to advanced air mobility 
systems; 
(D) inform the development of voluntary 
consensus technical standards and best practices 
for the development and use of advanced air mo-
bility and unmanned aircraft systems; 
(E) support education and training activi-
ties at all levels to prepare the United States 
workforce to use and interact with advanced air 
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems;
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(F) support partnerships to leverage knowl-
edge and resources from industry, State, local, 
Tribal, and Federal governments, the National 
Laboratories, Center of Excellence for Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems Research of the FAA, un-
manned aircraft systems test ranges (as defined 
in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code), 
academic institutions, labor organizations, and 
others to advance research activities; 
(G) leverage existing Federal investments; 
and 
(H) promote hardware interoperability and 
open-source systems; 
(3) support research and other activities on the 
impacts of advanced air mobility and unmanned air-
craft systems on national security, safety, economic, 
legal, workforce, and other appropriate societal issues; 
(4) reduce barriers to transferring research find-
ings, capabilities, and new technologies related to ad-
vanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
into operation for the benefit of society and United 
States competitiveness; 
(5) in consultation with the Council of Economic 
Advisers, measure and track the contributions of un-
manned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility
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† HR 3935 EAS 
to United States economic growth and other societal 
indicators; and 
(6) identify relevant research and development 
programs and make recommendations for the coordi-
nation of relevant activities of the Federal agencies 
and set forth the role of each Federal agency in imple-
menting the plan. 
(d) NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEER-
ING, AND MEDICINE EVALUATION.—The Administrator 
shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies to review the plan every 5 years. 
(e) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—In developing the plan 
under subsection (a), the interagency working group shall 
consult with representatives of stakeholder groups, which 
may include academia, research institutions, and State, in-
dustry, and labor organizations. Not later than 90 days be-
fore the plan, or any revision thereof, is submitted to Con-
gress, the plan shall be published in the Federal Register 
for a public comment period of not less than 60 days. 
(f) REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON THE STRATEGIC RE-
SEARCH PLAN.— 
(1) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the inter-
agency working group described in section 1042 of 
this Act shall transmit to the covered committees of
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† HR 3935 EAS 
Congress a report that describes the progress in devel-
oping the plan required under this section. 
(2) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the inter-
agency working group shall transmit to the covered 
committees of Congress the strategic research plan de-
veloped under this section. 
(3) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the transmission of the initial report under 
paragraph (2) and every 2 years thereafter until De-
cember 31, 2033, the interagency working group shall 
transmit to the covered committees of Congress a re-
port that includes an analysis of the progress made 
towards achieving the goals and priorities for the 
strategic research plan. 
SEC. 
1044. 
FEDERAL 
AVIATION 
ADMINISTRATION 
UN-
MANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND ADVANCED 
AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the research plan 
in section 1043, the Administrator, in coordination with 
the Administrator of NASA and other Federal agencies, 
shall carry out and support research, development, testing, 
and demonstration activities and technology transfer, and 
activities to facilitate the transition of such technologies
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† HR 3935 EAS 
into application to enable advanced air mobility and un-
manned aircraft systems and to facilitate the safe integra-
tion of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft sys-
tems into the national airspace system, in areas includ-
ing— 
(1) beyond visual-line-of-sight operations; 
(2) command and control link technologies; 
(3) development and integration of unmanned 
aircraft system traffic management into the national 
airspace system; 
(4) noise and other societal and environmental 
impacts; 
(5) informing the development of an industry 
consensus vehicle-to-vehicle standard; 
(6) safety, including collisions between advanced 
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems of var-
ious sizes, traveling at various speeds, and various 
other crewed aircraft or various parts of other crewed 
aircraft of various sizes and traveling at various 
speeds; and 
(7) detect-and-avoid capabilities. 
(b) DUPLICATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AC-
TIVITIES.—The Administrator shall ensure that research 
and development and other activities conducted under this 
section do not duplicate other Federal activities related to
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† HR 3935 EAS 
the integration of unmanned aviation systems or advanced 
air mobility. 
(c) LESSONS LEARNED.—The Administrator shall 
apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft systems re-
search, development, demonstration, and testing to ad-
vanced air mobility systems. 
(d) RESEARCH
ON APPROACHES
TO EVALUATING 
RISK.—The Administrator shall conduct research on ap-
proaches to evaluating risk in emerging vehicles, tech-
nologies, and operations for unmanned aircraft systems and 
advanced air mobility systems. Such research shall in-
clude— 
(1) defining quantitative metrics, including 
metrics that may support the Administrator in mak-
ing determinations, and research to inform the devel-
opment of requirements, as practicable, for the oper-
ations of certain unmanned aircraft systems, as de-
scribed under section 44807 of title 49, United States 
Code; 
(2) developing risk-based processes and criteria 
to inform the development of regulations and certifi-
cation of complex operations, to include autonomous 
beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, of unmanned 
aircraft systems of various sizes and weights, and ad-
vanced air mobility systems; and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(3) considering the utility of performance stand-
ards to make determinations under section 44807 of 
title 49, United States Code. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 9 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the covered committees of Congress a report on the actions 
taken by the Administrator to implement provisions under 
this section that includes— 
(1) a summary of the costs and results of re-
search under subsection (a)(6); 
(2) a description of plans for and progress to-
ward the implementation of research and development 
under subsection (d); 
(3) a description of the progress of the FAA in 
using research and development to inform FAA cer-
tification guidance and regulations of— 
(A) large unmanned aircraft systems, in-
cluding those weighing more than 55 pounds; 
and 
(B) extended autonomous and remotely pi-
loted operations beyond visual line of sight in 
controlled and uncontrolled airspace; and 
(4) a current plan for full operational capability 
of unmanned aircraft systems traffic management, as
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described in section 376 the FAA Reauthorization Act 
of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 44802 note). 
(f) PARALLEL EFFORTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Research and development ac-
tivities under this section may be conducted concur-
rently with the deployment of technologies outlined in 
(a) and in carrying out the this title and title IX. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to delay appropriate actions 
to deploy the technologies outlined in subsection (a), 
including the deployment of beyond visual-line-of- 
sight operations of unmanned aircraft systems, or 
delay the Administrator in carrying out this title and 
title IX, or limit FAA use of existing risk methodolo-
gies to make determinations pursuant to section 
44807 of title 49, United States Code, prior to com-
pletion of relevant research and development activi-
ties. 
(3) PRACTICES AND REGULATIONS.—The Admin-
istrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, use 
the results of research and development activities con-
ducted under this section to inform decisions on 
whether and how to maintain or update existing reg-
ulations and practices, or whether to establish new 
practices or regulations.
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SEC. 1045. PARTNERSHIPS FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 
DEMONSTRATION, AND TESTING. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall seek to enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of Public 
Administration to examine research, development, dem-
onstration, and testing partnerships of the FAA to advance 
unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility and 
to facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft sys-
tems into the national airspace system. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—The Administrator shall en-
sure that the entity carrying out the study in subsection 
(a) shall— 
(1) identify existing FAA partnerships with ex-
ternal entities, including academia and Centers of 
Excellence, industry, and nonprofit organizations, 
and the types of such partnership arrangements; 
(2) examine the partnerships in paragraph (1), 
including the scope and areas of research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and testing carried out, and as-
sociated arrangements for performing research and 
development activities; 
(3) review the extent to which the FAA uses the 
results and outcomes of each partnership to advance 
the research and development in unmanned aircraft 
systems;
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(4) identify additional research and development 
areas, if any, that may benefit from partnership ar-
rangements, and whether such research and develop-
ment would require new partnerships; 
(5) identify any duplication of ongoing or 
planned research, development, demonstration, or test-
ing activities; 
(6) identify effective and appropriate means for 
publication and dissemination of the results and 
sharing with the public, commercial, and research 
communities related data from such research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and testing conducted under 
such partnerships; 
(7) identify effective mechanisms, either new or 
already existing, to facilitate coordination, evalua-
tion, and information-sharing among and between 
such partnerships; 
(8) identify effective and appropriate means for 
facilitating technology transfer activities within such 
partnerships; 
(9) identify the extent to which such partner-
ships broaden participation from groups historically 
underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics, including computer science and cy-
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bersecurity, and include participation by industry, 
workforce, and labor organizations; and 
(10) review options for funding models best suit-
ed for such partnerships, which may include cost- 
sharing and public-private partnership models with 
industry. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall trans-
mit to the covered committees of Congress the study de-
scribed in subsection (a). 
TITLE XI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 1101. 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 TRANSPORTATION ............................ 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-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
tions 40103(b)(1) and (2) of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (1) and (2) of section 40103(b)’’. 
(e) DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY.—Section 40110(c)(4) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sub-
section (a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’. 
(f) GENERAL PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY.—Section 
40110(d)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘, as in ef-
fect 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’’. 
(g) GOVERNMENT-FINANCED AIR TRANSPORTATION.— 
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)’’.
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(m) STRUCTURES INTERFERING WITH AIR COMMERCE 
OR NATIONAL SECURITY.—Section 44718(h) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘adverse 
impact on military operations and readiness’ and ‘unac-
ceptable risk to the national security of the United States’ 
have the meaning given those terms in section 183a(h) of 
title 10.’’. 
(n) 
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’’. 
(o) AERONAUTICAL CHARTS.—Section 44721(c)(1) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 
‘‘1947,’’ and inserting ‘‘1947’’. 
(p) FLIGHT
ATTENDANT
CERTIFICATION.—Section 
44728(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ‘‘Regulation,’’ and inserting ‘‘Regulations,’’. 
(q) 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.’’. 
(r) SCHEDULE OF FEES.—Section 45301(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘The Adminis-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
trator shall establish’’ and inserting ‘‘The Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish’’. 
(s) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—Section 46110(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (l) 
or (s) of section 114’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (l) or (r) 
of section 114’’. 
(t) CIVIL PENALTIES.—Section 46301(a) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading for paragraph (6), by striking 
‘‘FAILURE TO COLLECT AIRPORT SECURITY BADGES’’ 
and inserting ‘‘FAILURE TO COLLECT AIRPORT SECU-
RITY BADGES’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘PENALTIES 
RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS WITH DISABIL-
ITIES’’ in the paragraph heading and inserting ‘‘PEN-
ALTIES RELATING TO HARM TO PASSENGERS WITH 
DISABILITIES’’. 
(u) PAYMENTS
UNDER
PROJECT
GRANT
AGREE-
MENTS.—Section 47111(e) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ‘‘fee’’ and inserting ‘‘charge’’. 
(v) AGREEMENTS FOR STATE AND LOCAL OPERATION 
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.
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(w) USE OF FUNDS FOR REPAIRS FOR RUNWAY SAFE-
TY 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.)’’. 
(x) METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHOR-
ITY.—Section 49106 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(B) by striking ‘‘and sec-
tion 49108 of this title’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c)(6)(C) by inserting ‘‘the’’ be-
fore ‘‘jurisdiction’’. 
(y) 
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. 1102. TRANSPORTATION OF ORGANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Administrator, 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
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14, Code of Federal Regulations, and to identify regulations 
that hinder such transportation, if applicable. 
(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 trans-
port of an organ in the cabin of such aircraft, includ-
ing 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 rec-
ommendations for the best practices described in subsection 
(a).
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(e) DEFINITION OF ORGAN.—In this section, the term 
‘‘organ’’— 
(1) has the meaning given such term in section 
121.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations; and 
(2) includes— 
(A) organ-related tissue; 
(B) bone marrow; and 
(C) human cells, tissues, or cellular or tis-
sue-based products (as such term is defined in 
section 1271.3(d) of title 21, Code of Federal 
Regulations). 
SEC. 1103. ACCEPTANCE OF DIGITAL DRIVER’S LICENSE 
AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS. 
The Administrator shall take such actions as may be 
necessary to accept, in any instance where an individual 
is required to submit government-issued identification to 
the Administrator, a digital or mobile driver’s license or 
identification card issued to such individual by a State. 
SEC. 1104. QUASQUICENTENNIAL OF AVIATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) December 17, 2028, is the 125th anniversary 
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 mo-
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ment in the history of the United States and the 
world. 
(3) The Wright brothers’ achievement is a testa-
ment 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. 
(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 inflection 
point of innovation and change. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that the Secretary, the Administrator, and the heads of 
other appropriate Federal agencies should facilitate and 
participate in local, national, and international observ-
ances and activities that commemorate and celebrate the 
125th anniversary of powered flight. 
SEC. 1105. 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 in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
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tions, that were finalized by the Administrator of the FAA 
under the final rule titled ‘‘Airplane Fuel Efficiency Cer-
tification’’, and published on February 16, 2024 (89 Fed. 
Reg. 12634) in part 38 of title 14, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, shall not apply to any covered airplane before the 
date that is 5 years after January 1, 2028. 
(b) OPERATIONAL LIMITATION.—The Administrator 
shall limit to domestic use or international operations, con-
sistent with relevant international agreements and stand-
ards, the operation of any covered airplane 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 on or after January 
1, 2028. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
AIRPLANE.—The term ‘‘covered 
airplane’’ means an airplane that— 
(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.
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(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. 1106. PROHIBITION ON MANDATES. 
(a) PROHIBITION ON MANDATES.—The Administrator 
may not require any contractor to mandate that employees 
of such contractor obtain a COVID–19 vaccine or enforce 
any condition regarding the COVID–19 vaccination status 
of employees of a contractor. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION.—The Admin-
istrator may not implement or enforce any requirement 
that— 
(1) employees of air carriers be vaccinated 
against COVID–19; 
(2) employees of the FAA be vaccinated against 
COVID–19; or 
(3) passengers of air carriers be vaccinated 
against COVID–19 or wear a mask as a result of a 
COVID–19 related public health measure.
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SEC. 1107. COVID–19 VACCINATION STATUS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 417 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘§ 41729. COVID–19 vaccination status 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—An air carrier (as such term is 
defined in section 40102) may not deny service to any indi-
vidual solely based on the vaccination status of the indi-
vidual with respect to COVID–19. 
‘‘(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to apply to the regulation of intra-
state travel, transportation, or movement, including the 
intrastate transportation of passengers.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The analysis for chapter 
417 of title 49, United States Code, is further amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 41728 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘41729. COVID–19 vaccination status.’’. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section, 
or the amendment made by this section, shall be construed 
to permit or otherwise authorize an executive agency to 
enact or otherwise impose a COVID–19 vaccine mandate.
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SEC. 1108. RULEMAKING RELATED TO OPERATING HIGH- 
SPEED FLIGHTS IN HIGH ALTITUDE CLASS E 
AIRSPACE. 
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Ad-
ministrator identifies the minimum altitude pursuant to 
section 1011, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal 
Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend sections 
91.817 and 91.818 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
and such other regulations as appropriate, to permit flight 
operations with speeds above Mach 1 at or above the min-
imum altitude identified under section 1011 without spe-
cific authorization, provided that such flight operations— 
(1) show compliance with airworthiness require-
ments; 
(2) do not produce appreciable sonic boom over-
pressures that reach the surface under prevailing at-
mospheric conditions; 
(3) have ordinary instrument flight rules clear-
ances necessary to operate in controlled airspace; and 
(4) comply with applicable environmental re-
quirements. 
SEC. 1109. FAA LEADERSHIP IN HYDROGEN AVIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall exercise 
leadership in the development of Federal regulations, stand-
ards, best practices, and guidance relating to the safe and 
efficient certification of the use of hydrogen in civil avia-
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tion, including the certification of hydrogen-powered com-
mercial aircraft. 
(b) EXERCISE OF LEADERSHIP.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Administrator shall— 
(1) develop a viable path for the certification of 
the safe use of hydrogen in civil aviation, including 
hydrogen-powered aircraft, that considers existing 
frameworks, modifying an existing framework, or de-
veloping new standards, best practices, or guidance to 
complement the existing frameworks, as appropriate; 
(2) review certification regulations, guidance, 
and other requirements of the FAA to identify ways 
to safely and efficiently certify hydrogen-powered 
commercial aircraft; 
(3) consider the needs of the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, and other stake-
holders when developing regulations and standards 
that enable the safe certification and deployment of 
the use of hydrogen in civil aviation, including hy-
drogen-powered commercial aircraft, in the national 
airspace system; and 
(4) obtain the input of the aerospace industry, 
aviation suppliers, hydrogen producers, airlines, air-
port sponsors, fixed base operators, academia, re-
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search institutions, and other stakeholders regard-
ing— 
(A) an appropriate regulatory framework 
and timeline for permitting the safe and efficient 
use of hydrogen in civil aviation, including the 
deployment and operation of hydrogen-powered 
commercial aircraft in the United States, which 
may include updating or modifying existing reg-
ulations; 
(B) how to accelerate the resolution of issues 
related to data, standards development, and re-
lated regulations necessary to facilitate the safe 
and efficient certification of the use of hydrogen 
in civil aviation, including hydrogen-powered 
commercial aircraft; and 
(C) other issues identified and determined 
appropriate by the Administrator or the advi-
sory 
committee 
established 
under 
section 
1019(d)(7) to be addressed to enable the safe and 
efficient use of hydrogen in civil aviation, in-
cluding the deployment and operation of hydro-
gen-powered commercial aircraft.
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SEC. 1110. ADVANCING GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ON CIVIL SU-
PERSONIC AIRCRAFT. 
Section 181 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘regulations, 
and standards’’ and inserting ‘‘regulations, stand-
ards, and recommended practices’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) ADDITIONAL REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL
PROGRESS
REPORT.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the Administrator shall submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress a report describing— 
‘‘(A) the progress of the actions described in 
subsection (d)(1); 
‘‘(B) any planned, proposed, or anticipated 
action to update or modify existing policies and 
regulations related to civil supersonic aircraft, 
including such actions identified as a result of 
stakeholder consultation and feedback (such as 
landing and takeoff noise); and 
‘‘(C) any other information determined ap-
propriate by the Administrator. 
‘‘(2) SUBSEQUENT REPORT.—Not later than 2 
years after the date on which the Administrator sub-
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mits the initial progress report under paragraph (1), 
the Administrator shall update the report described in 
paragraph (1) and submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress such report.’’. 
SEC. 1111. LEARNING PERIOD. 
Section 50905(c)(9) of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘May 11, 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘Janu-
ary 1, 2025’’. 
SEC. 1112. COUNTER-UAS AUTHORITIES. 
Section 210G(i) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 124n(i)) is amended by striking ‘‘May 11, 2024’’ 
and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2024’’. 
SEC. 1113. STUDY ON AIR CARGO OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall ini-
tiate a study on the economic sustainability of air cargo 
operations. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study required 
under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall address 
the following: 
(1) Airport and cargo development strategies, in-
cluding the pursuit of new air carriers and plans for 
physical expansion. 
(2) Key historical statistics for passenger, cargo 
volumes, including freight, express, and mail cargo,
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† HR 3935 EAS 
and operations, including statistics distinguishing be-
tween 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 foot-
age 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. 
(9) The projected leasing costs to tenants per 
square foot with and without Federal funding of the 
non-return on investment allocation.
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(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 esti-
mated cost savings of using modern comprehensive 
communications and technology systems in air cargo 
operations. 
(12) A description of the impact of Federal regu-
lations and local enforcement of interdiction and fa-
cilitation policies on throughput. 
(c) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress the results of the 
study carried out under this section. 
SEC. 1114. 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 and the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall 
execute a memorandum of understanding governing 
the specific roles, authorities, delineations of respon-
sibilities, resources, and commitments of the FAA and 
the Coast Guard, respectively, pertaining to wing-in- 
ground-effect craft that are— 
(A) only capable of operating either in 
water or in ground effect over water; and
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(B) operated exclusively over waters subject 
to the jurisdiction of the United States. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The memorandum of under-
standing described in paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) cover, at a minimum, the processes of 
the FAA and the Coast Guard will follow to pro-
mote communications, efficiency, and non-
duplication of effort in carrying out such memo-
randum of understanding; and 
(B) provide procedures for, at a min-
imum— 
(i) the approval of wing-in-ground-ef-
fect craft designs; 
(ii) the operation of wing-in-ground-ef-
fect craft, including training and certifi-
cation of persons responsible for operating 
such craft; 
(iii) pilotage of wing-in-ground-effect 
craft; 
(iv) the inspection, including pre-deliv-
ery and service, of wing-in-ground-effect 
craft; and 
(v) 
the 
maintenance 
of 
wing-in- 
ground-effect craft.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(b) STATUS BRIEFING.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator and 
the Commandant shall brief the appropriate committees of 
Congress on the status of the memorandum of under-
standing described in subsection (a) as well as provide any 
recommendations for legislative action to improve efficacy 
or efficiency of wing-in-ground-effect craft governance. 
(c) 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. 1115. CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORIZATION OR WAIVER. 
(a) REQUIRED COORDINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—On an annual basis, the Ad-
ministrator shall convene a meeting with representa-
tives of FAA-approved air shows, the general aviation 
community, stadiums and other large outdoor events 
and venues or organizations that run such events, the 
Department of Homeland Security, and the Depart-
ment of Justice— 
(A) to identify scheduling conflicts between 
FAA-approved air shows and large outdoor 
events and venues where—
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(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 FAA Flight Data Center 
Notice to Airmen 4/3621 (or any successor 
notice to airmen); and 
(B) in instances where a scheduling conflict 
between events is identified or is found to be like-
ly to occur, develop appropriate operational and 
communication procedures to ensure for the safe-
ty and security of both events. 
(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 meet-
ing at any point prior to the scheduling conflict, the 
Administrator shall work with impacted stakeholders 
to develop appropriate operational and communica-
tion procedures to ensure for the safety and security 
of both events. 
(b) OPERATIONAL PURPOSES.—Section 521(a)(2)(B) 
of division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 
(49 U.S.C. 40103 note) is amended—
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(1) in clause (ii) by inserting ‘‘(or attendees ap-
proved by)’’ after ‘‘guests of’’; 
(2) in clause (iv) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vi) to permit the safe operation of an 
aircraft that is operated by an airshow per-
former in connection with an airshow, pro-
vided such aircraft is not permitted to oper-
ate directly over the stadium (or adjacent 
parking facilities) during the sporting 
event; and’’. 
SEC. 1116. DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL PORT OF ENTRY 
FOR THE IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION 
OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE PRODUCTS BY 
THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE 
SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of fund-
ing and in accordance with subsection (b), the Director of 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall designate 
1 additional port as a ‘‘port of entry designated for the 
importation and exportation of wildlife and wildlife prod-
ucts’’ under section 14.12 of title 50, Code of Federal Regu-
lations.
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† HR 3935 EAS 
(b) CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING ADDITIONAL DES-
IGNATED PORT.—The Director shall select the additional 
port to be designated pursuant to subsection (a) from 
among the United States airports that handled more than 
8,000,000,000 pounds of cargo during 2022, as reported by 
the Federal Aviation Administration Air Carrier Activity 
Information System, and based upon the analysis sub-
mitted to Congress by the Director pursuant to the Wildlife 
Trafficking reporting directive under title I of Senate Re-
port 114–281. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT DONATIONS.—The Director 
may accept donations from private entities and, notwith-
standing section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, may 
use those donations to fund the designation of the additional 
port pursuant to subsection (a). 
TITLE 
XII—NATIONAL 
TRANS-
PORTATION SAFETY BOARD 
SEC. 1201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Transpor-
tation Safety Board Amendments Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 1202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 1118(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATIONS.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated for purposes of this chapter— 
‘‘(A) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
‘‘(B) $145,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 
‘‘(C) $148,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 
‘‘(D) $151,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 
‘‘(E) $154,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts authorized under 
paragraph (1) shall remain available until ex-
pended.’’. 
SEC. 1203. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF TERRI-
TORIES. 
Section 1101 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed 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, Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the North-
ern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
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‘‘(b) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Sec-
tion 2101(23) of title 46 and section 40102(a) of this title 
shall apply to this chapter.’’. 
SEC. 1204. ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING. 
(a) TRAINING ON EMERGING TRANSPORTATION TECH-
NOLOGIES.—Section 1113(b)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (J) by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(K) notwithstanding section 3301 of title 41, 
acquire training on emerging transportation tech-
nologies if such training— 
‘‘(i) is required for an ongoing investiga-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) meets the criteria under section 
3304(a)(7)(A) of title 41.’’. 
(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 work-
force development needs set forth in the strategic workforce 
plan of the Board as required under section 1113(h)’’ after 
‘‘of accident investigation’’.
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SEC. 1205. OVERTIME ANNUAL REPORT TERMINATION. 
Section 1113(g)(5) of title 49, United States Code, is 
repealed. 
SEC. 1206. STRATEGIC WORKFORCE PLAN. 
Section 1113 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed 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 immediate 
and long-term workforce needs of the Board with re-
spect to carrying out the authorities and duties of the 
Board under this chapter. 
‘‘(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 per-
formance of the Board; 
‘‘(B) the significant workforce trends, needs, 
issues, and challenges with respect to the Board 
and the transportation industry; 
‘‘(C) with respect to employees involved in 
transportation safety work, the needs, issues, and 
challenges, including accident severity and risk,
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† HR 3935 EAS 
posed by each mode of transportation, and how 
the Board’s staffing for each transportation mode 
reflects these aspects; 
‘‘(D) the workforce policies, strategies, per-
formance measures, and interventions to miti-
gate succession risks that guide the workforce in-
vestment decisions of the Board; 
‘‘(E) 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; 
‘‘(F) a workforce management strategy that 
is aligned with the mission of the Board, includ-
ing plans for continuity of leadership and 
knowledge sharing; 
‘‘(G) an implementation system that ad-
dresses workforce competency gaps, particularly 
in mission-critical occupations; and 
‘‘(H) a system for analyzing and evaluating 
the performance of the Board’s workforce man-
agement policies, programs, and activities. 
‘‘(3) PLANNING PERIOD.—The strategic workforce 
plan developed under paragraph (1) shall address a 
5-year forecast period, but may include planning for
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longer periods based on information about emerging 
technologies or safety trends in transportation. 
‘‘(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 incorporated 
into, the strategic plan required under section 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— 
‘‘(A) submitted to the Committee on Trans-
portation 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. 1207. TRAVEL BUDGETS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1113 of title 49, United 
States Code, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(i) NON-ACCIDENT-RELATED TRAVEL BUDGET.—
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† HR 3935 EAS 
‘‘(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.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 9 of the Na-
tional Transportation Safety Board Amendments Act of 
2000 (49 U.S.C. 1113 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 1208. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1114(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘TRADE SECRETS’’ and inserting ‘‘CERTAIN CON-
FIDENTIAL INFORMATION’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The Board’’ and inserting 
‘‘IN GENERAL.—The Board’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘information related to a 
trade secret referred to in section 1905 of title 
18’’ and inserting ‘‘confidential information de-
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† HR 3935 EAS 
scribed in section 1905 of title 18, including 
trade secrets,’’. 
(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 Federal 
Regulations, the Board shall immediately notify the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate of such civil ac-
tions, including— 
‘‘(1) the labor union representing the airman in-
volved, if applicable; 
‘‘(2) the air carrier at which the airman is em-
ployed; 
‘‘(3) the docket information of the incident or ac-
cident 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.
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‘‘(e) SUBSEQUENT NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.—Not 
later than 15 days after the notification described in sub-
section (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 Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the 
status of compliance with the civil actions taken.’’. 
SEC. 1209. BOARD JUSTIFICATION OF CLOSED UNACCEPT-
ABLE 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 Com-
mandant of the Coast Guard that was closed in an 
unacceptable status in the preceding 12 months, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) any explanation the Board received 
from the Secretary or Commandant; and 
‘‘(B) any explanation from the Board as to 
why the recommendation was closed in an unac-
ceptable status, including a discussion of why al-
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ternate means, if any, taken by the Secretary or 
Commandant to address the Board’s rec-
ommendation were inadequate;’’. 
SEC. 1210. 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 insert-
ing ‘‘selects, concurrent with any State investigation, in 
which case the Board and the relevant State agencies shall 
coordinate to ensure both the Board and State agencies have 
timely access to the information needed to conduct each such 
investigation, including any criminal and enforcement ac-
tivities conducted by the relevant State agency’’. 
(b) RAIL INVESTIGATIONS.—Section 1131(a)(1)(C) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) a railroad— 
‘‘(i) accident in which there is a fatality or 
substantial property damage, except— 
‘‘(I) a grade crossing accident or inci-
dent, unless selected by the Board; or 
‘‘(II) an accident or incident involving 
a trespasser, unless selected by the Board; or 
‘‘(ii) accident or incident that involves a 
passenger train, except in any case in which 
such accident or incident resulted in no fatalities
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or serious injuries to the passengers or crew-
members of such train, and— 
‘‘(I) was a grade crossing accident or 
incident, unless selected by the Board; or 
‘‘(II) such accident or incident in-
volved a trespasser, unless selected by the 
Board;’’. 
SEC. 1211. 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 electronic form at no cost in a publicly 
accessible database on a website of the Board; and 
‘‘(2) if the electronic form required in paragraph 
(1) is not printable, in printed form upon a reason-
able request at a reasonable cost.’’. 
SEC. 1212. ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TIMELINESS 
OF REPORTS. 
Section 1131 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed 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 Commerce,
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Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report identi-
fying such accident report and the reasons for which such 
report has not been completed. The Board shall report 
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. 1213. ENSURING ACCESS TO DATA. 
Section 1134 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) RECORDERS AND DATA.—In investigating an ac-
cident under this chapter, the Board may require from a 
transportation operator or equipment manufacturer or the 
vendors, suppliers, subsidiaries, or parent companies of 
such manufacturer, or operator of a product or service 
which is subject to an investigation by the Board— 
‘‘(1) any recorder or recorded information perti-
nent to the accident; 
‘‘(2) without undue delay, information the Board 
determines necessary to enable the Board to read and 
interpret any recording device or recorded informa-
tion pertinent to the accident; and 
‘‘(3) design specifications or data related to the 
operation and performance of the equipment the 
Board determines necessary to enable the Board to
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perform independent physics-based simulations and 
analyses of the accident situation.’’. 
SEC. 1214. 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 electronic form at no cost in a publicly 
accessible database on a website of the Board; and 
‘‘(2) if the electronic form required in paragraph 
(1) is not printable, in printed form upon a reason-
able request at a reasonable cost.’’. 
SEC. 1215. 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 accidents’’ 
and inserting ‘‘to passengers involved in air-
craft accidents and families of such pas-
sengers’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘within United States air-
space or airspace delegated to the United States’’ 
after ‘‘aircraft accident’’;
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(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 care, 
psychological care, and family support serv-
ices’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘the families of pas-
sengers involved in the accident’’ and in-
serting ‘‘passengers involved in the accident 
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 
‘‘emotional care, psychological care, and family 
support services’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the families who have 
traveled to the location of the accident’’ and
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inserting ‘‘passengers involved in the acci-
dent and the families of such passengers 
who have traveled to the location of the acci-
dent’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ be-
fore ‘‘affected families’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘periodically’’ and in-
serting ‘‘regularly’’; 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 the 
best available information at the time of the re-
quest.
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‘‘(B) USE OF INFORMATION.—The director 
of family support services may not release to any 
person information on a list obtained under sub-
paragraph (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, Tribal, State, or Federal 
agency responsible for determining the 
whereabouts or welfare of a passenger. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—A local, Tribal, State, 
or Federal agency may not release to any person 
any information obtained under subparagraph 
(B)(ii), except if given express authority from 
the director of family support services. 
‘‘(D) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
subparagraph (C) shall be construed to preclude 
a local, Tribal, State, or Federal agency from re-
leasing information that is lawfully obtained 
through other means independent of releases 
made by the director of family support services 
under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(2) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY DES-
IGNATED ORGANIZATION.—
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‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DESIGNATED ORGANIZA-
TION.—The organization designated for an acci-
dent under subsection (a)(2) may request from 
the air carrier or foreign air carrier involved in 
the accident a passenger list. 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
INFORMATION.—The des-
ignated organization may not release to any per-
son information on a passenger list but may 
provide information on the list about a pas-
senger to the family of the passenger to the extent 
the organization considers appropriate.’’; 
(5) in subsection (g)(1) by striking ‘‘the families 
of passengers involved in the accident’’ and inserting 
‘‘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 care, psychological care, and 
family support services’’; and
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(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 information 
at the time of a request, of the name of each passenger 
aboard the aircraft involved in the accident.’’; 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 chapter 
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-
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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 care, psycho-
logical care, and family support services’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the families of passengers 
involved in the accident’’ and inserting ‘‘pas-
sengers involved in the accident and the families 
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 care, psychological care, and family 
support services’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)—
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(i) by striking ‘‘the families who have 
traveled to the location of the accident’’ and 
inserting ‘‘passengers involved in the acci-
dent and the families of such passengers 
who have traveled to the location of the acci-
dent’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ be-
fore ‘‘affected families’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (4) by inserting ‘‘pas-
sengers and’’ before ‘‘families’’; 
(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 accident a 
passenger list, which is based on the best avail-
able information at the time of the request. 
‘‘(B) USE OF INFORMATION.—The director 
of family support services may not release to any
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person information on a list obtained under sub-
paragraph (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, Tribal, State, or Federal 
agency responsible for determining the 
whereabouts or welfare of a passenger. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—A local, Tribal, State, 
or Federal agency may not release to any person 
any information obtained under subparagraph 
(B)(ii), except if given express authority from 
the director of family support services. 
‘‘(D) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
subparagraph (C) shall be construed to preclude 
a local, Tribal, State, or Federal agency from re-
leasing information that is lawfully obtained 
through other means independent of releases 
made by the director of family support services 
under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(2) REQUESTS FOR PASSENGER LISTS BY DES-
IGNATED ORGANIZATION.— 
‘‘(A) REQUESTS BY DESIGNATED ORGANIZA-
TION.—The organization designated for an acci-
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dent under subsection (a)(2) may request from 
the rail passenger carrier involved in the acci-
dent a passenger list. 
‘‘(B) USE
OF
INFORMATION.—The des-
ignated organization may not release to any per-
son information on a passenger list but may 
provide information on the list about a pas-
senger to the family of the passenger to the extent 
the organization considers appropriate.’’; 
(6) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘the fami-
lies of passengers involved in the accident’’ and 
inserting ‘‘passengers involved in the accident 
and the families of such passengers’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in the paragraph heading by strik-
ing ‘‘PREVENT MENTAL HEALTH AND COUN-
SELING’’ and inserting ‘‘PREVENT CERTAIN 
CARE AND SUPPORT’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘providing mental 
health and counseling services’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘providing emotional care, psycho-
logical care, and family support services’’; 
and
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(iii) by inserting ‘‘passengers and’’ be-
fore ‘‘families’’; and 
(7) 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 information 
at the time of the request, of the name of each pas-
senger aboard the rail passenger carrier’s train in-
volved in the accident. A rail passenger carrier shall 
use reasonable efforts, with respect to its unreserved 
trains, and passengers not holding reservations on its 
other trains, to ascertain the names of passengers 
aboard a train involved in an accident.’’. 
(d) PLANS TO ADDRESS NEEDS OF FAMILIES OF PAS-
SENGERS INVOLVED IN RAIL PASSENGER ACCIDENTS.— 
Section 24316(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘a major’’ and inserting ‘‘any’’. 
(e) INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS IN-
VOLVED IN ACCIDENTS.—Section 1140 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘for families 
of individuals involved in accidents’’ and