[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2244 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2244

      To create opportunities for women in the aviation industry.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 18, 2017

 Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To create opportunities for women in the aviation industry.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Women in the Aviation 
Workforce Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Women make up over 50 percent of the national 
        workforce, but are significantly underrepresented in the 
        aviation industry. Women represent only 2 percent of airline 
        mechanics, 4 percent of flight engineers, 5 percent of 
        repairmen, 26 percent of air traffic controllers, 18 percent of 
        flight dispatchers, and 6 percent of pilots.
            (2) Twelve percent of students enrolled in AABI-accredited 
        programs are women.
            (3) Women have made tremendous contributions to aviation 
        while under steep adversity. Courageous women like Blanche 
        Scott, Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Ada Brown, and so many 
        others paved the way for women in aviation and engineering. 
        Their leadership shall be valued and remembered as we continue 
        to grow the influence of women in aviation.
            (4) Programs like the annual ``Girls in Aviation Day'' 
        established by Women in Aviation International in September 
        2015 help young women be introduced to the different 
        opportunities that are open to women in the aviation and 
        aerospace industry. Support for these efforts will go a long 
        way in supporting women's aspirations in these fields.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING WOMEN IN AVIATION.

    It is the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should 
explore all opportunities, including pilot training, science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education, and mentorship 
programs, to encourage and support female students and aviators to 
pursue a career in aviation.

SEC. 4. SUPPORTING WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE AVIATION FIELD.

    (a) Advisory Board.--To encourage women and girls to enter the 
field of aviation, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall create and facilitate the Women in Aviation 
Advisory Board (referred to in this section as the ``Board''), with the 
objective of promoting organizations and programs that are providing 
education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women 
into the aviation industry.
    (b) Composition.--The Board shall consist of members whose diverse 
background allows them to contribute balanced points of view and ideas 
regarding the strategies and objectives set forth in section 4(f).
    (c) Selection.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall appoint members of the Board, 
including representatives from the following:
            (1) Major airlines and aerospace companies.
            (2) Nonprofit organizations within the aviation industry.
            (3) Aviation business associations.
            (4) Engineering business associations.
            (5) United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol.
    (d) Period of Appointment.--Members shall be appointed to the Board 
for the duration of the existence of the Board.
    (e) Compensation.--Board members shall serve without compensation.
    (f) Duties.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Board shall present a comprehensive plan for 
strategies the Administration can take, which include the following 
objectives:
            (1) Identifying industry trends that directly or indirectly 
        discourage women from pursuing careers in aviation, including--
                    (A) possible differences between women minority 
                groups; and
                    (B) possible differences between women who live in 
                rural, suburban, and urban areas.
            (2) Coordinating the functions of airline companies, 
        nonprofit organizations, and aviation and engineering 
        associations to facilitate support for women pursuing careers 
        in aviation.
            (3) Creating opportunities to expand existing scholarship 
        opportunities for women in the aviation industry.
            (4) Enhancing aviation training, mentorship, education, and 
        outreach programs that are exclusive to women.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report 
        to--
                    (A) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate.
            (2) Availability online.--The Administrator shall make the 
        report publicly available online and in print.
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