[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1883 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1883
To increase funding for aviation workforce development grant programs,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 8, 2023
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Moran, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Thune, Mr.
Kelly, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Warnock, and Mrs. Capito) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase funding for aviation workforce development grant programs,
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.
This Act may be cited as the ``Aviation Workforce Development and
Recruitment Act''.
SEC. 2. INCREASING FUNDING FOR AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT
PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) a program to provide grants for eligible projects to
support the education and recruitment of aviation manufacturing
technical workers and the development of the aviation
manufacturing workforce.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2023'' each
place it appears and inserting ``2029'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph
(3);
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraph:
``(2) Additional funding.--In addition to amounts available
for grants pursuant to paragraph (1), there is authorized to be
appropriated--
``(A) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2029 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(1);
``(B) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2029 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2029 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(3).''; and
(D) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by
subparagraph (B), by inserting ``(or, in the case of
fiscal years 2024 through 2029, $1,000,000)'' after
``$500,000'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``, a
postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002),'' after ``(20 U.S.C. 1001))'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``, a
postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1002),'' after ``(20 U.S.C. 1001))''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) An application for a grant under the program
established under subsection (a)(3) shall be submitted, in such
form as the Secretary may specify, by--
``(A) a holder of a type or production certificate
or similar authorization issued under section 44704 of
title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant
for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary;
``(B) an accredited institution of higher education
(as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), a postsecondary vocational
institution (as defined in section 102 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002), or a high
school or secondary school (as defined in section 7801
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7801); and
``(C) a State or local governmental entity.'';
(4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Eligible Projects.--For purposes of a program established
under subsection (a), an eligible project is a project--
``(1) to create and deliver a program designed to provide
students with meaningful aviation education that is designed to
prepare the students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace
engineers, unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation
maintenance technical workers, or aviation manufacturing
technical workers (as applicable to the relevant program
described in subsection (a));
``(2) to support the professional development of teachers
and other educators implementing a program described in
paragraph (1);
``(3) to establish new educational programs that teach
technical skills used by aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers,
unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation maintenance
technical workers, or aviation manufacturing technical workers
(as applicable to the relevant program described in subsection
(a)), including purchasing equipment, or to improve existing
such programs;
``(4) to establish scholarships or registered
apprenticeships for individuals pursuing employment as aircraft
pilots, aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft systems
operators, aviation maintenance technical workers, or aviation
manufacturing technical workers (as applicable to the relevant
program described in subsection (a));
``(5) to support outreach about careers as aircraft pilots,
aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft systems operators,
aviation maintenance technical workers, or aviation
manufacturing technical workers (as applicable to the relevant
program described in subsection (a)) to--
``(A) primary, secondary, and post-secondary school
students; or
``(B) communities underrepresented in the
applicable industry;
``(6) to support educational opportunities in both urban
and rural areas;
``(7) to support transition to careers as aircraft pilots,
aerospace engineers, unmanned aircraft systems operators,
aviation maintenance technical workers, or aviation
manufacturing technical workers (as applicable to the relevant
program described in subsection (a)), including for veterans
and members of the Armed Forces; or
``(8) to otherwise enhance or expand the aircraft pilot,
aerospace engineer, unmanned aircraft system operator
workforces, aviation maintenance technical worker, or aviation
manufacturing technical worker workforces.'';
(5) in subsection (e)
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``aviation
manufacturers,'' after ``repair stations,'' and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) give priority to applicants who partner with, or
establish links between, secondary schools and post-secondary
schools and who work collaboratively or participate in industry
or sector partnerships.''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Consultation With the Secretary of Education.--The Secretary
may consult with the Secretary of Education in--
``(1) developing the design of the grant application under
this section;
``(2) reviewing and selecting applications for grants for
eligible projects under this section; and
``(3) establishing considerations regarding program quality
and measurement of student outcomes.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (4) of section 48105 of title
49, United States Code, is amended by striking ``2023'' and inserting
``2029''.
(c) National Strategic Plan for Aviation Workforce Development.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall, to the
extent practicable and in consultation with other Federal
agencies and private individuals, establish a national
strategic plan for addressing projected shortages of aviation
workers in the aviation industry, including--
(A) any short-term, medium-term, and long-term
needs critical to the economy, national security,
workforce readiness, environmental concerns, and
priorities of the United States aviation sector, such
as emergency readiness and resilience; and
(B) any situation or condition that warrants
special attention by the Federal Government.
(2) Requirements.--The national strategic plan established
under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) take into account the activities and
accomplishments of all agencies in the executive branch
of the Federal Government that are related to carrying
out such national strategic plan; and
(B) include recommendations for legislation,
regulations, and budget proposals to carry out such
national strategic plan.
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