[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 368 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 368
To amend the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to extend the existing
aviation workforce development programs and provide grants to develop
aviation manufacturing and supplier workforce, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 9, 2023
Mr. Kelly (for himself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to extend the existing
aviation workforce development programs and provide grants to develop
aviation manufacturing and supplier workforce, 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, Opportunity,
Recruiting, Knowledge, and Supply Act'' or the ``Aviation WORKS Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.
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 a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(3) a program to provide grants for eligible projects--
``(A) to develop the aviation manufacturing and
supplier workforce; or
``(B) to develop and support the education of
workers who design or produce any aircraft, aircraft
engine, propeller, or appliance, or a component, part,
or system thereof, that--
``(i) is produced under a production
approval issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration;
``(ii) has been issued a design approval by
the Federal Aviation Administration; or
``(iii) has an active application for a
design approval; and
``(4) a program to provide grants for eligible projects to
plan, establish, and expand workforce development partnership
programs in the aviation and aerospace industry sector.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph
(3); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraph:
``(2) Subsequent funding.--There is authorized to be
appropriated--
``(A) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2028 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(1);
``(B) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2028 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(2);
``(C) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2028 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(3); and
``(D) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2028 to provide grants under the program
established under subsection (a)(4).'';
(3) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following
new paragraphs:
``(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) an aviation company that actively designs or
produces any aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or
appliance, or a component, part, or system thereof,
covered under Federal Aviation Administration design
approval or application for design approval--
``(i) that--
``(I) operates a SAE AS9100-
certified process related to the
design, development, or provision of an
aviation product or service, including
a part, component or assembly;
``(II) holds or operates under a
type or production certificate under
section 44704 of title 49, United
States Code, or similar authorization;
or
``(III) has an active type
certificate application accepted by the
Federal Aviation Administration; or
``(ii) which--
``(I) is established, created, or
organized in the United States or under
the laws of the United States; and
``(II) has significant operations
in the United States, and a majority of
its employees engaged in aviation
manufacturing or development activities
and services, or aviation maintenance,
repair, or overhaul activities and
services based in the United States; or
``(B) an accredited institution of higher education
(as such term is defined in paragraph (1)(B)) or a high
school or a secondary school (as such terms are defined
in such paragraph) that has or is working to establish
an aviation manufacturing program.
``(4) An application for a grant under the program
established under subsection (a)(4) shall--
``(A) be submitted, in such form as the Secretary
may specify, by a partnership that--
``(i) is an industry or sector partnership
(as such term is defined in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3102)), or is in the process of
establishing an industry or sector partnership;
``(ii) includes an air carrier (as such
term is defined in paragraph (1)(A)), a flight
school described in paragraph (1)(C), a holder
of a certificate described in paragraph (2)(A),
or an aviation company described in paragraph
(3)(A);
``(iii) is comprised of multiple employers
from the aviation and aerospace industry;
``(iv) may include not more than 1 entity
that is a previous recipient of grant funding
from any program established under paragraphs
(1) through (3) of subsection (a), but such
entity may not serve as a fiscal agent (as
described in subparagraph (B)); and
``(v) does not include an entity that is a
current recipient of grant funding from any
program established under paragraphs (1)
through (3) of subsection (a), unless the
application demonstrates that any grant funding
currently received by the entity would expire
or otherwise cease prior to the receipt of the
grant funding under paragraph (4) of subsection
(a);
``(B) designate a partner from within the
partnership, or an intermediary which may be a State or
local workforce board or an accredited institution of
higher education (as such term is defined in paragraph
(1)(B)), to serve as the fiscal agent for the grant;
and
``(C) instruct the fiscal agent designated under
subparagraph (B) to, as appropriate--
``(i) receive funds;
``(ii) ensure sustained fiscal integrity
and accountability for expenditures of funds in
accordance with Federal Aviation Administration
regulations;
``(iii) respond to audit financial
findings;
``(iv) maintain proper accounting records
and documentation; and
``(v) prepare financial reports.'';
(4) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``pilot''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(3) For purposes of the program established under
subsection (a)(3), an eligible project is a project--
``(A) to establish or support educational programs
that teach technical skills used in aviation
manufacturing, including the production of components,
parts, or systems thereof for inclusion in an aircraft,
aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance;
``(B) to establish scholarships, internships, or
apprenticeships for individuals pursuing employment in
the aviation manufacturing industry;
``(C) to support outreach about careers in the
aviation manufacturing industry to--
``(i) primary, secondary, and post-
secondary school students; or
``(ii) to communities underrepresented in
the industry;
``(D) to support educational opportunities related
to aviation manufacturing in economically disadvantaged
geographic areas;
``(E) to support transition to careers in aviation
manufacturing, including for members of the Armed
Forces; or
``(F) to otherwise enhance aviation manufacturing
technical education or the aviation manufacturing
industry workforce.
``(4) For purposes of the program established under
subsection (a)(4), an eligible project is a project--
``(A) to carry out planning and partner development
activities, which may include--
``(i) convening key stakeholders as
identified in the application process to
establish or expand educational programs that
teach technical skills used in pilot training,
aviation maintenance, or aviation
manufacturing;
``(ii) conducting outreach to local
businesses and business associations, including
activities to increase marketing and activity
visibility within the community;
``(iii) conducting an evaluation of
workforce needs in the local area;
``(iv) conducting survey and planning
activities for partnership-related
infrastructure needs; or
``(v) recruiting veterans of military
service and individuals with barriers to
employment;
``(B) to provide career services as described in
section 134(c)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(2)(A));
``(C) to provide training services as described in
section 134(c)(3)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)(D)); or
``(D) to provide services to support the success
and retention of individuals who are participating in
any training program established under subsection
(a)(4).''; and
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``subsection (a)(1)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection
(a)''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) ensure that the applications selected for projects
established under subsection (a)(4) will allow participation
from major and regional air carriers and a diverse collection
of industry partners.''.
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