[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3560 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 527
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3560
[Report No. 118-630, Part I]
To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian
unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and
development for economic and national security, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 22, 2023
Mr. Lucas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the
Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and
Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
August 13, 2024
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an
amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
August 13, 2024
Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and
Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 22,
2023]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian
unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and
development for economic and national security, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Drone and
Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Purposes.
TITLE I--INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES
Sec. 101. Interagency working group.
Sec. 102. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 103. Counter-UAS research plan.
Sec. 104. National drone technology center.
Sec. 105. GAO study on foreign drones.
TITLE II--NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES
Sec. 201. National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institutes.
TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES
Sec. 301. National Institute of Standards and Technology activities.
Sec. 302. National Institute of Standards and Technology manufacturing
activities.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
Sec. 401. National Science Foundation activities.
TITLE V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
Sec. 501. National Aeronautics and Space Administration activities.
Sec. 502. National student unmanned aircraft systems competition
program.
TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES
Sec. 601. Department of Energy research activities.
TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES
Sec. 701. Department of Homeland Security activities.
TITLE VIII--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
Sec. 801. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and
development.
TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
Sec. 901. Federal Aviation Administration research and development.
Sec. 902. Partnerships for research, development, demonstration, and
testing.
Sec. 903. UAS test ranges and operations.
Sec. 904. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 905. Definitions.
TITLE X--LIMITATION
Sec. 1001. Limitation.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Unmanned aircraft systems have the potential to change
and transform sectors of the United States economy.
(2) Advanced air mobility aims to transform the way people
and goods are transported through new capabilities and
applications.
(3) Current uses and applications of unmanned aircraft
systems and advanced air mobility include agriculture,
transportation, law enforcement, public safety, disaster
evaluation and response, fire detection, border security,
weather forecasting, construction, utility monitoring, and many
other uses and applications.
(4) Research on and development, demonstration, testing,
and evaluation of counter-UAS systems and detection systems
activities are critical to fully understand the capabilities of
and threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
(5) Unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility
systems are subject to safety, privacy, cybersecurity, and
supply chain risks, particularly as most unmanned aircraft
systems in the United States are manufactured or assembled from
parts manufactured in foreign countries.
(6) National and homeland security threats posed by
unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility systems
include criminal and terrorist use for espionage, surveillance,
and intelligence gathering, smuggling drugs and contraband, and
platforms to deliver explosives or chemicals, biological,
radiological or nuclear weapons, and other firearms.
(7) The Federal Government has an important role in
advancing research, development, voluntary consensus technical
standards, and education activities in advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems technologies through coordination
and collaboration between and among State, local, Federal, and
Tribal governments, academia, the private sector, and labor
organizations.
(8) There is a lack of voluntary consensus technical
standards for unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air
mobility for academia and the public and private sectors.
(9) The United States needs to invest in domestic
manufacturing and secure supply chains of unmanned aircraft
systems and advanced air mobility systems to meet the demand by
the Government and the commercial sectors, to ensure United
States high quality domestic manufacturing and supply chain
jobs, and to reduce reliance on foreign-made systems.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Advanced air mobility.--The term ``advanced air
mobility'' means a transportation system that transports 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, in
both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
(2) Agency head.--The term ``agency head'' means the head
of any Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5,
United States Code).
(3) Counter-uas system.--The term ``counter-UAS system''
has the meaning given such term in section 44801(5) of title
49, United States Code.
(4) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means a Drone and
Advanced Air Mobility Research Institute described in section
201(b).
(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)
(6) 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 Technology Council established under section 101 of
title 1.
(7) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization''
has the meaning given the term in section 2(5) of the National
Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term
shall also include--
(A) any organization composed of labor
organizations, such as a labor union federation or a
State or municipal labor body; and
(B) any organization which would be included in the
definition for such term under such section 2(5) but
for the fact that the organization represents--
(i) individuals employed by the United
States, any wholly owned Government
corporation, 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 agricultural
laborers.
(8) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(9) Technical standard.--The term ``technical standard''
has the meaning given such term in section 12(d)(5) of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15
U.S.C. 272 note).
(10) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned
aircraft system'' has the meaning given such term in section
44801(12) of title 49, United States Code.
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure United States leadership in
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, and maximize
benefits and mitigate risks of such systems by--
(1) supporting research, development, demonstration,
testing, and transition to operations of secure advanced air
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems, including
research and development to enable integration of such systems
into the National Airspace System;
(2) improving the interagency planning and coordination of
Federal research and development of advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems and maximizing the effectiveness of
the Federal Government's advanced air mobility and next
generation unmanned aircraft systems research and development
programs;
(3) promoting domestic manufacturing and domestic supply
chains for unmanned aircraft systems and mitigating supply
chain risks;
(4) supporting activities to mitigate risks to public
safety and national and homeland security, including through
response to disasters;
(5) preparing the present and future United States
workforce for the integration of advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems across sectors of the economy,
including through support for curriculum development and
research opportunities and through partnerships that may
include labor organizations and labor-management workforce
training organizations;
(6) supporting research, development, demonstration, and
testing of civilian applications of unmanned aerial systems,
including improved safety and sustainability of ground
transportation, environmental monitoring, and disaster
response;
(7) promoting research and development collaboration among
State, local, Tribal, and Federal governments, National
Laboratories, industry, labor organizations, and academic
institutions;
(8) promoting the development of voluntary consensus
technical standards and best practices for advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; and
(9) applying lessons learned from unmanned aircraft systems
research, development, demonstration, and testing to advanced
air mobility systems.
TITLE I--INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES
SEC. 101. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
(a) Designation.--
(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 education activities to enable advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems.
(2) Membership.--The interagency working group shall be
comprised of senior representatives from the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of
Transportation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Homeland
Security, and such other Federal agencies as appropriate.
(b) Duties.--The interagency working group shall--
(1) develop the strategic research plan to guide Federal
research to enable advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems and oversee implementation 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 States investments in
relevant research and development; 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 opportunities
with academia, industry, professional societies, 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, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Test Sites, academic institutions, and others;
(5) coordinate with the Advanced Air Mobility Working Group
established by Public Law 117-203 and heads of other Federal
departments and agencies to avoid duplication of research 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
(6) coordinate with the National Security Council and other
authorized agency coordinating bodies on the assessment of
risks posed by the existing Federal unmanned aircraft systems
fleet and outlining potential steps to mitigate these risks.
(c) Report to Congress.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the interagency working group shall
transmit a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that--
(A) includes a summary of federally funded advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research,
development, deployment, and testing activities,
including the budget for each of these activities; and
(B) describes the progress in developing the plan
required under section 102 of this Act.
(2) Biennial report.--Not later than 2 years after the
delivery of the initial report under paragraph (1) and every 2
years thereafter until December 31, 2033, the interagency
working group shall transmit a report to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate that includes--
(A) a summary of federally funded advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research,
development, deployment, and testing activities,
including the budget for each of these activities; and
(B) an analysis of the progress made towards
achieving the goals and priorities for the interagency
research plan developed by the interagency work group
under sections 102 and 103.
(3) Strategic research plan.--Not later than 2 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the interagency working
group shall transmit the strategic research plan developed
under section 102 to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 102. 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 appropriate, a strategic plan for Federal
research, development, deployment, and testing of advanced air mobility
systems and unmanned aircraft systems. In developing the plan, the
interagency working group shall consider and use information, reports,
and studies on advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems that
have identified research, development, deployment, and testing needed,
and recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine in the review of the plan under subsection
(c).
(b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan 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 year
the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal
research, development, deployment, and testing 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) provide sustained, consistent, and coordinated
support for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems research, development, and demonstration,
including through grants, cooperative agreements,
testbeds, and testing facilities;
(C) apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft
systems research, development, demonstration, and
testing to advanced air mobility systems;
(D) support the development of voluntary consensus
technical standards and best practices for the
development and use of advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems;
(E) support education and training activities at
all levels to prepare the United States workforce to
use and interact with advanced air mobility systems and
unmanned aircraft systems;
(F) support partnerships to leverage knowledge and
resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and
Federal governments, National Laboratories, Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Test Ranges, 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 aircraft systems on national
security, safety, economic, legal, workforce, and other
appropriate societal issues;
(4) reduce barriers to transferring research findings,
capabilities, and new technologies related to advanced 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 unmanned aircraft
systems and advanced air mobility to United States economic
growth and other societal indicators; and
(6) identify relevant programs and make recommendations for
the coordination of relevant activities of the Federal agencies
and set forth the role of each Federal agency in implementing
the plan.
(c) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Evaluation.--The Administrator shall enter into an agreement with the
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review the
plan every 5 years.
(d) Public Participation.--In developing the plan, the interagency
working group shall consult with representatives of stakeholder groups,
which may include academic, State, industry, and labor organizations.
Not later than 90 days before the plan, or any revision thereof, is
submitted to Congress, the plan shall be published in the Federal
Register for a public comment period of not less than 60 days.
SEC. 103. COUNTER-UAS RESEARCH PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the interagency working group shall develop and
periodically update, as appropriate, a strategic plan for Federal
research, development, evaluation, and testing of counter-UAS systems
and detection systems, as consistent with counter-UAS systems legal
authorities.
(b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan shall--
(1) determine and prioritize areas of counter-UAS systems
and detection systems research, development, evaluation, and
testing requiring Federal Government leadership and investment;
(2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year
the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal
research, development, evaluation, and testing which will--
(A) support the development of counter-UAS systems
and detection systems and the development of a counter-
UAS research, innovation, and manufacturing ecosystem;
(B) provide sustained, consistent, and coordinated
support for counter-UAS research, development,
evaluation, and testing, including through grants,
cooperative agreements, testbeds, and testing
facilities;
(D) support education and training activities to
prepare the United States workforce to use and interact
with counter-UAS systems and detection systems;
(E) support partnerships to leverage knowledge and
resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and
Federal governments, National Laboratories, Counter-UAS
Test Ranges, academic institutions, and others to
advance research activities; and
(F) leverage existing Federal investments;
(3) support research and other activities on the impacts of
counter-UAS systems and detection systems; and
(4) identify relevant programs and make recommendations for
the coordination of relevant activities of the Federal agencies
and set forth the role of each Federal agency in implementing
the plan.
SEC. 104. NATIONAL DRONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
for such purpose, the Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the heads of
other Federal agencies, as appropriate, may establish a national drone
technology center to conduct research and development of unmanned
aircraft systems to strengthen the economic competitiveness and
security of the domestic supply chain. Such center shall be operated as
a public-private sector consortium with participation from the private
sector, which may include employers and labor organizations, and the
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(b) Functions.--The functions of the center established under
subsection (a) shall be to conduct research and development related to
unmanned aircraft systems manufacturing, design and components, and
prototyping that strengthens the entire domestic ecosystem and
incorporates the upstream participation of workers, which may include
partnership with labor organizations. The center shall place emphasis
on the following:
(1) Unmanned aircraft systems advanced testing and assembly
capability in the domestic ecosystem.
(2) Materials characterization, instrumentation and testing
for unmanned aircraft systems.
(3) Virtualization and automation of maintenance of
unmanned aircraft systems machinery.
(4) Metrology for security and supply chain verification.
(5) strategies for domestic transportation and supply chain
job creation, skills development, and workforce training for
high-quality jobs.
SEC. 105. GAO STUDY ON FOREIGN DRONES.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the
use of foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems in the Federal Government
unmanned aircraft fleet.
(b) Elements.--The study under subsection (a) shall include an
assessment of the following:
(1) The size of the Federal unmanned aircraft fleet and the
extent to which any unmanned aircraft systems have been
procured from a covered foreign entity on the list maintained
in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations.
(2) The operation of these systems across the Federal
Government.
(3) Policies and practices governing the procurement of
unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities.
(4) The availability of unmanned aircraft systems from any
domestic sources for government use.
(5) The risks associated with use of these systems by the
Federal Government, including physical safety, privacy, and
cybersecurity.
(c) Gao Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report to Congress
all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required
under subsection (a).
TITLE II--NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES
SEC. 201. NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration may establish a program to award financial
assistance for the planning, establishment, and support of a network of
Institutes (as described in subsection (b)(2)) in accordance with this
section.
(b) Financial Assistance to Establish and Support National Drone
and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institutes.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Science
Foundation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, and any other agency head may award
financial assistance, to an eligible entity, or consortia
thereof, as determined by an agency head, to establish and
support one or more Institutes.
(2) Drone and advanced air mobility institutes.--An
Institute described in this subsection is an unmanned aircraft
systems and advanced air mobility research institute that--
(A) may focus on--
(i) a particular economic or social sector,
including education, manufacturing,
transportation, agriculture, security, energy,
environment, and public safety, and includes a
component that addresses the ethical, societal,
safety, workforce, and security implications
relevant to the application of advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems in that
sector; or
(ii) a cross-cutting challenge for
research, development, testing, manufacturing,
or use of advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems;
(B) requires partnership among public and private
organizations, including, as appropriate, Federal
agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit research
organizations, Federal laboratories, State, local, and
Tribal governments, industry, labor organizations, and
others (or consortia thereof);
(C) has the potential to create an innovation
ecosystem, or enhance existing ecosystems, to translate
Institute research into applications and products, as
appropriate to the topic of each Institute;
(D) supports and coordinates interdisciplinary
research and development across multiple institutions
and organizations involved in unmanned aircraft systems
research and related disciplines, which may include
physics, engineering, mathematical sciences, computer
and information science, robotics, material science,
cybersecurity, and technology ethics;
(E) supports interdisciplinary education activities
at all levels, including curriculum development,
research experiences, and faculty professional
development across two-year, undergraduates, masters,
and doctoral level programs;
(F) establishes a robust data management strategy
that ensures digital access and machine-readability;
that promotes findability, interoperability, analysis-
and decision-readiness and reusability; and ensures
applicable scientific data are managed for wide use by
Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments,
academia, and the public;
(G) applies lessons learned from unmanned aircraft
systems research, development, demonstration, and
testing to advanced air mobility systems; and
(H) supports high quality workforce development in
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
related disciplines in the United States, including
increasing the participation of groups historically
underrepresented in STEM, among other goals.
(3) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under
paragraph (1) may be used by an Institute for--
(A) managing and making available to researchers
accessible, curated, standardized, secure, and privacy
protected data sets from the public and private sectors
for the purposes of training and testing advanced air
mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems and for
research and development using advanced air mobility
systems and unmanned aircraft systems;
(B) developing and managing testbeds, Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Test Ranges, for advanced air mobility
or unmanned aircraft systems, including sector-specific
test beds, designed to enable users to evaluate
advanced air mobility systems and unmanned aircraft
systems prior to deployment;
(C) conducting research and education activities
involving advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems to solve challenges with economic, scientific,
and national security implications;
(D) conducting research and development on advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems platform
development and innovation;
(E) providing or brokering access to computing
resources, networking, and data facilities for advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research and
development relevant to the Institute's research goals;
(F) providing technical assistance to users,
including software engineering support, for advanced
air mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems
research and development relevant to the Institute's
research goals;
(G) supporting the purchase of advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems software;
(H) engaging in outreach to broaden participation
by groups historically underrepresented in STEM in
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
research, development and workforce, including through
partnership with labor organizations and other
entities;
(I) supporting artificial intelligence and machine
learning research related to advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems; and
(J) such other activities that an agency head whose
agency's missions contribute to or are affected by
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
determines is appropriate to fulfill the agency's
missions.
(4) Duration.--
(A) Initial periods.--An award of financial
assistance under paragraph (1) shall be for an initial
period of up to 5 years, subject to Office of
Management and Budget uniform guidance for Federal
assistance.
(B) Extension.--An established Institute may apply
for, and the agency head may grant, extended funding
for periods of up to 5 years on a merit-reviewed basis
using the merit review criteria of the sponsoring
agency, subject to Office of Management and Budget
uniform guidance for Federal assistance.
(5) Application for financial assistance.--
(A) In general.--A person or group of persons
seeking financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall
submit to an agency head an application at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the
agency head may require.
(B) Requirements.--An application submitted under
subparagraph (A) for an Institute shall, at a minimum,
include the following:
(i) A plan for the Institute to include--
(I) the proposed goals and
activities of the Institute;
(II) a description of how the
Institute will form partnerships, as
appropriate, with other research
institutions, industry, labor
organizations, nonprofits, academic
institutions, and others to leverage
expertise in advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems and access to
data;
(III) a description of how the
institute will support long-term and
short-term education and workforce
development in advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems,
including how the institute will
broaden the participation of groups
historically underrepresented in STEM,
among other goals; and
(IV) a description of how the
Institute will transition from planning
into operations.
(ii) A description of the anticipated
sources and nature of any non-Federal
contributions or other Federal agency funding.
(iii) A data management plan that addresses
the collection, use, retention, protection,
dissemination, and management of data
collected, consistent with the purposes of this
Act.
(iv) A description of the anticipated long-
term impact of such Institute.
(6) Competitive merit review.--In awarding financial
assistance under paragraph (1), the agency shall--
(A) use a competitive merit review process that
includes peer review by a diverse group of individuals
with relevant expertise from both the private and
public sectors; and
(B) ensure the focus areas of the Institute do not
substantially duplicate the efforts of any other
Institute.
(7) Collaboration.--
(A) In general.--In awarding financial assistance
under paragraph (1), an agency head may collaborate
with Federal departments and agencies whose missions
contribute to or are affected by advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems, including the agencies
outlined in section 103(c).
(B) Nonduplication.--In carrying out the program
under this section, the Administrator shall coordinate
with the heads of other Federal departments and
agencies to avoid duplication of research and other
activities to ensure that the activities carried out by
Institutes are complementary to those being undertaken
by other agencies.
(C) Coordinating network.--The Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration may
establish a network of Institutes receiving financial
assistance under this subsection, to be known as the
``Drone Leadership Network'', to coordinate cross-
cutting research and other activities carried out by
the Institutes.
(D) Funding.--The head of an agency may request and
accept funds from, and provide funds to, other Federal
departments and agencies, State, United States
territory, local, or Tribal government agencies,
private sector for-profit entities, and nonprofit
entities, to be available to the extent provided by
appropriations Acts, to support an Institute's
activities. The head of an agency may not give any
special consideration to any agency or entity in return
for a donation.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
$5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the
activities authorized in section 201(a).
TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES
SEC. 301. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Director, consistent with the research plan in
section 102--
(1) shall support measurement science research and
development in support of best practices and voluntary
consensus technical standards for advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems, including for--
(A) privacy, security, and cybersecurity of
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(B) safety and operational performance of advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(C) hardware and components designed for advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(D) data management and techniques to increase the
usability of data for advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems;
(E) supply chain risks for advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems; and
(F) all other areas deemed by the Director to be
critical to the development and deployment of advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(2) may support one or more Institutes as described in
section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(3) may produce curated, standardized, representative,
secure, and privacy protected data sets for advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, development,
and use, prioritizing data for high-value, high-risk research;
(4) shall support and strategically engage in the
development of voluntary consensus technical standards,
including international standards, through open, transparent,
and consensus-based processes;
(5) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft
systems research, development, demonstration, and testing to
advanced air mobility systems; and
(6) shall coordinate the development of voluntary and
consensus technical standards and best practices with other
Federal agencies as appropriate.
(b) Solicitation of Input.--In carrying out the activities under
this section, the Director shall--
(1) solicit input from university researchers, private
sector experts, relevant Federal agencies, Federal
laboratories, State, local, and Tribal governments, civil
society groups, labor organizations, and other relevant
stakeholders; and
(2) provide opportunity for public comment on guidelines
and best practices, as appropriate.
(c) Drone Research Challenges.--
(1) Prize competition.--Pursuant to section 24 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3719), the Director shall, subject to the availability of
appropriations, continue carrying out a program to award prizes
competitively to stimulate research and development of
innovative advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
technologies in order to expand upon and improve emergency
response operations.
(3) Prize amount.--In carrying out the program under
paragraph (1), the Director may award not more than a total of
$2,250,000 to one or more winners of the prize competition.
(4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which
a prize is awarded under the prize competition, the Director
shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report
that describes the winning entry of the prize competition.
(5) Consultation.--In carrying out the program under
subsection (a), the Director may consult with the heads of
relevant departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to
carry out this section--
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $22,050,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $23,152,500 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $24,310,125 for fiscal year 2028.
SEC. 302. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING
ACTIVITIES.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to secure the United
States international leadership in advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems by strengthening its industrial base through the
bolstering of domestic supply chains and the development and adoption
of innovative manufacturing processes.
(b) Leveraging Expansion Awards for Critical Technologies.--Section
25B of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278k-2) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e), by inserting the following after
paragraph (5):
``(6) to support the domestic manufacturing of critical and
emerging technologies and reduce the supply chain risk of these
technologies;''; and
(2) by inserting the following after subsection (e) and
redesignating accordingly:
``(f) Topic Selection.--The Director may select topics for awards
made under paragraph (e)(6) in accordance with the following:
``(1) The Director shall select unmanned aircraft systems
as an initial topic for the pilot program.
``(2) The Director may select additional topics that the
Director determines are--
``(A) rapidly evolving; and
``(B) of high importance to the economy and
security of the United States.''.
(c) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Survey.--
(1) Survey.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director shall carry out a survey of
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers (referred to in
this section as the ``Centers'') to understand the
manufacturing capabilities of the United States manufacturers
to support robust advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems industries and create high quality jobs in the United
States.
(2) Contents.--In conducting the survey required under
subsection (a), the Director shall solicit feedback on the
following:
(A) Familiarity and current manufacturing work by
small and mid-sized manufacturers on advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, including
components, software, sensors, or other technology
associated with advanced air mobility systems and
unmanned aircraft systems.
(B) A list of the basic manufacturing procedures
that can be easily converted to conduct the
manufacturing of advanced air mobility systems and
unmanned aircraft systems projects.
(C) Potential for small-and mid-sized manufacturing
to work with industry and academia to support the
manufacturers of advanced air mobility systems and
unmanned aircraft systems prototypes.
(D) Potential for commercialization of ongoing
manufacturing development research related to advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems projects.
(E) A description of supply chain and technological
challenges that small and mid-sized manufacturers face
in building up advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems capacity, and the prevalence of these
challenges.
(F) Any challenges that small and mid-sized
manufacturers experience in recruiting skilled workers
familiar with advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems manufacturing.
(G) Any other information that the Director or the
Board determine is appropriate.
(3) Supply chain database.--The Director shall carry out
this survey in accordance with requirements under section 10253
of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation
Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C.
18961).
(4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after completing the
survey required under subsection (a), the Director, in
consultation with the Board, shall provide a report summarizing
the results of the survey to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate.
(d) Manufacturing Usa Program Update.--Subparagraph (B) of section
34(d)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278s(d)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, including unmanned
aircraft systems'' after ``aeronautics and advanced materials''.
(e) Definition.--In this title, the term ``Director'' means the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES
SEC. 401. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102,
the Director shall support research and STEM education and related
activities in advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems,
components, and related technologies, including competitive awards or
grants to institutions of higher education or eligible nonprofit
organizations (or consortia thereof).
(b) Use of Funds.--In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Director--
(1) shall support fundamental research on the underlying
technologies for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems, components, and related technologies, which may
include--
(A) improving the safety and reliability of
operation systems;
(B) developing and improving autonomous control
systems, including real-time control and autonomous
decision-making;
(C) incorporating the use of artificial
intelligence into systems;
(D) improving or developing materials for advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(E) understanding safety and sustainability of
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems as
a part of a transportation system, including the
impacts of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems on ground transportation;
(F) developing and improving communications
systems, including multivehicle coordination and task
and path planning; and
(G) understanding the human-drone interface;
(2) shall support research and development of advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft system enabled uses, which may
include--
(A) creating new sensing tools to improve
understanding, prediction, and detection of severe
weather and natural hazards, including wildfires;
(B) enabling advanced air mobility;
(C) monitoring and surveying infrastructure;
(D) disaster reconnaissance, including the
collection of data to model and simulate disasters and
assist responders; and
(E) improving the reliable use of advanced sensing
systems in rural and agricultural settings;
(3) shall support research on data modeling and validation
of the use of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
systems;
(4) shall support research and development on security,
including the cybersecurity, of advanced air mobility systems
and unmanned aerial aircraft systems;
(5) shall support research on the ethical use of advanced
air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, including
protection of individual privacy;
(6) shall support research on workforce impacts and
opportunities associated with advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft systems;
(7) shall support age-appropriate middle school and high
school level STEM education research and related activities
related to advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
and related technologies, which may include--
(A) supporting curriculum development relating to
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft system
applications, including developing place-based learning
curriculum, particularly for students in poor, rural,
and Tribal communities;
(B) utilizing advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems technologies to advance the engagement
of students, including students from groups
historically underrepresented in STEM, in STEM through
providing before school, after-school, out-of-school,
or summer activities;
(C) developing professional development resources
for STEM educators in utilizing advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems technologies and
applications in their curriculum and in formal and
informal education settings, including through
distance-delivered courses;
(D) connecting relevant STEM curriculum to the
design, construction and demonstration of advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; and
(E) designing advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft system related activities designed to help
students make real-world connections to STEM content
and educate students on the relevance and significance
of STEM careers;
(8) shall support undergraduate and graduate education and
workforce development research and related activities related
to advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, and
related technologies, which may include--
(A) supporting curriculum development relating to
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
applications and technologies;
(B) supporting hands-on research opportunities at
institutions of higher education, research
institutions, including National Labs, and industry for
undergraduate and graduate students relating to
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
applications and technologies;
(C) facilitating participation in collegiate level
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
robotic competitions; and
(D) ensuring that students pursuing master's
degrees and doctoral degrees in fields relating to
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems are
considered as applicants for scholarships and graduate
fellowships under the Graduate Research Fellowship
Program under section 10 of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869);
(9) shall support activities to develop a skilled technical
workforce for supporting and operating advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems, which may include supporting
national centers focused on educating and training the skilled
technical workforce in advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft system applications and technologies through the
Advanced Scientific and Technical Education Program as
authorized by the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of
1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i), including by--
(A) expanding educational resources to address
current workforce demands in advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft system applications and technologies;
(B) developing curriculum for community and
technical colleges to train and upskill the skilled
technical workforce in advanced air mobility and
unmanned aircraft system applications and technologies;
(C) engaging the skilled technical workforce
community in advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft system applications and technologies; and
(D) in partnership and consultation with industry
and labor organizations, employing activities to
increase the visibility and utility of careers in
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft
applications and technologies;
(10) shall engage veterans and departing members of the
Armed Services in activities mentioned in paragraphs (7) and
(8);
(11) may support one or more Institutes as described in
section 201(a) for the purpose of advancing the field of
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(12) may support prize competitions pursuant to section 24
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15
U.S.C. 3719);
(13) shall ensure all activities under this section are
subject to the data management policies of the Foundation;
(14) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft
systems research, development, demonstration, and testing to
advanced air mobility systems; and
(15) may conduct any other activities the Director finds
necessary to meet the goals laid out in subsection (a).
(c) Public-private Partnerships.--As part of the activities under
subsection (a), the Director shall support public-private partnerships
to support domestic development of advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems in the United States and address pre-competitive
industry challenges.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this
section--
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $57,881,775 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $60,775,863 for fiscal year 2028.
(e) Definition.--In this title, the term ``Director'' means the
Director of the National Science Foundation.
TITLE V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
SEC. 501. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102,
the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration and other Federal agencies, shall,
subject to the availability of appropriations, carry out research and
development to facilitate the safe integration of advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System.
Research topics may include--
(1) sense and avoid capabilities;
(2) the transition of unmanned aircraft system traffic
management into operational use in the National Airspace
System;
(3) safety related to autonomy, autonomous unmanned
aircraft systems, and remotely-piloted unmanned aircraft
systems;
(4) human systems integration; and
(5) hazardous weather condition avoidance.
(b) Cooperative Unmanned Aircraft System Activities.--Section 31504
of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the
following: ``Operational flight data derived from these cooperative
agreements shall be made available, in appropriate and usable formats,
to the Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for the
development of regulatory standards.''.
(c) Considerations.--In carrying out the research and development
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall continue to coordinate
and partner with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of
Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, industry, academia, and
labor organizations to mature and help implement unmanned aircraft
system traffic management related concepts, architectures, services,
and strategic as well as tactical deconfliction to advance the safe
integration of drones into the National Airspace System. As an interim
step, the Administrator shall leverage commercial and public good
unmanned aircraft system applications, such as wildfire and disaster
monitoring and mitigation, to demonstrate and help validate concepts,
architectures, and other measures toward the safe integration of
unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. In
addition, the Administrator shall carry out research and development on
protocols for enabling the safe integration of many simultaneous drone
operations beyond visual line of sight.
(d) Lessons Learned.--The Administrator shall apply lessons learned
from unmanned aircraft systems research, development, demonstration,
and testing to advanced air mobility systems.
(e) Coordination.--The Administrator shall contribute to, as
appropriate, efforts to inform the development of voluntary consensus-
based technical standards, as led by standards development
organizations, to facilitate the incorporation of advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System and
shall coordinate with other relevant government agencies and
nongovernmental entities, including industry and labor organizations,
in its contributions to standards development activities.
(f) Assessment.--The Administrator shall coordinate with the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct an
assessment to identify metrics, estimated milestone dates, and
performance measures necessary to safely integrate unmanned aircraft
systems and advanced air mobility systems into the National Airspace
System.
(g) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the completion of the
assessment in subsection (f), the Administrator shall submit a report
on the progress towards meeting the metrics, milestone dates, and
performance measures to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 502. NATIONAL STUDENT UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS COMPETITION
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall lead a national pilot
program to carry out unmanned aircraft systems technology competitions
for students at the high school and undergraduate level (in this
section referred to as ``competitions'') in which students shall
compete to design, create, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system.
(b) Competition Administration.--The Administrator shall award, on
a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, a grant to a nonprofit
organization, an institution of higher education, or a consortium
thereof, to administer the pilot program (in this section referred to
as the ``competition administrator'').
(c) Award Criteria.--The Administrator shall ensure that the award
decision made under subsection (b) take into account the extent to
which the eligible entity--
(1) identifies a plan for engaging eligible institutions
from diverse geographic areas, including poor, rural, and
Tribal communities; and
(2) identifies a plan for connecting STEM activities to
Administration missions and centers.
(d) Competition Administrator Responsibilities.--In carrying out
the pilot program, the competition administrator shall be responsible
for--
(1) awarding grants to institutions of higher education or
nonprofit organizations (or a consortium of such institutions
or organization) on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis to host
individual competitions;
(2) developing STEM curriculum to be utilized by the
competition awardees to help students make the connection to
the design, construction, and demonstration of the unmanned
aircraft systems;
(3) developing curriculum to assist students in making
real-world connections to STEM content and educate students on
the relevance and significance of STEM careers;
(4) ensuring awardees are supporting the activities laid
out in subsection (f);
(5) conducting performance evaluations of competitions,
including data collection on--
(A) the number of students engaged;
(B) geographic and institutional diversity of
participating schools and institutions of higher
education; and
(6) any other activities the Administrator finds necessary
to ensure the competitions are successful.
(e) Additional Considerations.--In awarding grants in subsection
(d), the competition administrator shall consider applications that
include a partnership with that State's space grant program under
chapter 403 of title 51, United States Code.
(f) Permitted Activities.--In carrying out the pilot program in
subsection (a), the competition administrator shall ensure competitions
occurring at both the high school and undergraduate levels--
(1) allow students to design, construct, and demonstrate an
unmanned aircraft system;
(2) allow students to compete with other teams in the
performance of the constructed unmanned aircraft system;
(3) connect to relevant missions and Center activities of
the Administration;
(4) connect relevant STEM curriculum to the design,
construction, and demonstration of unmanned aircraft systems;
(5) support activities designed to help students make real-
world connections to STEM content and educate students on the
relevance and significance of STEM careers;
(6) are geographically dispersed in order to serve a broad
student population, including those in rural and underserved
communities; and
(7) encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, the
participation of students from groups historically
underrepresented in STEM.
(g) Report to Congress.--No later than 6 months following the end
of the pilot program, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report describing the
accomplishments, lessons learned, any challenges in the implementation
of the pilot program, and recommendations for whether to continue the
pilot program.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $6,000,000 in each of fiscal years
2024 through 2028 to carry out the pilot program in this section. Of
the funds authorized--
(1) $1,000,000 per year shall be for the pilot program
competition administrator in subsection (b); and
(2) $5,000,000 per year shall be awarded for grants to
carry out competitions under the pilot program in subsection
(d).
(i) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES
SEC. 601. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102,
the Secretary shall carry out cross-cutting research, development, and
demonstration activities to advance unmanned aircraft system
technologies, capabilities, and workforce needs and to improve the
reliability of the use of unmanned aircraft systems in ways relevant to
the mission of the Department. In carrying out these activities, the
Secretary shall coordinate across all relevant offices and activities
at the Department, including the Office of Science, the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Nuclear Energy,
the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Electricity, the Office of
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, the Advanced
Research Projects Agency--Energy, the Office of Environmental
Management, the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security, the
National Nuclear Security Administration, the Artificial Intelligence
Technology Office, the UAS Research and Engineering Center, and any
other relevant office or activity as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Research Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary--
(1) shall formulate goals for unmanned aircraft systems
research activities to be supported by the Department,
including in the research areas under section (c);
(2) shall leverage the collective body of knowledge from
existing unmanned aircraft systems research and development
activities, including the work underway by the Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Research and Engineering Center;
(3) shall provide research experiences and training for
undergraduate and graduate students in unmanned aircraft
systems research and development, including in the fields of--
(A) artificial intelligence and machine learning;
(B) applied mathematics and algorithm development;
(C) advanced imaging, sensing, and detection
technologies;
(D) materials science and engineering; and
(E) advanced energy technologies and propulsion
approaches;
(4) shall ensure all activities under this section are
subject to the data management policies of the Department; and
(5) may support one or more Institutes as described in
section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing the
fields of unmanned aircraft systems and the mission of the
Department.
(c) Research Areas.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
shall award financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out
research, development, and demonstration projects over a range of
subject areas including--
(1) fundamental science, applied science, and advanced
technology areas, which may include--
(A) advanced sensor technologies and innovative
sensor materials, devices, and processes, including--
(i) optical capabilities, including Light
Detection and Ranging, hyperspectral,
thermographic, and visible imaging
capabilities;
(ii) nonoptical electromagnetic
capabilities, including radar and
radiofrequency capabilities;
(iii) acoustic capabilities, including
ultrasonic and infrasonic capabilities;
(iv) micro and nano technology;
(v) collection, processing, and storage of
uniquely identifiable signatures; and
(vi) radiation detection, gravimetric,
hyperspectral or other measurement modalities;
(B) advanced technologies and methods for remote
handling, precision positioning, and navigation
control;
(C) advanced technologies for secure autonomous
operation, including edge computing and artificial
intelligence;
(D) power electronics and wireless charging
systems;
(E) novel materials, including lightweight
materials and materials with robust performance under
extreme conditions;
(F) scalability of unmanned aircraft systems for
increased payload capacity;
(G) technologies and processes to improve secure
interoperability practices, including with existing
satellites, constellation networks, industrial control
systems, and surface-based facilities;
(H) strategies and technologies for integrated
cybersecurity considerations;
(I) strategies and technologies for improved
endurance, including lightweight long duration fuels,
batteries, fuel cells, and other storage systems;
(J) open architectures and advanced algorithms to
enable multi-sensor fusion and tracking of unmanned
aircraft systems;
(K) swarm and cooperative drone data collection and
operation, and integration of drone control systems
with dynamic sampling and real-time digital twin
simulations;
(L) approaches to allow for use of advanced
artificial intelligence and advanced computation for
improved aircraft structural and aerodynamic design;
(M) relevant microelectronics technologies,
including novel devices, systems, and architectures;
and
(N) strategies and technologies for energy
efficient manufacturing of specialized components;
(2) approaches for leveraging unmanned aircraft systems for
diverse applications, which may include--
(A) advanced assessment, characterization, mapping,
and recovery of energy resources, such as geothermal
energy, bioenergy feedstock resources, and critical
minerals resources;
(B) real time asset management, infrastructure
inspection, monitoring, fault prediction and detection,
and field testing of electric grid and energy
infrastructure systems, such as onshore and offshore
wind energy, fossil energy, solar energy, marine
energy, nuclear energy, and hydropower systems;
(C) damage assessment of the electric grid and
energy infrastructure following cyberattacks and other
human-caused destruction and other physical events such
as wildland fires, including prescribed burns
containment and emissions measurements, potential
health and safety effects from contaminant releases and
dispersals, and real-time analysis of impacted assets;
(D) leak detection of greenhouse gases related to
resource extraction and energy production and delivery,
including methane leak detection;
(E) agriculture and aquaculture applications;
(F) integrated data collection to inform and
enhance Department modeling capabilities, including the
development of climate and earth systems models and
computational tools;
(G) assistance in environmental management and
cleanup activities;
(H) assistance in Department infrastructure
management at National Laboratories and other relevant
Department sites;
(I) intrusion detection and facility monitoring for
physical security applications;
(J) data collection of building envelope features
and characteristics for rapid energy modeling purposes;
and
(L) improving efficiency of manufacturing
processes.
(d) Technology Transfer.--In carrying out subsection (a), and in
coordination with the Office of Technology Transitions, the Secretary
shall support technology transfer of unmanned aircraft systems
research.
(e) Facility Use.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary
may make available high-performance computing infrastructure and other
relevant research facilities and test beds at the National
Laboratories.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department to carry out this section--
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $57,881,775 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $60,775,863 for fiscal year 2028.
(g) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entity''
means--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a National Laboratory;
(C) a State, local, territorial, or Tribal
government research agency;
(D) a nonprofit research organization;
(E) a private sector entity; or
(F) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in
any of subparagraphs (A) through (E).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES
SEC. 701. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102
and in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as
appropriate, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for
Science and Technology--
(1) shall support research, development, evaluation, and
testing for advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems,
counter-UAS systems and detection systems capabilities,
including for--
(A) air domain awareness and advanced air mobility
and unmanned aircraft systems traffic monitoring;
(B) privacy, security, and cybersecurity of
advanced air mobility systems, unmanned aircraft
systems, and counter-UAS systems and detection systems
capabilities;
(C) safe operations of counter-UAS systems and
detection systems in the National Airspace System; and
(D) testing and evaluation of unmanned aircraft
systems and counter-UAS systems and detection systems
capabilities, performance systems engineering,
operational analysis and human systems integration,
including factors that impact performance of end-users
in the operation and maintenance of advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
(E) leveraging and preparing for adversarial use of
artificial intelligence against advanced air mobility,
unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-UAS systems and
detection systems; and
(F) maritime detection and monitoring of hazards to
navigation, potential and actual pollution incidents,
vessel discharge and vessel air emissions monitoring
and enforcement, and pollution response operations;
(2) shall coordinate with all relevant offices and programs
at the Department, including the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
Federal Protective Service, the Transportation Security
Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the United
States Secret Service, the Office of Strategy, Policy and
Plans, and the Department of Homeland Security Special Events
Program;
(3) may produce curated, standardized, representative,
secure, and privacy protected data sets for advanced air
mobility systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-UAS
systems and detection systems, including detection systems,
development, archiving, and use, prioritizing data for high-
value, high-risk research;
(4) may support one or more institutes as described in
section 201(a) for the purpose of advancing the field of
advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-
UAS systems and detection systems capabilities; and
(5) shall enter into and perform such contracts, including
cooperative research and development arrangements and grants
and cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be
necessary in the conduct of the work of the Department and on
such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate, in
furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
(b) Counter-uas Center of Excellence.--Subject to the availability
of appropriations for the purpose, the Secretary may, in consultation
with the Federal Aviation Administration and the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, establish a center of
excellence to carry out research and development that advances counter-
UAS systems and detection systems capabilities.
(1) Selection of host institution.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall select an
institution of higher education, or a consortium of
institutions of higher education, to host and maintain
the center of excellence established under this
subsection.
(B) Selection criteria.--In selecting a such an
institution or consortium, the Secretary shall--
(i) give preference to applicants with
strong past performance related to counter-UAS
systems and detection systems research,
education, and workforce development
activities;
(ii) give preference to applicants
geographically collocated within 100 miles of
Federal departments or agencies that currently
possess or operate extant counter-UAS systems
and detection systems facilities:
(iii) give preference to applicants having
proven abilities and strong research
enterprises in systems engineering, radio
frequency directed energy, radar and antenna
research and development, atmospheric
monitoring that can support of chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear detection
to include trace gases and particular matter,
target tracking, remote sensing and the ability
to leverage artificial intelligence and machine
learning to support the required data
analytics;
(iv) consider the extent to which the
applicant would involve the public and private
sectors; and
(v) consider the regional and national
impacts of the applicant's proposed research
and development activities.
(2) Use of funds.--Notwithstanding section 46502 of title
49, United States Code, or sections 32, 1030, 1367 and chapters
119 and 206 of title 18, the institution of higher education or
consortium may use funds provided under this subsection to
carry out fundamental research, evaluation, education,
workforce development, and training efforts related to counter-
UAS systems and detection systems subject areas, including
safety, privacy, security, cybersecurity, detecting,
identifying, monitoring, tracking, disrupting and seizing
control, confiscating, disabling, damaging, destruction, remote
sensing, forensics, testing and evaluation of systems
capabilities, performance, systems engineering, operational
analysis, and advanced technologies.
(3) Federal share.--The Department share of a grant under
this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the costs of
establishing and operating the center of excellence and related
research activities carried out by the grant recipient.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) Fiscal year 2024.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2024 for making awards under this subsection.
(B) Fiscal years 2025 through 2028.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
$5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028
for making awards under this subsection.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section--
(1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $33,075,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $34,728,750 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $36,465,187 for fiscal year 2028.
(d) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Homeland Security.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
TITLE VIII--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
SEC. 801. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--The Administrator, consistent with the research
plan in section 102, shall carry out and support research, development,
and demonstration activities to advance unmanned aircraft systems
technologies, and capabilities, and to enhance the deployment of, and
data collected by, unmanned aircraft systems relevant to the mission of
the Administration, incorporate such data into operations, and ensure
data are managed, stewarded and archived appropriately. In carrying out
these activities, the Administrator shall coordinate across all
relevant offices and programs at the Administration, including the
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Marine Fisheries
Service, National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, and the
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
(b) Research Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator--
(1) shall test, evaluate, and demonstrate the utility of
unmanned aircraft systems technologies for the Administration.
(2) may support Administration activities and Cooperative
Institute projects, and support and encourage Federal and State
agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations,
industry representatives, and others to--
(A) enable the transition of unmanned aircraft
systems capabilities from research to operations and
other uses and facilitate new unmanned aircraft systems
applications within the Administration;
(B) evaluate current observation strategies and
identify critical data gaps best suited for advanced
unmanned aircraft systems;
(C) prioritize activities that collect or acquire
routine observations which feed forecasts and models;
(D) test, develop, and evaluate safe systems
capable of safely operating beyond visual line of
sight;
(E) collect or acquire measurements of atmospheric
and oceanic parameters; and
(F) ensure the archiving, stewardship, utility, and
preservation of and public accessibility to the
observations collected are shared with the
Administration;
(3) shall provide and support research experiences and
training for undergraduate and graduate students in unmanned
aircraft systems research, development, and operations relevant
to the mission of the Administration, and other education and
training opportunities consistent with the purpose of this Act;
(4) may contribute to and supplement field campaigns at the
Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user
facility in order to incorporate unmanned aircraft systems and
resulting data into the development of combined observational
and modeling elements; and
(5) shall support and conduct leading-edge research and
development of innovative unmanned aircraft systems
technologies and concepts to advance research areas in
subsection (c).
(c) Research Areas.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall award financial assistance to eligible entities to
carry out projects on the use of unmanned aircraft systems to collect
environmental data and monitor climate impacts, including--
(1) severe weather forecasts and damage assessments;
(2) rapid flood mapping;
(3) real-time hurricane data, including close-to-surface
and low altitude meteorological measurements;
(4) enhanced atmospheric monitoring and sampling, including
physical and chemical measurements in the atmospheric boundary
layer;
(5) marine mammal detection and monitoring;
(6) near-real time harmful algal bloom measurements for
rapid response efforts;
(7) coastal restoration and habitation monitoring,
including detection and monitoring of marine debris, oil spill,
and hazardous materials;
(8) mapping, charting, and geodesy applications to support
safety of navigation;
(9) wildfire observations and data to improve fire weather
modeling;
(10) other areas related to science and stewardship of the
climate, weather, oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes; and
(11) any other areas the Administrator deems necessary and
appropriate.
(d) Priority.--In carrying out the research areas in subsection
(c), the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable,
prioritize activities that increase the Administration's operational
use of unmanned aircraft systems by extending the range of times,
location, and conditions in which observations can be made at lower
cost. As part of these activities, the Administrator may--
(1) enter into contracts with one or more entities in the
commercial data sector to acquire data collected by unmanned
aircraft systems; and
(2) leverage existing facilities, instruments, and tools,
including the Administration's satellites, fleet of ships, and
crewed aircraft.
(e) Technology Transfer.--In carrying out subsection (a) the
Administrator shall support technology transfer of unmanned aircraft
systems research by partnering with Federal agencies and industry.
(f) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate the
activities authorized in this section with the activities authorized in
section 3 of the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of
2018 (33 U.S.C. 4102) and engage with other Federal departments and
agencies, research communities, nongovernmental organizations, and
industry stakeholders through the interagency committee established by
section 103.
(g) Support of Institutes.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the
Administrator may support relevant activities at one or more Institutes
as described in section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing
the field of unmanned aircraft systems.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administration to carry out this section--
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $15,750,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $16,537,500 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $17,364,375 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $18,232,593 for fiscal year 2028.
(i) Definitions.--In this title:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entities''
means--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a National Laboratory;
(C) a NOAA Cooperative Institute;
(D) a State, local, territorial, or Tribal
government agency;
(E) a nonprofit organization;
(F) a private sector entity; or
(G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (F).
(3) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES
SEC. 901. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102,
the Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other Federal
agencies, shall carry out and support research, development, testing,
demonstration, technology transfer, and implementation activities to
enable advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems and to
facilitate the safe integration of advanced air mobility and unmanned
aircraft systems into the national airspace system, in areas
including--
(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) development of an industry consensus vehicle-to-vehicle
standard;
(6) safety, including collisions between advanced air
mobility and unmanned aircraft systems of various 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) Lessons Learned.--The Administrator shall apply lessons learned
from unmanned aircraft systems research, development, demonstration,
and testing to advanced air mobility systems.
(c) Research on Approaches to Evaluating Risk.--The Administrator
shall conduct research on approaches to evaluating risk in emerging
vehicles, technologies, and operations for unmanned aircraft systems
and advanced air mobility systems. Such research shall include--
(1) defining quantitative metrics, including those needed
for the Secretary of Transportation to make determinations and
establish requirements for the operations of certain unmanned
aircraft systems, as described under section 44807 of title 49,
United States Code, as amended by this title;
(2) developing risk-based processes and criteria to inform
the development of regulations and certification of complex
operations, to include autonomous beyond-visual-line-of-sight
operations, of unmanned aircraft systems of various sizes and
weights, and advanced air mobility systems; and
(3) considering the utility of performance standards to
make determinations under section 44807 of title 49, United
States Code, as amended by this title.
(d) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 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 research under
subsection (a)(6);
(2) a description of plans for and progress toward the
implementation of research and development under subsection
(c);
(3) a description of the Administration's progress using
research and development to inform the development of
certification guidance and regulations of--
(A) large unmanned aircraft systems, including
those weighing more than 55 pounds; and
(B) extended autonomous and remotely piloted
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 described in
section 376 of Public Law 115-254, the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 2018.
SEC. 902. PARTNERSHIPS FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND
TESTING.
(a) Study.--The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with
the National Academy of Public Administration to examine Administration
research, development, demonstration, and testing partnerships to
advance unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility and to
facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the
national airspace system.
(b) Considerations.--The study in subsection (a) shall--
(1) identify existing Administration partnerships with
external 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, development, demonstration,
and testing carried out, and associated arrangements for
performing research and development activities;
(3) review the extent to which the Administration uses the
results and outcomes of each partnership to advance the
research and development in unmanned aircraft systems;
(4) identify additional research and development areas, if
any, that may benefit from partnership arrangements, and
whether such research and development would require new
partnerships;
(5) identify any duplication of ongoing or planned
research, development, demonstration, or testing 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, development, demonstration, and testing
conducted under such partnerships;
(7) identify effective mechanisms, either new or already
existing, to facilitate coordination, evaluation, 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 partnerships broaden
participation from groups historically underrepresented in STEM
and include participation by industry, workforce, and labor
organizations; and
(10) review options for funding models best suited for such
partnerships, which may include cost-sharing and public-private
partnership models with industry.
(c) Transmittal.--The Administrator shall transmit the study
directed in subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 12
months after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 903. UAS TEST RANGES AND OPERATIONS.
(a) Extension.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 44803, in subsection (h), by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2028''; and
(2) in section 44807, in subsection (d), by striking
``2023'' and inserting ``2028''.
(b) Expansion.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in section 44803, in paragraph (b)(7), by inserting
after subparagraph (E)--
``(F) implementing unmanned aircraft systems
traffic management services for commercial unmanned
aircraft systems in uncontrolled airspace;
``(G) advanced air mobility concepts in controlled
airspace, including communication, navigation, and
surveillance standards;
``(H) the verification and validation of the
autonomy of unmanned aircraft systems; and
``(I) improving the cybersecurity of unmanned
aircraft systems.''; and
(2) in section 44807, in subsection (c), after
``proprietary systems'', by inserting ``, unmanned aircraft
systems traffic management systems, and advanced air mobility
systems''.
(c) Workforce Development.--Subsection (b) of section 44803 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (11) as
paragraphs (6) through (12), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph:
``(5) support, to the extent practicable, opportunities for
apprenticeships and internships in the research and development
activities and uses of test ranges to prepare, enhance, and
expand workforce skills;''.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
report that includes the following:
(1) The number of waivers granted under subsection (c) of
section 44803 of title 49, United States Code, with respect to
unmanned aircraft system test ranges and operations conducted
under such section;
(2) Measures taken to further implement subsection (c) of
section 44803 of title 49, United States Code;
(3) Measures taken to implement section 44807 of title 49,
United States Code; and
(4) Strategies to communicate broadly to industry regarding
the safest, most efficient, and effective path toward testing
goals.
SEC. 904. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Federal Aviation Administration Research and Development
Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration
to carry out section 901--
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
(2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(3) $22,050,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(4) $23,152,500 for fiscal year 2027; and
(5) $24,310,125 for fiscal year 2028.
(b) Partnerships for Research, Development, Demonstration, and
Testing.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administration
$1,000,000 to carry out section 902.
SEC. 905. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
Federal Aviation Administration.
TITLE X--LIMITATION
SEC. 1001. LIMITATION.
(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, none
of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be used for
the purchase, acquisition, research, development, or operation of
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems--
(1) produced or assembled in, or containing components
produced or assembled in, a foreign country of concern; or
(2) produced or assembled by entities owned, controlled by,
or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of the government
of, a foreign country of concern.
(b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply to
the acquisition of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems
for the purposes of research and development for improving the United
States counter-UAS systems and detection systems capabilities.
(c) Waiver.--The Secretary of Commerce may waive the limitation in
subsection (a) if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the
Director of National Intelligence, that such waiver is in the national
security interest of the United States.
(d) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Commerce shall report the
issuance of such a waiver to the relevant committees of jurisdiction of
Congress not later than 30 days after issuing such waiver.
(e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``foreign country of
concern'' means--
(1) a country that is a covered nation (as defined in
section 4872(d)(2) of title 10 United States Code); or
(2) any other country that the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of
National Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that
is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of
the United States.
Union Calendar No. 527
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3560
[Report No. 118-630, Part I]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian
unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and
development for economic and national security, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
August 13, 2024
Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an
amendment
August 13, 2024
Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and
Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed