[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1935 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1935
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to
provide grants to improve the preparation and representation of certain
students in aviation-related fields.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 13, 2023
Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kaine,
Mr. Lujan, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to
provide grants to improve the preparation and representation of certain
students in aviation-related fields.
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 ``Advancing Inclusion and
Representation in the Workforce of Aviation and Transportation Systems
Act'' or the ``AIRWAYS Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANDING AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to provide
grants for eligible projects to support the education and recruitment
of--
(1) aircraft pilots and the development of the aircraft
pilot workforce;
(2) aviation maintenance technical workers and the
development of the aviation maintenance workforce; and
(3) aviation manufacturing technical workers and the
development of the aviation manufacturing workforce.
(b) Eligible Applicants.--
(1) Aircraft pilot workforce.--An application for a grant
for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(1) may be
submitted by--
(A) an institution of higher education, a
postsecondary vocational institution, or a local
educational agency;
(B) a flight school that provides flight training,
as defined in part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, or that holds a pilot school certificate
under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations;
(C) a State or local governmental entity;
(D) a non-profit organization that participates in
the creation and delivery of workforce programs; or
(E) an air carrier in partnership with an
institution of higher education, a postsecondary
vocational institution, or a local educational agency,
or a flight school described in subparagraph (B).
(2) Aviation maintenance workforce.--An application for a
grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(2)
may be submitted by--
(A) an institution of higher education, a
postsecondary vocational institution, or a local
educational agency;
(B) a holder of a certificate issued under part 21,
121, 135, or 145 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, or a labor organization representing
aviation maintenance workers;
(C) 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;
(D) a State or local governmental entity; or
(E) a non-profit organization that participates in
the creation and delivery of workforce programs.
(3) Aviation manufacturing workforce.--An application for a
grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(3)
may be submitted by--
(A) an institution of higher education, a
postsecondary vocational institution, or a local
educational agency;
(B) 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;
(C) a State or local governmental entity; or
(D) a non-profit organization that participates in
the creation and delivery of workforce programs.
(4) Form.--The Secretary shall specify the form and manner
in which to submit an application for a grant for an eligible
project under this section.
(c) Eligible Projects.--For purposes of this section, an eligible
project is a project--
(1) to create and deliver a program designed to provide
students enrolled in a public secondary school with meaningful
aviation education that is designed to help prepare the
students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers,
unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation maintenance
technical workers, or aviation manufacturing technical workers;
(2) to support the professional development of teachers and
other educators in implementing the program described in
paragraph (1);
(3) to establish new educational programs that teach
technical skills used by aircraft pilots, in aviation
maintenance, or in aviation manufacturing, including purchasing
equipment, or to improve existing such programs;
(4) to establish scholarships or registered apprenticeships
for individuals pursuing employment as aircraft pilots, or in
the aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing industries;
(5) to support outreach about careers as aircraft pilots,
or careers in the aviation maintenance and aviation
manufacturing industries to--
(A) students enrolled in public elementary schools
and public secondary schools, and postsecondary school
students; or
(B) communities under represented in the aviation
pilot, maintenance, and manufacturing industries,
including women, minorities, and individuals in
economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural
communities;
(6) to support educational opportunities related to
aircraft pilots, aviation maintenance, and aviation
manufacturing in economically disadvantaged geographic areas
and rural communities;
(7) to support transition to aircraft pilot careers or
careers in aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing,
including for veterans and members of the Armed Forces; or
(8) to otherwise expand the aircraft pilot, aviation
maintenance, and aviation manufacturing workforces.
(d) Grant Application Review.--In reviewing and selecting
applications for grants for eligible projects under this section, the
Secretary shall--
(1) give priority to applicants that--
(A) provide an assurance to use grant funds to
encourage the participation of populations that are
under represented in the aviation industry, including
women, minorities, and individuals in economically
disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities;
(B) provide an assurance to use grant funds to
encourage the participation of populations that are
under represented in the aviation industry, including
women, minorities, and individuals in economically
disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities,
to address the workforce needs of rural and regional
airports; or
(C) provide an assurance to strengthen aviation
programs at a minority-serving institution, a public
institution of higher education, or a public
postsecondary vocational institution; and
(2) prior to selecting among competing applications,
consult, as appropriate, with representatives of aircraft
repair stations, design and production approval holders, air
carriers, labor organizations, business aviation, general
aviation, educational institutions, and other relevant aviation
sectors.
(e) Partnership With Other Entities.--A recipient of a grant under
this section may enter into a partnership agreement with an institution
of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or another entity, to
carry out activities with the grant funds.
(f) Grant Amount.--The maximum amount of a grant awarded for an
eligible project under this section for a fiscal year shall be
$1,000,000.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years 2024
through 2029, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary for making grants for eligible projects under this
section.
(h) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' has the meaning
given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States
Code.
(2) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has
the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(4) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
(5) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution described in section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)).
(6) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term
``postsecondary vocational institution'' has the meaning given
that term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
(7) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
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