Title: A bill to establish aviation accession training programs for the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prepare students for commissioned service as pilots in the Corps, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish aviation accession training programs for the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps at certain educational institutions.
The bill sets forth eligibility requirements for the training programs and authorizes NOAA to provide financial assistance to program participants.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2910 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2910

To establish aviation accession training programs for the Commissioned 
Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
 prepare students for commissioned service as pilots in the Corps, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2019

 Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Schatz) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish aviation accession training programs for the Commissioned 
Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
 prepare students for commissioned service as pilots in the Corps, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. AVIATION ACCESSION TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR COMMISSIONED 
              OFFICER CORPS OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
              ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            (2) Corps.--The term ``Corps'' means the Commissioned 
        Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            (3) Member of the program.--The term ``member of the 
        program'' means a student who is enrolled in the program.
            (4) Program.--The term ``program'' means an aviation 
        accession training program of the Corps established pursuant to 
        subsection (b).
    (b) Aviation Accession Training Programs.--
            (1) Establishment authorized.--The Administrator, under 
        regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce, shall 
        establish and maintain one or more aviation accession training 
        programs for the Corps at institutions described in paragraph 
        (2).
            (2) Institutions described.--An institution described in 
        this paragraph is an educational institution--
                    (A) that requests to enter into an agreement with 
                the Administrator providing for the establishment of 
                the program at the institution;
                    (B) that has, as a part of its curriculum, a 4-year 
                baccalaureate program of professional flight and 
                piloting instruction that is accredited by the Aviation 
                Accreditation Board International;
                    (C) that is located--
                            (i) not more than 250 miles from the 
                        National Weather Service Training Center; and
                            (ii) in a geographic area that--
                                    (I) experiences a wide variation in 
                                climate-related activity, including 
                                frequent high winds, convective 
                                activity (including tornadoes), periods 
                                of low visibility, heat, and snow and 
                                ice episodes, to provide opportunities 
                                for pilots to demonstrate skill in all 
                                weather conditions compatible with 
                                future encounters during their service 
                                in the Corps; and
                                    (II) has a climate that can 
                                accommodate both primary and advanced 
                                flight training activity at least 75 
                                percent of the year; and
                    (D) at which the Administrator determines that--
                            (i) there will be at least 1 student 
                        enrolled in the program; and
                            (ii) the provisions of this section are 
                        otherwise satisfied.
            (3) Limitations in connection with particular 
        institutions.--The program may not be established or maintained 
        at an institution unless--
                    (A) the senior commissioned officer or employee of 
                the Corps who is assigned as an advisor to the program 
                at that institution is given the academic rank of 
                adjunct professor; and
                    (B) the institution fulfills the terms of its 
                agreement with the Administrator.
            (4) Membership in connection with status as student.--At 
        institutions at which the program is established, the 
        membership of students in the program shall be elective, as 
        provided by State law or the authorities of the institution 
        concerned.
    (c) Membership.--
            (1) Eligibility.--To be eligible for membership in the 
        program an individual must--
                    (A) be a student at an institution at which the 
                program is established;
                    (B) be a citizen of the United States;
                    (C) contract in writing, with the consent of a 
                parent or guardian if a minor, with the Administrator, 
                to--
                            (i) accept an appointment, if offered, as a 
                        commissioned officer in the Corps; and
                            (ii) to serve in the Corps for not fewer 
                        than 4 years;
                    (D) enroll in--
                            (i) a 4-year baccalaureate program of 
                        professional flight and piloting instruction; 
                        and
                            (ii) other training or education, including 
                        basic officer training, which is prescribed by 
                        the Administrator as meeting the preliminary 
                        requirement for admission to the Corps; and
                    (E) execute a certificate or take an oath relating 
                to morality and conduct in such form as the 
                Administrator prescribes.
            (2) Completion of program.--A member of the program may be 
        appointed as a regular officer in the Corps if the member meets 
        all requirements for appointment as such an officer.
    (d) Financial Assistance for Qualified Members.--
            (1) Expenses of course of instruction.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of a member of the 
                program who meets such qualifications as the 
                Administrator establishes for purposes of this 
                subsection, the Administrator may pay the expenses of 
                the member in connection with pursuit of a course of 
                professional flight and piloting instruction under the 
                program, including tuition, fees, educational materials 
                such as books, training, certifications, travel, and 
                laboratory expenses.
                    (B) Assistance after fourth academic year.--In the 
                case of a member of the program described in 
                subparagraph (A) who is enrolled in a course described 
                in that subparagraph that has been approved by the 
                Administrator and requires more than 4 academic years 
                for completion, including elective requirements of the 
                program, assistance under this subsection may also be 
                provided during a fifth academic year or during a 
                combination of a part of a fifth academic year and 
                summer sessions.
            (2) Room and board.--In the case of a member eligible to 
        receive assistance under paragraph (1), the Administrator may, 
        in lieu of payment of all or part of such assistance, pay the 
        room and board expenses of the member, and other educational 
        expenses, of the educational institution concerned.
            (3) Failure to complete program or accept commission.--A 
        member of the program who receives assistance under this 
        subsection and who does not complete the course of instruction, 
        or who completes the course but declines to accept a commission 
        in the Corps when offered, shall be subject to the repayment 
        provisions of subsection (e).
    (e) Repayment of Unearned Portion of Financial Assistance When 
Conditions of Payment Not Met.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the program who receives or 
        benefits from assistance under subsection (d), and whose 
        receipt of or benefit from such assistance is subject to the 
        condition that the member fully satisfy the requirements of 
        subsection (c), shall repay to the United States an amount 
        equal to the assistance received or benefitted from if the 
        member fails to fully satisfy such requirements and may not 
        receive or benefit from any unpaid amounts of such assistance 
        after the member fails to satisfy such requirements, unless the 
        Administrator determines that the imposition of the repayment 
        requirement and the termination of payment of unpaid amounts of 
        such assistance with regard to the member would be--
                    (A) contrary to a personnel policy or management 
                objective;
                    (B) against equity and good conscience; or
                    (C) contrary to the best interests of the United 
                States.
            (2) Regulations.--The Administrator may establish, by 
        regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the 
        repayment required under this subsection and the circumstances 
        under which an exception to repayment may be granted. The 
        Administrator may specify in the regulations the conditions 
        under which financial assistance to be paid to a member of the 
        program will not be made if the member no longer satisfies the 
        requirements in subsection (c) or qualifications in subsection 
        (d) for such assistance.
            (3) Nature of obligation.--An obligation to repay the 
        United States under this subsection is, for all purposes, a 
        debt owed the United States.
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