II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4320 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 9, 2024 Mr. Peters introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide for the establishment of the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee.

1. Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee (a) Establishment Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the Committee ). (b) Purpose The Committee shall advise the Secretary and the Administrator on matters and policies related to promoting the recruitment, retention, employment, education, training, career advancement, and well-being of women in the aviation industry and aviation-focused Federal civil service positions. (c) Form of directives All activities carried out by the Committee, including special committees, shall be in response to written terms of work from the Secretary or taskings approved by a majority of the voting members of the Committee and may not duplicate the objectives of the Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee. (d) Functions In carrying out the directives described in subsection (c), the functions of the Committee are as follows: (1) Foster industry collaboration in an open and transparent manner by engaging, as prescribed by this section, with representatives of the private sector associated with an entity described in subsection (e)(1)(B). (2) Make recommendations for strategic objectives, priorities, and policies that would improve the recruitment, retention, training, and career advancement of women in aviation professions. (3) Evaluate opportunities for the FAA to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the FAA. (4) Periodically review and update the recommendations directed to the FAA and non-FAA entities produced by the Advisory Board created pursuant to section 612 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) to improve the implementation of such recommendations. (5) Coordinate with the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Women’s Program of the FAA to ensure directives described in subsection (c) do not duplicate objectives of such office or program. (e) Membership (1) Voting members The Committee shall be composed of the following members: (A) The Administrator, or the designee of the Administrator. (B) At least 25 individuals, appointed by the Secretary, representing the following: (i) Aircraft manufacturers and aerospace companies. (ii) Public and private aviation labor organizations, including collective bargaining representatives of— (I) aviation safety inspectors and safety engineers of the FAA; (II) air traffic controllers; (III) certified aircraft maintenance technicians; and (IV) commercial airline crewmembers. (iii) General aviation operators. (iv) Air carriers. (v) Business aviation operators, including powered-lift operators. (vi) Unmanned aircraft systems operators. (vii) Aviation safety management experts. (viii) Aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul entities. (ix) Airport owners, operators, and employees. (x) Institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )), or a high school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )). (xi) A flight school that provides flight training, as defined in part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or that holds a pilot school certificate under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (xii) Aviation maintenance technician schools governed under part 147 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. (xiii) Engineering business associations. (xiv) Civil Air Patrol. (xv) Nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry. (2) Nonvoting members (A) In general In addition to the members appointed under paragraph (1), the Committee shall be composed of not more than 5 nonvoting members appointed by the Secretary from among officers or employees of the FAA, at least 1 of which shall be an employee of the Office of Civil Rights of the FAA. (B) Additional nonvoting members The Secretary may invite representatives from the Department of Education and Department of Labor to serve as nonvoting members on the Committee. (C) Duties The nonvoting members may— (i) take part in deliberations of the Committee; and (ii) provide subject matter expertise with respect to reports and recommendations of the Committee. (D) Limitation The nonvoting members may not represent any stakeholder interest other than that of the respective Federal agency of the member. (3) Terms Each voting member and nonvoting member of the Committee appointed by the Secretary shall be appointed for a term that expires not later than the date on which the authorization of the Committee expires under subsection (l). (4) Committee characteristics The Committee shall have the following characteristics: (A) The ability to obtain necessary information from additional experts in the aviation and aerospace communities. (B) A membership that enables the Committee to have substantive discussions and reach consensus on issues in a timely manner. (C) Appropriate expertise, including expertise in human resources, human capital management, policy, labor relations, employment training, workforce development, and youth outreach. (5) Date Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make the appointments described in this subsection. (f) Chairperson (1) In general The Committee shall select a chairperson from among the voting members of the Committee. (2) Term The Chairperson shall serve a 2-year term. (g) Meetings (1) Frequency The Committee shall meet at least twice each year at the call of the Chairperson or the Secretary. (2) Public attendance The meetings of the Committee shall be open and accessible to the public. (3) Administrative support The Secretary shall furnish the Committee with logistical and administrative support to enable the Committee to perform the duties of the Committee. (h) Special committees (1) Establishment The Committee may establish special committees composed of industry representatives, members of the public, labor representatives, and other relevant parties in complying with the consultation and participation requirements under subsection (d). (2) Applicable law Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to a special committee established by the Committee. (i) Personnel matters (1) No compensation of members (A) Non-Federal employees A member of the Committee who is not an officer or employee of the Government shall serve without compensation. (B) Federal employees A member of the Committee who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. (2) Death or resignation If a member of the Committee dies or resigns during the term of service of such member, the Secretary shall designate a successor for the unexpired term of such member. (j) Reports (1) Task reports The Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress annual reports detailing the completion of each directive summarizing the— (A) findings and associated recommendations of the Committee for any legislative and administrative actions the Committee considers appropriate to improve the advancement of women in aviation; and (B) planned activities of the Committee, as directed by the Secretary or approved by a majority of voting members of the Committee, and proposed terms of work to fulfill each activity. (2) Additional reports The Committee may submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, the Secretary, and the Administrator additional reports and recommendations related to education, training, recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the aviation industry as the Committee determines appropriate. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the FAA. (2) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. (3) FAA The term FAA means the Federal Aviation Administration. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation. (l) Sunset The authorization of the Committee shall expire on October 1, 2028.