[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2881 Engrossed in House (EH)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2881

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for 
the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 
to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for 
         the national aviation system, 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 ``FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Amendments to title 49, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Effective date.
                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

                  Subtitle A--Funding of FAA Programs

Sec. 101. Airport planning and development and noise compatibility 
                            planning and programs.
Sec. 102. Air navigation facilities and equipment.
Sec. 103. FAA operations.
Sec. 104. Research, engineering, and development.
Sec. 105. Funding for aviation programs.
                 Subtitle B--Passenger Facility Charges

Sec. 111. PFC authority.
Sec. 112. PFC eligibility for bicycle storage.
Sec. 113. Noise compatibility projects.
Sec. 114. Intermodal ground access project pilot program.
Sec. 115. Impacts on airports of accommodating connecting passengers.
                   Subtitle C--Fees for FAA Services

Sec. 121. Update on overflights.
Sec. 122. Registration fees.
                     Subtitle D--AIP Modifications

Sec. 131. Amendments to AIP definitions.
Sec. 132. Amendments to grant assurances.
Sec. 133. Government share of project costs.
Sec. 134. Amendments to allowable costs.
Sec. 135. Uniform certification training for airport concessions under 
                            disadvantaged business enterprise program.
Sec. 136. Preference for small business concerns owned and controlled 
                            by disabled veterans.
Sec. 137. Calculation of State apportionment fund.
Sec. 138. Reducing apportionments.
Sec. 139. Minimum amount for discretionary fund.
Sec. 140. Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.
Sec. 141. Use of apportioned amounts.
Sec. 142. Sale of private airport to public sponsor.
Sec. 143. Airport privatization pilot program.
Sec. 144. Airport security program.
Sec. 145. Sunset of pilot program for purchase of airport development 
                            rights.
Sec. 146. Extension of grant authority for compatible land use planning 
                            and projects by State and local 
                            governments.
Sec. 147. Repeal of limitations on Metropolitan Washington Airports 
                            Authority.
Sec. 148. Midway Island Airport.
Sec. 149. Puerto Rico minimum guarantee.
Sec. 150. Miscellaneous amendments.
  TITLE II--NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND AIR TRAFFIC 
                         CONTROL MODERNIZATION

Sec. 201. Mission statement; sense of Congress.
Sec. 202. Next generation air transportation system joint planning and 
                            development office.
Sec. 203. Next Generation Air Transportation Senior Policy Committee.
Sec. 204. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast services.
Sec. 205. Inclusion of stakeholders in air traffic control 
                            modernization projects.
Sec. 206. GAO review of challenges associated with transforming to the 
                            Next Generation Air Transportation System.
Sec. 207. GAO review of Next Generation Air Transportation System 
                            acquisition and procedures development.
Sec. 208. DOT inspector general review of operational and approach 
                            procedures by a third party.
Sec. 209. Expert review of enterprise architecture for Next Generation 
                            Air Transportation System.
Sec. 210. NEXTGEN technology testbed.
Sec. 211. Clarification of authority to enter into reimbursable 
                            agreements.
Sec. 212. Definition of air navigation facility.
Sec. 213. Improved management of property inventory.
Sec. 214. Clarification to acquisition reform authority.
Sec. 215. Assistance to foreign aviation authorities.
Sec. 216. Front line manager staffing.
Sec. 217. Flight service stations.
Sec. 218. NextGen Research and Development Center of Excellence.
Sec. 219. Airspace redesign.
                           TITLE III--SAFETY

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 301. Age standards for pilots.
Sec. 302. Judicial review of denial of airman certificates.
Sec. 303. Release of data relating to abandoned type certificates and 
                            supplemental type certificates.
Sec. 304. Inspection of foreign repair stations.
Sec. 305. Runway safety.
Sec. 306. Improved pilot licenses.
Sec. 307. Aircraft fuel tank safety improvement.
Sec. 308. Flight crew fatigue.
Sec. 309. Occupational safety and health standards for flight 
                            attendants on board aircraft.
Sec. 310. Aircraft surveillance in mountainous areas.
Sec. 311. Off-airport, low-altitude aircraft weather observation 
                            technology.
Sec. 312. Noncertificated maintenance providers.
Sec. 313. Aircraft rescue and firefighting standards.
                 Subtitle B--Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Sec. 321. Commercial unmanned aircraft systems integration plan.
Sec. 322. Special rules for certain unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 323. Public unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 324. Definitions.
                   TITLE IV--AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 401. Monthly air carrier reports.
Sec. 402. Flight operations at Reagan National Airport.
Sec. 403. EAS contract guidelines.
Sec. 404. Essential air service reform.
Sec. 405. Small community air service.
Sec. 406. Air passenger service improvements.
Sec. 407. Contents of competition plans.
Sec. 408. Extension of competitive access reports.
Sec. 409. Contract tower program.
Sec. 410. Airfares for members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 411. Medical oxygen and portable respiratory assistive devices.
Sec. 412. Repeal of essential air service local participation program.
Sec. 413. GAO study of essential air service subsidy cap.
Sec. 414. Notice to communities prior to termination of eligibility for 
                            subsidized essential air service.
Sec. 415. Restoration of eligibility to a place determined by the 
                            Secretary to be ineligible for subsidized 
                            essential air service.
Sec. 416. Office of Rural Aviation.
Sec. 417. Adjustments to compensation for significantly increased 
                            costs.
Sec. 418. Review of air carrier flight delays, cancellations, and 
                            associated causes.
Sec. 419. European Union rules for passenger rights.
Sec. 420. Establishment of advisory committee for aviation consumer 
                            protection.
Sec. 421. Denied boarding compensation.
Sec. 422. Schedule reduction.
Sec. 423. Expansion of dot airline consumer complaint investigations.
          TITLE V--ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND STREAMLINING

Sec. 501. Amendments to air tour management program.
Sec. 502. State block grant program.
Sec. 503. Airport funding of special studies or reviews.
Sec. 504. Grant eligibility for assessment of flight procedures.
Sec. 505. CLEEN research, development, and implementation partnership.
Sec. 506. Prohibition on operating certain aircraft weighing 75,000 
                            pounds or less not complying with stage 3 
                            noise levels.
Sec. 507. Environmental mitigation pilot program.
Sec. 508. Aircraft departure queue management pilot program.
Sec. 509. High performance and sustainable air traffic control 
                            facilities.
Sec. 510. Regulatory responsibility for aircraft engine noise and 
                            emissions standards.
Sec. 511. Continuation of air quality sampling.
Sec. 512. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 513. Airport noise compatibility planning study, Port Authority of 
                            New York and New Jersey.
                TITLE VI--FAA EMPLOYEES AND ORGANIZATION

Sec. 601. Federal Aviation Administration personnel management system.
Sec. 602. MSPB remedial authority for FAA employees.
Sec. 603. FAA technical training and staffing.
Sec. 604. Designee program.
Sec. 605. Staffing model for aviation safety inspectors.
Sec. 606. Safety critical staffing.
Sec. 607. FAA air traffic controller staffing.
Sec. 608. Assessment of training programs for air traffic controllers.
Sec. 609. Collegiate training initiative study.
Sec. 610. FAA Task Force on Air Traffic Control Facility Conditions.
                     TITLE VII--AVIATION INSURANCE

Sec. 701. General authority.
Sec. 702. Extension of authority to limit third party liability of air 
                            carriers arising out of acts of terrorism.
Sec. 703. Clarification of reinsurance authority.
Sec. 704. Use of independent claims adjusters.
Sec. 705. Extension of program authority.
                       TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 801. Air carrier citizenship.
Sec. 802. Disclosure of data to Federal agencies in interest of 
                            national security.
Sec. 803. FAA access to criminal history records and database systems.
Sec. 804. Clarification of air carrier fee disputes.
Sec. 805. Study on national plan of integrated airport systems.
Sec. 806. Express carrier employee protection.
Sec. 807. Consolidation and realignment of FAA facilities.
Sec. 808. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance for National 
                            Transportation Safety Board employees.
Sec. 809. GAO study on cooperation of airline industry in international 
                            child abduction cases.
Sec. 810. Lost Nation Airport, Ohio.
Sec. 811. Pollock Municipal Airport, Louisiana.
Sec. 812. Human intervention and motivation study program.
Sec. 813. Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone.
Sec. 814. Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska.
Sec. 815. 1940 Air Terminal Museum at William P. Hobby Airport, 
                            Houston, Texas.
Sec. 816. Duty periods and flight time limitations applicable to flight 
                            crewmembers.
Sec. 817. Labor integration.
Sec. 818. Pilot program for redevelopment of airport properties.
Sec. 819. Helicopter operations over Long Island, New York.
Sec.  820. Cabin temperature standards study.
Sec. 821. Civil penalties technical amendments.
Sec. 822. Realignment of terminal radar approach control at Palm Beach 
                            International Airport.
Sec. 823. Study and report on alleviating congestion.
Sec. 824. Airline personnel training enhancement.
Sec. 825. Study on Feasibility of Development of a Public Internet Web-
                            based Search Engine on Wind Turbine 
                            Installation Obstruction.
          TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 901. Short title.
Sec. 902. Definitions.
Sec. 903. Interagency research initiative on the impact of aviation on 
                            the climate.
Sec. 904. Research program on runways.
Sec. 905. Research on design for certification.
Sec. 906. Centers of excellence.
Sec. 907. Airport cooperative research program.
Sec. 908. Unmanned aircraft systems.
Sec. 909. Research grants program involving undergraduate students.
Sec. 910. Research program on space weather and aviation.
Sec. 911. Aviation gas research and development program.
Sec. 912. Research reviews and assessments.
Sec. 913. Review of FAA's aviation safety-related research programs.
Sec. 914. Research program on alternative jet fuel technology for civil 
                            aircraft.
Sec. 915. Center for excellence in aviation employment.
            TITLE X--AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND FINANCING

Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Extension and modification of taxes funding airport and 
                            airway trust fund.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 49, 
United States Code.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act shall apply only to fiscal years beginning after 
September 30, 2007.

                        TITLE I--AUTHORIZATIONS

                  Subtitle A--Funding of FAA Programs

SEC. 101. AIRPORT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND NOISE COMPATIBILITY 
              PLANNING AND PROGRAMS.

     (a) Authorization.--Section 48103 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``September 30, 2003'' and inserting 
        ``September 30, 2007''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(1) $3,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            ``(2) $3,900,000,000 fiscal year 2009;
            ``(3) $4,000,000,000 fiscal year 2010; and
            ``(4) $4,100,000,000 fiscal year 2011.''.
    (b) Obligational Authority.--Section 47104(c) is amended by 
striking ``September 30, 2007'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.

SEC. 102. AIR NAVIGATION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 48101(a) is amended 
by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) $3,120,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            ``(2) $3,246,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            ``(3) $3,259,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            ``(4) $3,353,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Section 48101 is amended by striking subsections 
(c) through (i) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) Wake Vortex Mitigation.--Of amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a), such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2011 may be used for the development and analysis of wake 
vortex mitigation, including advisory systems.
    ``(d) Weather Hazards.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (a), such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2008 through 2011 may be used for the development of in-flight 
        and ground-based weather threat mitigation systems, including 
        ground de-icing and anti-icing systems and other systems for 
        predicting, detecting, and mitigating the effects of certain 
        weather conditions on both airframes and engines.
            ``(2) Specific hazards.--Weather conditions referred to in 
        paragraph (1) include--
                    ``(A) ground-based icing threats such as ice 
                pellets and freezing drizzle;
                    ``(B) oceanic weather, including convective 
                weather, and other hazards associated with oceanic 
                operations (where commercial traffic is high and only 
                rudimentary satellite sensing is available) to reduce 
                the hazards presented to commercial aviation, including 
                convective weather ice crystal ingestion threats; and
                    ``(C) en route turbulence prediction.
    ``(e) Safety Management Systems.--Of amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a) and section 106(k)(1), such sums as may be necessary for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 may be used to advance the 
development and implementation of safety management systems.
    ``(f) Runway Incursion Reduction Programs.--Of amounts appropriated 
under subsection (a), $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $10,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2009, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $12,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2011 may be used for the development and implementation of 
runway incursion reduction programs.
    ``(g) Runway Status Lights.--Of amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a), $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $27,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2009, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $20,000,000 for 
2011 may be used for the acquisition and installation of runway status 
lights.
    ``(h) Additional Programs in Fiscal Year 2008.--Of amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a), $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2008 may 
be used for--
            ``(1) system capacity, planning, and improvement;
            ``(2) operations concept validation;
            ``(3) NAS weather requirements;
            ``(4) Airspace Management Lab;
            ``(5) Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS); and
            ``(6) wind profiling and weather research, Juneau.
    ``(i) Additional Programs in Fiscal Years 2009-2011.--Of amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a), $14,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2009, 2010, and 2011 may be used for--
            ``(1) system capacity, planning, and improvement;
            ``(2) operations concept validation;
            ``(3) NAS weather requirements; and
            ``(4) Airspace Management Lab.''.

SEC. 103. FAA OPERATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 106(k)(1) is amended by striking 
subparagraphs (A) through (D) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $8,726,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    ``(B) $8,978,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    ``(C) $9,305,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
                    ``(D) $9,590,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.
    (b) Authorized Expenditures.--Section 106(k)(2) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (F);
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (G) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and
            (3) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) (as so redesignated) by 
        striking ``2004 through 2007'' and inserting ``2008 through 
        2011''.
    (c) Airline Data and Analysis.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation out of the Airport and 
Airway Trust Fund established by section 9502 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9502) to fund airline data collection and 
analysis by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in the Research and 
Innovative Technology Administration of the Department of 
Transportation--
            (1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 
        2011.

SEC. 104. RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 48102(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11)(L) by striking ``and'';
            (2) in paragraph (12)(L) by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) for fiscal year 2008, $335,191,000, including--
                    ``(A) $7,350,000 for fire research and safety;
                    ``(B) $4,086,000 for propulsion and fuel systems;
                    ``(C) $2,713,000 for advanced materials and 
                structural safety;
                    ``(D) $3,574,000 for atmospheric hazards and 
                digital system safety;
                    ``(E) $14,931,000 for aging aircraft;
                    ``(F) $2,202,000 for aircraft catastrophic failure 
                prevention research;
                    ``(G) $14,651,000 for flightdeck maintenance, 
                system integration, and human factors;
                    ``(H) $9,517,000 for aviation safety risk analysis;
                    ``(I) $15,254,000 for air traffic control, 
                technical operations, and human factors;
                    ``(J) $6,780,000 for aeromedical research;
                    ``(K) $19,888,000 for weather programs;
                    ``(L) $6,310,000 for unmanned aircraft systems 
                research;
                    ``(M) $18,100,000 for the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System Joint Planning and Development 
                Office;
                    ``(N) $10,755,000 for wake turbulence;
                    ``(O) $20,469,000 for environment and energy;
                    ``(P) $1,184,000 for system planning and resource 
                management;
                    ``(Q) $3,415,000 for the William J. Hughes 
                Technical Center Laboratory Facility;
                    ``(R) $74,200,000 for the Center for Advanced 
                Aviation System Development;
                    ``(S) $2,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--capacity;
                    ``(T) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--environment;
                    ``(U) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--safety;
                    ``(V) $3,600,000 for GPS civil requirements;
                    ``(W) $15,000,000 for Safe Flight 21, Alaska 
                Capstone;
                    ``(X) $8,907,000 for airports technology research--
                capacity;
                    ``(Y) $9,805,000 for airports technology research--
                safety;
            ``(14) for fiscal year 2009, $481,554,000, including--
                    ``(A) $8,457,000 for fire research and safety;
                    ``(B) $4,050,000 for propulsion and fuel systems;
                    ``(C) $2,686,000 for advanced materials and 
                structural safety;
                    ``(D) $3,568,000 for atmospheric hazards and 
                digital system safety;
                    ``(E) $14,683,000 for aging aircraft;
                    ``(F) $2,158,000 for aircraft catastrophic failure 
                prevention research;
                    ``(G) $37,499,000 for flightdeck maintenance, 
                system integration, and human factors;
                    ``(H) $8,349,000 for aviation safety risk analysis;
                    ``(I) $15,323,000 for air traffic control, 
                technical operations, and human factors;
                    ``(J) $6,932,000 for aeromedical research;
                    ``(K) $22,336,000 for weather program;
                    ``(L) $6,738,000 for unmanned aircraft systems 
                research;
                    ``(M) $18,100,000 for the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System Joint Planning and Development 
                Office;
                    ``(N) $10,560,000 for wake turbulence;
                    ``(O) $35,039,000 for environment and energy;
                    ``(P) $1,847,000 for system planning and resource 
                management;
                    ``(Q) $3,548,000 for the William J. Hughes 
                Technical Center Laboratory Facility;
                    ``(R) $85,000,000 for Center for Advanced Aviation 
                System Development;
                    ``(S) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--capacity;
                    ``(T) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--environment;
                    ``(U) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--safety;
                    ``(V) $3,469,000 for GPS civil requirements;
                    ``(W) $20,000,000 for Safe Flight 21, Alaska 
                Capstone;
                    ``(X) $8,907,000 for airports technology research--
                capacity;
                    ``(Y) $9,805,000 for airports technology research--
                safety;
            ``(15) for fiscal year 2010, $486,502,000, including--
                    ``(A) $8,546,000 for fire research and safety;
                    ``(B) $4,075,000 for propulsion and fuel systems;
                    ``(C) $2,700,000 for advanced materials and 
                structural safety;
                    ``(D) $3,608,000 for atmospheric hazards and 
                digital system safety;
                    ``(E) $14,688,000 for aging aircraft;
                    ``(F) $2,153,000 for aircraft catastrophic failure 
                prevention research;
                    ``(G) $36,967,000 for flightdeck maintenance, 
                system integration, and human factors;
                    ``(H) $8,334,000 for aviation safety risk analysis;
                    ``(I) $15,471,000 for air traffic control, 
                technical operations, and human factors;
                    ``(J) $7,149,000 for aeromedical research;
                    ``(K) $23,286,000 for weather program;
                    ``(L) $6,236,000 for unmanned aircraft systems 
                research;
                    ``(M) $18,100,000 for the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System Joint Planning and Development 
                Office;
                    ``(N) $10,412,000 for wake turbulence;
                    ``(O) $34,678,000 for environment and energy;
                    ``(P) $1,827,000 for system planning and resource 
                management;
                    ``(Q) $3,644,000 for William J. Hughes Technical 
                Center Laboratory Facility;
                    ``(R) $90,000,000 for the Center for Advanced 
                Aviation System Development;
                    ``(S) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--capacity;
                    ``(T) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--environment;
                    ``(U) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--safety;
                    ``(V) $3,416,000 for GPS civil requirements;
                    ``(W) $20,000,000 for Safe Flight 21, Alaska 
                Capstone;
                    ``(X) $8,907,000 for airports technology research--
                capacity;
                    ``(Y) $9,805,000 for airports technology research--
                safety; and
            ``(16) for fiscal year 2011, $514,832,000, including--
                    ``(A) $8,815,000 for fire research and safety;
                    ``(B) $4,150,000 for propulsion and fuel systems;
                    ``(C) $2,747,000 for advanced materials and 
                structural safety;
                    ``(D) $3,687,000 for atmospheric hazards and 
                digital system safety;
                    ``(E) $14,903,000 for aging aircraft;
                    ``(F) $2,181,000 for aircraft catastrophic failure 
                prevention research;
                    ``(G) $39,245,000 for flightdeck maintenance, 
                system integration and human factors;
                    ``(H) $8,446,000 for aviation safety risk analysis;
                    ``(I) $15,715,000 for air traffic control, 
                technical operations, and human factors;
                    ``(J) $7,390,000 for aeromedical research;
                    ``(K) $23,638,000 for weather program;
                    ``(L) $6,295,000 for unmanned aircraft systems 
                research;
                    ``(M) $18,100,000 for the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System Joint Planning and Development 
                Office;
                    ``(N) $10,471,000 for wake turbulence;
                    ``(O) $34,811,000 for environment and energy;
                    ``(P) $1,836,000 for system planning and resource 
                management;
                    ``(Q) $3,758,000 for William J. Hughes Technical 
                Center Laboratory Facility;
                    ``(R) $114,000,000 for Center for Advanced Aviation 
                System Development;
                    ``(S) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--capacity;
                    ``(T) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--environment;
                    ``(U) $5,000,000 for the Airport Cooperative 
                Research Program--safety;
                    ``(V) $3,432,000 for GPS civil requirements;
                    ``(W) $20,000,000 for Safe Flight 21, Alaska 
                Capstone;
                    ``(X) $8,907,000 for airports technology research--
                capacity;
                    ``(Y) $9,805,000 for airports technology research--
                safety.''.

SEC. 105. FUNDING FOR AVIATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Airport and Airway Trust Fund Guarantee.--Section 
48114(a)(1)(A) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--The total budget resources made 
                available from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund each 
                fiscal year through fiscal year 2011 pursuant to 
                sections 48101, 48102, 48103, and 106(k) shall--
                            ``(i) in each of fiscal years 2008 and 
                        2009, be equal to 95 percent of the estimated 
                        level of receipts plus interest credited to the 
                        Airport and Airway Trust Fund for that fiscal 
                        year; and
                            ``(ii) in each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                        2011, be equal to the sum of--
                                    ``(I) 95 percent of the estimated 
                                level of receipts plus interest 
                                credited to the Airport and Airway 
                                Trust Fund for that fiscal year; and
                                    ``(II) the actual level of receipts 
                                plus interest credited to the Airport 
                                and Airway Trust Fund for the second 
                                preceding fiscal year minus the total 
                                amount made available for obligation 
                                from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
                                for the second preceding fiscal year.
                Such amounts may be used only for aviation investment 
                programs listed in subsection (b).''.
    (b) Additional Authorizations of Appropriations From the General 
Fund.--Section 48114(a)(2) is amended by striking ``2007'' and 
inserting ``2011''.
    (c) Estimated Level of Receipts Plus Interest Defined.--Section 
48114(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading by striking ``Level'' and 
        inserting ``Estimated level''; and
            (2) by striking ``level of receipts plus interest'' and 
        inserting ``estimated level of receipts plus interest''.
    (d) Enforcement of Guarantees.--Section 48114(c)(2) is amended by 
striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2011''.

                 Subtitle B--Passenger Facility Charges

SEC. 111. PFC AUTHORITY.

    (a) PFC Defined.--Section 40117(a)(5) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(5) Passenger facility charge.--The term `passenger 
        facility charge' means a charge or fee imposed under this 
        section.''.
    (b) Increase in PFC Maximum Level.--Section 40117(b)(4) is amended 
by striking ``$4.00 or $4.50'' and inserting ``$4.00, $4.50, $5.00, 
$6.00, or $7.00''.
    (c) Pilot Program for PFC at Nonhub Airports.--Section 40117(l) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (7); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (7).
    (d) Correction of References.--
            (1) Section 40117.--Section 40117 is amended--
                    (A) in the section heading by striking ``fees'' and 
                inserting ``charges'';
                    (B) in the heading for subsection (e) by striking 
                ``Fees'' and inserting ``Charges'';
                    (C) in the heading for subsection (l) by striking 
                ``Fee'' and inserting ``Charge'';
                    (D) in the heading for paragraph (5) of subsection 
                (l) by striking ``fee'' and inserting ``charge'';
                    (E) in the heading for subsection (m) by striking 
                ``Fees'' and inserting ``Charges'';
                    (F) in the heading for paragraph (1) of subsection 
                (m) by striking ``fees'' and inserting ``charges'';
                    (G) by striking ``fee'' each place it appears 
                (other than the second sentence of subsection (g)(4)) 
                and inserting ``charge''; and
                    (H) by striking ``fees'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``charges''.
            (2) Other references.--Subtitle VII is amended by striking 
        ``fee'' and inserting ``charge'' each place it appears in each 
        of the following sections:
                    (A) Section 47106(f)(1).
                    (B) Section 47110(e)(5).
                    (C) Section 47114(f).
                    (D) Section 47134(g)(1).
                    (E) Section 47139(b).
                    (F) Section 47524(e).
                    (G) Section 47526(2).

SEC. 112. PFC ELIGIBILITY FOR BICYCLE STORAGE.

    (a) In General.--Section 40117(a)(3) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
                    ``(H) A project to construct secure bicycle storage 
                facilities that are to be used by passengers at the 
                airport and that are in compliance with applicable 
                security standards.''.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the progress being 
made by airports to install bicycle parking for airport customers and 
airport employees.

SEC. 113. NOISE COMPATIBILITY PROJECTS.

    Section 40117(b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Noise mitigation for certain schools.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to the uses 
                specified in paragraphs (1), (4), and (6), the 
                Secretary may authorize a passenger facility charge 
                imposed under paragraph (1) or (4) at a large hub 
                airport that is the subject of an amended judgment and 
                final order in condemnation filed on January 7, 1980, 
                by the Superior Court of the State of California for 
                the county of Los Angeles, to be used for a project to 
                carry out noise mitigation for a building, or for the 
                replacement of a relocatable building with a permanent 
                building, in the noise impacted area surrounding the 
                airport at which such building is used primarily for 
                educational purposes, notwithstanding the air easement 
                granted or any terms to the contrary in such judgment 
                and final order, if--
                            ``(i) the Secretary determines that the 
                        building is adversely affected by airport 
                        noise;
                            ``(ii) the building is owned or chartered 
                        by the school district that was the plaintiff 
                        in case number 986,442 or 986,446, which was 
                        resolved by such judgment and final order;
                            ``(iii) the project is for a school 
                        identified in one of the settlement agreements 
                        effective February 16, 2005, between the 
                        airport and each of the school districts;
                            ``(iv) in the case of a project to replace 
                        a relocatable building with a permanent 
                        building, the eligible project costs are 
                        limited to the actual structural construction 
                        costs necessary to mitigate aircraft noise in 
                        instructional classrooms to an interior noise 
                        level meeting current standards of the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration; and
                            ``(v) the project otherwise meets the 
                        requirements of this section for authorization 
                        of a passenger facility charge.
                    ``(B) Eligible project costs.--In subparagraph 
                (A)(iv), the term `eligible project costs' means the 
                difference between the cost of standard school 
                construction and the cost of construction necessary to 
                mitigate classroom noise to the standards of the 
                Federal Aviation Administration.''.

SEC. 114. INTERMODAL GROUND ACCESS PROJECT PILOT PROGRAM.

    Section 40117 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(n) Pilot Program for PFC Eligibility for Intermodal Ground 
Access Projects.--
            ``(1) PFC eligibility.--Subject to the requirements of this 
        subsection, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program under 
        which the Secretary may authorize, at no more than 5 airports, 
        a passenger facility charge imposed under subsection (b)(1) or 
        (b)(4) to be used to finance the eligible cost of an intermodal 
        ground access project.
            ``(2) Intermodal ground access project defined.--In this 
        section, the term `intermodal ground access project' means a 
        project for constructing a local facility owned or operated by 
        an eligible agency that is directly and substantially related 
        to the movement of passengers or property traveling in air 
        transportation.
            ``(3) Eligible costs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
                the eligible cost of an intermodal ground access 
                project shall be the total cost of the project 
                multiplied by the ratio that--
                            ``(i) the number of individuals projected 
                        to use the project to gain access to or depart 
                        from the airport; bears to
                            ``(ii) the total number of the individuals 
                        projected to use the facility.
                    ``(B) Determinations regarding projected project 
                use.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided by 
                        clause (ii), the Secretary shall determine the 
                        projected use of a project for purposes of 
                        subparagraph (A) at the time the project is 
                        approved under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Public transportation projects.--In 
                        the case of a project approved under this 
                        section to be financed in part using funds 
                        administered by the Federal Transit 
                        Administration, the Secretary shall use the 
                        travel forecasting model for the project at the 
                        time such project is approved by the Federal 
                        Transit Administration to enter preliminary 
                        engineering to determine the projected use of 
                        the project for purposes of subparagraph 
                        (A).''.

SEC. 115. IMPACTS ON AIRPORTS OF ACCOMMODATING CONNECTING PASSENGERS.

    (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a study to 
evaluate--
            (1) the impacts on airports of accommodating connecting 
        passengers; and
            (2) the treatment of airports at which the majority of 
        passengers are connecting passengers under the passenger 
        facility charge program authorized by section 40117 of title 
        49, United States Code.
    (b) Contents of Study.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
shall review, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) the differences in facility needs, and the costs for 
        constructing, maintaining, and operating those facilities, for 
        airports at which the majority of passengers are connecting 
        passengers as compared to airports at which the majority of 
        passengers are originating and destination passengers;
            (2) whether the costs to an airport of accommodating 
        additional connecting passengers differs from the cost of 
        accommodating additional originating and destination 
        passengers;
            (3) for each airport charging a passenger facility charge, 
        the percentage of passenger facility charge revenue 
        attributable to connecting passengers and the percentage of 
        such revenue attributable to originating and destination 
        passengers;
            (4) the potential effects on airport revenues of requiring 
        airports to charge different levels of passenger facility 
        charges on connecting passengers and originating and 
        destination passengers; and
            (5) the added costs to air carriers of collecting passenger 
        facility charges under a system in which different levels of 
        passenger facility charges are imposed on connecting passengers 
        and originating and destination passengers.
    (c) Report to Congress.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        initiation of the study, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
        a report on the results of the study.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall include--
                    (A) the findings of the Secretary on each of the 
                subjects listed in subsection (b); and
                    (B) recommendations, if any, of the Secretary based 
                on the results of the study for any changes to the 
                passenger facility charge program, including 
                recommendations as to whether different levels of 
                passenger facility charges should be imposed on 
                connecting passengers and originating and destination 
                passengers.

                   Subtitle C--Fees for FAA Services

SEC. 121. UPDATE ON OVERFLIGHTS.

    (a) Establishment and Adjustment of Fees.--Section 45301(b) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Establishment and Adjustment of Fees.--
            ``(1) In general.--In establishing and adjusting fees under 
        subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that the fees 
        are reasonably related to the Administration's costs, as 
        determined by the Administrator, of providing the services 
        rendered. Services for which costs may be recovered include the 
        costs of air traffic control, navigation, weather services, 
        training, and emergency services which are available to 
        facilitate safe transportation over the United States and the 
        costs of other services provided by the Administrator, or by 
        programs financed by the Administrator, to flights that neither 
        take off nor land in the United States. The determination of 
        such costs by the Administrator, and the allocation of such 
        costs by the Administrator to services provided, are not 
        subject to judicial review.
            ``(2) Adjustment of fees.--The Administrator shall adjust 
        the overflight fees established by subsection (a)(1) by 
        expedited rulemaking and begin collections under the adjusted 
        fees by October 1, 2008. In developing the adjusted overflight 
        fees, the Administrator may seek and consider the 
        recommendations offered by an aviation rulemaking committee for 
        overflight fees that are provided to the Administrator by June 
        1, 2008, and are intended to ensure that overflight fees are 
        reasonably related to the Administrator's costs of providing 
        air traffic control and related services to overflights.
            ``(3) Aircraft altitude.--Nothing in this section shall 
        require the Administrator to take into account aircraft 
        altitude in establishing any fee for aircraft operations in en 
        route or oceanic airspace.
            ``(4) Costs defined.--In this subsection, the term `costs' 
        includes those costs associated with the operation, 
        maintenance, leasing costs, and overhead expenses of the 
        services provided and the facilities and equipment used in such 
        services, including the projected costs for the period during 
        which the services will be provided.
            ``(5) Publication; comment.--The Administrator shall 
        publish in the Federal Register any fee schedule under this 
        section, including any adjusted overflight fee schedule, and 
        the associated collection process as an interim final rule, 
        pursuant to which public comment will be sought and a final 
        rule issued.''.
    (b) Adjustments.--Section 45301 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(e) Adjustments.--In addition to adjustments under subsection 
(b), the Administrator may periodically adjust the fees established 
under this section.''.

SEC. 122. REGISTRATION FEES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 453 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 45305. Registration, certification, and related fees
    ``(a) General Authority and Fees.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall establish the following fees for services 
and activities of the Administration:
            ``(1) $130 for registering an aircraft.
            ``(2) $45 for replacing an aircraft registration.
            ``(3) $130 for issuing an original dealer's aircraft 
        certificate.
            ``(4) $105 for issuing an aircraft certificate (other than 
        an original dealer's aircraft certificate).
            ``(5) $80 for issuing a special registration number.
            ``(6) $50 for issuing a renewal of a special registration 
        number.
            ``(7) $130 for recording a security interest in an aircraft 
        or aircraft part.
            ``(8) $50 for issuing an airman certificate.
            ``(9) $25 for issuing a replacement airman certificate.
            ``(10) $42 for issuing an airman medical certificate.
            ``(11) $100 for providing a legal opinion pertaining to 
        aircraft registration or recordation.
    ``(b) Fees Credited as Offsetting Collections.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 
        31, any fee authorized to be collected under this section 
        shall, subject to appropriation made in advance--
                    ``(A) be credited as offsetting collections to the 
                account that finances the activities and services for 
                which the fee is imposed;
                    ``(B) be available for expenditure only to pay the 
                costs of activities and services for which the fee is 
                imposed; and
                    ``(C) remain available until expended.
            ``(2) Continuing appropriations.--The Administrator may 
        continue to assess, collect, and spend fees established under 
        this section during any period in which the funding for the 
        Federal Aviation Administration is provided under an Act 
        providing continuing appropriations in lieu of the 
        Administration's regular appropriations.
            ``(3) Adjustments.--The Administrator shall periodically 
        adjust the fees established by subsection (a) when cost data 
        from the cost accounting system developed pursuant to section 
        45303(e) reveal that the cost of providing the service is 
        higher or lower than the cost data that were used to establish 
        the fee then in effect.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 453 is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``45305. Registration, certification, and related fees.''.
    (c) Fees Involving Aircraft Not Providing Air Transportation.--
Section 45302(e) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``A fee'' and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--A fee''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Effect of imposition of other fees.--A fee may not be 
        imposed for a service or activity under this section during any 
        period in which a fee for the same service or activity is 
        imposed under section 45305.''.

                     Subtitle D--AIP Modifications

SEC. 131. AMENDMENTS TO AIP DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Airport Development.--Section 47102(3) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)(iv) by striking ``20'' and 
        inserting ``9''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(M) construction of mobile refueler parking 
                within a fuel farm at a nonprimary airport meeting the 
                requirements of section 112.8 of title 40, Code of 
                Federal Regulations.
                    ``(N) terminal development under section 47119(a).
                    ``(O) acquiring and installing facilities and 
                equipment to provide air conditioning, heating, or 
                electric power from terminal-based, non-exclusive use 
                facilities to aircraft parked at a public use airport 
                for the purpose of reducing energy use or harmful 
                emissions as compared to the provision of such air 
                conditioning, heating, or electric power from aircraft-
                based systems.''.
    (b) Airport Planning.--Section 47102(5) is amended by inserting 
before the period at the end the following: ``and developing an 
environmental management system''.
    (c) General Aviation Airport.--Section 47102 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (23) through (25) as 
        paragraphs (25) through (27), respectively;
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (22) as 
        paragraphs (9) through (23), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) `general aviation airport' means a public airport 
        that is located in a State and that, as determined by the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) does not have scheduled service; or
                    ``(B) has scheduled service with less that 2,500 
                passenger boardings each year.''.
    (d) Revenue Producing Aeronautical Support Facilities.--Section 
47102 is amended by inserting after paragraph (23) (as redesignated by 
subsection (c)(2) of this section) the following:
            ``(24) `revenue producing aeronautical support facilities' 
        means fuel farms, hangar buildings, self-service credit card 
        aeronautical fueling systems, airplane wash racks, major 
        rehabilitation of a hangar owned by a sponsor, or other 
        aeronautical support facilities that the Secretary determines 
        will increase the revenue producing ability of the airport.''.
    (e) Terminal Development.--Section 47102 is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(28) `terminal development' means--
                    ``(A) development of--
                            ``(i) an airport passenger terminal 
                        building, including terminal gates;
                            ``(ii) access roads servicing exclusively 
                        airport traffic that leads directly to or from 
                        an airport passenger terminal building; and
                            ``(iii) walkways that lead directly to or 
                        from an airport passenger terminal building; 
                        and
                    ``(B) the cost of a vehicle described in section 
                47119(a)(1)(B).''.

SEC. 132. AMENDMENTS TO GRANT ASSURANCES.

    (a) General Written Assurances.--Section 47107(a)(16)(D)(ii) is 
amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``, 
except in the case of a relocation or replacement of an existing 
airport facility that meets the conditions of section 47110(d)''.
    (b) Written Assurances on Acquiring Land.--
            (1) Use of proceeds.--Section 47107(c)(2)(A)(iii) is 
        amended by striking ``paid to the Secretary'' and all that 
        follows before the semicolon and inserting ``reinvested in 
        another project at the airport or transferred to another 
        airport as the Secretary prescribes under paragraph (4)''.
            (2) Eligible projects.--Section 47107(c) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Priorities for reinvestment.--In approving the 
        reinvestment or transfer of proceeds under subsection 
        (c)(2)(A)(iii), the Secretary shall give preference, in 
        descending order, to the following actions:
                    ``(A) Reinvestment in an approved noise 
                compatibility project.
                    ``(B) Reinvestment in an approved project that is 
                eligible for funding under section 47117(e).
                    ``(C) Reinvestment in an approved airport 
                development project that is eligible for funding under 
                section 47114, 47115, or 47117.
                    ``(D) Transfer to a sponsor of another public 
                airport to be reinvested in an approved noise 
                compatibility project at such airport.
                    ``(E) Payment to the Secretary for deposit in the 
                Airport and Airway Trust Fund.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--Section 47107(c)(2)(B)(iii) is amended by 
striking ``the Fund'' and inserting ``the Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
established under section 9502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
U.S.C. 9502)''.

SEC. 133. GOVERNMENT SHARE OF PROJECT COSTS.

    Section 47109 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``provided in subsection 
        (b) or subsection (c) of this section'' and inserting 
        ``otherwise specifically provided in this section''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Special Rule for Transition From Small Hub to Medium Hub 
Status.--If the status of a small hub airport changes to a medium hub 
airport, the Government's share of allowable project costs for the 
airport may not exceed 90 percent for the first 2 fiscal years 
following such change in hub status.
    ``(f) Special Rule for Economically Depressed Communities.--The 
Government's share of allowable project costs shall be 95 percent for a 
project at an airport that--
            ``(1) is receiving subsidized air service under subchapter 
        II of chapter 417; and
            ``(2) is located in an area that meets one or more of the 
        criteria established in section 301(a) of the Public Works and 
        Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3161(a)), as 
        determined by the Secretary of Commerce.''.

SEC. 134. AMENDMENTS TO ALLOWABLE COSTS.

    (a) Allowable Project Costs.--Section 47110(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
            (2) by striking the semicolon at the end of subparagraph 
        (D) and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(E) if the cost is for airport development and is 
        incurred before execution of the grant agreement, but in the 
        same fiscal year as execution of the grant agreement, and if--
                    ``(i) the cost was incurred before execution of the 
                grant agreement due to the short construction season in 
                the vicinity of the airport;
                    ``(ii) the cost is in accordance with an airport 
                layout plan approved by the Secretary and with all 
                statutory and administrative requirements that would 
                have been applicable to the project if the project had 
                been carried out after execution of the grant 
                agreement;
                    ``(iii) the sponsor notifies the Secretary before 
                authorizing work to commence on the project; and
                    ``(iv) the sponsor's decision to proceed with the 
                project in advance of execution of the grant agreement 
                does not affect the priority assigned to the project by 
                the Secretary for the allocation of discretionary 
                funds;''.
    (b) Relocation of Airport-Owned Facilities.--Section 47110(d) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Relocation of Airport-Owned Facilities.--The Secretary may 
determine that the costs of relocating or replacing an airport-owned 
facility are allowable for an airport development project at an airport 
only if--
            ``(1) the Government's share of such costs will be paid 
        with funds apportioned to the airport sponsor under section 
        47114(c)(1) or 47114(d);
            ``(2) the Secretary determines that the relocation or 
        replacement is required due to a change in the Secretary's 
        design standards; and
            ``(3) the Secretary determines that the change is beyond 
        the control of the airport sponsor.''.
    (c) Nonprimary Airports.--Section 47110(h) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``construction of'' before ``revenue 
        producing''; and
            (2) by striking ``, including fuel farms and hangars,''.

SEC. 135. UNIFORM CERTIFICATION TRAINING FOR AIRPORT CONCESSIONS UNDER 
              DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 47107(e) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
            ``(8) Mandatory training program for airport concessions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than one year after 
                the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 
                2007, the Secretary shall establish a mandatory 
                training program for persons described in subparagraph 
                (C) on the certification of whether a small business 
                concern in airport concessions qualifies as a small 
                business concern owned and controlled by a socially and 
                economically disadvantaged individual for purposes of 
                paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Implementation.--The training program may be 
                implemented by one or more private entities approved by 
                the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Participants.--A person referred to in 
                paragraph (1) is an official or agent of an airport 
                owner or operator who is required to provide a written 
                assurance under paragraph (1) that the airport owner or 
                operator will meet the percentage goal of paragraph (1) 
                or who is responsible for determining whether or not a 
                small business concern in airport concessions qualifies 
                as a small business concern owned and controlled by a 
                socially and economically disadvantaged individual for 
                purposes of paragraph (1).
                    ``(D) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
                necessary to carry out this paragraph.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and 
other appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the 
training program conducted under the amendment made by subsection (a).

SEC. 136. PREFERENCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED 
              BY DISABLED VETERANS.

    Section 47112(c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) A contract involving labor for carrying out an airport 
development project under a grant agreement under this subchapter must 
require that a preference be given to the use of small business 
concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
1632)) owned and controlled by disabled veterans.''.

SEC. 137. CALCULATION OF STATE APPORTIONMENT FUND.

    Section 47114(d) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``Except as provided in paragraph 
                (3), the Secretary'' and inserting ``The Secretary''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``18.5 percent'' and inserting ``10 
                percent''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Additional amount.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to amounts 
                apportioned under paragraph (2) and subject to 
                subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall apportion to each 
                airport, excluding primary airports but including 
                reliever and nonprimary commercial service airports, in 
                States the lesser of--
                            ``(i) $150,000; or
                            ``(ii) 1/5 of the most recently published 
                        estimate of the 5-year costs for airport 
                        improvement for the airport, as listed in the 
                        national plan of integrated airport systems 
                        developed by the Federal Aviation 
                        Administration under section 47103.
                    ``(B) Reduction.--In any fiscal year in which the 
                total amount made available for apportionment under 
                paragraph (2) is less than $300,000,000, the Secretary 
                shall reduce, on a prorated basis, the amount to be 
                apportioned under subparagraph (A) and make such 
                reduction available to be apportioned under paragraph 
                (2), so as to apportion under paragraph (2) a minimum 
                of $300,000,000.''.

SEC. 138. REDUCING APPORTIONMENTS.

    Section 47114(f)(1) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) by inserting ``except as provided by 
                subparagraph (C),'' before ``in the case''; and
                    (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) in the case of a charge of more than $4.50 
                imposed by the sponsor of an airport enplaning at least 
                one percent of the total number of boardings each year 
                in the United States, 100 percent of the projected 
                revenues from the charge in the fiscal year but not 
                more than 100 percent of the amount that otherwise 
                would be apportioned under this section.''.

SEC. 139. MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR DISCRETIONARY FUND.

    Section 47115(g)(1) is amended by striking ``sum of--'' and all 
that follows through the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and 
inserting ``sum of $520,000,000.''.

SEC. 140. MARSHALL ISLANDS, MICRONESIA, AND PALAU.

    Section 47115(j) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2004 through 
2007'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2008 through 2011''.

SEC. 141. USE OF APPORTIONED AMOUNTS.

    Section 47117(e)(1)(A) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``35 percent'' and inserting 
                ``$300,000,000'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' after ``47141,''; and
                    (C) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``, and for water quality mitigation 
                projects to comply with the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) as approved in an 
                environmental record of decision for an airport 
                development project under this title''; and
            (2) in the second sentence by striking ``such 35 percent 
        requirement is'' and inserting ``the requirements of the 
        preceding sentence are''.

SEC. 142. SALE OF PRIVATE AIRPORT TO PUBLIC SPONSOR.

    (a) In General.--Section 47133(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Subsection (a) shall not apply if'' and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) Prior laws and agreements.--Subsection (a) shall not 
        apply if''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Sale of private airport to public sponsor.--In the 
        case of a privately owned airport, subsection (a) shall not 
        apply to the proceeds from the sale of the airport to a public 
        sponsor if--
                    ``(A) the sale is approved by the Secretary;
                    ``(B) funding is provided under this subtitle for 
                any portion of the public sponsor's acquisition of 
                airport land; and
                    ``(C) an amount equal to the remaining unamortized 
                portion of any airport improvement grant made to that 
                airport for purposes other than land acquisition, 
                amortized over a 20-year period, plus an amount equal 
                to the Federal share of the current fair market value 
                of any land acquired with an airport improvement grant 
                made to that airport on or after October 1, 1996, is 
                repaid to the Secretary by the private owner.
            ``(3) Treatment of repayments.--Repayments referred to in 
        paragraph (2)(C) shall be treated as a recovery of prior year 
        obligations.''.
    (b) Applicability to Grants.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
shall apply to grants issued on or after October 1, 1996.

SEC. 143. AIRPORT PRIVATIZATION PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Approval Requirements.--Section 47134 is amended in subsections 
(b)(1)(A)(i), (b)(1)(A)(ii), (c)(4)(A), and (c)(4)(B) by striking ``65 
percent'' each place it appears and inserting ``75 percent''.
    (b) Prohibition on Receipt of Funds.--
            (1) Section 47134.--Section 47134 is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
    ``(n) Prohibition on Receipt of Certain Funds.--An airport 
receiving an exemption under subsection (b) shall be prohibited from 
receiving apportionments under section 47114 or discretionary funds 
under section 47115.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 47134(g) is amended--
                    (A) in the subsection heading by striking 
                ``Apportionments;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking the semicolon at 
                the end and inserting ``; or'';
                    (C) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (2).
    (c) Federal Share of Project Costs.--Section 47109(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraph (3) 
        and inserting ``; and'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (4); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).

SEC. 144. AIRPORT SECURITY PROGRAM.

    Section 47137(g) is amended by striking ``$5,000,000'' and 
inserting ``$8,500,000''.

SEC. 145. SUNSET OF PILOT PROGRAM FOR PURCHASE OF AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT 
              RIGHTS.

    Section 47138 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Sunset.--This section shall not be in effect after September 
30, 2007.''.

SEC. 146. EXTENSION OF GRANT AUTHORITY FOR COMPATIBLE LAND USE PLANNING 
              AND PROJECTS BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

    Section 47141(f) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2007'' and 
inserting ``September 30, 2011''.

SEC. 147. REPEAL OF LIMITATIONS ON METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS 
              AUTHORITY.

    Section 49108, and the item relating to such section in the 
analysis for chapter 491, are repealed.

SEC. 148. MIDWAY ISLAND AIRPORT.

    Section 186(d) of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (117 Stat. 2518) is amended by striking ``October 
1, 2007'' and inserting ``October 1, 2011''.

SEC. 149. PUERTO RICO MINIMUM GUARANTEE.

    Section 47114(e) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading by inserting ``and Puerto 
        Rico'' after ``Alaska''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Puerto rico minimum guarantee.--In any fiscal year in 
        which the total amount apportioned to airports in Puerto Rico 
        under subsections (c) and (d) is less than 1.5 percent of the 
        total amount apportioned to all airports under subsections (c) 
        and (d), the Secretary shall apportion to the Puerto Rico Ports 
        Authority for airport development projects in such fiscal year 
        an amount equal to the difference between 1.5 percent of the 
        total amounts apportioned under subsections (c) and (d) in such 
        fiscal year and the amount otherwise apportioned under 
        subsections (c) and (d) to airports in Puerto Rico in such 
        fiscal year.''.

SEC. 150. MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Technical Changes to National Plan of Integrated Airport 
Systems.--Section 47103 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``each airport to--'' and inserting 
                ``the airport system to--'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1) by striking ``system in the 
                particular area;'' and inserting ``system, including 
                connection to the surface transportation network; 
                and'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2) by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (D) by striking paragraph (3);
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking the semicolon and 
                inserting ``; and'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating 
                paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
                    (C) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) by 
                striking ``, Short Takeoff and Landing/Very Short 
                Takeoff and Landing aircraft operations,''; and
            (3) in subsection (d) by striking ``status of the''.
    (b) Update Veterans Preference Definition.--Section 47112(c) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``separated 
                from'' and inserting ``discharged or released from 
                active duty in''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) `Afghanistan-Iraq war veteran' means an individual 
        who served on active duty (as defined by section 101 of title 
        38) in the armed forces for a period of more than 180 
        consecutive days, any part of which occurred during the period 
        beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the date 
        prescribed by presidential proclamation or by law as the last 
        date of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and who was separated from the 
        armed forces under honorable conditions.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2) by striking ``veterans and'' and 
        inserting ``veterans, Afghanistan-Iraq war veterans, and''.
    (c) Consolidation of Terminal Development Provisions.--Section 
47119 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d) as 
        subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) 
        the following:
    ``(a) Terminal Development Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may approve a project for 
        terminal development (including multimodal terminal 
        development) in a nonrevenue-producing public-use area of a 
        commercial service airport--
                    ``(A) if the sponsor certifies that the airport, on 
                the date the grant application is submitted to the 
                Secretary, has--
                            ``(i) all the safety equipment required for 
                        certification of the airport under section 
                        44706;
                            ``(ii) all the security equipment required 
                        by regulation; and
                            ``(iii) provided for access by passengers 
                        to the area of the airport for boarding or 
                        exiting aircraft that are not air carrier 
                        aircraft;
                    ``(B) if the cost is directly related to moving 
                passengers and baggage in air commerce within the 
                airport, including vehicles for moving passengers 
                between terminal facilities and between terminal 
                facilities and aircraft; and
                    ``(C) under terms necessary to protect the 
                interests of the Government.
            ``(2) Project in revenue-producing areas and nonrevenue-
        producing parking lots.--In making a decision under paragraph 
        (1), the Secretary may approve as allowable costs the expenses 
        of terminal development in a revenue-producing area and 
        construction, reconstruction, repair, and improvement in a 
        nonrevenue-producing parking lot if--
                    ``(A) except as provided in section 47108(e)(3), 
                the airport does not have more than .05 percent of the 
                total annual passenger boardings in the United States; 
                and
                    ``(B) the sponsor certifies that any needed airport 
                development project affecting safety, security, or 
                capacity will not be deferred because of the 
                Secretary's approval.'';
            (3) in paragraphs (3) and (4)(A) of subsection (b) (as 
        redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) by striking 
        ``section 47110(d)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''; and
            (4) in paragraph (5) of subsection (b) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection) by striking ``subsection 
        (b)(1) and (2)'' and inserting ``subsections (c)(1) and 
        (c)(2)'';
            (5) in paragraphs (2)(A), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) 
        (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) by 
        striking ``section 47110(d) of this title'' and inserting 
        ``subsection (a)'';
            (6) in paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (c) (as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1) of this subsection) by striking ``section 
        47110(d)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)'';
            (7) in subsection (c)(5) (as redesignated by paragraph (1) 
        of this subsection) by striking ``section 47110(d)'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (a)''; and
            (8) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Limitation on Discretionary Funds.--The Secretary may 
distribute not more than $20,000,000 from the discretionary fund 
established under section 47115 for terminal development projects at a 
nonhub airport or a small hub airport that is eligible to receive 
discretionary funds under section 47108(e)(3).''.
    (d) Annual Report.--Section 47131(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``April 1'' and inserting ``June 1''; and
            (2) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) a summary of airport development and planning 
        completed;
            ``(2) a summary of individual grants issued;
            ``(3) an accounting of discretionary and apportioned funds 
        allocated;
            ``(4) the allocation of appropriations; and''.
    (e) Correction to Emission Credits Provision.--Section 47139 is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by striking ``47102(3)(F),''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``47102(3)(F),''; and
                    (B) by striking ``47103(3)(F),''.
    (f) Conforming Amendment to Civil Penalty Assessment Authority.--
Section 46301(d)(2) is amended by inserting ``46319,'' after 
``46318,''.
    (g) Other Conforming Amendments.--Sections 40117(a)(3)(B) and 
47108(e)(3) are each amended by striking ``section 47110(d)'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``section 47119(a)''.
    (h) Correction to Surplus Property Authority.--Section 47151(e) is 
amended by striking ``(other than real property'' and all that follows 
through ``(10 U.S.C. 2687 note))''.
    (i) Airport Capacity Benchmark Reports.--Section 47175(2) is 
amended by striking ``Airport Capacity Benchmark Report 2001'' and 
inserting ``2001 and 2004 Airport Capacity Benchmark Reports or table 1 
of the Federal Aviation Administration's most recent airport capacity 
benchmark report''.

  TITLE II--NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND AIR TRAFFIC 
                         CONTROL MODERNIZATION

SEC. 201. MISSION STATEMENT; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States faces a great national challenge as 
        the Nation's aviation infrastructure is at a crossroads.
            (2) The demand for aviation services, a critical element of 
        the United States economy, vital in supporting the quality of 
        life of the people of the United States, and critical in 
        support of the Nation's defense and national security, is 
        growing at an ever increasing rate. At the same time, the 
        ability of the United States air transportation system to 
        expand and change to meet this increasing demand is limited.
            (3) The aviation industry accounts for more than 10,000,000 
        jobs in the United States and contributes approximately 
        $900,000,000,000 annually to the United States gross domestic 
        product.
            (4) The United States air transportation system continues 
        to drive economic growth in the United States and will continue 
        to be a major economic driver as air traffic triples over the 
        next 20 years.
            (5) The Next Generation Air Transportation System (in this 
        section referred to as the ``NextGen System'') is the system 
        for achieving long-term transformation of the United States air 
        transportation system that focuses on developing and 
        implementing new technologies and that will set the stage for 
        the long-term development of a scalable and more flexible air 
        transportation system without compromising the unprecedented 
        safety record of United States aviation.
            (6) The benefits of the NextGen System, in terms of 
        promoting economic growth and development, are enormous.
            (7) The NextGen System will guide the path of the United 
        States air transportation system in the challenging years 
        ahead.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) modernizing the air transportation system is a national 
        priority and the United States must make a commitment to 
        revitalizing this essential component of the Nation's 
        transportation infrastructure;
            (2) one fundamental requirement for the success of the 
        NextGen System is strong leadership and sufficient resources;
            (3) the Joint Planning and Development Office of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration and the Next Generation Air 
        Transportation System Senior Policy Committee, each established 
        by Congress in 2003, will lead and facilitate this important 
        national mission to ensure that the programs and capabilities 
        of the NextGen System are carefully integrated and aligned;
            (4) Government agencies and industry must work together, 
        carefully integrating and aligning their work to meet the needs 
        of the NextGen System in the development of budgets, programs, 
        planning, and research;
            (5) the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of 
        Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce, and the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration must work in cooperation 
        and make transformational improvements to the United States air 
        transportation infrastructure a priority; and
            (6) due to the critical importance of the NextGen System to 
        the economic and national security of the United States, 
        partner departments and agencies must be provided with the 
        resources required to complete the implementation of the 
        NextGen System.

SEC. 202. NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM JOINT PLANNING AND 
              DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) Associate administrator for the next generation air 
        transportation system.--Section 709(a) of Vision 100--Century 
        of Aviation Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note; 117 
        Stat. 2582) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) 
                as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
    ``(2) The director of the Office shall be the Associate 
Administrator for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, who 
shall be appointed by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration. The Associate Administrator shall report to the 
Administrator.''.
            (2) Responsibilities.--Section 709(a)(3) of such Act (as 
        redesignated by paragraph (1) of this subsection) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (G) by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (H) by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(I) establishing specific quantitative goals for 
                the safety, capacity, efficiency, performance, and 
                environmental impacts of each phase of Next Generation 
                Air Transportation System implementation activities and 
                measuring actual operational experience against those 
                goals, taking into account noise pollution reduction 
                concerns of affected communities to the greatest extent 
                practicable in establishing the environmental goals;
                    ``(J) working to ensure global interoperability of 
                the Next Generation Air Transportation System;
                    ``(K) working to ensure the use of weather 
                information and space weather information in the Next 
                Generation Air Transportation System as soon as 
                possible;
                    ``(L) overseeing, with the Administrator of the 
                Federal Aviation Administration, the selection of 
                products or outcomes of research and development 
                activities that would be moved to the next stage of a 
                demonstration project; and
                    ``(M) maintaining a baseline modeling and 
                simulation environment for testing and evaluating 
                alternative concepts to satisfy Next Generation Air 
                Transportation enterprise architecture requirements.''.
            (3) Cooperation with other federal agencies.--Section 
        709(a)(4) of such Act (as redesignated by paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``(4)'' and inserting ``(4)(A)''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(B) The Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the head of any other Federal 
agency from which the Secretary of Transportation requests assistance 
under subparagraph (A) shall designate a senior official in the agency 
to be responsible for--
            ``(i) carrying out the activities of the agency relating to 
        the Next Generation Air Transportation System in coordination 
        with the Office, including the execution of all aspects of the 
        work of the agency in developing and implementing the 
        integrated work plan described in subsection (b)(5);
            ``(ii) serving as a liaison for the agency in activities of 
        the agency relating to the Next Generation Air Transportation 
        System and coordinating with other Federal agencies involved in 
        activities relating to the System; and
            ``(iii) ensuring that the agency meets its obligations as 
        set forth in any memorandum of understanding executed by or on 
        behalf of the agency relating to the Next Generation Air 
        Transportation System.
    ``(C) The head of a Federal agency referred to in subparagraph (B) 
shall ensure that--
            ``(i) the responsibilities of the agency relating to the 
        Next Generation Air Transportation System are clearly 
        communicated to the senior official of the agency designated 
        under subparagraph (B); and
            ``(ii) the performance of the senior official in carrying 
        out the responsibilities of the agency relating to the Next 
        Generation Air Transportation System is reflected in the 
        official's annual performance evaluations and compensation.
    ``(D) The head of a Federal agency referred to in subparagraph (B) 
shall--
            ``(i) establish or designate an office within the agency to 
        carry out its responsibilities under the memorandum of 
        understanding under the supervision of the designated official; 
        and
            ``(ii) ensure that the designated official has sufficient 
        budgetary authority and staff resources to carry out the 
        agency's Next Generation Air Transportation System 
        responsibilities as set forth in the integrated plan under 
        subsection (b).
    ``(E) Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
subparagraph, the head of each Federal agency that has responsibility 
for carrying out any activity under the integrated plan under 
subsection (b) shall execute a memorandum of understanding with the 
Office obligating that agency to carry out the activity.''.
            (4) Coordination with omb.--Section 709(a) of such Act (117 
        Stat. 2582) is further amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(6)(A) The Office shall work with the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget to develop a process whereby the Director will 
identify projects related to the Next Generation Air Transportation 
System across the agencies referred to in paragraph (4)(A) and consider 
the Next Generation Air Transportation System as a unified, cross-
agency program.
    ``(B) The Director, to the maximum extent practicable, shall--
            ``(i) ensure that--
                    ``(I) each Federal agency covered by the plan has 
                sufficient funds requested in the President's budget, 
                as submitted under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
                States Code, for each fiscal year covered by the plan 
                to carry out its responsibilities under the plan; and
                    ``(II) the development and implementation of the 
                Next Generation Air Transportation System remains on 
                schedule;
            ``(ii) include, in the President's budget, a statement of 
        the portion of the estimated budget of each Federal agency 
        covered by the plan that relates to the activities of the 
        agency under the Next Generation Air Transportation System 
        initiative; and
            ``(iii) identify and justify as part of the President's 
        budget submission any inconsistencies between the plan and 
        amounts requested in the budget.
    ``(7) The Associate Administrator of the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System shall be a voting member of the Joint Resources 
Council of the Federal Aviation Administration.''.
    (b) Integrated Plan.--Section 709(b) of such Act (117 Stat. 2583) 
is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``meets air'' and inserting ``meets 
                anticipated future air''; and
                    (B) by striking ``beyond those currently included 
                in the Federal Aviation Administration's operational 
                evolution plan'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) a multiagency integrated work plan for the Next 
        Generation Air Transportation System that includes--
                    ``(A) an outline of the activities required to 
                achieve the end-state architecture, as expressed in the 
                concept of operations and enterprise architecture 
                documents, that identifies each Federal agency or other 
                entity responsible for each activity in the outline;
                    ``(B) details on a year-by-year basis of specific 
                accomplishments, activities, research requirements, 
                rulemakings, policy decisions, and other milestones of 
                progress for each Federal agency or entity conducting 
                activities relating to the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System;
                    ``(C) for each element of the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System, an outline, on a year-by-year 
                basis, of what is to be accomplished in that year 
                toward meeting the Next Generation Air Transportation 
                System's end-state architecture, as expressed in the 
                concept of operations and enterprise architecture 
                documents, as well as identifying each Federal agency 
                or other entity that will be responsible for each 
                component of any research, development, or 
                implementation program;
                    ``(D) an estimate of all necessary expenditures on 
                a year-by-year basis, including a statement of each 
                Federal agency or entity's responsibility for costs and 
                available resources, for each stage of development from 
                the basic research stage through the demonstration and 
                implementation phase;
                    ``(E) a clear explanation of how each step in the 
                development of the Next Generation Air Transportation 
                System will lead to the following step and of the 
                implications of not successfully completing a step in 
                the time period described in the integrated work plan;
                    ``(F) a transition plan for the implementation of 
                the Next Generation Air Transportation System that 
                includes date-specific milestones for the 
                implementation of new capabilities into the national 
                airspace system; and
                    ``(G) date-specific timetables for meeting the 
                environmental goals identified in subsection 
                (a)(3)(I).''.
    (c) Operational Evolution Partnership.--Section 709(d) of such Act 
(117 Stat. 2584) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Operational Evolution Partnership.--The Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall develop and publish annually the 
document known as the `Operational Evolution Partnership', or any 
successor document, that provides a detailed description of how the 
agency is implementing the Next Generation Air Transportation 
System.''.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 709(e) of such Act 
(117 Stat. 2584) is amended by striking ``2010'' and inserting 
``2011''.
    (e) Contingency Planning.--The Associate Administrator for the Next 
Generation Air Transportation System shall, as part of the design of 
the System, develop contingency plans for dealing with the degradation 
of the System in the event of a natural disaster, major equipment 
failure, or act of terrorism.

SEC. 203. NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SENIOR POLICY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Meetings.--Section 710(a) of Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 40101 note; 117 Stat. 2584) is amended 
by inserting before the period at the end the following ``and shall 
meet at least twice each year''.
    (b) Annual Report.--Section 710 of such Act (117 Stat. 2584) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) Submission to congress.--Not later than one year 
        after the date of enactment of this subsection, and annually 
        thereafter on the date of submission of the President's budget 
        request to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
        States Code, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate a report summarizing the progress made in carrying out 
        the integrated work plan required by section 709(b)(5) and any 
        changes in that plan.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report shall include--
                    ``(A) a copy of the updated integrated work plan;
                    ``(B) a description of the progress made in 
                carrying out the integrated work plan and any changes 
                in that plan, including any changes based on funding 
                shortfalls and limitations set by the Office of 
                Management and Budget;
                    ``(C) a detailed description of--
                            ``(i) the success or failure of each item 
                        of the integrated work plan for the previous 
                        year and relevant information as to why any 
                        milestone was not met; and
                            ``(ii) the impact of not meeting the 
                        milestone and what actions will be taken in the 
                        future to account for the failure to complete 
                        the milestone;
                    ``(D) an explanation of any change to future years 
                in the integrated work plan and the reasons for such 
                change; and
                    ``(E) an identification of the levels of funding 
                for each agency participating in the integrated work 
                plan devoted to programs and activities under the plan 
                for the previous fiscal year and in the President's 
                budget request.''.

SEC. 204. AUTOMATIC DEPENDENT SURVEILLANCE-BROADCAST SERVICES.

    (a) Report on FAA Program and Schedule.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration shall prepare a report detailing the program and 
        schedule for integrating automatic dependent surveillance-
        broadcast (in this section referred to as ``ADS-B'') technology 
        into the national airspace system.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall include--
                    (A) a description of segment 1 and segment 2 
                activity to acquire ADS-B services;
                    (B) a description of plans for implementation of 
                advanced operational procedures and ADS-B air-to-air 
                applications; and
                    (C) a discussion of protections that the 
                Administration will require as part of any contract or 
                program in the event of a contractor's default, 
                bankruptcy, acquisition by another entity, or any other 
                event jeopardizing the uninterrupted provision of ADS-B 
                services.
            (3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 90 days after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
        submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate the report prepared 
        under paragraph (1).
    (b) Requirements of FAA Contracts for ADS-B Services.--Any contract 
entered into by the Administrator with an entity to acquire ADS-B 
services shall contain terms and conditions that--
            (1) require approval by the Administrator before the 
        contract may be assigned to or assumed by another entity, 
        including any successor entity, subsidiary of the contractor, 
        or other corporate entity;
            (2) provide that the assets, equipment, hardware, and 
        software used in the performance of the contract be designated 
        as critical national infrastructure for national security and 
        related purposes;
            (3) require the contractor to provide continued broadcast 
        services for a reasonable period, as determined by the 
        Administrator, until the provision of such services can be 
        transferred to another vendor or to the Government in the event 
        of a termination of the contract;
            (4) require the contractor to provide continued broadcast 
        services for a reasonable period, as determined by the 
        Administrator, until the provision of such services can be 
        transferred to another vendor or to the Government in the event 
        of material nonperformance, as determined by the Administrator; 
        and
            (5) permit the Government to acquire or utilize for a 
        reasonable period, as determined by the Administrator, the 
        assets, equipment, hardware, and software necessary to ensure 
        the continued and uninterrupted provision of ADS-B services and 
        to have ready access to such assets, equipment, hardware, and 
        software through its own personnel, agents, or others, if the 
        Administrator provides reasonable compensation for such 
        acquisition or utilization.
    (c) Review by DOT Inspector General.--
            (1) In general.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
        Transportation shall conduct a review concerning the Federal 
        Aviation Administration's award and oversight of any contract 
        entered into by the Administration to provide ADS-B services 
        for the national airspace system.
            (2) Contents.--The review shall include, at a minimum--
                    (A) an examination of how program risks are being 
                managed;
                    (B) an assessment of expected benefits attributable 
                to the deployment of ADS-B services, including the 
                implementation of advanced operational procedures and 
                air-to-air applications as well as to the extent to 
                which ground radar will be retained;
                    (C) a determination of whether the Administration 
                has established sufficient mechanisms to ensure that 
                all design, acquisition, operation, and maintenance 
                requirements have been met by the contractor;
                    (D) an assessment of whether the Administration and 
                any contractors are meeting cost, schedule, and 
                performance milestones, as measured against the 
                original baseline of the Administration's program for 
                providing ADS-B services;
                    (E) an assessment of whether security issues are 
                being adequately addressed in the overall design and 
                implementation of the ADS-B system; and
                    (F) any other matters or aspects relating to 
                contract implementation and oversight that the 
                Inspector General determines merit attention.
            (3) Reports to congress.--The Inspector General shall 
        periodically, on at least an annual basis, submit to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
        review conducted under this subsection.

SEC. 205. INCLUSION OF STAKEHOLDERS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 
              MODERNIZATION PROJECTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a process for including in the planning, 
development, and deployment of air traffic control modernization 
projects (including the Next Generation Air Transportation System) and 
collaborating with qualified employees selected by each exclusive 
collective bargaining representative of employees of the Administration 
who are likely to be impacted by such planning, development, and 
deployment.
    (b) Participation.--
            (1) Bargaining obligations and rights.--Participation in 
        the process described in subsection (a) shall not be construed 
        as a waiver of any bargaining obligations or rights under 
        section 40122(a)(1) or 40122(g)(2)(C) of title 49, United 
        States Code.
            (2) Capacity and compensation.--Exclusive collective 
        bargaining representatives and selected employees participating 
        in the process described in subsection (a) shall--
                    (A) serve in a collaborative and advisory capacity; 
                and
                    (B) receive appropriate travel and per diem 
                expenses in accordance with the travel policies of the 
                Administration in addition to any regular compensation 
                and benefits.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the implementation of this section.

SEC. 206. GAO REVIEW OF CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSFORMING TO THE 
              NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a review of 
the progress and challenges associated with transforming the Nation's 
air traffic control system into the Next Generation Air Transportation 
System (in this section referred to as the ``NextGen System'').
    (b) Review.--The review shall include the following:
            (1) An evaluation of the continued implementation and 
        institutionalization of the processes that are key to the 
        ability of the Air Traffic Organization to effectively maintain 
        management structures and systems acquisitions procedures 
        utilized under the current air traffic control modernization 
        program as a basis for the NextGen System.
            (2) An assessment of the progress and challenges associated 
        with collaboration and contributions of the partner agencies 
        working with the Joint Planning and Development Office of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration (in this section referred to as 
        the ``JPDO'') in planning and implementing the NextGen System.
            (3) The progress and challenges associated with 
        coordinating government and industry stakeholders in activities 
        relating to the NextGen System, including an assessment of the 
        contributions of the NextGen Institute.
            (4) An assessment of planning and implementation of the 
        NextGen System against established schedules, milestones, and 
        budgets.
            (5) An evaluation of the recently modified organizational 
        structure of the JPDO.
            (6) An examination of transition planning by the Air 
        Traffic Organization and the JPDO.
            (7) Any other matters or aspects of planning and 
        coordination of the NextGen System by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration and the JPDO that the Comptroller General 
        determines appropriate.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Report to congress on priorities.--Not later than one 
        year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
        General shall determine the priority of topics to be reviewed 
        under this section and report such priorities to the Committee 
        on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on 
        Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate.
            (2) Periodic reports to congress on results of the 
        review.--The Comptroller General shall periodically submit to 
        the committees referred to in paragraph (1) a report on the 
        results of the review conducted under this section.

SEC. 207. GAO REVIEW OF NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 
              ACQUISITION AND PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a review of the 
progress made and challenges related to the acquisition of designated 
technologies and the development of procedures for the Next Generation 
Air Transportation System (in this section referred to as the ``NextGen 
System'').
    (b) Specific Systems Review.--The review shall include, at a 
minimum, an examination of the acquisition costs, schedule, and other 
relevant considerations for the following systems:
            (1) En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM).
            (2) Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System/Common 
        Automated Radar Terminal System (STARS/CARTS).
            (3) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
            (4) System Wide Information Management (SWIM).
            (5) Traffic Flow Management Modernization (TFM-M).
    (c) Review.--The review shall include, at a minimum, an assessment 
of the progress and challenges related to the development of standards, 
regulations, and procedures that will be necessary to implement the 
NextGen System, including required navigation performance, area 
navigation, the airspace management program, and other programs and 
procedures that the Comptroller General identifies as relevant to the 
transformation of the air traffic system.
    (d) Periodic Reports to Congress on Results of the Review.--The 
Comptroller General shall periodically submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
results of the review conducted under this section.

SEC. 208. DOT INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW OF OPERATIONAL AND APPROACH 
              PROCEDURES BY A THIRD PARTY.

    (a) Review.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall conduct a review regarding the effectiveness of 
the oversight activities conducted by the Federal Aviation 
Administration in connection with any agreement with or delegation of 
authority to a third party for the development of flight procedures for 
the national airspace system.
    (b) Assessments.--The Inspector General shall include, at a 
minimum, in the review--
            (1) an assessment of the extent to which the Federal 
        Aviation Administration is relying or intends to rely on a 
        third party for the development of new procedures and a 
        determination of whether the Administration has established 
        sufficient mechanisms and staffing to provide safety oversight 
        of a third party; and
            (2) an assessment regarding whether the Administration has 
        sufficient existing personnel and technical resources or 
        mechanisms to develop such flight procedures in a safe and 
        efficient manner to meet the demands of the national airspace 
        system without the use of third party resources.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the review conducted under this section, 
including the assessments described in subsection (b).

SEC. 209. EXPERT REVIEW OF ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE FOR NEXT GENERATION 
              AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

    (a) Review.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Research Council to review the enterprise architecture for the Next 
Generation Air Transportation System.
    (b) Contents.--At a minimum, the review to be conducted under 
subsection (a) shall--
            (1) highlight the technical activities, including human-
        system design, organizational design, and other safety and 
        human factor aspects of the system, that will be necessary to 
        successfully transition current and planned modernization 
        programs to the future system envisioned by the Joint Planning 
        and Development Office of the Administration;
            (2) assess technical, cost, and schedule risk for the 
        software development that will be necessary to achieve the 
        expected benefits from a highly automated air traffic 
        management system and the implications for ongoing 
        modernization projects; and
            (3) include judgments on how risks with automation efforts 
        for the Next Generation Air Transportation System can be 
        mitigated based on the experiences of other public or private 
        entities in developing complex, software-intensive systems.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the results of the review conducted pursuant to subsection 
(a).

SEC. 210. NEXTGEN TECHNOLOGY TESTBED.

    Of amounts appropriated under section 48101(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall use such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2011 to contribute to the establishment by a public-
private partnership (including a university component with significant 
aviation expertise in air traffic management, simulation, meteorology, 
and engineering and aviation business) an airport-based testing site 
for existing Next Generation Air Transport System technologies. The 
Administrator shall ensure that next generation air traffic control 
integrated systems developed by private industries are installed at the 
site for demonstration, operational research, and evaluation by the 
Administration. The testing site shall serve a mix of general aviation 
and commercial traffic.

SEC. 211. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO REIMBURSABLE 
              AGREEMENTS.

    Section 106(m) is amended in the last sentence by inserting ``with 
or'' before ``without reimbursement''.

SEC. 212. DEFINITION OF AIR NAVIGATION FACILITY.

    Section 40102(a)(4) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
            (2) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(B) runway lighting and airport surface visual 
                and other navigation aids;
                    ``(C) aeronautical and meteorological information 
                to air traffic control facilities or aircraft;
                    ``(D) communication, navigation, or surveillance 
                equipment for air-to-ground or air-to-air 
                applications;'';
            (3) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by paragraph (1) 
        of this section)--
                    (A) by striking ``another structure'' and inserting 
                ``any structure, equipment,''; and
                    (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) buildings, equipment, and systems dedicated 
                to the national airspace system.''.

SEC. 213. IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY INVENTORY.

    Section 40110(a)(2) is amended by striking ``compensation'' and 
inserting ``compensation, and the amount received shall be credited as 
an offsetting collection to the account from which the amount was 
expended and shall remain available until expended''.

SEC. 214. CLARIFICATION TO ACQUISITION REFORM AUTHORITY.

    Section 40110(c) is amended--
            (1) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraph (3) 
        and inserting ``; and'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (4); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).

SEC. 215. ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN AVIATION AUTHORITIES.

    Section 40113(e) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``public and private'' before 
                ``foreign aviation authorities''; and
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of the first 
                sentence and inserting ``or efficiency. The 
                Administrator may participate in, and submit offers in 
                response to, competitions to provide such services and 
                may contract with foreign aviation authorities to 
                provide such services consistent with section 
                106(l)(6). Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
                or policy, the Administrator may accept payments 
                received under this subsection in arrears.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3) by striking ``credited'' and all that 
        follows through the period at the end and inserting ``credited 
        as an offsetting collection to the account from which the 
        expenses were incurred in providing such services and shall 
        remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 216. FRONT LINE MANAGER STAFFING.

     (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall initiate a study on front line manager staffing requirements in 
air traffic control facilities.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study, the Administrator 
shall take into consideration--
            (1) the number of supervisory positions of operation 
        requiring watch coverage in each air traffic control facility;
            (2) coverage requirements in relation to traffic demand;
            (3) facility type;
            (4) complexity of traffic and managerial responsibilities;
            (5) proficiency and training requirements; and
            (6) such other factors as the Administrator considers 
        appropriate.
    (c) Determinations.--The Administrator shall transmit any 
determinations made as a result of the study to the Chief Operating 
Officer for the air traffic control system.
    (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the study and a description of any 
determinations submitted to the Chief Operating Officer under 
subsection (c).

SEC. 217. FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS.

    (a) Establishment of Monitoring System.--Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall develop and implement a 
monitoring system for flight service specialist staffing and training 
under service contracts for flight service stations.
    (b) Components.--At a minimum, the monitoring system shall include 
mechanisms to monitor--
            (1) flight specialist staffing plans for individual 
        facilities;
            (2) actual staffing levels for individual facilities;
            (3) the initial and recurrent certification and training of 
        flight service specialists on the safety, operational, and 
        technological aspects of flight services, including any 
        certification and training necessary to meet user demand; and
            (4) system outages, excessive hold times, dropped calls, 
        poor quality briefings, and any other safety or customer 
        service issues under a contract for flight service station 
        services.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing--
            (1) a description of monitoring system;
            (2) if the Administrator determines that contractual 
        changes or corrective actions are required for the 
        Administration to ensure that the vendor under a contract for 
        flight service station services provides safe and high quality 
        service to consumers, a description of the changes or actions 
        required; and
            (3) a description of the contingency plans of the 
        Administrator and the protections that the Administrator will 
        have in place to provide uninterrupted flight service station 
        services in the event of--
                    (A) material non-performance of the contract;
                    (B) a vendor's default, bankruptcy, or acquisition 
                by another entity; or
                    (C) any other event that could jeopardize the 
                uninterrupted provision of flight service station 
                services.

SEC. 218. NEXTGEN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Establishment.--Of the amount appropriated under section 
48101(a) of title 49, United States Code, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall use such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 to contribute to the 
establishment of a center of excellence for the research and 
development of Next Generation Air Transportation System technologies.
    (b) Functions.--The center established under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) leverage the centers of excellence program of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration, as well as other resources and 
        partnerships, to enhance the development of Next Generation Air 
        Transportation System technologies within academia and 
        industry; and
            (2) provide educational, technical, and analytical 
        assistance to the Federal Aviation Administration and other 
        Federal agencies with responsibilities to research and develop 
        Next Generation Air Transportation System technologies.

SEC. 219. AIRSPACE REDESIGN.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The airspace redesign efforts of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration will play a critical near-term role in enhancing 
        capacity, reducing delays, transitioning to more flexible 
        routing, and ultimately saving money in fuel costs for airlines 
        and airspace users.
            (2) The critical importance of airspace redesign efforts is 
        underscored by the fact that they are highlighted in strategic 
        plans of the Administration, including Flight Plan 2008-2012 
        and the document known as the ``Operational Evolution 
        Partnership''.
            (3) Funding cuts have led to delays and deferrals of 
        critical capacity enhancing airspace redesign efforts.
            (4) Several new runways planned for the period of fiscal 
        years 2008 to 2011 will not provide estimated capacity benefits 
        without additional funds.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
authorized by section 106(k) of title 49, United States Code, there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2008, $14,500,000 
for fiscal year 2009, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $20,000,000 
for fiscal year 2011 to carry out such airspace redesign initiatives as 
the Administrator determines appropriate.
    (c) Additional Amounts.--Of the amounts appropriated under section 
48101(a) of such title, the Administrator may use $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
2010, and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 to carry out such airspace 
redesign initiatives as the Administrator determines appropriate.

                           TITLE III--SAFETY

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 301. AGE STANDARDS FOR PILOTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 44729. Age standards for pilots
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to the limitation in subsection (c), a 
pilot may serve in multicrew covered operations until attaining 65 
years of age.
    ``(b) Covered Operations Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered operations' means operations under part 121 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations.
    ``(c) Limitation for International Flights.--
            ``(1) Applicability of icao standard.--A pilot who has 
        attained 60 years of age may serve as pilot-in-command in 
        covered operations between the United States and another 
        country only if there is another pilot in the flight deck crew 
        who has not yet attained 60 years of age.
            ``(2) Sunset of limitation.--Paragraph (1) shall cease to 
        be effective on such date as the Convention on International 
        Civil Aviation provides that a pilot who has attained 60 years 
        of age may serve as pilot-in-command in international 
        commercial operations without regard to whether there is 
        another pilot in the flight deck crew who has not attained age 
        60.
    ``(d) Sunset of Age-60 Retirement Rule.--On and after the date of 
enactment of this section, section 121.383(c) of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, shall cease to be effective.
    ``(e) Applicability.--
            ``(1) Nonretroactivity.--No person who has attained 60 
        years of age before the date of enactment of this section may 
        serve as a pilot for an air carrier engaged in covered 
        operations unless--
                    ``(A) such person is in the employment of that air 
                carrier in such operations on such date of enactment as 
                a required flight deck crew member; or
                    ``(B) such person is newly hired by an air carrier 
                as a pilot on or after such date of enactment without 
                credit for prior seniority or prior longevity for 
                benefits or other terms related to length of service 
                prior to the date of rehire under any labor agreement 
                or employment policies of the air carrier.
            ``(2) Protection for compliance.--An action taken in 
        conformance with this section, taken in conformance with a 
        regulation issued to carry out this section, or taken prior to 
        the date of enactment of this section in conformance with 
        section 121.383(c) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as 
        in effect before such date of enactment), may not serve as a 
        basis for liability or relief in a proceeding before any court 
        or agency of the United States or of any State or locality.
    ``(f) Amendments to Labor Agreements and Benefit Plans.--Any 
amendment to a labor agreement or benefit plan of an air carrier that 
is required to conform with the requirements of this section or a 
regulation issued to carry out this section, and is applicable to 
pilots represented for collective bargaining, shall be made by 
agreement of the air carrier and the designated bargaining 
representative of the pilots of the air carrier.
    ``(g) Medical Standards and Records.--
            ``(1) Medical examinations and standards.--Except as 
        provided by paragraph (2), a person serving as a pilot for an 
        air carrier engaged in covered operations shall not be subject 
        to different medical standards, or different, greater, or more 
        frequent medical examinations, on account of age unless the 
        Secretary determines (based on data received or studies 
        published after the date of enactment of this section) that 
        different medical standards, or different, greater, or more 
        frequent medical examinations, are needed to ensure an adequate 
        level of safety in flight.
            ``(2) Duration of first-class medical certificate.--No 
        person who has attained 60 years of age may serve as a pilot of 
        an air carrier engaged in covered operations unless the person 
        has a first-class medical certificate. Such a certificate shall 
        expire on the last day of the 6-month period following the date 
        of examination shown on the certificate.
    ``(h) Safety.--
            ``(1) Training.--Each air carrier engaged in covered 
        operations shall continue to use pilot training and 
        qualification programs approved by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, with specific emphasis on initial and recurrent 
        training and qualification of pilots who have attained 60 years 
        of age, to ensure continued acceptable levels of pilot skill 
        and judgment.
            ``(2) Line evaluations.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of enactment of this section, and every 6 months 
        thereafter, an air carrier engaged in covered operations shall 
        evaluate the performance of each pilot of the air carrier who 
        has attained 60 years of age through a line check of such 
        pilot. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, an air carrier 
        shall not be required to conduct for a 6-month period a line 
        check under this paragraph of a pilot serving as second in 
        command if the pilot has undergone a regularly scheduled 
        simulator evaluation during that period.
            ``(3) GAO report.--Not later than 24 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall 
        submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report concerning 
        the effect, if any, on aviation safety of the modification to 
        pilot age standards made by subsection (a).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``44729. Age standards for pilots.''.

SEC. 302. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DENIAL OF AIRMAN CERTIFICATES.

    (a) Judicial Review of NTSB Decisions.--Section 44703(d) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Judicial review.--A person who is substantially 
        affected by an order of the Board under this subsection, or the 
        Administrator if the Administrator decides that an order of the 
        Board will have a significant adverse impact on carrying out 
        this subtitle, may seek judicial review of the order under 
        section 46110. The Administrator shall be made a party to the 
        judicial review proceedings. The findings of fact of the Board 
        in any such case are conclusive if supported by substantial 
        evidence.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1153(c) is amended by striking 
``section 44709 or'' and inserting ``section 44703(d), 44709, or''.

SEC. 303. RELEASE OF DATA RELATING TO ABANDONED TYPE CERTIFICATES AND 
              SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATES.

    (a) Release of Data.--Section 44704(a) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(5) Release of data.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, the Administrator may make available 
                upon request to a person seeking to maintain the 
                airworthiness of an aircraft, engine, propeller, or 
                appliance, engineering data in the possession of the 
                Administration relating to a type certificate or a 
                supplemental type certificate for such aircraft, 
                engine, propeller, or appliance, without the consent of 
                the owner of record, if the Administrator determines 
                that--
                            ``(i) the certificate containing the 
                        requested data has been inactive for 3 or more 
                        years;
                            ``(ii) after using due diligence, the 
                        Administrator is unable to find the owner of 
                        record, or the owner of record's heir, of the 
                        type certificate or supplemental certificate; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) making such data available will 
                        enhance aviation safety.
                    ``(B) Engineering data defined.--In this section, 
                the term `engineering data' as used with respect to an 
                aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance means type 
                design drawing and specifications for the entire 
                aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance or change to 
                the aircraft, engine, propeller, or appliance, 
                including the original design data, and any associated 
                supplier data for individual parts or components 
                approved as part of the particular certificate for the 
                aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance.''.
    (b) Design Organization Certificates.--Section 44704(e)(1) is 
amended by striking ``Beginning 7 years after the date of enactment of 
this subsection,'' and inserting ``Beginning January 1, 2013,''.

SEC. 304. INSPECTION OF FOREIGN REPAIR STATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 (as amended by section 301 of this 
Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44730. Inspection of foreign repair stations
    ``Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this 
section, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall: (1) submit to Congress a certification 
that each foreign repair station that is certified by the Administrator 
under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and performs 
work on air carrier aircraft or components has been inspected by safety 
inspectors of the Administration not fewer than 2 times in the 
preceding calendar year; and (2) modify the certification requirements 
under such part to include testing for the use of alcohol or a 
controlled substance in accordance with section 45102 of any individual 
performing a safety-sensitive function at a foreign aircraft repair 
station, including an individual working at a station of a third-party 
with whom an air carrier contracts to perform work on air carrier 
aircraft or components.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such chapter is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``44730. Inspection of foreign repair stations.''.

SEC. 305. RUNWAY SAFETY.

    (a) Strategic Runway Safety Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration shall develop and submit to Congress a 
        report containing a strategic runway safety plan.
            (2) Contents of plan.--The strategic runway safety plan--
                    (A) shall include, at a minimum--
                            (i) goals to improve runway safety;
                            (ii) near- and longer-term actions designed 
                        to reduce the severity, number, and rate of 
                        runway incursions;
                            (iii) timeframes and resources needed for 
                        the actions described in clause (ii); and
                            (iv) a continuous evaluative process to 
                        track performance toward the goals referred to 
                        in clause (i); and
                    (B) shall address the increased runway safety risk 
                associated with the expected increased volume of air 
                traffic.
    (b) Plan for Installation and Deployment of Systems to Provide 
Alerts of Potential Runway Incursions.--Not later than December 31, 
2008, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
submit to Congress a report containing a plan for the installation and 
deployment of systems the Administration is installing to alert 
controllers or flight crews, or both, of potential runway incursions. 
The plan shall be integrated into the annual Operational Evolution 
Partnership document of the Administration or any successor document.

SEC. 306. IMPROVED PILOT LICENSES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall begin to issue improved pilot licenses consistent 
with the requirements of title 49, United States Code, and title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    (b) Requirements.--Improved pilots licenses issued under subsection 
(a) shall--
            (1) be resistant to tampering, alteration, and 
        counterfeiting;
            (2) include a photograph of the individual to whom the 
        license is issued; and
            (3) be capable of accommodating a digital photograph, a 
        biometric identifier, or any other unique identifier that the 
        Administrator considers necessary.
    (c) Tampering.--To the extent practical, the Administrator shall 
develop methods to determine or reveal whether any component or 
security feature of a license issued under subsection (a) has been 
tampered, altered, or counterfeited.
    (d) Use of Designees.--The Administrator may use designees to carry 
out subsection (a) to the extent feasible in order to minimize the 
burdens on pilots.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act and every 6 months thereafter until September 30, 2011, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
issuance of improved pilot licenses under this section.

SEC. 307. AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.

    Not later than December 31, 2007, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule regarding the 
reduction of fuel tank flammability in transport category aircraft.

SEC. 308. FLIGHT CREW FATIGUE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall conclude arrangements with the National Academy of 
Sciences for a study of pilot fatigue.
    (b) Study.--The study shall include consideration of--
            (1) research on pilot fatigue, sleep, and circadian 
        rhythms;
            (2) sleep and rest requirements of pilots recommended by 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the 
        National Transportation Safety Board; and
            (3) Federal Aviation Administration and international 
        standards regarding flight limitations and rest for pilots.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after initiating the study, 
the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the Administrator a 
report containing its findings and recommendations regarding the study 
under subsections (a) and (b), including recommendations with respect 
to Federal Aviation Administration regulations governing flight time 
limitations and rest requirements for pilots.
    (d) Rulemaking.--After the Administrator receives the report of the 
National Academy of Sciences, the Administrator shall consider the 
findings in the report and update as appropriate based on scientific 
data Federal Aviation Administration regulations governing flight time 
limitations and rest requirements for pilots.
    (e) Implementation of Flight Attendant Fatigue Study 
Recommendations.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall initiate a process for the Civil 
Aerospace Medical Institute to carry out its recommendations for 
further study of the issue of flight attendant fatigue and to submit 
not later than March 31, 2009, to Congress a report on such process, 
including an analysis of the following:
            (1) A survey of field operations of flight attendants.
            (2) A study of incident reports regarding flight attendant 
        fatigue.
            (3) Field research on the effects of such fatigue.
            (4) A validation of models for assessing flight attendant 
        fatigue, international policies, and practices regarding flight 
        limitations and rest of flight attendants, and the potential 
        benefits of training flight attendants regarding such fatigue.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 309. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS FOR FLIGHT 
              ATTENDANTS ON BOARD AIRCRAFT.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 447 (as amended by section 304 of this 
Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44731. Occupational safety and health standards for flight 
              attendants on board aircraft
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall prescribe and enforce standards and regulations to 
ensure the occupational safety and health of individuals serving as 
flight attendants in the cabin of an aircraft of an air carrier.
    ``(b) Standards and Regulations.--Standards and regulations issued 
under this section shall require each air carrier operating an aircraft 
in air transportation--
            ``(1) to provide for an environment in the cabin of the 
        aircraft that is free from hazards that could cause physical 
        harm to a flight attendant working in the cabin; and
            ``(2) to meet minimum standards for the occupational safety 
        and health of flight attendants who work in the cabin of the 
        aircraft.
    ``(c) Rulemaking.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator 
shall conduct a rulemaking proceeding to address, at a minimum, the 
following areas:
            ``(1) Record keeping.
            ``(2) Blood borne pathogens.
            ``(3) Noise.
            ``(4) Sanitation.
            ``(5) Hazard communication.
            ``(6) Anti-discrimination.
            ``(7) Access to employee exposure and medical records.
            ``(8) Temperature standards for the aircraft cabin.
    ``(d) Regulations.--
            ``(1) Deadline.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Administrator shall issue final 
        regulations to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Contents.--Regulations issued under this subsection 
        shall address each of the issues identified in subsection (c) 
        and others aspects of the environment of an aircraft cabin that 
        may cause illness or injury to a flight attendant working in 
        the cabin.
            ``(3) Employer actions to address occupational safety and 
        health hazards.--Regulations issued under this subsection shall 
        set forth clearly the circumstances under which an air carrier 
        is required to take action to address occupational safety and 
        health hazards.
    ``(e) Additional Rulemaking Proceedings.--After issuing regulations 
under subsection (c), the Administrator may conduct additional 
rulemaking proceedings as the Administrator determines appropriate to 
carry out this section.
    ``(f) Oversight.--
            ``(1) Cabin occupational safety and health inspectors.--The 
        Administrator shall establish the position of Cabin 
        Occupational Safety and Health Inspector within the Federal 
        Aviation Administration and shall employ individuals with 
        appropriate qualifications and expertise to serve in the 
        position.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--Inspectors employed under this 
        subsection shall be solely responsible for conducting proper 
        oversight of air carrier programs implemented under this 
        section.
    ``(g) Consultation.--In developing regulations under this section, 
the Administrator shall consult with the Administrator of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, labor organizations 
representing flight attendants, air carriers, and other interested 
persons.
    ``(h) Safety Priority.--In developing and implementing regulations 
under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to the safe 
operation and maintenance of an aircraft.
    ``(i) Flight Attendant Defined.--In this section, the term `flight 
attendant' has the meaning given that term by section 44728.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 447 is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``44731. Occupational safety and health standards for flight attendants 
                            on board aircraft.''.

SEC. 310. AIRCRAFT SURVEILLANCE IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS.

     (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration may establish a pilot program to improve safety and 
efficiency by providing surveillance for aircraft flying outside of 
radar coverage in mountainous areas.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 311. OFF-AIRPORT, LOW-ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT WEATHER OBSERVATION 
              TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall conduct a review of off-airport, low-altitude 
aircraft weather observation technologies.
    (b) Specific Review.--The review shall include, at a minimum, an 
examination of off-airport, low-altitude weather reporting needs, an 
assessment of technical alternatives (including automated weather 
observation stations), an investment analysis, and recommendations for 
improving weather reporting.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
containing the results of the review.

SEC. 312. NONCERTIFICATED MAINTENANCE PROVIDERS.

    (a) Issuance of Regulations.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall issue regulations requiring that all covered 
maintenance work on aircraft used to provide air transportation under 
part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, be performed by 
individuals in accordance with subsection (b).
    (b) Persons Authorized to Perform Certain Work.--Covered 
maintenance work for a part 121 air carrier shall only be performed 
by--
            (1) an individual employed by the air carrier;
            (2) an individual employed by another part 121 air carrier;
            (3) an individual employed by a part 145 repair station; or
            (4) an individual employed by a company that provides 
        contract maintenance workers to a part 145 repair station or 
        part 121 air carrier, if the individual--
                    (A) meets the requirements of the part 145 repair 
                station or the part 121 air carrier;
                    (B) works under the direct supervision and control 
                of the part 145 repair station or part 121 air carrier; 
                and
                    (C) carries out the work in accordance with the 
                part 121 air carrier's maintenance manual and, if 
                applicable, the part 145 certificate holder's repair 
                station and quality control manuals.
    (c) Plan.--
            (1) Development.--The Administrator shall develop a plan 
        to--
                    (A) require air carriers to identify and provide to 
                the Administrator a complete listing of all 
                noncertificated maintenance providers that perform, 
                before the effective date of the regulations to be 
                issued under subsection (a), covered maintenance work 
                on aircraft used to provide air transportation under 
                part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;
                    (B) validate the lists that air carriers provide 
                under subparagraph (A) by sampling air carrier records, 
                such as maintenance activity reports and general vendor 
                listings; and
                    (C) include surveillance and oversight by field 
                inspectors of the Federal Aviation Administration for 
                all noncertificated maintenance providers that perform 
                covered maintenance work on aircraft used to provide 
                air transportation in accordance with such part 121.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
        to Congress a report containing the plan developed under 
        paragraph (1).
    (d) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Covered maintenance work.--The term ``covered 
        maintenance work'' means maintenance work that is substantial, 
        regularly-scheduled, or a required inspection item, as 
        determined by the Administrator.
            (2) Part 121 air carrier.--The term ``part 121 air 
        carrier'' means an air carrier that holds a certificate issued 
        under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Part 145 repair station.--The term ``part 145 repair 
        station'' means a repair station that holds a certificate 
        issued under part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (4) Noncertificated maintenance provider.--The term 
        ``noncertificated maintenance provider'' means a maintenance 
        provider that does not hold a certificate issued under part 121 
        or part 145 of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the Administrator to 
hire additional field safety inspectors to ensure adequate and timely 
inspection of maintenance providers that perform covered maintenance 
work.

SEC. 313. AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING STANDARDS.

    (a) Rulemaking Proceeding.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding for the purpose 
of issuing a proposed and final rule that revises the aircraft rescue 
and firefighting standards (``ARFF'') under part 139 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations, to improve the protection of the traveling 
public, other persons, aircraft, buildings, and the environment from 
fires and hazardous materials incidents.
    (b) Contents of Proposed and Final Rule.--The proposed and final 
rule to be issued under subsection (a) shall address the following:
            (1) The mission of aircraft rescue and firefighting 
        personnel, including responsibilities for passenger egress in 
        the context of other Administration requirements.
            (2) The proper level of staffing.
            (3) The timeliness of a response.
            (4) The handling of hazardous materials incidents at 
        airports.
            (5) Proper vehicle deployment.
            (6) The need for equipment modernization.
    (c) Consistency With Voluntary Consensus Standards.--The proposed 
and final rule issued under subsection (a) shall be, to the extent 
practical, consistent with national voluntary consensus standards for 
aircraft rescue and firefighting services at airports.
    (d) Assessments of Potential Impacts.--In the rulemaking proceeding 
initiated under subsection (a), the Administrator shall assess the 
potential impact of any revisions to the firefighting standards on 
airports and air transportation service.
    (e) Inconsistency With Standards.--If the proposed or final rule 
issued under subsection (a) is not consistent with national voluntary 
consensus standards for aircraft rescue and firefighting services at 
airports, the Administrator shall submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget an explanation of the reasons for such inconsistency in 
accordance with section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and 
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note; 110 Stat. 783).
    (f) Final Rule.--Not later than 24 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue the final rule 
required by subsection (a).

                 Subtitle B--Unmanned Aircraft Systems

SEC. 321. COMMERCIAL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS INTEGRATION PLAN.

    (a) Integration Plan.--
            (1) Comprehensive plan.--Not later than 9 months after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation 
        with representatives of the aviation industry, shall develop a 
        comprehensive plan to safely integrate commercial unmanned 
        aircraft systems into the national airspace system.
            (2) Minimum requirements.--In developing the plan under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, at a minimum--
                    (A) review technologies and research that will 
                assist in facilitating the safe integration of 
                commercial unmanned aircraft systems into the national 
                airspace system;
                    (B) provide recommendations for the rulemaking to 
                be conducted under subsection (b) to--
                            (i) define the acceptable standards for 
                        operations and certification of commercial 
                        unmanned aircraft systems;
                            (ii) ensure that any commercial unmanned 
                        aircraft system includes a detect, sense, and 
                        avoid capability; and
                            (iii) develop standards and requirements 
                        for the operator or programmer of a commercial 
                        unmanned aircraft system, including standards 
                        and requirements for registration and 
                        licensing;
                    (C) recommend how best to enhance the technologies 
                and subsystems necessary to effect the safe and routine 
                operations of commercial unmanned aircraft systems in 
                the national airspace system; and
                    (D) recommend how a phased-in approach to the 
                integration of commercial unmanned aircraft systems 
                into the national airspace system can best be achieved 
                and a timeline upon which such a phase-in shall occur.
            (3) Deadline.--The plan to be developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall provide for the safe integration of commercial unmanned 
        aircraft systems into the national airspace system as soon as 
        possible, but not later than September 30, 2012.
            (4) Report to congress.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a copy of the plan developed under paragraph (1).
    (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 18 months after the date on which 
the integration plan is submitted to Congress under subsection (a)(4), 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall publish 
in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to implement 
the recommendations of the integration plan.
    (c) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 322. SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 321 
and 323, and not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall determine if certain unmanned aircraft 
systems may operate safely in the national airspace system before 
completion of the plan and rulemaking required by section 321 or the 
guidance required by section 323.
    (b) Assessment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.--In making the 
determination under subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine, at a 
minimum--
            (1) which types of unmanned aircraft systems, if any, as a 
        result of their size, weight, speed, operational capability, 
        proximity to airports and population areas, and operation 
        within visual line-of-sight do not create a hazard to users of 
        the national airspace system or the public or pose a threat to 
        national security; and
            (2) whether a certificate of authorization or an 
        airworthiness certification under section 44704 of title 49, 
        United States Code, is required for the operation of unmanned 
        aircraft systems identified under paragraph (1).
    (c) Requirements for Safe Operation.--If the Secretary determines 
under this section that certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate 
safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish 
requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the 
national airspace system.

SEC. 323. PUBLIC UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall issue guidance regarding the operation of public 
unmanned aircraft systems to--
            (1) expedite the issuance of a certificate of authorization 
        process;
            (2) provide for a collaborative process with public 
        agencies to allow for an incremental expansion of access to the 
        national airspace system as technology matures and the 
        necessary safety analysis and data become available and until 
        standards are completed and technology issues are resolved; and
            (3) facilitate the capability of public agencies to develop 
        and use test ranges, subject to operating restrictions required 
        by the Federal Aviation Administration, to test and operate 
        unmanned aircraft systems.

SEC. 324. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Certificate of authorization.--The term ``certificate 
        of authorization'' means a Federal Aviation Administration 
        grant of approval for a specific flight operation.
            (2) Detect, sense, and avoid capability.--The term 
        ``detect, sense, and avoid capability'' means the technical 
        capability to perform separation assurance and collision 
        avoidance, as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (3) Public unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``public 
        unmanned aircraft system'' means an unmanned aircraft system 
        that meets the qualifications and conditions required for 
        operation of a public aircraft, as defined by section 40102 of 
        title 49, United States Code.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (5) Test range.--The term ``test range'' means a defined 
        geographic area where research and development are conducted.
            (6) Unmanned aircraft.--The term ``unmanned aircraft'' 
        means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of 
        direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
            (7) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
        system'' means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements 
        (such as communication links and a ground control station) that 
        are required to operate safely and efficiently in the national 
        airspace system.

                   TITLE IV--AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 401. MONTHLY AIR CARRIER REPORTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 41708 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(c) Diverted and Cancelled Flights.--
            ``(1) Monthly reports.--The Secretary shall require an air 
        carrier referred to in paragraph (2) to file with the Secretary 
        a monthly report on each flight of the air carrier that is 
        diverted from its scheduled destination to another airport and 
        each flight of the air carrier that departs the gate at the 
        airport at which the flight originates but is cancelled before 
        wheels-off time.
            ``(2) Applicability.--An air carrier that is required to 
        file a monthly airline service quality performance report under 
        subsection (b) shall be subject to the requirement of paragraph 
        (1).
            ``(3) Contents.--A monthly report filed by an air carrier 
        under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following 
        information:
                    ``(A) For a diverted flight--
                            ``(i) the flight number of the diverted 
                        flight;
                            ``(ii) the scheduled destination of the 
                        flight;
                            ``(iii) the date and time of the flight;
                            ``(iv) the airport to which the flight was 
                        diverted;
                            ``(v) wheels-on time at the diverted 
                        airport;
                            ``(vi) the time, if any, passengers 
                        deplaned the aircraft at the diverted airport; 
                        and
                            ``(vii) if the flight arrives at the 
                        scheduled destination airport--
                                    ``(I) the gate-departure time at 
                                the diverted airport;
                                    ``(II) the wheels-off time at the 
                                diverted airport;
                                    ``(III) the wheels-on time at the 
                                scheduled arrival airport; and
                                    ``(IV) the gate arrival time at the 
                                scheduled arrival airport.
                    ``(B) For flights cancelled after gate departure--
                            ``(i) the flight number of the cancelled 
                        flight;
                            ``(ii) the scheduled origin and destination 
                        airports of the cancelled flight;
                            ``(iii) the date and time of the cancelled 
                        flight;
                            ``(iv) the gate-departure time of the 
                        cancelled flight; and
                            ``(v) the time the aircraft returned to the 
                        gate.
            ``(4) Publication.--The Secretary shall compile the 
        information provided in the monthly reports filed pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) in a single monthly report and publish such 
        report on the Web site of the Department of Transportation.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Transportation shall require 
monthly reports pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a) 
beginning not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act.

SEC. 402. FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT.

    (a) Beyond Perimeter Exemptions.--Section 41718(a) is amended by 
striking ``24'' and inserting ``34''.
    (b) Limitations.--Section 41718(c)(2) is amended by striking ``3 
operations'' and inserting ``5 operations''.
    (c) Allocation of Beyond-Perimeter Exemptions.--Section 41718(c) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as (4) and (5), 
        respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Slots.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration shall reduce the hourly air carrier slot quota 
        for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in section 
        93.123(a) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, by a total 
        of 10 slots that are available for allocation. Such reductions 
        shall be taken in the 6:00 a.m., 10:00 p.m., or 11:00 p.m. 
        hours, as determined by the Administrator, in order to grant 
        exemptions under subsection (a).''.
    (d) Scheduling Priority.--Section 41718 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
        (f) and (g), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Scheduling Priority.--Operations conducted by new entrant air 
carriers and limited incumbent air carriers shall be afforded a 
scheduling priority over operations conducted by other air carriers 
granted exemptions pursuant to this section, with the highest 
scheduling priority to be afforded to beyond-perimeter operations 
conducted by new entrant air carriers and limited incumbent air 
carriers.''.

SEC. 403. EAS CONTRACT GUIDELINES.

    Section 41737(a)(1) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
            (2) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``provided.'' and 
        inserting ``provided;''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(D) include provisions under which the Secretary may 
        encourage an air carrier to improve air service for which 
        compensation is being paid under this subchapter by 
        incorporating financial incentives in an essential air service 
        contract based on specified performance goals; and
            ``(E) include provisions under which the Secretary may 
        execute a long-term essential air service contract to encourage 
        an air carrier to provide air service to an eligible place if 
        it would be in the public interest to do so.''.

SEC. 404. ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE REFORM.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 41742(a)(2) is 
amended by striking ``$77,000,000'' and inserting ``$83,000,000''.
    (b) Distribution of Excess Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Section 41742(a) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:
            ``(4) Distribution of excess funds.--Of the funds, if any, 
        credited to the account established under section 45303 in a 
        fiscal year that exceed the $50,000,000 made available for such 
        fiscal year under paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) one-half shall be made available immediately 
                for obligation and expenditure to carry out section 
                41743; and
                    ``(B) one-half shall be made available immediately 
                for obligation and expenditure to carry out subsection 
                (b).''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 41742(b) is amended--
                    (A) in the first sentence by striking ``moneys 
                credited'' and all that follows before ``shall be 
                used'' and inserting ``amounts made available under 
                subsection (a)(4)(B)''; and
                    (B) in the second sentence by striking ``any 
                amounts from those fees'' and inserting ``any of such 
                amounts''.

SEC. 405. SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE.

    (a) Priorities.--Section 41743(c)(5) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) in subparagraph (E) by striking ``fashion.'' and 
        inserting ``fashion; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) multiple communities cooperate to submit a 
                regional or multistate application to improve air 
                service.''.
    (b) Extension of Authorization.--Section 41743(e)(2) is amended by 
striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2011''.

SEC. 406. AIR PASSENGER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle VII is amended by inserting after chapter 
421 the following:

           ``CHAPTER 423--AIR PASSENGER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

``Sec.
``42301. Emergency contingency plans.
``42302. Consumer complaints.
``42303. Use of insecticides in passenger aircraft.
``Sec. 42301. Emergency contingency plans
    ``(a) Submission of Air Carrier and Airport Plans.--Not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this section, each air carrier 
providing covered air transportation at a large hub airport or medium 
hub airport and each operator of a large hub airport or medium hub 
airport shall submit to the Secretary of Transportation for review and 
approval an emergency contingency plan in accordance with the 
requirements of this section.
    ``(b) Covered Air Transportation Defined.--In this section, the 
term `covered air transportation' means scheduled passenger air 
transportation provided by an air carrier using aircraft with more than 
60 seats.
    ``(c) Air Carrier Plans.--
            ``(1) Plans for individual airports.--An air carrier shall 
        submit an emergency contingency plan under subsection (a) for--
                    ``(A) each large hub airport and medium hub airport 
                at which the carrier provides covered air 
                transportation; and
                    ``(B) each large hub airport and medium hub airport 
                at which the carrier has flights for which it has 
                primary responsibility for inventory control.
            ``(2) Contents.--An emergency contingency plan submitted by 
        an air carrier for an airport under subsection (a) shall 
        contain a description of how the air carrier will--
                    ``(A) provide food, water that meets the standards 
                of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et 
                seq.), restroom facilities, cabin ventilation, and 
                access to medical treatment for passengers onboard an 
                aircraft at the airport that is on the ground for an 
                extended period of time without access to the terminal;
                    ``(B) allow passengers to deplane following 
                excessive delays; and
                    ``(C) share facilities and make gates available at 
                the airport in an emergency.
    ``(d) Airport Plans.--An emergency contingency plan submitted by an 
airport operator under subsection (a) shall contain a description of 
how the airport operator, to the maximum extent practicable, will 
provide for the deplanement of passengers following excessive delays 
and will provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available 
at the airport in an emergency.
    ``(e) Updates.--
            ``(1) Air carriers.--An air carrier shall update the 
        emergency contingency plan submitted by the air carrier under 
        subsection (a) every 3 years and submit the update to the 
        Secretary for review and approval.
            ``(2) Airports.--An airport operator shall update the 
        emergency contingency plan submitted by the airport operator 
        under subsection (a) every 5 years and submit the update to the 
        Secretary for review and approval.
    ``(f) Approval.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 9 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall review and 
        approve or require modifications to emergency contingency plans 
        submitted under subsection (a) and updates submitted under 
        subsection (e) to ensure that the plans and updates will 
        effectively address emergencies and provide for the health and 
        safety of passengers.
            ``(2) Civil penalties.--The Secretary may assess a civil 
        penalty under section 46301 against an air carrier or airport 
        that does not adhere to an emergency contingency plan approved 
        under this subsection.
    ``(g) Minimum Standards.--The Secretary may establish, as necessary 
or desirable, minimum standards for elements in an emergency 
contingency plan required to be submitted under this section.
    ``(h) Public Access.--An air carrier or airport required to submit 
emergency contingency plans under this section shall ensure public 
access to such plan after its approval under this section on the 
Internet Web site of the carrier or airport or by such other means as 
determined by the Secretary.
``Sec. 42302. Consumer complaints
    ``(a) Consumer Complaints Hotline Telephone Number.--The Secretary 
of Transportation shall establish a consumer complaints hotline 
telephone number for the use of passengers in air transportation.
    ``(b) Public Notice.--The Secretary shall notify the public of the 
telephone number established under subsection (a).
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
Such sums shall remain available until expended.
``Sec. 42303. Use of insecticides in passenger aircraft
    ``No air carrier, foreign air carrier, or ticket agent may sell in 
the United States a ticket for air transportation for a flight on which 
a insecticide has been applied in the aircraft within the last 60 days 
or on which an insecticide is planned to be used in the aircraft while 
passengers are on board the aircraft unless the air carrier, foreign 
air carrier, or ticket agent selling the ticket first informs the 
person purchasing the ticket of the application, application, or 
planned use of the insecticide, including the name of the 
insecticide.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subtitle VII is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to chapter 421 the following:

``423. Air Passenger Service Improvements...................   42301''.
    (c) Penalties.--Section 46301 is amended in subsections (a)(1)(A) 
and (c)(1)(A) by inserting ``chapter 423,'' after ``chapter 421,''.
    (d) Applicability of Requirements.--Except as otherwise 
specifically provided, the requirements of chapter 423 of title 49, 
United States Code, as added by this section, shall begin to apply 60 
days after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 407. CONTENTS OF COMPETITION PLANS.

    Section 47106(f)(2) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``patterns of air service,'';
            (2) by inserting ``and'' before ``whether''; and
            (3) by striking `` , and airfare levels'' and all that 
        follows before the period.

SEC. 408. EXTENSION OF COMPETITIVE ACCESS REPORTS.

    Section 47107(s)(3) is amended by striking ``2008'' and inserting 
``2012''.

SEC. 409. CONTRACT TOWER PROGRAM.

    (a) Cost-Benefit Requirement.--Section 47124(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(1) The Secretary'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) Contract tower program.--
                    ``(A) Continuation and extension.--The Secretary'';
            (2) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the following:
                    ``(B) Special rule.--If the Secretary determines 
                that a tower already operating under the program 
                continued under this paragraph has a benefit to cost 
                ratio of less than 1.0, the airport sponsor or State or 
                local government having jurisdiction over the airport 
                shall not be required to pay the portion of the costs 
                that exceeds the benefit for a period of 18 months 
                after such determination is made.
                    ``(C) Use of excess funds.--If the Secretary finds 
                that all or part of an amount made available to carry 
                out the program continued under this paragraph is not 
                required during a fiscal year, the Secretary may use, 
                during such fiscal year, the amount not so required to 
                carry out the program established under paragraph 
                (3).''; and
            (3) by striking ``(2) The Secretary'' and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(2) General authority.--The Secretary''.
    (b) Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Cost-Sharing Program.--
            (1) Funding.--Section 47124(b)(3)(E) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, $8,500,000 for fiscal year 
                2008, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $9,500,000 for 
                fiscal year 2010, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2011'' after ``2007''.
            (2) Use of excess funds.--Section 47124(b)(3) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraph (E) (as amended 
                by paragraph (1) of this subsection) as subparagraph 
                (F); and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                following:
                    ``(E) Use of excess funds.--If the Secretary finds 
                that all or part of an amount made available under this 
                subparagraph is not required during a fiscal year to 
                carry out this paragraph, the Secretary may use, during 
                such fiscal year, the amount not so required to carry 
                out the program continued under paragraph (1).''.
    (c) Federal Share.--Section 47124(b)(4)(C) is amended by striking 
``$1,500,000'' and inserting ``$2,000,000''.
    (d) Safety Audits.--Section 47124 is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(c) Safety Audits.--The Secretary shall establish uniform 
standards and requirements for safety assessments of air traffic 
control towers that receive funding under this section.''.

SEC. 410. AIRFARES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Armed Forces is comprised of approximately 
        1,400,000 members who are stationed on active duty at more than 
        6,000 military bases in 146 different countries;
            (2) the United States is indebted to the members of the 
        Armed Forces, many of whom are in grave danger due to their 
        engagement in, or exposure to, combat;
            (3) military service, especially in the current war against 
        terrorism, often requires members of the Armed Forces to be 
        separated from their families on short notice, for long periods 
        of time, and under very stressful conditions;
            (4) the unique demands of military service often preclude 
        members of the Armed Forces from purchasing discounted advance 
        airline tickets in order to visit their loved ones at home; and
            (5) it is the patriotic duty of the people of the United 
        States to support the members of the Armed Forces who are 
        defending the Nation's interests around the world at great 
        personal sacrifice.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that each 
United States air carrier should--
            (1) establish for all members of the Armed Forces on active 
        duty reduced air fares that are comparable to the lowest 
        airfare for ticketed flights; and
            (2) offer flexible terms that allow members of the Armed 
        Forces on active duty to purchase, modify, or cancel tickets 
        without time restrictions, fees, and penalties.

SEC. 411. MEDICAL OXYGEN AND PORTABLE RESPIRATORY ASSISTIVE DEVICES.

    Not later than December 31, 2007, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall issue a final rule regarding the carriage and use of passenger-
owned portable electronic respiratory assistive devices and carrier-
supplied medical oxygen devices aboard commercial flights to improve 
accommodations in air travel for passengers with respiratory 
disabilities.

SEC. 412. REPEAL OF ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE LOCAL PARTICIPATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal.--Section 41747, and the item relating to such section 
in the analysis for chapter 417, are repealed.
    (b) Applicability.--Title 49, United States Code, shall be applied 
as if section 41747 of such title had not been enacted.

SEC. 413. GAO STUDY OF ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE SUBSIDY CAP.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall examine how the $200 
per passenger subsidy cap, initially established by Public Law 103-122 
(107 Stat. 1198; 1201) and made permanent by section 332 of Public Law 
106-69 (113 Stat. 1022) to restrict eligibility for funding under the 
essential air service program, has impacted that program and the access 
of small communities to air transportation.
    (b) Study.--The study shall include an analysis of the following:
            (1) The communities that have lost eligibility for 
        subsidized air service under the essential air service program 
        due to the $200 per passenger subsidy cap and the impact, if 
        any, such loss of subsidy has had on the access of such 
        communities to air transportation.
            (2) The likely effect on the essential air service program 
        if the $200 per passenger subsidy cap is indexed for inflation 
        beginning in 2009.
            (3) Whether the $200 per passenger subsidy cap has 
        disproportionately impacted communities in certain geographic 
        areas.
            (4) Alternative methods of measuring the subsidy rate, 
        including the subsidy per passenger per mile.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study 
conducted under this section.

SEC. 414. NOTICE TO COMMUNITIES PRIOR TO TERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
              SUBSIDIZED ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE.

    Section 41733 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Notice to Communities Prior to Termination of Eligibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall notify each 
        community receiving basic essential air service for which 
        compensation is being paid under this subchapter not later than 
        45 days before issuing any final decision to end the payment of 
        such compensation due to a determination by the Secretary that 
        providing such service requires a rate of subsidy per passenger 
        in excess of the maximum amount specified in section 332 of 
        Public Law 106-69 (113 Stat. 1022).
            ``(2) Procedures to avoid termination.--The Secretary shall 
        establish, by order, procedures by which each community 
        notified of an impending loss of subsidy under paragraph (1) 
        may work directly with an air carrier to ensure that the air 
        carrier is able to submit a proposal to the Secretary to 
        provide essential air service to such community for an amount 
        of compensation that would not exceed the subsidy cap 
        established by section 332 of Public Law 106-69.
            ``(3) Assistance provided.--The Secretary shall provide, by 
        order, to each community notified under paragraph (1) 
        information regarding--
                    ``(A) the procedures established pursuant to 
                paragraph (2); and
                    ``(B) the maximum amount of compensation that could 
                be provided under this subchapter to an air carrier 
                serving such community that would comply with the 
                subsidy cap established by section 332 of Public Law 
                106-69.''.

SEC. 415. RESTORATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO A PLACE DETERMINED BY THE 
              SECRETARY TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR SUBSIDIZED ESSENTIAL AIR 
              SERVICE.

    Section 41733 (as amended by section 414 of this Act) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Proposals of State and Local Governments to Restore 
Eligibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary ends payment of 
        compensation to an air carrier for providing basic essential 
        air service to an eligible place because the Secretary has 
        determined that providing such service requires a rate of 
        subsidy per passenger in excess of the maximum amount specified 
        in section 332 of Public Law 106-69 (113 Stat. 1022), a State 
        or local government may submit to the Secretary a proposal for 
        restoring compensation for such service. Such proposal shall be 
        a joint proposal of the State or local government and an air 
        carrier.
            ``(2) Determination by secretary.--If a State or local 
        government submits to the Secretary a proposal under paragraph 
        (1) with respect to an eligible place, and the Secretary 
        determines that--
                    ``(A) the rate of subsidy per passenger under the 
                proposal does not exceed the maximum amount specified 
                in section 332 of Public Law 106-69; and
                    ``(B) the proposal is consistent with the legal and 
                regulatory requirements of the essential air service 
                program,
        the Secretary shall issue an order restoring the eligibility of 
        the otherwise eligible place to receive basic essential air 
        service by an air carrier for compensation under subsection 
        (c).''.

SEC. 416. OFFICE OF RURAL AVIATION.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 417 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 41749. Office of Rural Aviation
    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall 
establish within the Department of Transportation an office to be known 
as the `Office of Rural Aviation' (in this section referred to as the 
`Office').
    ``(b) Functions.--The Office shall--
            ``(1) monitor the status of air service to small 
        communities;
            ``(2) develop proposals to improve air service to small 
        communities; and
            ``(3) carry out such other functions as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for subchapter II of chapter 
417 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``41749. Office of Rural Aviation.''.

SEC. 417. ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPENSATION FOR SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED 
              COSTS.

    (a) Adjustments to Account for Significantly Increased Nonfuel 
Costs.--Section 41737(e) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading by inserting ``Nonfuel'' 
        before ``Costs''; and
            (2) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``other than fuel costs'' 
        before ``in providing''.
    (b) Adjustments to Account for Significantly Increased Aviation 
Fuel Costs.--Section 41737 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Adjustments to Account for Significantly Increased Aviation 
Fuel Costs.--
            ``(1) In general.--If the Secretary determines that air 
        carriers are experiencing significantly increased aviation fuel 
        costs in providing air service or air transportation for which 
        compensation is being paid under this subchapter, the 
        Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, shall increase 
        the rates of compensation payable to air carriers under this 
        subchapter without regard to any agreement or requirement 
        relating to the renegotiation of contracts or any notice 
        requirement under section 41734.
            ``(2) Readjustment if costs subsequently decline.--If an 
        adjustment is made under paragraph (1) with respect to the 
        rates of compensation payable to air carriers, and the 
        Secretary subsequently determines that there is a significant 
        decrease in aviation fuel costs, the Secretary shall reduce the 
        adjustment previously made under paragraph (1) without regard 
        to any agreement or requirement relating to the renegotiation 
        of contracts or any notice requirement under section 41734.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following 
        definitions apply:
                    ``(A) Aviation fuel.--The term `aviation fuel' 
                means fuel used by an air carrier in aircraft providing 
                air service or air transportation for which 
                compensation is being paid under this subchapter.
                    ``(B) Significant decrease in aviation fuel 
                costs.--The term `significant decrease in aviation fuel 
                costs' means a decrease of 30 percent or more in the 
                price per gallon of aviation fuel over a 6-month 
                period, as determined by the Secretary, based on fuel 
                price information derived from a commodities exchange 
                or exchanges.
                    ``(C) Significantly increased aviation fuel 
                costs.--The term `significantly increased aviation fuel 
                costs' means an increase of 30 percent or more in the 
                price per gallon of aviation fuel over a 6-month 
                period, as determined by the Secretary, based on fuel 
                price information derived from a commodities exchange 
                or exchanges.''.

SEC. 418. REVIEW OF AIR CARRIER FLIGHT DELAYS, CANCELLATIONS, AND 
              ASSOCIATED CAUSES.

    (a) Review.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
Transportation shall conduct a review regarding air carrier flight 
delays, cancellations, and associated causes to update its 2000 report 
numbered CR-2000-112 and entitled ``Audit of Air Carrier Flight Delays 
and Cancellations''.
    (b) Assessments.--In conducting the review under subsection (a), 
the Inspector General shall assess--
            (1) the need for an update on delay and cancellation 
        statistics, such as number of chronically delayed flights and 
        taxi-in and taxi-out times;
            (2) air carriers' scheduling practices;
            (3) the need for a re-examination of capacity benchmarks at 
        the Nation's busiest airports; and
            (4) the impact of flight delays and cancellations on air 
        travelers, including recommendations for programs that could be 
        implemented to address the impact of flight delays on air 
        travelers.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Inspector General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the review conducted under this section, 
including the assessments described in subsection (b).

SEC. 419. EUROPEAN UNION RULES FOR PASSENGER RIGHTS.

    (a) In General.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to 
evaluate and compare the regulations of the European Union and the 
United States on compensation and other consideration offered to 
passengers who are denied boarding or whose flights are cancelled or 
delayed.
    (b) Specific Study Requirements.--The study shall include an 
evaluation and comparison of the regulations based on costs to the air 
carriers, preferences of passengers for compensation or other 
consideration, and forms of compensation. In conducting the study, the 
Comptroller General shall also take into account the differences in 
structure and size of the aviation systems of the European Union and 
the United States.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on 
the results of the study.

SEC. 420. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR AVIATION CONSUMER 
              PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish an 
advisory committee for aviation consumer protection (in this section 
referred to as the ``advisory committee'') to advise the Secretary in 
carrying out air passenger service improvements, including those 
required by chapter 423 of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint 8 members to the 
advisory committee as follows:
            (1) Two representatives of air carriers required to submit 
        emergency contingency plans pursuant to section 42301 of title 
        49, United States Code.
            (2) Two representatives of the airport operators required 
        to submit emergency contingency plans pursuant to section 42301 
        of such title.
            (3) Two representatives of State and local governments who 
        have expertise in aviation consumer protection matters.
            (4) Two representatives of nonprofit public interest groups 
        who have expertise in aviation consumer protection matters.
    (c) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the advisory committee shall be filled 
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (d) Travel Expenses.--Members of the advisory committee shall serve 
without pay but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
title 5, United States Code.
    (e) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall designate, from among the 
individuals appointed under subsection (b), an individual to serve as 
chairperson of the advisory committee.
    (f) Duties.--The duties of the advisory committee shall include the 
following:
            (1) Evaluating existing aviation consumer protection 
        programs and providing recommendations for the improvement of 
        such programs, if needed.
            (2) Providing recommendations to establish additional 
        aviation consumer protection programs, if needed.
    (g) Report.--Not later than February 1 of each of the first 2 
calendar years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report containing--
            (1) each recommendation made by the advisory committee 
        during the preceding calendar year; and
            (2) an explanation of how the Secretary has implemented 
        each recommendation and, for each recommendation not 
        implemented, the Secretary's reason for not implementing the 
        recommendation.

SEC. 421. DENIED BOARDING COMPENSATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a 
final regulation to modify section 250 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, regarding denied boarding compensation, to appropriately 
adjust the amount of such compensation for an aircraft with 30 or more 
seats.
    (b) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of issuance 
of the final regulation under this section and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall evaluate the amount provided for denied 
boarding compensation and issue a regulation to adjust such 
compensation as necessary.

SEC. 422. SCHEDULE REDUCTION.

    (a) In General.--If the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration determines that: (1) the aircraft operations of air 
carriers during any hour at an airport exceeds the hourly maximum 
departure and arrival rate established by the Administrator for such 
operations; and (2) the operations in excess of the maximum departure 
and arrival rate for such hour at such airport are likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the national or regional airspace system, 
the Administrator shall convene a conference of such carriers to reduce 
pursuant to section 41722, on a voluntary basis, the number of such 
operations to less than such maximum departure and arrival rate.
    (b) No Agreement.--If the air carriers participating in a 
conference with respect to an airport under subsection (a) are not able 
to agree to a reduction in the number of flights to and from the 
airport to less than the maximum departure and arrival rate, the 
Administrator shall take such action as is necessary to ensure such 
reduction is implemented.
    (c) Quarterly Reports.--Beginning 3 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act and every 3 months thereafter, the Administrator 
shall submit to Congress a report regarding scheduling at the 35 
airports that have the greatest number of passenger enplanements, 
including each occurrence in which hourly scheduled aircraft operations 
of air carriers at such an airport exceed the hourly maximum departure 
and arrival rate at any such airport.

SEC. 423. EXPANSION OF DOT AIRLINE CONSUMER COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall investigate consumer complaints 
regarding--
            (1) flight cancellations;
            (2) compliance with Federal regulations concerning 
        overbooking seats flights;
            (3) lost, damaged, or delayed baggage, and difficulties 
        with related airline claims procedures;
            (4) problems in obtaining refunds for unused or lost 
        tickets or fare adjustments;
            (5) incorrect or incomplete information about fares, 
        discount fare conditions and availability, overcharges, and 
        fare increases;
            (6) the rights of passengers who hold frequent flier miles 
        or equivalent redeemable awards earned through customer-loyalty 
        programs; and
            (7) deceptive or misleading advertising.
    (b) Budget Needs Report.--The Secretary shall provide, as an annex 
to its annual budget request, an estimate of resources which would have 
been sufficient to investigate all such claims the Department of 
Transportation received in the previous fiscal year. The annex shall be 
transmitted to Congress when the President submits the budget of the 
United States to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code.

          TITLE V--ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND STREAMLINING

SEC. 501. AMENDMENTS TO AIR TOUR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 40128 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(C) by inserting ``or voluntary 
        agreement under subsection (b)(7)'' before ``for the park'';
            (2) in subsection (a) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Exemption.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a 
                national park that has 50 or fewer commercial air tour 
                flights a year shall be exempt from the requirements of 
                this section, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Withdrawal of exemption.--If the Director 
                determines that an air tour management plan or 
                voluntary agreement is necessary to protect park 
                resources and values or park visitor use and enjoyment, 
                the Director shall withdraw the exemption of a park 
                under subparagraph (A).
                    ``(C) List of parks.--The Director shall inform the 
                Administrator, in writing, of each determination under 
                subparagraph (B). The Director and Administrator shall 
                publish an annual list of national parks that are 
                covered by the exemption provided by this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Annual report.--A commercial air tour 
                operator conducting commercial air tours in a national 
                park that is exempt from the requirements of this 
                section shall submit to the Administrator and the 
                Director an annual report regarding the number of 
                commercial air tour flights it conducts each year in 
                such park.'';
            (3) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) Voluntary agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--As an alternative to an air tour 
                management plan, the Director and the Administrator may 
                enter into a voluntary agreement with a commercial air 
                tour operator (including a new entrant applicant and an 
                operator that has interim operating authority) that has 
                applied to conduct air tour operations over a national 
                park to manage commercial air tour operations over such 
                national park.
                    ``(B) Park protection.--A voluntary agreement under 
                this paragraph with respect to commercial air tour 
                operations over a national park shall address the 
                management issues necessary to protect the resources of 
                such park and visitor use of such park without 
                compromising aviation safety or the air traffic control 
                system and may--
                            ``(i) include provisions such as those 
                        described in subparagraphs (B) through (E) of 
                        paragraph (3);
                            ``(ii) include provisions to ensure the 
                        stability of, and compliance with, the 
                        voluntary agreement; and
                            ``(iii) provide for fees for such 
                        operations.
                    ``(C) Public.--The Director and the Administrator 
                shall provide an opportunity for public review of a 
                proposed voluntary agreement under this paragraph and 
                shall consult with any Indian tribe whose tribal lands 
                are, or may be, flown over by a commercial air tour 
                operator under a voluntary agreement under this 
                paragraph. After such opportunity for public review and 
                consultation, the voluntary agreement may be 
                implemented without further administrative or 
                environmental process beyond that described in this 
                subsection.
                    ``(D) Termination.--A voluntary agreement under 
                this paragraph may be terminated at any time at the 
                discretion of the Director or the Administrator if the 
                Director determines that the agreement is not 
                adequately protecting park resources or visitor 
                experiences or the Administrator determines that the 
                agreement is adversely affecting aviation safety or the 
                national aviation system. If a voluntary agreement for 
                a national park is terminated, the operators shall 
                conform to the requirements for interim operating 
                authority under subsection (c) until an air tour 
                management plan for the park is in effect.'';
            (4) in subsection (c) by striking paragraph (2)(I) and 
        inserting the following:
                    ``(I) may allow for modifications of the interim 
                operating authority without further environmental 
                review beyond that described in this section if--
                            ``(i) adequate information regarding the 
                        operator's existing and proposed operations 
                        under the interim operating authority is 
                        provided to the Administrator and the Director;
                            ``(ii) the Administrator determines that 
                        there would be no adverse impact on aviation 
                        safety or the air traffic control system; and
                            ``(iii) the Director agrees with the 
                        modification, based on the Director's 
                        professional expertise regarding the protection 
                        of the park resources and values and visitor 
                        use and enjoyment.'';
            (5) in subsection (c)(3)(A) by striking ``if the 
        Administrator determines'' and all that follows through the 
        period at the end and inserting ``without further environmental 
        process beyond that described in this paragraph if--
                            ``(i) adequate information on the 
                        operator's proposed operations is provided to 
                        the Administrator and the Director by the 
                        operator making the request;
                            ``(ii) the Administrator agrees that there 
                        would be no adverse impact on aviation safety 
                        or the air traffic control system; and
                            ``(iii) the Director agrees, based on the 
                        Director's professional expertise regarding the 
                        protection of park resources and values and 
                        visitor use and enjoyment.''; and
            (6) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as 
        subsections (e), (f), and (g), respectively; and
            (7) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Commercial Air Tour Operator Reports.--
            ``(1) Report.--Each commercial air tour operator providing 
        a commercial air tour over a national park under interim 
        operating authority granted under subsection (c) or in 
        accordance with an air tour management plan under subsection 
        (b) shall submit a report to the Administrator and Director 
        regarding the number of its commercial air tour operations over 
        each national park and such other information as the 
        Administrator and Director may request in order to facilitate 
        administering the provisions of this section.
            ``(2) Report submission.--Not later than 3 months after the 
        date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, the 
        Administrator and Director shall jointly issue an initial 
        request for reports under this subsection. The reports shall be 
        submitted to the Administrator and Director on a frequency and 
        in a format prescribed by the Administrator and Director.''.

SEC. 502. STATE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) General Requirements.--Section 47128(a) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence by striking ``prescribe 
        regulations'' and inserting ``issue guidance''; and
            (2) in the second sentence by striking ``regulations'' and 
        inserting ``guidance''.
    (b) Applications and Selection.--Section 47128(b)(4) is amended by 
inserting before the semicolon the following: ``, including the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
State and local environmental policy acts, Executive orders, agency 
regulations and guidance, and other Federal environmental 
requirements''.
    (c) Environmental Analysis and Coordination Requirements.--Section 
47128 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Environmental Analysis and Coordination Requirements.--A 
Federal agency, other than the Federal Aviation Administration, that is 
responsible for issuing an approval, license, or permit to ensure 
compliance with a Federal environmental requirement applicable to a 
project or activity to be carried out by a State using amounts from a 
block grant made under this section shall--
            ``(1) coordinate and consult with the State;
            ``(2) use the environmental analysis prepared by the State 
        for the project or activity if such analysis is adequate; and
            ``(3) supplement such analysis, as necessary, to meet 
        applicable Federal requirements.''.

SEC. 503. AIRPORT FUNDING OF SPECIAL STUDIES OR REVIEWS.

    Section 47173(a) is amended by striking ``services of consultants 
in order to'' and all that follows through the period at the end and 
inserting ``services of consultants--
            ``(1) to facilitate the timely processing, review, and 
        completion of environmental activities associated with an 
        airport development project;
            ``(2) to conduct special environmental studies related to 
        an airport project funded with Federal funds;
            ``(3) to conduct special studies or reviews to support 
        approved noise compatibility measures described in part 150 of 
        title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; or
            ``(4) to conduct special studies or reviews to support 
        environmental mitigation in a record of decision or finding of 
        no significant impact by the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.''.

SEC. 504. GRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSESSMENT OF FLIGHT PROCEDURES.

    Section 47504 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Grants for Assessment of Flight Procedures.--
            ``(1) In general.--In accordance with subsection (c)(1), 
        the Secretary may make a grant to an airport operator to assist 
        in completing environmental review and assessment activities 
        for proposals to implement flight procedures at such airport 
        that have been approved as part of an airport noise 
        compatibility program under subsection (b).
            ``(2) Additional staff.--The Administrator may accept funds 
        from an airport operator, including funds provided to the 
        operator under paragraph (1), to hire additional staff or 
        obtain the services of consultants in order to facilitate the 
        timely processing, review, and completion of environmental 
        activities associated with proposals to implement flight 
        procedures at such airport that have been approved as part of 
        an airport noise compatibility program under subsection (b).
            ``(3) Receipts credited as offsetting collections.--
        Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, any funds accepted 
        under this section--
                    ``(A) shall be credited as offsetting collections 
                to the account that finances the activities and 
                services for which the funds are accepted;
                    ``(B) shall be available for expenditure only to 
                pay the costs of activities and services for which the 
                funds are accepted; and
                    ``(C) shall remain available until expended.''.

SEC. 505. CLEEN RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) Cooperative Agreement.--Subchapter I of chapter 475 is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 47511. CLEEN research, development, and implementation 
              partnership
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration, in coordination with the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall enter into a cooperative 
agreement, using a competitive process, with an institution, entity, or 
consortium to carry out a program for the development, maturing, and 
certification of CLEEN engine and airframe technology for aircraft over 
the next 10 years.
    ``(b) CLEEN Engine and Airframe Technology Defined.--In this 
section, the term `CLEEN engine and airframe technology' means 
continuous lower energy, emissions, and noise engine and airframe 
technology.
    ``(c) Performance Objective.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall establish the 
following performance objectives for the program, to be achieved by 
September 30, 2015:
            ``(1) Development of certifiable aircraft technology that 
        reduces greenhouse gas emissions by increasing aircraft fuel 
        efficiency by 25 percent relative to 1997 subsonic jet aircraft 
        technology.
            ``(2) Development of certifiable engine technology that 
        reduces landing and takeoff cycle nitrogen oxide emissions by 
        50 percent, without increasing other gaseous or particle 
        emissions, over the International Civil Aviation Organization 
        standard adopted in 2004.
            ``(3) Development of certifiable aircraft technology that 
        reduces noise levels by 10 decibels at each of the 3 
        certification points relative to 1997 subsonic jet aircraft 
        technology.
            ``(4) Determination of the feasibility of the use of 
        alternative fuels in aircraft systems, including successful 
        demonstration and quantification of the benefits of such fuels.
            ``(5) Determination of the extent to which new engine and 
        aircraft technologies may be used to retrofit or re-engine 
        aircraft to increase the integration of retrofitted and re-
        engined aircraft into the commercial fleet.
    ``(d) Funding.--Of amounts appropriated under section 48102(a), not 
more than the following amounts may be used to carry out this section:
            ``(1) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            ``(2) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            ``(3) $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            ``(4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
    ``(e) Report.--Beginning in fiscal year 2009, the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration shall publish an annual report on 
the program established under this section until completion of the 
program.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for such subchapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``47511. CLEEN research, development, and implementation 
                            partnership.''.

SEC. 506. PROHIBITION ON OPERATING CERTAIN AIRCRAFT WEIGHING 75,000 
              POUNDS OR LESS NOT COMPLYING WITH STAGE 3 NOISE LEVELS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 475 is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``Sec. 47534. Prohibition on operating certain aircraft weighing 75,000 
              pounds or less not complying with stage 3 noise levels
    ``(a) Prohibition.--Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), or 
(d), after December 31, 2012, a person may not operate a civil subsonic 
jet airplane with a maximum weight of 75,000 pounds or less, and for 
which an airworthiness certificate other than an experimental 
certificate has been issued, to or from an airport in the United States 
unless the Secretary of Transportation finds that the aircraft complies 
with stage 3 noise levels.
    ``(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to aircraft 
operated only outside the 48 contiguous States.
    ``(c) Exceptions.--The Secretary may allow temporary operation of 
an airplane otherwise prohibited from operation under subsection (a) to 
or from an airport in the contiguous United States by granting a 
special flight authorization for one or more of the following 
circumstances:
            ``(1) To sell, lease, or use the aircraft outside the 48 
        contiguous States.
            ``(2) To scrap the aircraft.
            ``(3) To obtain modifications to the aircraft to meet stage 
        3 noise levels.
            ``(4) To perform scheduled heavy maintenance or significant 
        modifications on the aircraft at a maintenance facility located 
        in the contiguous 48 States.
            ``(5) To deliver the aircraft to an operator leasing the 
        aircraft from the owner or return the aircraft to the lessor.
            ``(6) To prepare, park, or store the aircraft in 
        anticipation of any of the activities described in paragraphs 
        (1) through (5).
            ``(7) To provide transport of persons and goods in the 
        relief of emergency situations.
            ``(8) To divert the aircraft to an alternative air port in 
        the 48 contiguous States on account of weather, mechanical, 
        fuel, air traffic control, or other safety reasons while 
        conducting a flight in order to perform any of the activities 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (7).
    ``(d) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in the section may be 
construed as interfering with, nullifying, or otherwise affecting 
determinations made by the Federal Aviation Administration, or to be 
made by the Administration, with respect to applications under part 161 
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, that were pending on the date 
of enactment of this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 47531 is amended--
                    (A) in the section heading by striking ``for 
                violating sections 47528-47530''; and
                    (B) by striking ``47529, or 47530'' and inserting 
                ``47529, 47530, or 47534''.
            (2) Section 47532 is amended by inserting ``or 47534'' 
        after ``47528-47531''.
            (3) The analysis for chapter 475 is amended--
                    (A) by striking the item relating to section 47531 
                and inserting the following:

``47531. Penalties.''; and
                    (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 
                47533 the following:

``47534. Prohibition on operating certain aircraft weighing 75,000 
                            pounds or less not complying with stage 3 
                            noise levels.''.

SEC. 507. ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
a pilot program to carry out not more than 6 environmental mitigation 
demonstration projects at public-use airports.
    (b) Grants.--In implementing the program, the Secretary may make a 
grant to the sponsor of a public-use airport from funds apportioned 
under section 47117(e)(1)(A) of title 49, United States Code, to carry 
out an environmental mitigation demonstration project to measurably 
reduce or mitigate aviation impacts on noise, air quality, or water 
quality in the vicinity of the airport.
    (c) Eligibility for Passenger Facility Fees.--An environmental 
mitigation demonstration project that receives funds made available 
under this section may be considered an eligible airport-related 
project for purposes of section 40117 of such title.
    (d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting among applicants for 
participation in the program, the Secretary shall give priority 
consideration to applicants proposing to carry out environmental 
mitigation demonstration projects that will--
            (1) achieve the greatest reductions in aircraft noise, 
        airport emissions, or airport water quality impacts either on 
        an absolute basis or on a per dollar of funds expended basis; 
        and
            (2) be implemented by an eligible consortium.
    (e) Federal Share.--Notwithstanding any provision of subchapter I 
of chapter 471 of such title, the United States Government share of 
allowable project costs of an environmental mitigation demonstration 
project carried out under this section shall be 50 percent.
    (f) Maximum Amount.--The Secretary may not make grants for a single 
environmental mitigation demonstration project under this section in a 
total amount that exceeds $2,500,000.
    (g) Publication of Information.--The Secretary may develop and 
publish information on the results of environmental mitigation 
demonstration projects carried out under this section, including 
information identifying best practices for reducing or mitigating 
aviation impacts on noise, air quality, or water quality in the 
vicinity of airports.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Eligible consortium.--The term ``eligible consortium'' 
        means a consortium of 2 or more of the following entities:
                    (A) A business incorporated in the United States.
                    (B) A public or private educational or research 
                organization located in the United States.
                    (C) An entity of a State or local government.
                    (D) A Federal laboratory.
            (2) Environmental mitigation demonstration project.--The 
        term ``environmental mitigation demonstration project'' means a 
        project that--
                    (A) demonstrates at a public-use airport 
                environmental mitigation techniques or technologies 
                with associated benefits, which have already been 
                proven in laboratory demonstrations;
                    (B) utilizes methods for efficient adaptation or 
                integration of innovative concepts to airport 
                operations; and
                    (C) demonstrates whether a technique or technology 
                for environmental mitigation identified in research 
                is--
                            (i) practical to implement at or near 
                        multiple public-use airports; and
                            (ii) capable of reducing noise, airport 
                        emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, or water 
                        quality impacts in measurably significant 
                        amounts.

SEC. 508. AIRCRAFT DEPARTURE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out a 
pilot program at not more than 5 public-use airports under which the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall use funds made available under 
section 48101(a) to test air traffic flow management tools, 
methodologies, and procedures that will allow air traffic controllers 
of the Administration to better manage the flow of aircraft on the 
ground and reduce the length of ground holds and idling time for 
aircraft.
    (b) Selection Criteria.--In selecting from among airports at which 
to conduct the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority 
consideration to airports at which improvements in ground control 
efficiencies are likely to achieve the greatest fuel savings or air 
quality or other environmental benefits, as measured by the amount of 
reduced fuel, reduced emissions, or other environmental benefits per 
dollar of funds expended under the pilot program.
    (c) Maximum Amount.--Not more than a total of $5,000,000 may be 
expended under the pilot program at any single public-use airport.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report containing--
            (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot 
        program, including an assessment of the tools, methodologies, 
        and procedures that provided the greatest fuel savings and air 
        quality and other environmental benefits, and any impacts on 
        safety, capacity, or efficiency of the air traffic control 
        system or the airports at which affected aircraft were 
        operating;
            (2) an identification of anticipated benefits from 
        implementation of the tools, methodologies, and procedures 
        developed under the pilot program at other airports;
            (3) a plan for implementing the tools, methodologies, and 
        procedures developed under the pilot program at other airports 
        or the Secretary's reasons for not implementing such measures 
        at other airports; and
            (4) such other information as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.

SEC. 509. HIGH PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABLE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall implement, to the maximum extent practicable, 
sustainable practices for the incorporation of energy-efficient design, 
equipment, systems, and other measures in the construction and major 
renovation of air traffic control facilities of the Administration in 
order to reduce energy consumption and improve the environmental 
performance of such facilities.
    (b) Authorization.--Of amounts appropriated under section 48101(a) 
of title 49, United States Code, such sums as may be necessary may be 
used to carry out this section.

SEC. 510. REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE NOISE AND 
              EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

    (a) Independent Review.--The Administrator of the FAA shall make 
appropriate arrangements for the National Academy of Public 
Administration or another qualified independent entity to review, in 
consultation with the FAA and the EPA, whether it is desirable to 
locate the regulatory responsibility for the establishment of engine 
noise and emissions standards for civil aircraft within one of the 
agencies.
    (b) Considerations.--The review shall be conducted so as to take 
into account--
            (1) the interrelationships between aircraft engine noise 
        and emissions;
            (2) the need for aircraft engine noise and emissions to be 
        evaluated and addressed in an integrated and comprehensive 
        manner;
            (3) the scientific expertise of the FAA and the EPA to 
        evaluate aircraft engine emissions and noise impacts on the 
        environment;
            (4) expertise to interface environmental performance with 
        ensuring the highest safe and reliable engine performance of 
        aircraft in flight;
            (5) consistency of the regulatory responsibility with other 
        missions of the FAA and the EPA;
            (6) past effectiveness of the FAA and the EPA in carrying 
        out the aviation environmental responsibilities assigned to the 
        agency; and
            (7) the international responsibility to represent the 
        United States with respect to both engine noise and emissions 
        standards for civil aircraft
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the FAA shall submit to 
Congress a report on the results of the review. The report shall 
include any recommendations developed as a result of the review and, if 
a transfer of responsibilities is recommended, a description of the 
steps and timeline for implementation of the transfer.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) EPA.--The term ``EPA'' means the Environmental 
        Protection Agency.
            (2) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.

SEC. 511. CONTINUATION OF AIR QUALITY SAMPLING.

    The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
complete the air quality studies and analysis started pursuant to 
section 815 of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act 
(49 U.S.C. 40101 note; 117 Stat. 2592), including the collection of 
samples of the air onboard passenger aircraft by flight attendants and 
the testing and analyzation of such samples for contaminants.

SEC. 512. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the proposed European Union directive extending the 
        European Union's emissions trading proposal to international 
        civil aviation without working through the International Civil 
        Aviation Organization (in this section referred to as the 
        ``ICAO'') in a consensus-based fashion is inconsistent with the 
        Convention on International Civil Aviation, done at Chicago on 
        December 7, 1944 (TIAS 1591; commonly known as ``Chicago 
        Convention''), and other relevant air services agreements and 
        antithetical to building international cooperation to address 
        effectively the problem of greenhouse gas emissions by aircraft 
        engaged in international civil aviation; and
            (2) the European Union and its member states should instead 
        work with other contracting states of the ICAO to develop a 
        consensual approach to addressing aircraft greenhouse gas 
        emissions through the ICAO.

SEC. 513. AIRPORT NOISE COMPATIBILITY PLANNING STUDY, PORT AUTHORITY OF 
              NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Port 
Authority of New York and New Jersey should undertake an airport noise 
compatibility planning study under part 150 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations, for the airports that the Port Authority operates 
as of November 2, 2007. In undertaking the study, the Port Authority 
should pay particular attention to the impact of noise on affected 
neighborhoods, including homes, businesses, and places of worship 
surrounding LaGuardia Airport and JFK Airport.

                TITLE VI--FAA EMPLOYEES AND ORGANIZATION

SEC. 601. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) Dispute Resolution.--Section 40122(a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (5) and (6), respectively; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Dispute resolution.--
                    ``(A) Mediation.--If the Administrator does not 
                reach an agreement under paragraph (1) or the 
                provisions referred to in subsection (g)(2)(C) with the 
                exclusive bargaining representative of the employees, 
                the Administrator and the bargaining representative--
                            ``(i) shall use the services of the Federal 
                        Mediation and Conciliation Service to attempt 
                        to reach such agreement in accordance with part 
                        1425 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations 
                        (as in effect on the date of enactment of the 
                        FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007); or
                            ``(ii) may by mutual agreement adopt 
                        alternative procedures for the resolution of 
                        disputes or impasses arising in the negotiation 
                        of the collective-bargaining agreement.
                    ``(B) Binding arbitration.--
                            ``(i) Assistance from federal service 
                        impasses panel.--If the services of the Federal 
                        Mediation and Conciliation Service under 
                        subparagraph (A)(i) do not lead to an 
                        agreement, the Administrator and the exclusive 
                        bargaining representative of the employees (in 
                        this subparagraph referred to as the `parties') 
                        shall submit their issues in controversy to the 
                        Federal Service Impasses Panel. The Panel shall 
                        assist the parties in resolving the impasse by 
                        asserting jurisdiction and ordering binding 
                        arbitration by a private arbitration board 
                        consisting of 3 members.
                            ``(ii) Appointment of arbitration board.--
                        The Executive Director of the Panel shall 
                        provide for the appointment of the 3 members of 
                        a private arbitration board under clause (i) by 
                        requesting the Director of the Federal 
                        Mediation and Conciliation Service to prepare a 
                        list of not less than 15 names of arbitrators 
                        with Federal sector experience and by providing 
                        the list to the parties. Within 10 days of 
                        receiving the list, the parties shall each 
                        select one person from the list. The 2 
                        arbitrators selected by the parties shall then 
                        select a third person from the list within 7 
                        days. If either of the parties fails to select 
                        a person or if the 2 arbitrators are unable to 
                        agree on the third person within 7 days, the 
                        parties shall make the selection by alternately 
                        striking names on the list until one arbitrator 
                        remains.
                            ``(iii) Framing issues in controversy.--If 
                        the parties do not agree on the framing of the 
                        issues to be submitted for arbitration, the 
                        arbitration board shall frame the issues.
                            ``(iv) Hearings.--The arbitration board 
                        shall give the parties a full and fair hearing, 
                        including an opportunity to present evidence in 
                        support of their claims and an opportunity to 
                        present their case in person, by counsel, or by 
                        other representative as they may elect.
                            ``(v) Decisions.--The arbitration board 
                        shall render its decision within 90 days after 
                        the date of its appointment. Decisions of the 
                        arbitration board shall be conclusive and 
                        binding upon the parties.
                            ``(vi) Costs.--The parties shall share 
                        costs of the arbitration equally.
            ``(3) Ratification of agreements.--Upon reaching a 
        voluntary agreement or at the conclusion of the binding 
        arbitration under paragraph (2)(B), the final agreement, except 
        for those matters decided by an arbitration board, shall be 
        subject to ratification by the exclusive bargaining 
        representative of the employees, if so requested by the 
        bargaining representative, and approval by the head of the 
        agency in accordance with the provisions referred to in 
        subsection (g)(2)(C).
            ``(4) Enforcement.--
                    ``(A) Enforcement actions in united states 
                courts.--Each United States district court and each 
                United States court of a place subject to the 
                jurisdiction of the United States shall have 
                jurisdiction of enforcement actions brought under this 
                section. Such an action may be brought in any judicial 
                district in the State in which the violation of this 
                section is alleged to have been committed, the judicial 
                district in which the Federal Aviation Administration 
                has its principal office, or the District of Columbia.
                    ``(B) Attorney fees.--The court may assess against 
                the Federal Aviation Administration reasonable attorney 
                fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in 
                any case under this section in which the complainant 
                has substantially prevailed.''.
    (b) Application.--On and after the date of enactment of this Act, 
any changes implemented by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration on and after July 10, 2005, under section 40122(a) of 
title 49, United States Code (as in effect on the day before such date 
of enactment), without the agreement of the exclusive bargaining 
representative of the employees of the Administration certified under 
section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, shall be null and void and 
the parties shall be governed by their last mutual agreement before the 
implementation of such changes. The Administrator and the bargaining 
representative shall resume negotiations promptly, and, subject to 
subsection (c), their last mutual agreement shall be in effect until a 
new contract is adopted by the Administrator and the bargaining 
representative. If an agreement is not reached within 45 days after the 
date on which negotiations resume, the Administrator and the bargaining 
representative shall submit their issues in controversy to the Federal 
Service Impasses Panel in accordance with section 7119 of title 5, 
United States Code, for binding arbitration in accordance with 
paragraphs (2)(B), (3), and (4) of section 40122(a) of title 49, United 
States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this section).
    (c) Savings Clause.--All cost of living adjustments and other pay 
increases, lump sum payments to employees, and leave and other benefit 
accruals implemented as part of the changes referred to in subsection 
(b) may not be reversed unless such reversal is part of the calculation 
of back pay under subsection (d). The Administrator shall waive any 
overpayment paid to, and not collect any funds for such overpayment, 
from former employees of the Administration who received lump sum 
payments prior to their separation from the Administration.
    (d) Back Pay.--
            (1) In general.--Employees subject to changes referred to 
        in subsection (b) that are determined to be null and void under 
        subsection (b) shall be eligible for pay that the employees 
        would have received under the last mutual agreement between the 
        Administrator and the exclusive bargaining representative of 
        such employees before the date of enactment of this Act and any 
        changes were implemented without agreement of the bargaining 
        representative. The Administrator shall pay the employees such 
        pay subject to the availability of amounts appropriated to 
        carry out this subsection. If the appropriated funds do not 
        cover all claims of the employees for such pay, the 
        Administrator and the bargaining representative, pursuant to 
        negotiations conducted in accordance with section 40122(a) of 
        title 49, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of 
        this section), shall determine the allocation of the 
        appropriated funds among the employees on a pro rata basis.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
    (e) Interim Agreement.--If the Administrator and the exclusive 
bargaining representative of the employees subject to the changes 
referred to in subsection (b) reach a final and binding agreement with 
respect to such changes before the date of enactment of this Act, such 
agreement shall supersede any changes implemented by the Administrator 
under section 40122(a) of title 49, United States Code (as in effect on 
the day before such date of enactment), without the agreement of the 
bargaining representative, and subsections (b) and (c) shall not take 
effect.

SEC. 602. MSPB REMEDIAL AUTHORITY FOR FAA EMPLOYEES.

    Section 40122(g)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, retroactive to April 1, 1996, the Board shall have the same 
remedial authority over such employee appeals that it had as of March 
31, 1996.''.

SEC. 603. FAA TECHNICAL TRAINING AND STAFFING.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a 
        study on the training of the airway transportation systems 
        specialists of the Federal Aviation Administration (in this 
        section referred to as ``FAA systems specialists'').
            (2) Contents.--The study shall--
                    (A) include an analysis of the type of training 
                provided to FAA systems specialists;
                    (B) include an analysis of the type of training 
                that FAA systems specialists need to be proficient on 
                the maintenance of latest technologies;
                    (C) include a description of actions that the 
                Administration has undertaken to ensure that FAA 
                systems specialists receive up-to-date training on the 
                latest technologies;
                    (D) identify the amount and cost of FAA systems 
                specialists training provided by vendors;
                    (E) identify the amount and cost of FAA systems 
                specialists training provided by the Administration 
                after developing courses for the training of such 
                specialists;
                    (F) identify the amount and cost of travel that is 
                required of FAA systems specialists in receiving 
                training; and
                    (G) include a recommendation regarding the most 
                cost-effective approach to providing FAA systems 
                specialists training.
            (3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
        the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
        of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
        study.
    (b) Workload of Systems Specialists.--
            (1) Study by national academy of sciences.--Not later than 
        90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make 
        appropriate arrangements for the National Academy of Sciences 
        to conduct a study of the assumptions and methods used by the 
        Federal Aviation Administration to estimate staffing needs for 
        FAA systems specialists to ensure proper maintenance and 
        certification of the national airspace system.
            (2) Contents.--The study shall be conducted so as to 
        provide the following:
                    (A) A suggested method of modifying FAA systems 
                specialists staffing models for application to current 
                local conditions or applying some other approach to 
                developing an objective staffing standard.
                    (B) The approximate cost and length of time for 
                developing such models.
            (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the initiation 
        of the arrangements under subsection (a), the National Academy 
        of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report on the results of 
        the study.

SEC. 604. DESIGNEE PROGRAM.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the status of recommendations made by the Government 
Accountability Office in its October 2004 report, ``Aviation Safety: 
FAA Needs to Strengthen Management of Its Designee Programs'' (GAO-05-
40).
    (b) Contents.--The report shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the extent to which the Federal 
        Aviation Administration has responded to recommendations of the 
        Government Accountability Office referred to in subsection (a);
            (2) an identification of improvements, if any, that have 
        been made to the designee programs referred to in the report of 
        the Office as a result of such recommendations; and
            (3) an identification of further action that is needed to 
        implement such recommendations, improve the Administration's 
        management control of the designee programs, and increase 
        assurance that designees meet the Administration's performance 
        standards.

SEC. 605. STAFFING MODEL FOR AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than October 31, 2009, the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration shall develop a staffing model 
for aviation safety inspectors. In developing the model, the 
Administrator shall follow the recommendations outlined in the 2007 
study released by the National Academy of Sciences entitled ``Staffing 
Standards for Aviation Safety Inspectors'' and consult with interested 
persons, including the exclusive collective bargaining representative 
of the aviation safety inspectors.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 606. SAFETY CRITICAL STAFFING.

    (a) Aviation Safety Inspectors.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall increase the number of aviation safety 
inspectors, safety technical specialists, and operations support 
positions in the Flight Standard Service (as those terms are used in 
the Administration's fiscal year 2008 congressional budget 
justification) each fiscal year commensurate with the funding levels 
provided in subsection (b) for such fiscal year. Such increases shall 
be measured relative to the number of persons serving in positions of 
aviation safety inspectors and safety technical specialists and in 
operational support positions as of September 30, 2007.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
authorized by section 106(k) of title 49, United States Code, there is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a)--
            (1) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (2) $134,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (3) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (4) $208,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
Such sums shall remain available until expended.
    (c) Implementation of Staffing Standards.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this section, upon completion of the flight 
standards service staffing model under section 605 of this Act, and 
validation of the model by the Administrator, there are authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to support the number of 
aviation safety inspectors, safety technical specialists, and operation 
support positions that such model determines are required to meet the 
responsibilities of the Flight Standards Service.

SEC. 607. FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STAFFING.

    (a) Study by National Academy of Sciences.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration shall enter into appropriate 
arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study 
of the assumptions and methods used by the Federal Aviation 
Administration (in this section referred to as the ``FAA'') to estimate 
staffing needs for FAA air traffic controllers to ensure the safe 
operation of the national airspace system.
    (b) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the National Academy of 
Sciences shall consult with the exclusive bargaining representative of 
employees of the FAA certified under section 7111 of title 5, United 
States Code, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
and representatives of the Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute.
    (c) Contents.--The study shall include an examination of 
representative information on human factors, traffic activity, and the 
technology and equipment used in air traffic control.
    (d) Recommendations and Estimates.--In conducting the study, the 
National Academy of Sciences shall develop--
            (1) recommendations for the development by the FAA of 
        objective staffing standards to maintain the safety and 
        efficiency of the national airspace system with current and 
        future projected air traffic levels; and
            (2) estimates of cost and schedule for the development of 
        such standards by the FAA or its contractors.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the study.

SEC. 608. ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall conduct a study to assess the adequacy of training 
programs for air traffic controllers.
    (b) Contents.--The study shall include--
            (1) a review of the current training system for air traffic 
        controllers;
            (2) an analysis of the competencies required of air traffic 
        controllers for successful performance in the current air 
        traffic control environment;
            (3) an analysis of competencies required of air traffic 
        controllers as the Federal Aviation Administration transitions 
        to the Next Generation Air Transportation System; and
            (4) an analysis of various training approaches available to 
        satisfy the controller competencies identified under paragraphs 
        (2) and (3).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the results of the study.

SEC. 609. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE STUDY.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall conduct a study on training options for graduates 
of the Collegiate Training Initiative program conducted under section 
44506(c) of title 49 United States Code. The study shall analyze the 
impact of providing as an alternative to the current training provided 
at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center of the Administration a new 
controller orientation session for graduates of such programs at the 
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center followed by on-the-job training for 
newly hired air traffic controllers who are graduates of such program 
and shall include--
            (1) the cost effectiveness of such an alternative training 
        approach; and
            (2) the effect that such an alternative training approach 
        would have on the overall quality of training received by 
        graduates of such programs.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results of the study.

SEC. 610. FAA TASK FORCE ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY CONDITIONS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a special task force to be known as the 
``FAA Task Force on Air Traffic Control Facility Conditions'' (in this 
section referred to as the ``Task Force'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Task Force shall be composed of 12 
        members of whom--
                    (A) 8 members shall be appointed by the 
                Administrator; and
                    (B) 4 members shall be appointed by labor unions 
                representing employees who work at field facilities of 
                the Administration.
            (2) Qualifications.--Of the members appointed by the 
        Administrator under paragraph (1)(A)--
                    (A) 4 members shall be specialists on toxic mold 
                abatement, ``sick building syndrome,'' and other 
                hazardous building conditions that can lead to employee 
                health concerns and shall be appointed by the 
                Administrator in consultation with the Director of the 
                National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 
                and
                    (B) 2 members shall be specialists on the 
                rehabilitation of aging buildings.
            (3) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the 
        Task Force.
            (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled 
        in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
            (5) Travel expenses.--Members shall serve without pay but 
        shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (c) Chairperson.--The Administrator shall designate, from among the 
individuals appointed under subsection (b)(1), an individual to serve 
as chairperson of the Task Force.
    (d) Task Force Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Staff.--The Task Force may appoint and fix the pay of 
        such personnel as it considers appropriate.
            (2) Staff of federal agencies.--Upon request of the 
        Chairperson of the Task Force, the head of any department or 
        agency of the United States may detail, on a reimbursable 
        basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the 
        Task Force to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 
        section.
            (3) Other staff and support.--Upon request of the Task 
        Force or a panel of the Task Force, the Administrator shall 
        provide the Task Force or panel with professional and 
        administrative staff and other support, on a reimbursable 
        basis, to the Task Force to assist it in carrying out its 
        duties under this section.
    (e) Obtaining Official Data.--The Task Force may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information (other 
than information required by any statute of the United States to be 
kept confidential by such department or agency) necessary for the Task 
Force to carry out its duties under this section. Upon request of the 
chairperson of the Task Force, the head of that department or agency 
shall furnish such information to the Task Force.
    (f) Duties.--
            (1) Study.--The Task Force shall undertake a study of--
                    (A) the conditions of all air traffic control 
                facilities across the Nation, including towers, 
                centers, and terminal radar air control;
                    (B) reports from employees of the Administration 
                relating to respiratory ailments and other health 
                conditions resulting from exposure to mold, asbestos, 
                poor air quality, radiation and facility-related 
                hazards in facilities of the Administration;
                    (C) conditions of such facilities that could 
                interfere with such employees' ability to effectively 
                and safely perform their duties;
                    (D) the ability of managers and supervisors of such 
                employees to promptly document and seek remediation for 
                unsafe facility conditions;
                    (E) whether employees of the Administration who 
                report facility-related illnesses are treated fairly;
                    (F) utilization of scientifically-approved 
                remediation techniques in a timely fashion once 
                hazardous conditions are identified in a facility of 
                the Administration; and
                    (G) resources allocated to facility maintenance and 
                renovation by the Administration.
            (2) Facility condition indicies (fci).--The Task Force 
        shall review the facility condition indicies of the 
        Administration (in this section referred to as the ``FCI'') for 
        inclusion in the recommendations under subsection (g).
    (g) Recommendations.--Based on the results of the study and review 
of the FCI under subsection (f), the Task Force shall make 
recommendations as it considers necessary to--
            (1) prioritize those facilities needing the most immediate 
        attention in order of the greatest risk to employee health and 
        safety;
            (2) ensure that the Administration is using scientifically 
        approved remediation techniques in all facilities; and
            (3) assist the Administration in making programmatic 
        changes so that aging air traffic control facilities do not 
        deteriorate to unsafe levels.
    (h) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date on which 
initial appointments of members to the Task Force are completed, the 
Task Force shall submit to the Administrator, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on the activities of the Task Force, including the 
recommendations of the Task Force under subsection (g).
    (i) Implementation.--Within 30 days of the receipt of the Task 
Force report under subsection (h), the Administrator shall submit to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report that includes a plan and timeline 
to implement the recommendations of the Task Force and to align future 
budgets and priorities of the Administration accordingly.
    (j) Termination.--The Task Force shall terminate on the last day of 
the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the report under 
subsection (h) was submitted.
    (k) Applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Task Force.
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $250,000 to carry out 
this section.

                     TITLE VII--AVIATION INSURANCE

SEC. 701. GENERAL AUTHORITY.

    (a) Extension of Policies.--Section 44302(f)(1) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``August 31, 2006'' and inserting 
        ``September 30, 2011''; and
            (2) by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting 
        ``December 31, 2017''.
    (b) Successor Program.--Section 44302(f) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(3) Successor program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--After December 31, 2017, 
                coverage for the risks specified in a policy that has 
                been extended under paragraph (1) shall be provided in 
                an airline industry sponsored risk retention or other 
                risk-sharing arrangement approved by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Transfer of premiums.--
                            ``(i) In general.--On December 31, 2017, 
                        and except as provided in clause (ii), premiums 
                        that are collected by the Secretary from the 
                        airline industry after September 22, 2001, for 
                        any policy under this subsection, and interest 
                        earned thereon, as determined by the Secretary, 
                        shall be transferred to an airline industry 
                        sponsored risk retention or other risk-sharing 
                        arrangement approved by the Secretary.
                            ``(ii) Determination of amount 
                        transferred.--The amount transferred pursuant 
                        to clause (i) shall be less--
                                    ``(I) the amount of any claims paid 
                                out on such policies from September 22, 
                                2001, through December 31, 2017;
                                    ``(II) the amount of any claims 
                                pending under such policies as of 
                                December 31, 2017; and
                                    ``(III) the cost, as determined by 
                                the Secretary, of administering the 
                                provision of insurance policies under 
                                this chapter from September 22, 2001, 
                                through December 31, 2017.''.

SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO LIMIT THIRD PARTY LIABILITY OF AIR 
              CARRIERS ARISING OUT OF ACTS OF TERRORISM.

    Section 44303(b) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2012''.

SEC. 703. CLARIFICATION OF REINSURANCE AUTHORITY.

    Section 44304 is amended in the second sentence by striking ``the 
carrier'' and inserting ``any insurance carrier''.

SEC. 704. USE OF INDEPENDENT CLAIMS ADJUSTERS.

    Section 44308(c)(1) is amended in the second sentence by striking 
``agent'' and inserting ``agent, or a claims adjuster who is 
independent of the underwriting agent,''.

SEC. 705. EXTENSION OF PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    Section 44310 is amended by striking ``March 30, 2008'' and 
inserting ``December 31, 2017''.

                       TITLE VIII--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 801. AIR CARRIER CITIZENSHIP.

    Section 40102(a)(15) is amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``For purposes of subparagraph (C), an air carrier shall not be 
        deemed to be under the actual control of citizens of the United 
        States unless citizens of the United States control all matters 
        pertaining to the business and structure of the air carrier, 
        including operational matters such as marketing, branding, 
        fleet composition, route selection, pricing, and labor 
        relations.''.

SEC. 802. DISCLOSURE OF DATA TO FEDERAL AGENCIES IN INTEREST OF 
              NATIONAL SECURITY.

    Section 40119(b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Limitation on applicability of freedom of information 
        act.--Section 552a of title 5, United States Code, shall not 
        apply to disclosures that the Administrator of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration may make from the systems of records of 
        the Administration to any Federal law enforcement, 
        intelligence, protective service, immigration, or national 
        security official in order to assist the official receiving the 
        information in the performance of official duties.''.

SEC. 803. FAA ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS AND DATABASE SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 401 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``Sec. 40130. FAA access to criminal history records or databases 
              systems
    ``(a) Access to Records or Databases Systems.--
            ``(1) Access to information.--Notwithstanding section 534 
        of title 28, and regulations issued to implement such section, 
        the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may 
        access a system of documented criminal justice information 
        maintained by the Department of Justice or by a State but may 
        do so only for the purpose of carrying out civil and 
        administrative responsibilities of the Administration to 
        protect the safety and security of the national airspace system 
        or to support the missions of the Department of Justice, the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement 
        agencies.
            ``(2) Release of information.--In accessing a system 
        referred to in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall be 
        subject to the same conditions and procedures established by 
        the Department of Justice or the State for other governmental 
        agencies with access to the system.
            ``(3) Limitation.--The Administrator may not use the access 
        authorized under paragraph (1) to conduct criminal 
        investigations.
    ``(b) Designated Employees.--The Administrator shall designate, by 
order, employees of the Administration who shall carry out the 
authority described in subsection (a). The designated employees may--
            ``(1) have access to and receive criminal history, driver, 
        vehicle, and other law enforcement information contained in the 
        law enforcement databases of the Department of Justice, or any 
        jurisdiction of a State, in the same manner as a police officer 
        employed by a State or local authority of that State who is 
        certified or commissioned under the laws of that State;
            ``(2) use any radio, data link, or warning system of the 
        Federal Government, and of any jurisdiction in a State, that 
        provides information about wanted persons, be-on-the-lookout 
        notices, warrant status, or other officer safety information to 
        which a police officer employed by a State or local authority 
        in that State who is certified or commission under the laws of 
        that State has access and in the same manner as such police 
        officer; or
            ``(3) receive Federal, State, or local government 
        communications with a police officer employed by a State or 
        local authority in that State in the same manner as a police 
        officer employed by a State or local authority in that State 
        who is commissioned under the laws of that State.
    ``(c) System of Documented Criminal Justice Information Defined.--
In this section, the term `system of documented criminal justice 
information' means any law enforcement database, system, or 
communication containing information concerning identification, 
criminal history, arrests, convictions, arrest warrants, wanted or 
missing persons, including the National Crime Information Center and 
its incorporated criminal history databases and the National Law 
Enforcement Telecommunications System.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 401 is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``40130. FAA access to criminal history records or databases 
                            systems.''.

SEC. 804. CLARIFICATION OF AIR CARRIER FEE DISPUTES.

    (a) In General.--Section 47129 is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by striking ``air carrier'' and 
        inserting ``carrier'';
            (2) in subsection (a) by striking ``(as defined in section 
        40102 of this title)'' and inserting ``(as such terms are 
        defined in section 40102)'';
            (3) in the heading for subsection (d) by striking ``Air 
        Carrier'' and inserting ``Air Carrier and Foreign Air 
        Carrier'';
            (4) in the heading for paragraph (2) of subsection (d) by 
        striking ``air carrier'' and inserting ``air carrier and 
        foreign air carrier'';
            (5) by striking ``air carriers'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``air carriers or foreign air carriers'';
            (6) by striking ``air carrier'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``air carrier or foreign air carrier''; and
            (7) by striking ``air carrier's'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``air carrier's or foreign air carrier's''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 471 is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 47129 and inserting the 
following:

``47129. Resolution of airport-carrier disputes concerning airport 
                            fees.''.

SEC. 805. STUDY ON NATIONAL PLAN OF INTEGRATED AIRPORT SYSTEMS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall initiate a study to 
evaluate the formulation of the National Plan of Integrated Airport 
Systems (in this section referred to as the ``plan'') under section 
47103 of title 49, United States Code.
    (b) Contents of Study.--The study shall include a review of the 
following:
            (1) The criteria used for including airports in the plan 
        and the application of such criteria in the most recently 
        published version of the plan.
            (2) The changes in airport capital needs between fiscal 
        years 2001 and 2007, as reported in the plan, as compared with 
        the amounts apportioned or otherwise made available to 
        individual airports over the same period of time.
            (3) A comparison of the amounts received by airports under 
        the airport improvement program in airport apportionments, 
        State apportionments, and discretionary grants during such 
        fiscal years with capital needs as reported in the plan.
            (4) The effect of transfers of airport apportionments under 
        title 49, United States Code.
            (5) Any other matters pertaining to the plan that the 
        Secretary determines appropriate.
    (c) Report to Congress.--
            (1) Submission.--Not later than 36 months after the date of 
        initiation of the study, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the results of the 
        study.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall include--
                    (A) the findings of the Secretary on each of the 
                subjects listed in subsection (b);
                    (B) recommendations for any changes to policies and 
                procedures for formulating the plan; and
                    (C) recommendations for any changes to the methods 
                of determining the amounts to be apportioned or 
                otherwise made available to individual airports.

SEC. 806. EXPRESS CARRIER EMPLOYEE PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--Section 201 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 
181) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``All'' and inserting ``(a) In General.--
        All'';
            (2) by inserting ``and every express carrier'' after 
        ``common carrier by air''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Special Rules for Express Carriers.--
            ``(1) In general.--An employee of an express carrier shall 
        be covered by this Act only if that employee is in a position 
        that is eligible for certification under part 61, 63, or 65 of 
        title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and only if that 
        employee performs duties for the express carrier that are 
        eligible for such certification. All other employees of an 
        express carrier shall be covered by the provisions of the 
        National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
            ``(2) Air carrier status.--Any person that is an express 
        carrier shall be governed by paragraph (1) notwithstanding any 
        finding that the person is also a common carrier by air.
            ``(3) Express carrier defined.--In this section, the term 
        `express carrier' means any person (or persons affiliated 
        through common control or ownership) whose primary business is 
        the express shipment of freight or packages through an 
        integrated network of air and surface transportation.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1 of such Act (45 U.S.C. 151) is 
amended in the first paragraph by striking ``, any express company that 
would have been subject to subtitle IV of title 49, United States Code, 
as of December 31, 1995,,''.

SEC. 807. CONSOLIDATION AND REALIGNMENT OF FAA FACILITIES.

    (a) Establishment of Working Group.--Not later than 9 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall establish within the Federal Aviation Administration (in this 
section referred to as the ``FAA'') a working group to develop criteria 
and make recommendations for the realignment of services and facilities 
(including regional offices) of the FAA to assist in the transition to 
next generation facilities and to help reduce capital, operating, 
maintenance, and administrative costs in instances in which cost 
reductions can be implemented without adversely affecting safety.
    (b) Membership.--The working group shall be composed of, at a 
minimum--
            (1) the Administrator of the FAA;
            (2) 2 representatives of air carriers;
            (3) 2 representatives of the general aviation community;
            (4) 2 representatives of labor unions representing 
        employees who work at regional or field facilities of the FAA; 
        and
            (5) 2 representatives of the airport community.
    (c) Report to Congress Containing Recommendations of the Working 
Group.--
            (1) Submission.--Not later than 6 months after convening 
        the working group, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report containing the criteria 
        and recommendations developed by the working group under this 
        section.
            (2) Contents.--The report shall include a justification for 
        each recommendation to consolidate or realign a service or 
        facility (including a regional office) and a description of the 
        costs and savings associated with the consolidation or 
        realignment.
    (d) Public Notice and Comment.--The Administrator shall publish the 
report submitted under subsection (c) in the Federal Register and allow 
45 days for the submission of public comments. In addition, the 
Administrator upon request shall hold a public hearing in a community 
that would be affected by a recommendation in the report.
    (e) Objections.--Any interested person may file with the 
Administrator a written objection to a recommendation of the working 
group.
    (f) Report to Congress Containing Recommendations of the 
Administrator.--Not later than 60 days after the last day of the period 
for public comment under subsection (d), the Administrator shall submit 
to the committees referred to in subsection (c)(1) a report containing 
the recommendations of the Administrator on realignment of services and 
facilities (including regional offices) of the FAA and copies of any 
public comments and objections received by the Administrator under this 
section.
    (g) Limitation on Implementation of Realignments and 
Consolidations.--The Administrator may not realign or consolidate any 
services or facilities (including regional offices) of the FAA before 
the Administrator has submitted the report under subsection (f).
    (h) FAA Defined.--In this section, the term ``FAA'' means the 
Federal Aviation Administration.

SEC. 808. ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE FOR NATIONAL 
              TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD EMPLOYEES.

    Section 1113 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance.--
            ``(1) Authority to provide insurance.--The Board may 
        procure accidental death and dismemberment insurance for an 
        employee of the Board who travels for an accident investigation 
        or other activity of the Board outside the United States or 
        inside the United States under hazardous circumstances, as 
        defined by the Board.
            ``(2) Crediting of insurance benefits to offset united 
        states tort liability.--Any amounts paid to a person under 
        insurance coverage procured under this subsection shall be 
        credited as offsetting any liability of the United States to 
        pay damages to that person under section 1346(b) of title 28, 
        chapter 171 of title 28, chapter 163 of title 10, or any other 
        provision of law authorizing recovery based upon tort liability 
        of the United States in connection with the injury or death 
        resulting in the insurance payment.
            ``(3) Treatment of insurance benefits.--Any amounts paid 
        under insurance coverage procured under this subsection shall 
        not--
                    ``(A) be considered additional pay or allowances 
                for purposes of section 5536 of title 5; or
                    ``(B) offset any benefits an employee may have as a 
                result of government service, including compensation 
                under chapter 81 of title 5.
            ``(4) Entitlement to other insurance.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall be construed as affecting the entitlement of 
        an employee to insurance under section 8704(b) of title 5.''.

SEC. 809. GAO STUDY ON COOPERATION OF AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN INTERNATIONAL 
              CHILD ABDUCTION CASES.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to help 
determine how the Federal Aviation Administration (in this section 
referred to as the ``FAA'') could better ensure the collaboration and 
cooperation of air carriers and foreign air carriers providing air 
transportation and relevant Federal agencies to develop and enforce 
child safety control for adults traveling internationally with 
children.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study, the Comptroller General 
shall examine--
            (1) the nature and scope of exit policies and procedures of 
        the FAA, air carriers, and foreign air carriers and how the 
        enforcement of such policies and procedures is monitored, 
        including ticketing and boarding procedures;
            (2) the extent to which air carriers and foreign air 
        carriers cooperate in the investigations of international child 
        abduction cases, including cooperation with the National Center 
        for Missing and Exploited Children and relevant Federal, State, 
        and local agencies;
            (3) any effective practices, procedures, or lessons learned 
        from the assessment of current practices and procedures of air 
        carriers, foreign air carriers, and operators of other 
        transportation modes that could improve the ability of the 
        aviation community to ensure the safety of children traveling 
        internationally with adults and, as appropriate, enhance the 
        capability of air carriers and foreign air carriers to 
        cooperate in the investigations of international child 
        abduction cases; and
            (4) any liability issues associated with providing 
        assistance in such investigations.
    (c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress 
a report on the results of the study.

SEC. 810. LOST NATION AIRPORT, OHIO.

    (a) Approval of Sale.--The Secretary of Transportation may approve 
the sale of Lost Nation Airport from the city of Willoughby, Ohio, to 
Lake County, Ohio, if--
            (1) Lake County meets all applicable requirements for 
        sponsorship of the airport; and
            (2) Lake County agrees to assume the obligations and 
        assurances of the grant agreements relating to the airport 
        executed by the city of Willoughby under chapter 471 of title 
        49, United States Code, and to operate and maintain the airport 
        in accordance with such obligations and assurances.
    (b) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may make a grant, from funds 
        made available under section 48103 of title 49, United States 
        Code, to Lake County to assist in Lake County's purchase of the 
        Lost Nation Airport under subsection (a).
            (2) Federal share.--The Federal share of the grant under 
        this subsection shall be for 90 percent of the cost of Lake 
        County's purchase of the Lost Nation Airport, but in no event 
        may the Federal share of the grant exceed $1,220,000.
            (3) Approval.--The Secretary may make a grant under this 
        subsection only if the Secretary receives such written 
        assurances as the Secretary may require under section 47107 of 
        title 49, United States Code, with respect to the grant and 
        Lost Nation Airport.
    (c) Treatment of Proceeds From Sale.--The Secretary may grant to 
the city of Willoughby an exemption from the provisions of sections 
47107 and 47133 of such title, any grant obligations of the city of 
Willoughby, and regulations and policies of the Federal Aviation 
Administration to the extent necessary to allow the city of Willoughby 
to use the proceeds from the sale approved under subsection (a) for any 
purpose authorized by the city of Willoughby.

SEC. 811. POLLOCK MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, LOUISIANA.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) Pollock Municipal Airport located in Pollock, Louisiana 
        (in this section referred to as the ``airport''), has never 
        been included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport 
        Systems pursuant to section 47103 of title 49, United States 
        Code, and is therefore not considered necessary to meet the 
        current or future needs of the national aviation system; and
            (2) closing the airport will not adversely affect aviation 
        safety, aviation capacity, or air commerce.
    (b) Request for Closure.--
            (1) Approval.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
        requirement, or agreement and subject to the requirements of 
        this section, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
        Administration shall--
                    (A) approve a request from the town of Pollock, 
                Louisiana, to close the airport as a public airport; 
                and
                    (B) release the town from any term, condition, 
                reservation, or restriction contained in a surplus 
                property conveyance or transfer document, and from any 
                order or finding by the Department of Transportation on 
                the use and repayment of airport revenue applicable to 
                the airport, that would otherwise prevent the closure 
                of the airport and redevelopment of the facilities to 
                nonaeronautical uses.
            (2) Continued airport operation prior to approval.--The 
        town of Pollock shall continue to operate and maintain the 
        airport until the Administrator grants the town's request for 
        closure of the airport.
            (3) Use of proceeds from sale of airport.--Upon the 
        approval of the request to close the airport, the town of 
        Pollock shall obtain fair market value for the sale of the 
        airport property and shall immediately upon receipt transfer 
        all such proceeds from the sale of the airport property to the 
        sponsor of a public airport designated by the Administrator to 
        be used for the development or improvement of such airport.
            (4) Relocation of aircraft.--Before closure of the airport, 
        the town of Pollock shall provide adequate time for any 
        airport-based aircraft to relocate.

SEC. 812. HUMAN INTERVENTION AND MOTIVATION STUDY PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall develop a human intervention and motivation study 
program for flight crewmembers involved in air carrier operations in 
the United States under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011. Such sums shall remain 
available until expended.

SEC. 813. WASHINGTON, D.C., AIR DEFENSE IDENTIFICATION ZONE.

    (a) Submission of Plan to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, in coordination with Secretary of Homeland 
Security and Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate a plan for the Washington, D.C., Air 
Defense Identification Zone.
    (b) Contents of Plan.--The plan shall outline specific changes to 
the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone that will 
decrease operational impacts and improve general aviation access to 
airports in the National Capital Region that are currently impacted by 
the zone.

SEC. 814. MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
including the Federal Airport Act (as in effect on August 8, 1958), the 
United States releases, without monetary consideration, all 
restrictions, conditions, and limitations on the use, encumbrance, or 
conveyance of certain land located in the municipality of Anchorage, 
Alaska, more particularly described as Tracts 22 and 24 of the Fourth 
Addition to the Town Site of Anchorage, Alaska, as shown on the plat of 
U.S. Survey No. 1456, accepted June 13, 1923, on file in the Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of Interior.
    (b) Grants.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
municipality of Anchorage shall be released from the repayment of any 
outstanding grant obligations owed by the municipality to the Federal 
Aviation Administration with respect to any land described in 
subsection (a) that is subsequently conveyed to or used by the 
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities of the State of 
Alaska for the construction or reconstruction of a federally subsidized 
highway project.

SEC. 815. 1940 AIR TERMINAL MUSEUM AT WILLIAM P. HOBBY AIRPORT, 
              HOUSTON, TEXAS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Nation--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the 1940 Air Terminal 
        Museum located at William P. Hobby Airport in the city of 
        Houston, Texas;
            (2) congratulates the city of Houston and the 1940 Air 
        Terminal Museum on the 80-year history of William P. Hobby 
        Airport and the vital role of the airport in Houston's and the 
        Nation's transportation infrastructure; and
            (3) recognizes the 1940 Air Terminal Museum for its 
        importance to the Nation in the preservation and presentation 
        of civil aviation heritage and recognizes the importance of 
        civil aviation to the Nation's history and economy.

SEC. 816. DUTY PERIODS AND FLIGHT TIME LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO FLIGHT 
              CREWMEMBERS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate 
a rulemaking proceeding for the following purposes:
            (1) To require a flight crewmember who is employed by an 
        air carrier conducting operations under part 121 of title 14, 
        Code of Federal Regulations, and who accepts an additional 
        assignment for flying under part 91 of such title from the air 
        carrier or from any other air carrier conducting operations 
        under part 121 or 135 of such title, to apply the period of the 
        additional assignment (regardless of whether the assignment is 
        performed by the flight crewmember before or after an 
        assignment to fly under part 121 of such title) toward any 
        limitation applicable to the flight crewmember relating to duty 
        periods or flight times under part 121 of such title.
            (2) To require a flight crewmember who is employed by an 
        air carrier conducting operations under part 135 of title 14, 
        Code of Federal Regulations, and who accepts an additional 
        assignment for flying under part 91 of such title from the air 
        carrier or any other air carrier conducting operations under 
        part 121 or 135 of such title, to apply the period of the 
        additional assignment (regardless of whether the assignment is 
        performed by the flight crewmember before or after an 
        assignment to fly under part 135 of such title) toward any 
        limitation applicable to the flight crewmember relating to duty 
        periods or flight times under part 135 of such title.

SEC. 817. LABOR INTEGRATION.

    (a) Labor Integration.--With respect to any covered transaction 
involving a covered air carrier that results in the combination of 
crafts or classes that are subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 
151 et seq.), sections 3 and 13 of the labor protective provisions 
imposed by the Civil Aeronautics Board in the Allegheny-Mohawk merger 
(as published at 59 C.A.B. 45) shall apply to the integration of 
covered employees of the covered air carrier; except that--
            (1) if the same collective bargaining agent represents the 
        combining crafts or classes at the covered air carrier, that 
        collective bargaining agent's internal policies regarding 
        integration, if any, will not be affected by and will supercede 
        the requirements of this section; and
            (2) the requirements of any collective bargaining agreement 
        that may be applicable to the terms of integration involving 
        covered employees of the covered air carrier shall also not be 
        affected by and will supersede the requirements of this 
        section, so long as those provisions supply at least the 
        protections afforded by sections 3 and 13 of the Allegheny-
        Mohawk provisions.
    (b) Enforcement.--Any labor organization that represents 
individuals that are aggrieved as a result of a violation of the labor 
protective provisions applied under subsection (a) may bring an action 
to enforce this section, or to enforce the terms of any award or 
agreement resulting from arbitration or a settlement relating to the 
requirements of this section. An action under this subsection shall be 
brought in an appropriate United States district court determined in 
accordance with section 1391 of title 28, United States Code, without 
regard to the amount in controversy.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' means an air 
        carrier that holds a certificate issued under chapter 411 of 
        title 49, United States Code.
            (2) Covered air carrier.--The term ``covered air carrier'' 
        means an air carrier that is involved in a covered transaction.
            (3) Covered employee.--The term ``covered employee'' means 
        an employee who--
                    (A) is not a temporary employee; and
                    (B) is a member of a craft or class that is subject 
                to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
            (4) Covered transaction.--The term ``covered transaction'' 
        means--
                    (A) a transaction for the combination of multiple 
                air carriers into a single air carrier; and which
                    (B) involves the transfer of ownership or control 
                of--
                            (i) 50 percent or more of the equity 
                        securities (as defined in section 101 of title 
                        11, United States Code) of an air carrier; or
                            (ii) 50 percent or more (by value) of the 
                        assets of the air carrier.
    (d) Application.--This section shall not apply to any covered 
transaction involving a covered air carrier that took place before the 
date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 818. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF AIRPORT PROPERTIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall establish a pilot program at up to 4 public-use 
airports (as defined in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code) 
that have a noise compatibility program approved by the Administrator 
under section 47504 of such title.
    (b) Grants.--Under the pilot program, the Administrator may make a 
grant in a fiscal year, from funds made available under section 
47117(e)(1)(A) of such title, to the operator of an airport 
participating in the pilot program--
            (1) to support joint planning (including planning described 
        in section 47504(a)(2)(F) of such title), engineering design, 
        and environmental permitting for the assembly and redevelopment 
        of real property purchased with noise mitigation funds made 
        available under section 48103 or passenger facility revenues 
        collected for the airport under section 40117 of such title; 
        and
            (2) to encourage compatible land uses with the airport and 
        generate economic benefits to the airport operator and an 
        affected local jurisdiction.
    (c) Grant Requirements.--The Administrator may not make a grant 
under this section unless the grant is made--
            (1) to enable the airport operator and an affected local 
        jurisdiction to expedite their noise mitigation redevelopment 
        efforts with respect to real property described in subsection 
        (b)(1); and
            (2) subject to a requirement that the affected local 
        jurisdiction has adopted zoning regulations that permit 
        compatible redevelopment of real property described in 
        subsection (b)(1);
            (3) subject to a requirement that funds made available 
        under section 47117(e)(1)(A) with respect to real property 
        assembled and redeveloped under subsection (b)(1) plus the 
        amount of any grants made for acquisition of such property 
        under section 47504 of such title are repaid to the 
        Administrator upon the sale of such property.
    (d) Cooperation With Local Affected Jurisdiction.--An airport 
operator may use funds granted under this section for a purpose 
described in subsection (b) only in cooperation with an affected local 
jurisdiction.
    (e) United States Government Share.--
            (1) In general.--The United States Government share of the 
        allowable costs of a project carried out under the pilot 
        program shall be 80 percent.
            (2) Determination.--In determining the allowable project 
        costs of a project carried out under the pilot program for 
        purposes of this subsection, the Administrator shall deduct 
        from the total costs of the project that portion of the total 
        costs of the project that are incurred with respect to real 
        property that is not owned or to be acquired by the airport 
        operator pursuant to the noise compatibility program for the 
        airport or that is not owned by an affected local jurisdiction 
        or other public entity.
            (3) Maximum amount.--Not more than $5,000,000 in funds made 
        available under section 47117(e) of title 49, United States 
        Code, may be expended under this pilot program at any single 
        public-use airport.
    (f) Special Rules for Repaid Funds.--The amounts repaid to the 
Administrator with respect to an airport under subsection (c)(3)--
            (1) shall be available to the Administrator for the 
        following actions giving preference to such actions in 
        descending order:
                    (A) reinvestment in an approved noise compatibility 
                project at the airport;
                    (B) reinvestment in another project at the airport 
                that is available for funding under section 47117(e) of 
                title 49, United States Code;
                    (C) reinvestment in an approved airport development 
                project at the airport that is eligible for funding 
                under section 47114, 47115, or 47117 of such title;
                    (D) reinvestment in approved noise compatibility 
                project at any other public airport; and
                    (E) deposit in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
                established under section 9502 of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9502);
            (2) shall be in addition to amounts authorized under 
        section 48103 of title 49, United States Code; and
            (3) shall remain available until expended.
    (g) Use of Passenger Facility Revenue.--An operator of an airport 
participating in the pilot program may use passenger facility revenue 
collected for the airport under section 40117 of title 49, United 
States Code, to pay the portion of the total cost of a project carried 
out by the operator under the pilot program that are not allowable 
under subsection (e)(2).
    (h) Sunset.--The Administrator may not make a grant under the pilot 
program after September 30, 2011.
    (i) Report to Congress.--Not later than the last day of the 30th 
month following the date on which the first grant is made under this 
section, the Administrator shall report to Congress on the 
effectiveness of the pilot program on returning real property purchased 
with noise mitigation funds made available under section 47117(e)(1)(A) 
or 47505 or passenger facility revenues to productive use.
    (j) Noise Compatibility Measures.--Section 47504(a)(2) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) joint comprehensive land use planning, 
                including master plans, traffic studies, environmental 
                evaluation and economic and feasibility studies, with 
                neighboring local jurisdictions undertaking community 
                redevelopment in the area where any land or other 
                property interest acquired by the airport operator 
                under this subsection is located, to encourage and 
                enhance redevelopment opportunities that reflect zoning 
                and uses that will prevent the introduction of 
                additional incompatible uses and enhance redevelopment 
                potential.''.

SEC. 819. HELICOPTER OPERATIONS OVER LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall conduct a study on helicopter operations over Long 
Island, New York.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study, the Administrator shall 
examine, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) The effect of helicopter operations on residential 
        areas, including--
                    (A) safety issues relating to helicopter 
                operations;
                    (B) noise levels relating to helicopter operations 
                and ways to abate the noise levels; and
                    (C) any other issue relating to helicopter 
                operations on residential areas.
            (2) The feasibility of diverting helicopters from 
        residential areas.
            (3) The feasibility of creating specific air lanes for 
        helicopter operations.
            (4) The feasibility of establishing altitude limits for 
        helicopter operations.
    (c) Exceptions.--Any determination under this section on the 
feasibility of establishing limitations or restrictions for helicopter 
operations over Long Island, New York, shall not apply to helicopters 
performing operations for news organizations, the military, law 
enforcement, or providers of emergency services.
    (d) Limitation on Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to interfere with the Federal Aviation 
Administration's authority to ensure the safe and efficient use of the 
national airspace system.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the results of the study, including information and 
recommendations concerning the issues examined under subsection (b).

SEC. 820. CABIN TEMPERATURE STANDARDS STUDY.

    (a) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall conduct a study to determine whether onboard temperature 
standards are necessary to protect cabin and cockpit crew members and 
passengers on an aircraft of an air carrier used to provide air 
transportation from excessive heat onboard such aircraft during 
standard operations or during an excessive flight delay.
    (b) Temperature Review.--In conducting the study under subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall--
            (1) survey onboard cabin and cockpit temperatures of a 
        representative sampling of different aircraft types and 
        operations;
            (2) address the appropriate placement of temperature 
        monitoring devices onboard the aircraft to determine the most 
        accurate measurement of onboard temperature and develop a 
        system for the reporting of excessive temperature onboard 
        passenger aircraft by cockpit and cabin crew members; and
            (3) review the impact of implementing such onboard 
        temperature standards on the environment, fuel economy, and 
        avionics and determine the costs associated with such 
        implementation and the feasibility of using ground equipment or 
        other mitigation measures to offset any such costs.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the findings of the study.

SEC. 821. CIVIL PENALTIES TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    Section 46301 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A) by inserting ``chapter 451,'' 
        before ``section 47107(b)'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(5)(A)(i)--
                    (A) by striking ``or chapter 449'' and inserting 
                ``chapter 449''; and
                    (B) by inserting after ``44909)'' the following: 
                ``, or chapter 451''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(2)--
                    (A) by inserting after ``44723)'' the following: 
                ``, chapter 451 (except section 45107)''; and
                    (B) by inserting after ``44909),'' the following: 
                ``section 45107 or''.

SEC. 822. REALIGNMENT OF TERMINAL RADAR APPROACH CONTROL AT PALM BEACH 
              INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

    (a) Prohibition.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration may not carry out, or plan for, the consolidation, 
deconsolidation, colocation, execution of interfacility reorganization, 
or facility elimination of the terminal radar approach control (TRACON) 
at Palm Beach International Airport.
    (b) Replacement of Terminal Radar Approach Control at Palm Beach 
International Airport.--The Administrator shall take such action as may 
be necessary to ensure that any air traffic control tower or facility 
placed into operation at Palm Beach International Airport after 
September 30, 2007, to replace an air traffic control tower or facility 
placed into operation before September 30, 2007, includes an operating 
terminal radar approach control.

SEC. 823. STUDY AND REPORT ON ALLEVIATING CONGESTION.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General shall conduct a study and submit a report to 
Congress regarding effective strategies to alleviate congestion in the 
national airspace at airports during peak travel times, by evaluating 
the effectiveness of reducing flight schedules and staggering flights, 
developing incentives for airlines to reduce the number of flights 
offered, and instituting slots and quotas at airports. In addition, the 
Comptroller General shall compare the efficiency of implementing the 
strategies in the preceding sentence with redesigning airspace and 
evaluate any legal obstacles to implementing such strategies.

SEC. 824. AIRLINE PERSONNEL TRAINING ENHANCEMENT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall issue regulations under chapter 
447 of title 49, United States Code, that require air carriers to 
provide initial and annual recurring training for flight attendants and 
gate attendants regarding serving alcohol, dealing with disruptive 
passengers, and recognizing intoxicated persons. The training shall 
include situational training on methods of handling an intoxicated 
person who is belligerent.

SEC. 825. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC INTERNET WEB-
              BASED SEARCH ENGINE ON WIND TURBINE INSTALLATION 
              OBSTRUCTION.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall carry out a study on the feasibility of developing 
a publicly searchable, Internet Web-based resource that provides 
information regarding the acceptable height and distance that wind 
turbines may be installed in relation to aviation sites and the level 
of obstruction such turbines may present to such sites.
    (b) Considerations.--In conducting the study, the Administrator 
shall consult, if appropriate, with the Secretaries of the Army, Navy 
and Air Force, Homeland Security, and Energy to coordinate the 
requirements of each agency for future air space needs, determine what 
the acceptable risks are to existing infrastructure of each agency, and 
define the different levels of risk for such infrastructure.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the 
study to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee 
on Homeland Security, Committee on Armed Services and Committee on 
Science and Technology in the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Committee on 
Government Affairs and Homeland Security, and the Committee on Armed 
Services in the Senate.

          TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Federal Aviation Research and 
Development Reauthorization Act of 2007''.

SEC. 902. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title, the following definition apply:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (2) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
            (3) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.
            (4) National research council.--The term ``National 
        Research Council'' means the National Research Council of the 
        National Academies of Science and Engineering.
            (5) NOAA.--The term ``NOAA'' means the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration.
            (6) NSF.--The term ``NSF'' means the National Science 
        Foundation.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.

SEC. 903. INTERAGENCY RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON THE IMPACT OF AVIATION ON 
              THE CLIMATE.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with NASA and 
the United States Climate Change Science Program, shall establish a 
research initiative to assess the impact of aviation on the climate 
and, if warranted, to evaluate approaches to mitigate that impact.
    (b) Research Plan.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the participating Federal entities shall jointly 
develop a plan for the research program that contains the objectives, 
proposed tasks, milestones, and 5-year budgetary profile.

SEC. 904. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON RUNWAYS.

    (a) Research Program.--The Administrator shall maintain a program 
of research grants to universities and nonprofit research foundations 
for research and technology demonstrations related to--
            (1) improved runway surfaces; and
            (2) engineered material restraining systems for runways at 
        both general aviation airports and airports with commercial air 
        carrier operations.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2011 to carry out this section.

SEC. 905. RESEARCH ON DESIGN FOR CERTIFICATION.

    (a) Establishment of Program.--Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the FAA, in consultation with other 
agencies as appropriate, shall establish a research program on methods 
to improve both confidence in and the timeliness of certification of 
new technologies for their introduction into the national airspace 
system.
    (b) Research Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, as part of the activity described in subsection 
(a), the FAA shall develop a plan for the research program that 
contains the objectives, proposed tasks, milestones, and five-year 
budgetary profile.
    (c) Review.--The Administrator shall have the National Research 
Council conduct an independent review of the research program plan and 
provide the results of that review to the Committee on Science and 
Technology and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 906. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

    (a) Government's Share of Costs.--Section 44513(f) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(f) Government's Share of Costs.--The United States Government's 
share of establishing and operating the center and all related research 
activities that grant recipients carry out shall not exceed 75 percent 
of the costs. The United States Government's share of an individual 
grant under this section shall not exceed 90 percent of the costs.''.
    (b) Annual Report.--The Administrator shall transmit annually to 
the Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate at 
the time of the President's budget request a report that lists--
            (1) the research projects that have been initiated by each 
        Center of Excellence in the preceding year;
            (2) the amount of funding for each research project and the 
        funding source;
            (3) the institutions participating in each project and 
        their shares of the overall funding for each research project; 
        and
            (4) the level of cost-sharing for each research project.

SEC. 907. AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 44511(f) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by striking ``establish a 4-year 
        pilot'' and inserting ``maintain an''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by striking ``expiration of the program'' and 
                inserting ``expiration of the pilot program''; and
                    (B) by striking ``program, including 
                recommendations as to the need for establishing a 
                permanent airport cooperative research program'' and 
                inserting ``program''.

SEC. 908. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

    (a) Research Initiative.--Section 44504(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (7) by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) in conjunction with other Federal agencies, as 
        appropriate, to develop technologies and methods to assess the 
        risk of and prevent defects, failures, and malfunctions of 
        products, parts, and processes, for use in all classes of 
        unmanned aircraft systems that could result in a catastrophic 
        failure of the unmanned aircraft that would endanger other 
        aircraft in the national airspace system.''.
    (b) Systems, Procedures, Facilities, and Devices.--Section 44505(b) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4) by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5)(C) by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) to develop a better understanding of the relationship 
        between human factors and unmanned aircraft systems safety; and
            ``(7) to develop dynamic simulation models for integrating 
        all classes of unmanned aircraft systems into the national 
        airspace system without any degradation of existing levels of 
        safety for all national airspace system users.''.

SEC. 909. RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM INVOLVING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a program to 
utilize colleges and universities, including Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities, Hispanic serving institutions, tribally 
controlled colleges and universities, and Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian serving institutions in conducting research by undergraduate 
students on subjects of relevance to the FAA. Grants may be awarded 
under this section for--
            (1) research projects to be carried out primarily by 
        undergraduate students;
            (2) research projects that combine undergraduate research 
        with other research supported by the FAA;
            (3) research on future training requirements related to 
        projected changes in regulatory requirements for aircraft 
        maintenance and power plant licensees; and
            (4) research on the impact of new technologies and 
        procedures, particularly those related to aircraft flight deck 
        and air traffic management functions, and on training 
        requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 
for research grants under this section.

SEC. 910. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON SPACE WEATHER AND AVIATION.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with 
the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
other relevant agencies, initiate a research program to--
            (1) conduct or supervise research projects on impacts of 
        space weather to aviation, including communication, navigation, 
        avionic systems, and on airline passengers and personnel; and
            (2) facilitate the transfer of technology from space 
        weather research programs to Federal agencies with operational 
        responsibilities and to the private sector.
    (b) Use of Grants or Cooperative Agreements.--The Administrator may 
use grants or cooperative agreements in carrying out this section.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
authorized to be appropriated by the amendments made by this Act, there 
is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2008 through 2011 to carry out this section.

SEC. 911. AVIATION GAS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Continuation of Program.--The Administrator, in coordination 
with the NASA Administrator, shall continue research and development 
activities into technologies for modification of existing general 
aviation piston engines to enable their safe operation using unleaded 
aviation fuel.
    (b) Roadmap.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall develop a research and development 
roadmap for the program continued in subsection (a), containing the 
specific research and development objectives and the anticipated 
timetable for achieving the objectives.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 130 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall provide the roadmap specified in 
subsection (b) to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 912. RESEARCH REVIEWS AND ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) Review of FAA's Energy- and Environment-Related Research 
Programs.--
            (1) Study.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council for a review of 
        the FAA's energy- and environment-related research programs. 
        The review shall assess whether--
                    (A) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, 
                and appropriate research objectives;
                    (B) the programs are properly coordinated with the 
                energy- and environment-related research programs of 
                NASA, NOAA, and other relevant agencies;
                    (C) the programs have allocated appropriate 
                resources to each of the research objectives; and
                    (D) there exist suitable mechanisms for 
                transitioning the research results into the FAA's 
                operational technologies and procedures and 
                certification activities.
            (2) Report.--A report containing the results of the review 
        shall be provided to the Committee on Science and Technology of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate within 18 months of 
        the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Assessment of the Impact of Space Weather on Aviation.--
            (1) Study.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council for a study of 
        the impacts of space weather on the current and future United 
        States aviation industry, and in particular, to examine the 
        risks for Over-The-Pole (OTP) and Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) 
        operations. The study shall--
                    (A) examine space weather impacts on at least the 
                following areas: communications, navigation, avionics, 
                and human health in flight;
                    (B) assess the benefits of space weather 
                information and services to reduce aviation costs and 
                maintain safety;
                    (C) provide recommendations on how NASA, NOAA, and 
                the NSF can most effectively carry out research and 
                monitoring activities related to space weather and 
                aviation; and
                    (D) provide recommendations on how to integrate 
                space weather information into the Next Generation Air 
                Transportation System.
            (2) Report.--A report containing the results of the study 
        shall be provided to the Committee on Science and Technology of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 913. REVIEW OF FAA'S AVIATION SAFETY-RELATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

    (a) Review.--The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with 
the National Research Council for an independent review of the FAA's 
aviation safety-related research programs. The review shall assess 
whether--
            (1) the programs have well-defined, prioritized, and 
        appropriate research objectives;
            (2) the programs are properly coordinated with the safety 
        research programs of NASA and other relevant Federal agencies;
            (3) the programs have allocated appropriate resources to 
        each of the research objectives; and
            (4) there exist suitable mechanisms for transitioning the 
        research results from the programs into the FAA's operational 
        technologies and procedures and certification activities in a 
        timely manner.
    (b) Aviation Safety-Related Research Programs to Be Assessed.--The 
FAA aviation safety-related research programs to be assessed under the 
review shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) Air traffic control/technical operations human factors.
            (2) Runway incursion reduction.
            (3) Flightdeck/maintenance system integration human 
        factors.
            (4) Airports technology research--safety.
            (5) Airport cooperative research program--safety.
            (6) Weather program.
            (7) Atmospheric hazards/digital system safety.
            (8) Fire research and safety.
            (9) Propulsion and fuel systems.
            (10) Advanced materials/structural safety.
            (11) Aging aircraft.
            (12) Aircraft catastrophic failure prevention research.
            (13) Aeromedical research.
            (14) Aviation safety risk analysis.
            (15) Unmanned aircraft systems research.
            (16) Safe Flight 21--Alaska Capstone.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 14 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
results of the review.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
authorized to be appropriated by the amendments made by this Act, there 
is authorized to be appropriated $700,000 for fiscal year 2008 to carry 
out this section.

SEC. 914. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON ALTERNATIVE JET FUEL TECHNOLOGY FOR CIVIL 
              AIRCRAFT.

    (a) Establishment of Research Program.--Using amounts made 
available under section 48102(a) of title 49, United States Code, the 
Secretary of Transportation shall establish a research program related 
to developing jet fuel from alternative sources (such as coal, natural 
gas, biomass, ethanol, butanol, and hydrogen) through grants or other 
measures authorized under section 106(l)(6) of such title, including 
reimbursable agreements with other Federal agencies.
    (b) Participation by Educational and Research Institutions.--In 
conducting the program, the Secretary shall provide for participation 
by educational and research institutions that have existing facilities 
and experience in the development and deployment of technology for 
alternative jet fuels.
    (c) Designation of Institute as a Center of Excellence.--Not later 
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall designate an 
institution described in subsection (a) as a Center of Excellence for 
Alternative Jet Fuel Research.

SEC. 915. CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN AVIATION EMPLOYMENT.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a Center for 
Excellence in Aviation Employment (in this section referred to as the 
``Center'').
    (b) Applied Research and Training.--The Center shall conduct 
applied research and training on--
            (1) human performance in the air transportation 
        environment;
            (2) air transportation personnel, including air traffic 
        controllers, pilots, and technicians; and
            (3) any other aviation human resource issues pertinent to 
        developing and maintaining a safe and efficient air 
        transportation system.
    (c) Duties.--The Center shall--
            (1) in conjunction with the Collegiate Training Initiative 
        and other air traffic controller training programs, develop, 
        implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, best-practices based 
        training program for air traffic controllers;
            (2) work with the Office of Human Resource Management of 
        the FAA as that office develops and implements a strategic 
        recruitment and marketing program to help the FAA compete for 
        the best qualified employees and incorporate an employee value 
        proposition process that results in attracting a broad-based 
        and diverse aviation workforce in mission critical positions, 
        including air traffic controller, aviation safety inspector, 
        airway transportation safety specialist, and engineer;
            (3) through industry surveys and other research 
        methodologies and in partnership with the ``Taskforce on the 
        Future of the Aerospace Workforce'' and the Secretary of Labor, 
        establish a baseline of general aviation employment statistics 
        for purposes of projecting and anticipating future workforce 
        needs and demonstrating the economic impact of general aviation 
        employment;
            (4) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the airframe and 
        powerplant technician certification process and employment 
        trends for maintenance repair organization facilities, 
        certificated repair stations, and general aviation maintenance 
        organizations;
            (5) establish a best practices model in aviation 
        maintenance technician school environments; and
            (6) establish a workforce retraining program to allow for 
        transition of recently unemployed and highly skilled mechanics 
        into aviation employment.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator such sums as may be necessary to 
carry out this section. Such sums shall remain available until 
expended.

            TITLE X--AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND FINANCING

SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Airport and Airway Trust Fund 
Financing Act of 2007''.

SEC. 1002. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND 
              AIRWAY TRUST FUND.

    (a) Rate of Tax on Aviation-Grade Kerosene and Aviation Gasoline.--
            (1) Aviation-grade kerosene.--Subparagraph (A) of section 
        4081(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to 
        rates of tax) is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of 
        clause (ii), by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) 
        and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end the following 
        new clause:
                            ``(iv) in the case of aviation-grade 
                        kerosene, 35.9 cents per gallon.''.
            (2) Aviation gasoline.--Clause (ii) of section 
        4081(a)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by striking ``19.3 
        cents'' and inserting ``24.1 cents''.
            (3) Fuel removed directly into fuel tank of airplane used 
        in noncommercial aviation.--Subparagraph (C) of section 
        4081(a)(2) of such Code is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(C) Taxes imposed on fuel used in commercial 
                aviation.--In the case of aviation-grade kerosene which 
                is removed from any refinery or terminal directly into 
                the fuel tank of an aircraft for use in commercial 
                aviation by a person registered for such use under 
                section 4101, the rate of tax under subparagraph 
                (A)(iv) shall be 4.3 cents per gallon.''.
            (4) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Clause (iii) of section 4081(a)(2)(A) of such 
                Code is amended by inserting ``other than aviation-
                grade kerosene'' after ``kerosene''.
                    (B) The following provisions of such Code are each 
                amended by striking ``kerosene'' and inserting 
                ``aviation-grade kerosene'':
                            (i) Section 4081(a)(3)(A)(ii).
                            (ii) Section 4081(a)(3)(A)(iv).
                            (iii) Section 4081(a)(3)(D).
                    (C) Section 4081(a)(3)(D) of such Code is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``paragraph (2)(C)(i)'' in 
                        clause (i) and inserting ``paragraph (2)(C)'', 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``paragraph (2)(C)(ii)'' 
                        in clause (ii) and inserting ``paragraph 
                        (2)(A)(iv)''.
                    (D) Section 4081(a)(4) of such Code is amended in 
                the heading by striking ``kerosene'' and inserting 
                ``aviation-grade kerosene''.
                    (E) Section 4081(d)(2) of such Code is amended by 
                inserting ``, (a)(2)(A)(iv),'' after ``subsections 
                (a)(2)(A)(ii)''.
    (b) Extension.--
            (1) Fuels taxes.--Paragraph (2) of section 4081(d) of such 
        Code is amended by striking ``gallon--'' and all that follows 
        and inserting ``gallon after September 30, 2011''.
            (2) Taxes on transportation of persons and property.--
                    (A) Persons.--Clause (ii) of section 4261(j)(1)(A) 
                of such Code is amended by striking ``September 30, 
                2007'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.
                    (B) Property.--Clause (ii) of section 4271(d)(1)(A) 
                of such Code is amended by striking ``September 30, 
                2007'' and inserting ``September 30, 2011''.
    (c) Exemption for Aviation-Grade Kerosene Removed Into an 
Aircraft.--Subsection (e) of section 4082 of such Code is amended--
            (1) by striking ``kerosene'' and inserting ``aviation-grade 
        kerosene'',
            (2) by striking ``section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iii)'' and 
        inserting ``section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iv)'', and
            (3) by striking ``Kerosene'' in the heading and inserting 
        ``Aviation-Grade Kerosene''.
    (d) Retail Tax on Aviation Fuel.--
            (1) Exemption for previously taxed fuel.--Paragraph (2) of 
        section 4041(c) of such Code is amended by inserting ``at the 
        rate specified in subsection (a)(2)(A)(iv) thereof'' after 
        ``section 4081''.
            (2) Rate of tax.--Paragraph (3) of section 4041(c) of such 
        Code is amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) Rate of tax.--The rate of tax imposed by this 
        subsection shall be the rate of tax in effect under section 
        4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) (4.3 cents per gallon with respect to any 
        sale or use for commercial aviation).''.
    (e) Refunds Relating to Aviation-Grade Kerosene.--
            (1) Kerosene used in commercial aviation.--Clause (ii) of 
        section 6427(l)(4)(A) of such Code is amended by striking 
        ``specified in section 4041(c) or 4081(a)(2)(A)(iii), as the 
        case may be,'' and inserting ``so imposed''.
            (2) Kerosene used in aviation.--Paragraph (4) of section 
        6427(l) of such Code is amended--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating 
                subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B), and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B), as redesignated 
                by subparagraph (A), to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Payments to ultimate, registered vendor.--
                With respect to any kerosene used in aviation (other 
                than kerosene to which paragraph (6) applies), if the 
                ultimate purchaser of such kerosene waives (at such 
                time and in such form and manner as the Secretary shall 
                prescribe) the right to payment under paragraph (1) and 
                assigns such right to the ultimate vendor, then the 
                Secretary shall pay (without interest) the amount which 
                would be paid under paragraph (1) to such ultimate 
                vendor, but only if such ultimate vendor--
                            ``(i) is registered under section 4101, and
                            ``(ii) meets the requirements of 
                        subparagraph (A), (B), or (D) of section 
                        6416(a)(1).''.
            (3) Aviation-grade kerosene not used in aviation.--
        Subsection (l) of section 6427 of such Code is amended by 
        redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6) and by inserting 
        after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Refunds for aviation-grade kerosene not used in 
        aviation.--If tax has been imposed under section 4081 at the 
        rate specified in section 4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) and the fuel is 
        used other than in an aircraft, the Secretary shall pay 
        (without interest) to the ultimate purchaser of such fuel an 
        amount equal to the amount of tax imposed on such fuel reduced 
        by the amount of tax that would be imposed under section 4041 
        if no tax under section 4081 had been imposed.''.
            (4) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 6427(i)(4) of such Code is amended--
                            (i) by striking ``(4)(C)'' the first two 
                        places it occurs and inserting ``(4)(B)'', and
                            (ii) by striking ``, (l)(4)(C)(ii), and'' 
                        and inserting ``and''.
                    (B) Section 4082(d)(2)(B) of such Code is amended 
                by striking ``6427(l)(5)(B)'' and inserting 
                ``6427(l)(6)(B)''.
    (f) Airport and Airway Trust Fund.--
            (1) Extension of trust fund authorities.--
                    (A) Expenditures from trust fund.--Paragraph (1) of 
                section 9502(d) of such Code is amended--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A) by striking ``October 1, 2007'' and 
                        inserting ``October 1, 2011'', and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``or 
                        the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007'' before 
                        the semicolon at the end.
                    (B) Limitation on transfers to trust fund.--
                Paragraph (2) of section 9502(f) of such Code is 
                amended by striking ``October 1, 2007'' and inserting 
                ``October 1, 2011''.
            (2) Transfers to trust fund.--Subparagraph (C) of section 
        9502(b)(1) of such Code is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(C) section 4081 with respect to aviation 
                gasoline and aviation-grade kerosene, and''.
            (3) Transfers on account of certain refunds.--
                    (A) In general.--Subsection (d) of section 9502 of 
                such Code is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (2) by striking ``(other 
                        than subsection (l)(4) thereof)'', and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3) by striking ``(other 
                        than payments made by reason of paragraph (4) 
                        of section 6427(l))''.
                    (B) Conforming amendments.--
                            (i) Section 9503(b)(4) of such Code is 
                        amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
                        subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the 
                        end of subparagraph (D) and inserting a comma, 
                        and by inserting after subparagraph (D) the 
                        following:
                    ``(E) section 4081 to the extent attributable to 
                the rate specified in clause (ii) or (iv) of section 
                4081(a)(2)(A), or
                    ``(F) section 4041(c).''.
                            (ii) Section 9503(c) of such Code is 
                        amended by striking the last paragraph 
                        (relating to transfers from the Trust Fund for 
                        certain aviation fuel taxes).
                            (iii) Section 9502(a) of such Code is 
                        amended by striking ``, section 9503(c)(7),''.
            (4) Transfers on account of aviation-grade kerosene not 
        used in aviation.--Section 9502(d) of such Code is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(7) Transfers from airport and airway trust fund on 
        account of aviation-grade kerosene not used in aviation.--The 
        Secretary of the Treasury shall pay from time to time from the 
        Airport and Airway Trust Fund into the Highway Trust Fund 
        amounts as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury 
        equivalent to amounts transferred to the Airport and Airway 
        Trust Fund with respect to aviation-grade kerosene not used in 
        aviation.''.
            (5) Expenditures for air traffic control modernization.--
        Section 9502(d) of such Code, as amended by this title, is 
        amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) Expenditures for air traffic control modernization.--
        The following amounts may be used only for making expenditures 
        to carry out air traffic control modernization:
                    ``(A) So much of the amounts appropriated under 
                subsection (b)(1)(C) as the Secretary estimates are 
                attributable to--
                            ``(i) 14.1 cents per gallon of the tax 
                        imposed at the rate specified in section 
                        4081(a)(2)(A)(iv) in the case of aviation-grade 
                        kerosene used other than in commercial aviation 
                        (as defined in section 4083(b)), and
                            ``(ii) 4.8 cents per gallon of the tax 
                        imposed at the rate specified in section 
                        4081(a)(2)(A)(ii) in the case of aviation 
                        gasoline used other than in commercial aviation 
                        (as so defined).
                    ``(B) Any amounts credited to the Airport and 
                Airway Trust Fund under section 9602(b) with respect to 
                amounts described in this paragraph.''.
    (g) Effective Date.--
            (1) Modifications.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        the amendments made by this section shall apply to fuels 
        removed, entered, or sold after December 31, 2007.
            (2) Extensions.--The amendments made by subsections (b) and 
        (f)(1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.
    (h) Floor Stocks Tax.--
            (1) Imposition of tax.--In the case of aviation fuel which 
        is held on January 1, 2008, by any person, there is hereby 
        imposed a floor stocks tax on aviation fuel equal to--
                    (A) the tax which would have been imposed before 
                such date on such fuel had the amendments made by this 
                section been in effect at all times before such date, 
                reduced by
                    (B) the sum of--
                            (i) the tax imposed before such date on 
                        such fuel under section 4081 of the Internal 
                        Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect on such 
                        date, and
                            (ii) in the case of kerosene held 
                        exclusively for such person's own use, the 
                        amount which such person would (but for this 
                        clause) reasonably expect (as of such date) to 
                        be paid as a refund under section 6427(l) of 
                        such Code with respect to such kerosene.
            (2) Liability for tax and method of payment.--
                    (A) Liability for tax.--A person holding aviation 
                fuel on January 1, 2008, shall be liable for such tax.
                    (B) Time and method of payment.--The tax imposed by 
                paragraph (1) shall be paid on April 30, 2008, and in 
                such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
                prescribe.
            (3) Transfer of floor stock tax revenues to trust funds.--
        For purposes of determining the amount transferred to the 
        Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the tax imposed by this 
        subsection shall be treated as imposed by the provision of 
        section 4081 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which applies 
        with respect to the aviation fuel involved.
            (4) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
                    (A) Aviation fuel.--The term ``aviation fuel'' 
                means aviation-grade kerosene and aviation gasoline, as 
                such terms are used within the meaning of section 4081 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                    (B) Held by a person.--Aviation fuel shall be 
                considered as held by a person if title thereto has 
                passed to such person (whether or not delivery to the 
                person has been made).
                    (C) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
                Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate.
            (5) Exception for exempt uses.--The tax imposed by 
        paragraph (1) shall not apply to any aviation fuel held by any 
        person exclusively for any use to the extent a credit or refund 
        of the tax is allowable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
        for such use.
            (6) Exception for certain amounts of fuel.--
                    (A) In general.--No tax shall be imposed by 
                paragraph (1) on any aviation fuel held on January 1, 
                2008, by any person if the aggregate amount of such 
                aviation fuel held by such person on such date does not 
                exceed 2,000 gallons. The preceding sentence shall 
                apply only if such person submits to the Secretary (at 
                the time and in the manner required by the Secretary) 
                such information as the Secretary shall require for 
                purposes of this subparagraph.
                    (B) Exempt fuel.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), 
                there shall not be taken into account any aviation fuel 
                held by any person which is exempt from the tax imposed 
                by paragraph (1) by reason of paragraph (6).
                    (C) Controlled groups.--For purposes of this 
                subsection--
                            (i) Corporations.--
                                    (I) In general.--All persons 
                                treated as a controlled group shall be 
                                treated as 1 person.
                                    (II) Controlled group.--The term 
                                ``controlled group'' has the meaning 
                                given to such term by subsection (a) of 
                                section 1563 of such Code; except that 
                                for such purposes the phrase ``more 
                                than 50 percent'' shall be substituted 
                                for the phrase ``at least 80 percent'' 
                                each place it appears in such 
                                subsection.
                            (ii) Nonincorporated persons under common 
                        control.--Under regulations prescribed by the 
                        Secretary, principles similar to the principles 
                        of subparagraph (A) shall apply to a group of 
                        persons under common control if 1 or more of 
                        such persons is not a corporation.
            (7) Other laws applicable.--All provisions of law, 
        including penalties, applicable with respect to the taxes 
        imposed by section 4081 of such Code on the aviation fuel 
        involved shall, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with 
        the provisions of this subsection, apply with respect to the 
        floor stock taxes imposed by paragraph (1) to the same extent 
        as if such taxes were imposed by such section.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 20, 2007.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2881

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for 
the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 
to improve aviation safety and capacity, to provide stable funding for 
         the national aviation system, and for other purposes.