Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act
Bill: S.5236 | Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act
This bill expands aviation workforce development programs of the Federal Aviation Administration by providing additional grant funding for aircraft pilot development, the education and recruitment of aviation maintenance technical workers, and the development of the aviation manufacturing workforce.

To increase funding for aviation workforce development grant programs 
                of the Federal Aviation Administration.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Workforce Development 
Enhancement Act''.

SEC. 2. INCREASING FUNDING FOR AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT 
              PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) a program to provide grants for eligible projects to 
        support the education and recruitment of aviation manufacturing 
        technical workers and the development of the aviation 
        manufacturing workforce.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2023'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``2029'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3);
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(2) Additional funding.--In addition to amounts available 
        for grants pursuant to paragraph (1), there is authorized to be 
        appropriated--
                    ``(A) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2029 to provide grants under the program 
                established under subsection (a)(1);
                    ``(B) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2029 to provide grants under the program 
                established under subsection (a)(2); and
                    ``(C) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
                through 2029 to provide grants under the program 
                established under subsection (a)(3).''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(or, in the case of 
                fiscal years 2024 through 2029, $1,000,000)'' after 
                ``$500,000'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(3) An application for a grant under the pilot program 
        established under subsection (a)(3) shall be submitted, in such 
        form as the Secretary may specify, by--
                    ``(A) a holder of a type or production certificate 
                or similar authorization issued under section 44704 of 
                title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant 
                for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary;
                    ``(B) an accredited institution of higher education 
                (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) or a high school or secondary 
                school (as defined in section 7801 of the Elementary 
                and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); 
                and
                    ``(C) a State or local governmental entity.''; and
            (4) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(3) For purposes of the pilot program established under 
        subsection (a)(3), an eligible project is a project--
                    ``(A) to establish new educational programs that 
                teach technical skills used in aviation manufacturing, 
                including purchasing equipment, or to improve existing 
                such programs;
                    ``(B) to establish scholarships or apprenticeships 
                for individuals pursuing employment in the aviation 
                manufacturing industry;
                    ``(C) to support outreach about careers in the 
                aviation manufacturing industry to--
                            ``(i) primary, secondary, and post-
                        secondary school students; or
                            ``(ii) to communities underrepresented in 
                        the industry;
                    ``(D) to support educational opportunities related 
                to aviation manufacturing in both urban and rural 
                areas;
                    ``(E) to support transition to careers in aviation 
                manufacturing, including for members of the Armed 
                Forces; or
                    ``(F) to otherwise enhance aviation manufacturing 
                technical education or the aviation maintenance 
                industry workforce.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (4) of section 48105 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
``2029''.
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