[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 697 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 697
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for air traffic
control training improvements, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2025
Mr. Hoeven (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Moran) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for air traffic
control training improvements, 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 ``Air Traffic Control Workforce
Development Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation
Administration.
SEC. 3. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 44506(c) of title 49, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Collegiate Training Initiative.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration shall maintain the Collegiate Training
Initiative program (including the Enhanced-Collegiate Training
Initiative program) by making new agreements and continuing
existing agreements with institutions of higher education (as
defined by the Administrator) under which the institutions
prepare students for the position of air traffic controller
with the Department of Transportation (as defined in section
2109 of title 5). The Administrator may establish standards for
the entry of institutions into the program and for their
continued participation.
``(2) Appointment of program graduates.--The Administrator
of the Federal Aviation Administration may appoint an
individual who has successfully completed a course of training
in a program described in paragraph (1) to the position of air
traffic controller noncompetitively in the excepted service (as
defined in section 2103 of title 5). An individual appointed
under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the
Administrator, subject to section 7511 of title 5. However, an
appointment under this paragraph may be converted from one in
the excepted service to a career conditional or career
appointment in the competitive civil service (as defined in
section 2102 of title 5) when the individual achieves full
performance level air traffic controller status, as determined
by the Administrator.
``(3) Enhanced-CTI grant program.--
``(A) Establishment.--The Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration shall establish and
carry out a grant program to award grants to
institutions of higher education (as defined by the
Administrator) that have been approved to, or are
seeking to (as determined appropriate by the
Administrator), participate in the Enhanced-Collegiate
Training Initiative program described in paragraph (1).
``(B) Grants.--
``(i) In general.--For the purpose of
carrying out the grant program established
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
make grants to institutions of higher
education.
``(ii) Use of funds.--An institution of
higher education shall use a grant awarded
under this paragraph for the following
purposes:
``(I) To develop curriculum for the
Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative
program required under paragraph (1).
``(II) To provide faculty,
simulators, and other necessary
classroom supplies (including medical
certificates and FAA-required tests) to
the Enhanced-Collegiate Training
Initiative program.
``(III) For any other purpose
determined appropriate by the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration.
``(iii) Eligibility.--To be eligible to
receive a grant under this paragraph, an
institution of higher education shall submit an
application to the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration at such time, in such
form, and containing such information as the
Administrator may require.
``(iv) Funding.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this
paragraph.''.
(b) Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative Program Faculty Annuity
Supplement.--Section 8421a(c) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) air traffic control instructor, or supervisor
thereof, at an institution of higher education participating in
the Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative program described
in section 44506(c) of title 49.''.
(c) FAA Academy and Collegiate Training Initiative Program
Curriculum Aviation Rulemaking Committee.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall convene an
aviation rulemaking committee to--
(A) review--
(i) the curricula of the air traffic
technical training academy of the FAA, the
Collegiate Training Initiative program, and the
Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative
program; and
(ii) the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (in
this section referred to as the ``ATSA'') exam;
(B) develop findings and recommendations regarding
the improvement and modernization of such curricula and
the ATSA exam; and
(C) provide to the Administrator a report on such
findings and recommendations and for other related
purposes as determined by the Administrator.
(2) Composition.--The aviation rulemaking committee
established under paragraph (1) shall consist of members
appointed by the Administrator, including representatives of--
(A) institutions of higher education that are
accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board
International;
(B) aviation industry organizations;
(C) FAA subject matter experts;
(D) the exclusive bargaining representative of the
air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of
title 5, United States Code; and
(E) other aviation safety experts determined
appropriate by the Administrator.
(3) Considerations.--The aviation rulemaking committee
established under paragraph (1) shall consider the following:
(A) The advancements in education technology,
including digital resources that may be incorporated
into a modern curriculum.
(B) The appropriate balance between the use of
theoretical knowledge and practical application.
(C) A review of instructional techniques to improve
the effectiveness of learning outcomes.
(D) The real-world applicability of air traffic
operations procedures included in the curriculum.
(E) Student success rates, including outcomes of
air traffic controller trainees when placed at
facilities for on-the-job training.
(F) Methods for reducing the subjectivity of
instructional techniques.
(G) Methods for improving the ATSA exam to support
controller facility placement determinations.
(H) Student success rates correlated to the
Collegiate Training Initiative program and the
Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative program
described in section 44506(c) of title 49, United
States Code.
(I) Other considerations as determined appropriate
by the Administrator.
(4) Duties.--The Administrator shall--
(A) not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, submit to Congress a copy of
the aviation rulemaking committee report provided to
the Administrator under paragraph (1)(C); and
(B) not later than 180 days after the date of
submission of the report under subparagraph (A), in
consultation with other agencies as determined
appropriate by the Administrator--
(i) initiate a rulemaking activity or make
such policy and guidance updates necessary to
address any consensus recommendations reached
by the aviation rulemaking committee; or
(ii) submit to Congress a supplemental
report with an explanation for each such
consensus recommendation not adopted by the
Administrator through an action under clause
(i).
(5) Prohibition on compensation.--The members of the
aviation rulemaking committee convened under this subsection
shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Federal
Government by reason of their service on such committee.
SEC. 4. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS AND RETENTION
INCENTIVES.
(a) FAA Facility Training Equipment Improvements.--Section 415 of
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44506 note) is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for the purpose of the
procurement and placement of TSS at air traffic control facilities in
the United States, consistent with the requirements of this section.''.
(b) Air Traffic Controller Qualification Incentives and Retention
Enhancements.--Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Retention Bonuses.--
``(1) CPC qualification incentive.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall establish, in accordance with the
requirements described in section 40122(a), a qualification
incentive program for trainees for the position of air traffic
controller (as defined in section 2109 of title 5, United
States Code) with the Department of Transportation.
``(2) ATC retention incentive.--The Secretary of
Transportation shall establish, in accordance with the
requirements described in section 40122(a), a retention
incentive program for air traffic controllers (as defined in
section 2109 of title 5, United States Code) with the
Department of Transportation who are Certified Professional
Controllers.''.
SEC. 5. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Air Traffic Controller Mental Health Improvements.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall
establish, in consultation with aviation industry stakeholders
and aviation medical professionals, a training course to--
(A) support the development of mental health
providers with an innate knowledge and understanding of
the FAA criteria and decision making regarding mental
health conditions for air traffic controllers; and
(B) develop advanced training programs for Aviation
Medical Examiners with respect to mental health.
(2) Considerations.--In establishing the training course
under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider--
(A) the feasibility of virtual and in-person course
offerings; and
(B) the need for an advisory board to ensure
continuous improvement of the training course.
(b) Report on the Airport Non-Cooperative Surveillance Radar
Program.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this
subsection, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on the status
of the Airport Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar (in this subsection
referred to as ``ANSR'') program, including--
(1) a determination of funding needs for the ANSR program;
(2) a cost-benefit analysis of the most effective solutions
to provide ongoing ANSR services, including a comparison of a
sustainment approach versus a replacement approach;
(3) an analysis of how the FAA intends to provide
commercial service airports with the necessary equipment,
including radar, to detect and mitigate any threat posed by
non-cooperative flying objects, including aircraft, unmanned
aerial systems, balloons, and other objects determined
appropriate by the Administrator;
(4) an update on the Radar Divestiture Program;
(5) the projected lifecycle support needs of the existing
inventory of non-cooperative Airport Surveillance Radar Models
8, 9, and 11; and
(6) any other information determined appropriate by the
Administrator.
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