[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3560 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 527
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3560

                      [Report No. 118-630, Part I]

   To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian 
   unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and 
development for economic and national security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2023

  Mr. Lucas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the 
  Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

                            August 13, 2024

 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an 
                               amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                            August 13, 2024

   Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and 
    Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the 
 Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to 
                               be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 22, 
                                 2023]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian 
   unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and 
development for economic and national security, 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 ``National Drone and 
Advanced Air Mobility Research and Development Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Purposes.

                    TITLE I--INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES

Sec. 101. Interagency working group.
Sec. 102. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 103. Counter-UAS research plan.
Sec. 104. National drone technology center.
Sec. 105. GAO study on foreign drones.

 TITLE II--NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES

Sec. 201. National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institutes.

  TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES

Sec. 301. National Institute of Standards and Technology activities.
Sec. 302. National Institute of Standards and Technology manufacturing 
                            activities.

            TITLE IV--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

Sec. 401. National Science Foundation activities.

   TITLE V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

Sec. 501. National Aeronautics and Space Administration activities.
Sec. 502. National student unmanned aircraft systems competition 
                            program.

               TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES

Sec. 601. Department of Energy research activities.

         TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES

Sec. 701. Department of Homeland Security activities.

 TITLE VIII--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

Sec. 801. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research and 
                            development.

          TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

Sec. 901. Federal Aviation Administration research and development.
Sec. 902. Partnerships for research, development, demonstration, and 
                            testing.
Sec. 903. UAS test ranges and operations.
Sec. 904. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 905. Definitions.

                          TITLE X--LIMITATION

Sec. 1001. Limitation.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Unmanned aircraft systems have the potential to change 
        and transform sectors of the United States economy.
            (2) Advanced air mobility aims to transform the way people 
        and goods are transported through new capabilities and 
        applications.
            (3) Current uses and applications of unmanned aircraft 
        systems and advanced air mobility include agriculture, 
        transportation, law enforcement, public safety, disaster 
        evaluation and response, fire detection, border security, 
        weather forecasting, construction, utility monitoring, and many 
        other uses and applications.
            (4) Research on and development, demonstration, testing, 
        and evaluation of counter-UAS systems and detection systems 
        activities are critical to fully understand the capabilities of 
        and threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems.
            (5) Unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility 
        systems are subject to safety, privacy, cybersecurity, and 
        supply chain risks, particularly as most unmanned aircraft 
        systems in the United States are manufactured or assembled from 
        parts manufactured in foreign countries.
            (6) National and homeland security threats posed by 
        unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility systems 
        include criminal and terrorist use for espionage, surveillance, 
        and intelligence gathering, smuggling drugs and contraband, and 
        platforms to deliver explosives or chemicals, biological, 
        radiological or nuclear weapons, and other firearms.
            (7) The Federal Government has an important role in 
        advancing research, development, voluntary consensus technical 
        standards, and education activities in advanced air mobility 
        and unmanned aircraft systems technologies through coordination 
        and collaboration between and among State, local, Federal, and 
        Tribal governments, academia, the private sector, and labor 
        organizations.
            (8) There is a lack of voluntary consensus technical 
        standards for unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air 
        mobility for academia and the public and private sectors.
            (9) The United States needs to invest in domestic 
        manufacturing and secure supply chains of unmanned aircraft 
        systems and advanced air mobility systems to meet the demand by 
        the Government and the commercial sectors, to ensure United 
        States high quality domestic manufacturing and supply chain 
        jobs, and to reduce reliance on foreign-made systems.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Advanced air mobility.--The term ``advanced air 
        mobility'' means a transportation system that transports people 
        and property by air between two points in the United States 
        using aircraft with advanced technologies, including electric 
        aircraft or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, in 
        both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
            (2) Agency head.--The term ``agency head'' means the head 
        of any Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, 
        United States Code).
            (3) Counter-uas system.--The term ``counter-UAS system'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 44801(5) of title 
        49, United States Code.
            (4) Institute.--The term ``Institute'' means a Drone and 
        Advanced Air Mobility Research Institute described in section 
        201(b).
            (5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001)
            (6) Interagency working group.--The term ``Interagency 
        Working Group'' means the Advanced Air Mobility and Unmanned 
        Aircraft Systems Interagency Working Group of the National 
        Science and Technology Council established under section 101 of 
        title 1.
            (7) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2(5) of the National 
        Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term 
        shall also include--
                    (A) any organization composed of labor 
                organizations, such as a labor union federation or a 
                State or municipal labor body; and
                    (B) any organization which would be included in the 
                definition for such term under such section 2(5) but 
                for the fact that the organization represents--
                            (i) individuals employed by the United 
                        States, any wholly owned Government 
                        corporation, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any 
                        State or political subdivision thereof;
                            (ii) individuals employed by persons 
                        subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 
                        et seq.); or
                            (iii) individuals employed as agricultural 
                        laborers.
            (8) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            (9) Technical standard.--The term ``technical standard'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 12(d)(5) of the 
        National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 
        U.S.C. 272 note).
            (10) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned 
        aircraft system'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        44801(12) of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 4. PURPOSES.

    The purpose of this Act is to ensure United States leadership in 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, and maximize 
benefits and mitigate risks of such systems by--
            (1) supporting research, development, demonstration, 
        testing, and transition to operations of secure advanced air 
        mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems, including 
        research and development to enable integration of such systems 
        into the National Airspace System;
            (2) improving the interagency planning and coordination of 
        Federal research and development of advanced air mobility and 
        unmanned aircraft systems and maximizing the effectiveness of 
        the Federal Government's advanced air mobility and next 
        generation unmanned aircraft systems research and development 
        programs;
            (3) promoting domestic manufacturing and domestic supply 
        chains for unmanned aircraft systems and mitigating supply 
        chain risks;
            (4) supporting activities to mitigate risks to public 
        safety and national and homeland security, including through 
        response to disasters;
            (5) preparing the present and future United States 
        workforce for the integration of advanced air mobility and 
        unmanned aircraft systems across sectors of the economy, 
        including through support for curriculum development and 
        research opportunities and through partnerships that may 
        include labor organizations and labor-management workforce 
        training organizations;
            (6) supporting research, development, demonstration, and 
        testing of civilian applications of unmanned aerial systems, 
        including improved safety and sustainability of ground 
        transportation, environmental monitoring, and disaster 
        response;
            (7) promoting research and development collaboration among 
        State, local, Tribal, and Federal governments, National 
        Laboratories, industry, labor organizations, and academic 
        institutions;
            (8) promoting the development of voluntary consensus 
        technical standards and best practices for advanced air 
        mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; and
            (9) applying lessons learned from unmanned aircraft systems 
        research, development, demonstration, and testing to advanced 
        air mobility systems.

                    TITLE I--INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES

SEC. 101. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Designation.--
            (1) In general.--The National Science and Technology 
        Council shall establish or designate an interagency working 
        group on advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems to 
        coordinate Federal research, development, deployment, testing, 
        and education activities to enable advanced air mobility and 
        unmanned aircraft systems.
            (2) Membership.--The interagency working group shall be 
        comprised of senior representatives from the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of 
        Transportation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Homeland 
        Security, and such other Federal agencies as appropriate.
    (b) Duties.--The interagency working group shall--
            (1) develop the strategic research plan to guide Federal 
        research to enable advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
        systems and oversee implementation of the plan;
            (2) oversee the development of--
                    (A) an assessment of the current state of United 
                States competitiveness and leadership in advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, including the 
                scope and scale of United States investments in 
                relevant research and development; and
                    (B) strategies to strengthen and secure the 
                domestic supply chain for advanced air mobility systems 
                and unmanned aircraft systems;
            (3) facilitate communication and outreach opportunities 
        with academia, industry, professional societies, State, local, 
        Tribal, and Federal governments, and other stakeholders;
            (4) facilitate partnerships to leverage knowledge and 
        resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and Federal 
        governments, National Laboratories, Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
        Test Sites, academic institutions, and others;
            (5) coordinate with the Advanced Air Mobility Working Group 
        established by Public Law 117-203 and heads of other Federal 
        departments and agencies to avoid duplication of research and 
        other activities to ensure that the activities carried out by 
        the interagency working group are complementary to those being 
        undertaken by other interagency efforts; and
            (6) coordinate with the National Security Council and other 
        authorized agency coordinating bodies on the assessment of 
        risks posed by the existing Federal unmanned aircraft systems 
        fleet and outlining potential steps to mitigate these risks.
    (c) Report to Congress.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the interagency working group shall 
        transmit a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that--
                    (A) includes a summary of federally funded advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, 
                development, deployment, and testing activities, 
                including the budget for each of these activities; and
                    (B) describes the progress in developing the plan 
                required under section 102 of this Act.
            (2) Biennial report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        delivery of the initial report under paragraph (1) and every 2 
        years thereafter until December 31, 2033, the interagency 
        working group shall transmit a report to the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate that includes--
                    (A) a summary of federally funded advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, 
                development, deployment, and testing activities, 
                including the budget for each of these activities; and
                    (B) an analysis of the progress made towards 
                achieving the goals and priorities for the interagency 
                research plan developed by the interagency work group 
                under sections 102 and 103.
            (3) Strategic research plan.--Not later than 2 years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the interagency working 
        group shall transmit the strategic research plan developed 
        under section 102 to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 102. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the interagency working group shall develop and 
periodically update, as appropriate, a strategic plan for Federal 
research, development, deployment, and testing of advanced air mobility 
systems and unmanned aircraft systems. In developing the plan, the 
interagency working group shall consider and use information, reports, 
and studies on advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems that 
have identified research, development, deployment, and testing needed, 
and recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences, 
Engineering, and Medicine in the review of the plan under subsection 
(c).
    (b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan shall--
            (1) determine and prioritize areas of advanced air mobility 
        and unmanned aircraft systems research, development, 
        demonstration, and testing requiring Federal Government 
        leadership and investment;
            (2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year 
        the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal 
        research, development, deployment, and testing which will--
                    (A) support the development of advanced air 
                mobility technologies and the development of an 
                advanced air mobility research, innovation, and 
                manufacturing ecosystem;
                    (B) provide sustained, consistent, and coordinated 
                support for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
                systems research, development, and demonstration, 
                including through grants, cooperative agreements, 
                testbeds, and testing facilities;
                    (C) apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft 
                systems research, development, demonstration, and 
                testing to advanced air mobility systems;
                    (D) support the development of voluntary consensus 
                technical standards and best practices for the 
                development and use of advanced air mobility and 
                unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (E) support education and training activities at 
                all levels to prepare the United States workforce to 
                use and interact with advanced air mobility systems and 
                unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (F) support partnerships to leverage knowledge and 
                resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and 
                Federal governments, National Laboratories, Unmanned 
                Aircraft Systems Test Ranges, academic institutions, 
                labor organizations, and others to advance research 
                activities;
                    (G) leverage existing Federal investments; and
                    (H) promote hardware interoperability and open-
                source systems;
            (3) support research and other activities on the impacts of 
        advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems on national 
        security, safety, economic, legal, workforce, and other 
        appropriate societal issues;
            (4) reduce barriers to transferring research findings, 
        capabilities, and new technologies related to advanced air 
        mobility and unmanned aircraft systems into operation for the 
        benefit of society and United States competitiveness;
            (5) in consultation with the Council of Economic Advisers, 
        measure and track the contributions of unmanned aircraft 
        systems and advanced air mobility to United States economic 
        growth and other societal indicators; and
            (6) identify relevant programs and make recommendations for 
        the coordination of relevant activities of the Federal agencies 
        and set forth the role of each Federal agency in implementing 
        the plan.
    (c) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
Evaluation.--The Administrator shall enter into an agreement with the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to review the 
plan every 5 years.
    (d) Public Participation.--In developing the plan, the interagency 
working group shall consult with representatives of stakeholder groups, 
which may include academic, State, industry, and labor organizations. 
Not later than 90 days before the plan, or any revision thereof, is 
submitted to Congress, the plan shall be published in the Federal 
Register for a public comment period of not less than 60 days.

SEC. 103. COUNTER-UAS RESEARCH PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the interagency working group shall develop and 
periodically update, as appropriate, a strategic plan for Federal 
research, development, evaluation, and testing of counter-UAS systems 
and detection systems, as consistent with counter-UAS systems legal 
authorities.
    (b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan shall--
            (1) determine and prioritize areas of counter-UAS systems 
        and detection systems research, development, evaluation, and 
        testing requiring Federal Government leadership and investment;
            (2) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year 
        the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal 
        research, development, evaluation, and testing which will--
                    (A) support the development of counter-UAS systems 
                and detection systems and the development of a counter-
                UAS research, innovation, and manufacturing ecosystem;
                    (B) provide sustained, consistent, and coordinated 
                support for counter-UAS research, development, 
                evaluation, and testing, including through grants, 
                cooperative agreements, testbeds, and testing 
                facilities;
                    (D) support education and training activities to 
                prepare the United States workforce to use and interact 
                with counter-UAS systems and detection systems;
                    (E) support partnerships to leverage knowledge and 
                resources from industry, State, local, Tribal, and 
                Federal governments, National Laboratories, Counter-UAS 
                Test Ranges, academic institutions, and others to 
                advance research activities; and
                    (F) leverage existing Federal investments;
            (3) support research and other activities on the impacts of 
        counter-UAS systems and detection systems; and
            (4) identify relevant programs and make recommendations for 
        the coordination of relevant activities of the Federal agencies 
        and set forth the role of each Federal agency in implementing 
        the plan.

SEC. 104. NATIONAL DRONE TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

    (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of appropriations 
for such purpose, the Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the heads of 
other Federal agencies, as appropriate, may establish a national drone 
technology center to conduct research and development of unmanned 
aircraft systems to strengthen the economic competitiveness and 
security of the domestic supply chain. Such center shall be operated as 
a public-private sector consortium with participation from the private 
sector, which may include employers and labor organizations, and the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    (b) Functions.--The functions of the center established under 
subsection (a) shall be to conduct research and development related to 
unmanned aircraft systems manufacturing, design and components, and 
prototyping that strengthens the entire domestic ecosystem and 
incorporates the upstream participation of workers, which may include 
partnership with labor organizations. The center shall place emphasis 
on the following:
            (1) Unmanned aircraft systems advanced testing and assembly 
        capability in the domestic ecosystem.
            (2) Materials characterization, instrumentation and testing 
        for unmanned aircraft systems.
            (3) Virtualization and automation of maintenance of 
        unmanned aircraft systems machinery.
            (4) Metrology for security and supply chain verification.
            (5) strategies for domestic transportation and supply chain 
        job creation, skills development, and workforce training for 
        high-quality jobs.

SEC. 105. GAO STUDY ON FOREIGN DRONES.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the 
use of foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems in the Federal Government 
unmanned aircraft fleet.
    (b) Elements.--The study under subsection (a) shall include an 
assessment of the following:
            (1) The size of the Federal unmanned aircraft fleet and the 
        extent to which any unmanned aircraft systems have been 
        procured from a covered foreign entity on the list maintained 
        in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of title 15, Code of Federal 
        Regulations.
            (2) The operation of these systems across the Federal 
        Government.
            (3) Policies and practices governing the procurement of 
        unmanned aircraft systems from covered foreign entities.
            (4) The availability of unmanned aircraft systems from any 
        domestic sources for government use.
            (5) The risks associated with use of these systems by the 
        Federal Government, including physical safety, privacy, and 
        cybersecurity.
    (c) Gao Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report to Congress 
all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required 
under subsection (a).

 TITLE II--NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES

SEC. 201. NATIONAL DRONE AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration may establish a program to award financial 
assistance for the planning, establishment, and support of a network of 
Institutes (as described in subsection (b)(2)) in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Financial Assistance to Establish and Support National Drone 
and Advanced Air Mobility Research Institutes.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration, and any other agency head may award 
        financial assistance, to an eligible entity, or consortia 
        thereof, as determined by an agency head, to establish and 
        support one or more Institutes.
            (2) Drone and advanced air mobility institutes.--An 
        Institute described in this subsection is an unmanned aircraft 
        systems and advanced air mobility research institute that--
                    (A) may focus on--
                            (i) a particular economic or social sector, 
                        including education, manufacturing, 
                        transportation, agriculture, security, energy, 
                        environment, and public safety, and includes a 
                        component that addresses the ethical, societal, 
                        safety, workforce, and security implications 
                        relevant to the application of advanced air 
                        mobility and unmanned aircraft systems in that 
                        sector; or
                            (ii) a cross-cutting challenge for 
                        research, development, testing, manufacturing, 
                        or use of advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                        aircraft systems;
                    (B) requires partnership among public and private 
                organizations, including, as appropriate, Federal 
                agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit research 
                organizations, Federal laboratories, State, local, and 
                Tribal governments, industry, labor organizations, and 
                others (or consortia thereof);
                    (C) has the potential to create an innovation 
                ecosystem, or enhance existing ecosystems, to translate 
                Institute research into applications and products, as 
                appropriate to the topic of each Institute;
                    (D) supports and coordinates interdisciplinary 
                research and development across multiple institutions 
                and organizations involved in unmanned aircraft systems 
                research and related disciplines, which may include 
                physics, engineering, mathematical sciences, computer 
                and information science, robotics, material science, 
                cybersecurity, and technology ethics;
                    (E) supports interdisciplinary education activities 
                at all levels, including curriculum development, 
                research experiences, and faculty professional 
                development across two-year, undergraduates, masters, 
                and doctoral level programs;
                    (F) establishes a robust data management strategy 
                that ensures digital access and machine-readability; 
                that promotes findability, interoperability, analysis- 
                and decision-readiness and reusability; and ensures 
                applicable scientific data are managed for wide use by 
                Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, 
                academia, and the public;
                    (G) applies lessons learned from unmanned aircraft 
                systems research, development, demonstration, and 
                testing to advanced air mobility systems; and
                    (H) supports high quality workforce development in 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                related disciplines in the United States, including 
                increasing the participation of groups historically 
                underrepresented in STEM, among other goals.
            (3) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under 
        paragraph (1) may be used by an Institute for--
                    (A) managing and making available to researchers 
                accessible, curated, standardized, secure, and privacy 
                protected data sets from the public and private sectors 
                for the purposes of training and testing advanced air 
                mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems and for 
                research and development using advanced air mobility 
                systems and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (B) developing and managing testbeds, Unmanned 
                Aircraft Systems Test Ranges, for advanced air mobility 
                or unmanned aircraft systems, including sector-specific 
                test beds, designed to enable users to evaluate 
                advanced air mobility systems and unmanned aircraft 
                systems prior to deployment;
                    (C) conducting research and education activities 
                involving advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
                systems to solve challenges with economic, scientific, 
                and national security implications;
                    (D) conducting research and development on advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems platform 
                development and innovation;
                    (E) providing or brokering access to computing 
                resources, networking, and data facilities for advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research and 
                development relevant to the Institute's research goals;
                    (F) providing technical assistance to users, 
                including software engineering support, for advanced 
                air mobility systems and unmanned aircraft systems 
                research and development relevant to the Institute's 
                research goals;
                    (G) supporting the purchase of advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems software;
                    (H) engaging in outreach to broaden participation 
                by groups historically underrepresented in STEM in 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                research, development and workforce, including through 
                partnership with labor organizations and other 
                entities;
                    (I) supporting artificial intelligence and machine 
                learning research related to advanced air mobility and 
                unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    (J) such other activities that an agency head whose 
                agency's missions contribute to or are affected by 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                determines is appropriate to fulfill the agency's 
                missions.
            (4) Duration.--
                    (A) Initial periods.--An award of financial 
                assistance under paragraph (1) shall be for an initial 
                period of up to 5 years, subject to Office of 
                Management and Budget uniform guidance for Federal 
                assistance.
                    (B) Extension.--An established Institute may apply 
                for, and the agency head may grant, extended funding 
                for periods of up to 5 years on a merit-reviewed basis 
                using the merit review criteria of the sponsoring 
                agency, subject to Office of Management and Budget 
                uniform guidance for Federal assistance.
            (5) Application for financial assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--A person or group of persons 
                seeking financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall 
                submit to an agency head an application at such time, 
                in such manner, and containing such information as the 
                agency head may require.
                    (B) Requirements.--An application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) for an Institute shall, at a minimum, 
                include the following:
                            (i) A plan for the Institute to include--
                                    (I) the proposed goals and 
                                activities of the Institute;
                                    (II) a description of how the 
                                Institute will form partnerships, as 
                                appropriate, with other research 
                                institutions, industry, labor 
                                organizations, nonprofits, academic 
                                institutions, and others to leverage 
                                expertise in advanced air mobility and 
                                unmanned aircraft systems and access to 
                                data;
                                    (III) a description of how the 
                                institute will support long-term and 
                                short-term education and workforce 
                                development in advanced air mobility 
                                and unmanned aircraft systems, 
                                including how the institute will 
                                broaden the participation of groups 
                                historically underrepresented in STEM, 
                                among other goals; and
                                    (IV) a description of how the 
                                Institute will transition from planning 
                                into operations.
                            (ii) A description of the anticipated 
                        sources and nature of any non-Federal 
                        contributions or other Federal agency funding.
                            (iii) A data management plan that addresses 
                        the collection, use, retention, protection, 
                        dissemination, and management of data 
                        collected, consistent with the purposes of this 
                        Act.
                            (iv) A description of the anticipated long-
                        term impact of such Institute.
            (6) Competitive merit review.--In awarding financial 
        assistance under paragraph (1), the agency shall--
                    (A) use a competitive merit review process that 
                includes peer review by a diverse group of individuals 
                with relevant expertise from both the private and 
                public sectors; and
                    (B) ensure the focus areas of the Institute do not 
                substantially duplicate the efforts of any other 
                Institute.
            (7) Collaboration.--
                    (A) In general.--In awarding financial assistance 
                under paragraph (1), an agency head may collaborate 
                with Federal departments and agencies whose missions 
                contribute to or are affected by advanced air mobility 
                and unmanned aircraft systems, including the agencies 
                outlined in section 103(c).
                    (B) Nonduplication.--In carrying out the program 
                under this section, the Administrator shall coordinate 
                with the heads of other Federal departments and 
                agencies to avoid duplication of research and other 
                activities to ensure that the activities carried out by 
                Institutes are complementary to those being undertaken 
                by other agencies.
                    (C) Coordinating network.--The Administrator of the 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration may 
                establish a network of Institutes receiving financial 
                assistance under this subsection, to be known as the 
                ``Drone Leadership Network'', to coordinate cross-
                cutting research and other activities carried out by 
                the Institutes.
                    (D) Funding.--The head of an agency may request and 
                accept funds from, and provide funds to, other Federal 
                departments and agencies, State, United States 
                territory, local, or Tribal government agencies, 
                private sector for-profit entities, and nonprofit 
                entities, to be available to the extent provided by 
                appropriations Acts, to support an Institute's 
                activities. The head of an agency may not give any 
                special consideration to any agency or entity in return 
                for a donation.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
$5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the 
activities authorized in section 201(a).

  TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES

SEC. 301. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Director, consistent with the research plan in 
section 102--
            (1) shall support measurement science research and 
        development in support of best practices and voluntary 
        consensus technical standards for advanced air mobility and 
        unmanned aircraft systems, including for--
                    (A) privacy, security, and cybersecurity of 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (B) safety and operational performance of advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (C) hardware and components designed for advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (D) data management and techniques to increase the 
                usability of data for advanced air mobility and 
                unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (E) supply chain risks for advanced air mobility 
                and unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    (F) all other areas deemed by the Director to be 
                critical to the development and deployment of advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
            (2) may support one or more Institutes as described in 
        section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing 
        advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
            (3) may produce curated, standardized, representative, 
        secure, and privacy protected data sets for advanced air 
        mobility and unmanned aircraft systems research, development, 
        and use, prioritizing data for high-value, high-risk research;
            (4) shall support and strategically engage in the 
        development of voluntary consensus technical standards, 
        including international standards, through open, transparent, 
        and consensus-based processes;
            (5) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft 
        systems research, development, demonstration, and testing to 
        advanced air mobility systems; and
            (6) shall coordinate the development of voluntary and 
        consensus technical standards and best practices with other 
        Federal agencies as appropriate.
    (b) Solicitation of Input.--In carrying out the activities under 
this section, the Director shall--
            (1) solicit input from university researchers, private 
        sector experts, relevant Federal agencies, Federal 
        laboratories, State, local, and Tribal governments, civil 
        society groups, labor organizations, and other relevant 
        stakeholders; and
            (2) provide opportunity for public comment on guidelines 
        and best practices, as appropriate.
    (c) Drone Research Challenges.--
            (1) Prize competition.--Pursuant to section 24 of the 
        Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3719), the Director shall, subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, continue carrying out a program to award prizes 
        competitively to stimulate research and development of 
        innovative advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
        technologies in order to expand upon and improve emergency 
        response operations.
            (3) Prize amount.--In carrying out the program under 
        paragraph (1), the Director may award not more than a total of 
        $2,250,000 to one or more winners of the prize competition.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
        a prize is awarded under the prize competition, the Director 
        shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report 
        that describes the winning entry of the prize competition.
            (5) Consultation.--In carrying out the program under 
        subsection (a), the Director may consult with the heads of 
        relevant departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
carry out this section--
            (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $22,050,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $23,152,500 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $24,310,125 for fiscal year 2028.

SEC. 302. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING 
              ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to secure the United 
States international leadership in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems by strengthening its industrial base through the 
bolstering of domestic supply chains and the development and adoption 
of innovative manufacturing processes.
    (b) Leveraging Expansion Awards for Critical Technologies.--Section 
25B of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k-2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e), by inserting the following after 
        paragraph (5):
            ``(6) to support the domestic manufacturing of critical and 
        emerging technologies and reduce the supply chain risk of these 
        technologies;''; and
            (2) by inserting the following after subsection (e) and 
        redesignating accordingly:
    ``(f) Topic Selection.--The Director may select topics for awards 
made under paragraph (e)(6) in accordance with the following:
            ``(1) The Director shall select unmanned aircraft systems 
        as an initial topic for the pilot program.
            ``(2) The Director may select additional topics that the 
        Director determines are--
                    ``(A) rapidly evolving; and
                    ``(B) of high importance to the economy and 
                security of the United States.''.
    (c) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Survey.--
            (1) Survey.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall carry out a survey of 
        the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers (referred to in 
        this section as the ``Centers'') to understand the 
        manufacturing capabilities of the United States manufacturers 
        to support robust advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
        systems industries and create high quality jobs in the United 
        States.
            (2) Contents.--In conducting the survey required under 
        subsection (a), the Director shall solicit feedback on the 
        following:
                    (A) Familiarity and current manufacturing work by 
                small and mid-sized manufacturers on advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, including 
                components, software, sensors, or other technology 
                associated with advanced air mobility systems and 
                unmanned aircraft systems.
                    (B) A list of the basic manufacturing procedures 
                that can be easily converted to conduct the 
                manufacturing of advanced air mobility systems and 
                unmanned aircraft systems projects.
                    (C) Potential for small-and mid-sized manufacturing 
                to work with industry and academia to support the 
                manufacturers of advanced air mobility systems and 
                unmanned aircraft systems prototypes.
                    (D) Potential for commercialization of ongoing 
                manufacturing development research related to advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems projects.
                    (E) A description of supply chain and technological 
                challenges that small and mid-sized manufacturers face 
                in building up advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                aircraft systems capacity, and the prevalence of these 
                challenges.
                    (F) Any challenges that small and mid-sized 
                manufacturers experience in recruiting skilled workers 
                familiar with advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                aircraft systems manufacturing.
                    (G) Any other information that the Director or the 
                Board determine is appropriate.
            (3) Supply chain database.--The Director shall carry out 
        this survey in accordance with requirements under section 10253 
        of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation 
        Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 
        18961).
            (4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after completing the 
        survey required under subsection (a), the Director, in 
        consultation with the Board, shall provide a report summarizing 
        the results of the survey to the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate.
    (d) Manufacturing Usa Program Update.--Subparagraph (B) of section 
34(d)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278s(d)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, including unmanned 
aircraft systems'' after ``aeronautics and advanced materials''.
    (e) Definition.--In this title, the term ``Director'' means the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

            TITLE IV--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

SEC. 401. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102, 
the Director shall support research and STEM education and related 
activities in advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, 
components, and related technologies, including competitive awards or 
grants to institutions of higher education or eligible nonprofit 
organizations (or consortia thereof).
    (b) Use of Funds.--In carrying out the activities under subsection 
(a), the Director--
            (1) shall support fundamental research on the underlying 
        technologies for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
        systems, components, and related technologies, which may 
        include--
                    (A) improving the safety and reliability of 
                operation systems;
                    (B) developing and improving autonomous control 
                systems, including real-time control and autonomous 
                decision-making;
                    (C) incorporating the use of artificial 
                intelligence into systems;
                    (D) improving or developing materials for advanced 
                air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (E) understanding safety and sustainability of 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems as 
                a part of a transportation system, including the 
                impacts of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
                systems on ground transportation;
                    (F) developing and improving communications 
                systems, including multivehicle coordination and task 
                and path planning; and
                    (G) understanding the human-drone interface;
            (2) shall support research and development of advanced air 
        mobility and unmanned aircraft system enabled uses, which may 
        include--
                    (A) creating new sensing tools to improve 
                understanding, prediction, and detection of severe 
                weather and natural hazards, including wildfires;
                    (B) enabling advanced air mobility;
                    (C) monitoring and surveying infrastructure;
                    (D) disaster reconnaissance, including the 
                collection of data to model and simulate disasters and 
                assist responders; and
                    (E) improving the reliable use of advanced sensing 
                systems in rural and agricultural settings;
            (3) shall support research on data modeling and validation 
        of the use of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
        systems;
            (4) shall support research and development on security, 
        including the cybersecurity, of advanced air mobility systems 
        and unmanned aerial aircraft systems;
            (5) shall support research on the ethical use of advanced 
        air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems, including 
        protection of individual privacy;
            (6) shall support research on workforce impacts and 
        opportunities associated with advanced air mobility and 
        unmanned aircraft systems;
            (7) shall support age-appropriate middle school and high 
        school level STEM education research and related activities 
        related to advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
        and related technologies, which may include--
                    (A) supporting curriculum development relating to 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft system 
                applications, including developing place-based learning 
                curriculum, particularly for students in poor, rural, 
                and Tribal communities;
                    (B) utilizing advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                aircraft systems technologies to advance the engagement 
                of students, including students from groups 
                historically underrepresented in STEM, in STEM through 
                providing before school, after-school, out-of-school, 
                or summer activities;
                    (C) developing professional development resources 
                for STEM educators in utilizing advanced air mobility 
                and unmanned aircraft systems technologies and 
                applications in their curriculum and in formal and 
                informal education settings, including through 
                distance-delivered courses;
                    (D) connecting relevant STEM curriculum to the 
                design, construction and demonstration of advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    (E) designing advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                aircraft system related activities designed to help 
                students make real-world connections to STEM content 
                and educate students on the relevance and significance 
                of STEM careers;
            (8) shall support undergraduate and graduate education and 
        workforce development research and related activities related 
        to advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, and 
        related technologies, which may include--
                    (A) supporting curriculum development relating to 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                applications and technologies;
                    (B) supporting hands-on research opportunities at 
                institutions of higher education, research 
                institutions, including National Labs, and industry for 
                undergraduate and graduate students relating to 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                applications and technologies;
                    (C) facilitating participation in collegiate level 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
                robotic competitions; and
                    (D) ensuring that students pursuing master's 
                degrees and doctoral degrees in fields relating to 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems are 
                considered as applicants for scholarships and graduate 
                fellowships under the Graduate Research Fellowship 
                Program under section 10 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869);
            (9) shall support activities to develop a skilled technical 
        workforce for supporting and operating advanced air mobility 
        and unmanned aircraft systems, which may include supporting 
        national centers focused on educating and training the skilled 
        technical workforce in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
        aircraft system applications and technologies through the 
        Advanced Scientific and Technical Education Program as 
        authorized by the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 
        1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i), including by--
                    (A) expanding educational resources to address 
                current workforce demands in advanced air mobility and 
                unmanned aircraft system applications and technologies;
                    (B) developing curriculum for community and 
                technical colleges to train and upskill the skilled 
                technical workforce in advanced air mobility and 
                unmanned aircraft system applications and technologies;
                    (C) engaging the skilled technical workforce 
                community in advanced air mobility and unmanned 
                aircraft system applications and technologies; and
                    (D) in partnership and consultation with industry 
                and labor organizations, employing activities to 
                increase the visibility and utility of careers in 
                advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft 
                applications and technologies;
            (10) shall engage veterans and departing members of the 
        Armed Services in activities mentioned in paragraphs (7) and 
        (8);
            (11) may support one or more Institutes as described in 
        section 201(a) for the purpose of advancing the field of 
        advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
            (12) may support prize competitions pursuant to section 24 
        of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3719);
            (13) shall ensure all activities under this section are 
        subject to the data management policies of the Foundation;
            (14) shall apply lessons learned from unmanned aircraft 
        systems research, development, demonstration, and testing to 
        advanced air mobility systems; and
            (15) may conduct any other activities the Director finds 
        necessary to meet the goals laid out in subsection (a).
    (c) Public-private Partnerships.--As part of the activities under 
subsection (a), the Director shall support public-private partnerships 
to support domestic development of advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems in the United States and address pre-competitive 
industry challenges.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this 
section--
            (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $57,881,775 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $60,775,863 for fiscal year 2028.
    (e) Definition.--In this title, the term ``Director'' means the 
Director of the National Science Foundation.

   TITLE V--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

SEC. 501. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102, 
the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration and other Federal agencies, shall, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, carry out research and 
development to facilitate the safe integration of advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. 
Research topics may include--
            (1) sense and avoid capabilities;
            (2) the transition of unmanned aircraft system traffic 
        management into operational use in the National Airspace 
        System;
            (3) safety related to autonomy, autonomous unmanned 
        aircraft systems, and remotely-piloted unmanned aircraft 
        systems;
            (4) human systems integration; and
            (5) hazardous weather condition avoidance.
    (b) Cooperative Unmanned Aircraft System Activities.--Section 31504 
of title 51, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end the 
following: ``Operational flight data derived from these cooperative 
agreements shall be made available, in appropriate and usable formats, 
to the Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for the 
development of regulatory standards.''.
    (c) Considerations.--In carrying out the research and development 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall continue to coordinate 
and partner with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of 
Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, industry, academia, and 
labor organizations to mature and help implement unmanned aircraft 
system traffic management related concepts, architectures, services, 
and strategic as well as tactical deconfliction to advance the safe 
integration of drones into the National Airspace System. As an interim 
step, the Administrator shall leverage commercial and public good 
unmanned aircraft system applications, such as wildfire and disaster 
monitoring and mitigation, to demonstrate and help validate concepts, 
architectures, and other measures toward the safe integration of 
unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System. In 
addition, the Administrator shall carry out research and development on 
protocols for enabling the safe integration of many simultaneous drone 
operations beyond visual line of sight.
    (d) Lessons Learned.--The Administrator shall apply lessons learned 
from unmanned aircraft systems research, development, demonstration, 
and testing to advanced air mobility systems.
    (e) Coordination.--The Administrator shall contribute to, as 
appropriate, efforts to inform the development of voluntary consensus-
based technical standards, as led by standards development 
organizations, to facilitate the incorporation of advanced air mobility 
and unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System and 
shall coordinate with other relevant government agencies and 
nongovernmental entities, including industry and labor organizations, 
in its contributions to standards development activities.
    (f) Assessment.--The Administrator shall coordinate with the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct an 
assessment to identify metrics, estimated milestone dates, and 
performance measures necessary to safely integrate unmanned aircraft 
systems and advanced air mobility systems into the National Airspace 
System.
    (g) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the completion of the 
assessment in subsection (f), the Administrator shall submit a report 
on the progress towards meeting the metrics, milestone dates, and 
performance measures to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 502. NATIONAL STUDENT UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS COMPETITION 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall lead a national pilot 
program to carry out unmanned aircraft systems technology competitions 
for students at the high school and undergraduate level (in this 
section referred to as ``competitions'') in which students shall 
compete to design, create, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system.
    (b) Competition Administration.--The Administrator shall award, on 
a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, a grant to a nonprofit 
organization, an institution of higher education, or a consortium 
thereof, to administer the pilot program (in this section referred to 
as the ``competition administrator'').
    (c) Award Criteria.--The Administrator shall ensure that the award 
decision made under subsection (b) take into account the extent to 
which the eligible entity--
            (1) identifies a plan for engaging eligible institutions 
        from diverse geographic areas, including poor, rural, and 
        Tribal communities; and
            (2) identifies a plan for connecting STEM activities to 
        Administration missions and centers.
    (d) Competition Administrator Responsibilities.--In carrying out 
the pilot program, the competition administrator shall be responsible 
for--
            (1) awarding grants to institutions of higher education or 
        nonprofit organizations (or a consortium of such institutions 
        or organization) on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis to host 
        individual competitions;
            (2) developing STEM curriculum to be utilized by the 
        competition awardees to help students make the connection to 
        the design, construction, and demonstration of the unmanned 
        aircraft systems;
            (3) developing curriculum to assist students in making 
        real-world connections to STEM content and educate students on 
        the relevance and significance of STEM careers;
            (4) ensuring awardees are supporting the activities laid 
        out in subsection (f);
            (5) conducting performance evaluations of competitions, 
        including data collection on--
                    (A) the number of students engaged;
                    (B) geographic and institutional diversity of 
                participating schools and institutions of higher 
                education; and
            (6) any other activities the Administrator finds necessary 
        to ensure the competitions are successful.
    (e) Additional Considerations.--In awarding grants in subsection 
(d), the competition administrator shall consider applications that 
include a partnership with that State's space grant program under 
chapter 403 of title 51, United States Code.
    (f) Permitted Activities.--In carrying out the pilot program in 
subsection (a), the competition administrator shall ensure competitions 
occurring at both the high school and undergraduate levels--
            (1) allow students to design, construct, and demonstrate an 
        unmanned aircraft system;
            (2) allow students to compete with other teams in the 
        performance of the constructed unmanned aircraft system;
            (3) connect to relevant missions and Center activities of 
        the Administration;
            (4) connect relevant STEM curriculum to the design, 
        construction, and demonstration of unmanned aircraft systems;
            (5) support activities designed to help students make real-
        world connections to STEM content and educate students on the 
        relevance and significance of STEM careers;
            (6) are geographically dispersed in order to serve a broad 
        student population, including those in rural and underserved 
        communities; and
            (7) encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, the 
        participation of students from groups historically 
        underrepresented in STEM.
    (g) Report to Congress.--No later than 6 months following the end 
of the pilot program, the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a report describing the 
accomplishments, lessons learned, any challenges in the implementation 
of the pilot program, and recommendations for whether to continue the 
pilot program.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $6,000,000 in each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028 to carry out the pilot program in this section. Of 
the funds authorized--
            (1) $1,000,000 per year shall be for the pilot program 
        competition administrator in subsection (b); and
            (2) $5,000,000 per year shall be awarded for grants to 
        carry out competitions under the pilot program in subsection 
        (d).
    (i) Definitions.--In this title:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
            (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration.

               TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES

SEC. 601. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102, 
the Secretary shall carry out cross-cutting research, development, and 
demonstration activities to advance unmanned aircraft system 
technologies, capabilities, and workforce needs and to improve the 
reliability of the use of unmanned aircraft systems in ways relevant to 
the mission of the Department. In carrying out these activities, the 
Secretary shall coordinate across all relevant offices and activities 
at the Department, including the Office of Science, the Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Nuclear Energy, 
the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Electricity, the Office of 
Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, the Advanced 
Research Projects Agency--Energy, the Office of Environmental 
Management, the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security, the 
National Nuclear Security Administration, the Artificial Intelligence 
Technology Office, the UAS Research and Engineering Center, and any 
other relevant office or activity as determined by the Secretary.
    (b) Research Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Secretary--
            (1) shall formulate goals for unmanned aircraft systems 
        research activities to be supported by the Department, 
        including in the research areas under section (c);
            (2) shall leverage the collective body of knowledge from 
        existing unmanned aircraft systems research and development 
        activities, including the work underway by the Unmanned 
        Aircraft Systems Research and Engineering Center;
            (3) shall provide research experiences and training for 
        undergraduate and graduate students in unmanned aircraft 
        systems research and development, including in the fields of--
                    (A) artificial intelligence and machine learning;
                    (B) applied mathematics and algorithm development;
                    (C) advanced imaging, sensing, and detection 
                technologies;
                    (D) materials science and engineering; and
                    (E) advanced energy technologies and propulsion 
                approaches;
            (4) shall ensure all activities under this section are 
        subject to the data management policies of the Department; and
            (5) may support one or more Institutes as described in 
        section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing the 
        fields of unmanned aircraft systems and the mission of the 
        Department.
    (c) Research Areas.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall award financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out 
research, development, and demonstration projects over a range of 
subject areas including--
            (1) fundamental science, applied science, and advanced 
        technology areas, which may include--
                    (A) advanced sensor technologies and innovative 
                sensor materials, devices, and processes, including--
                            (i) optical capabilities, including Light 
                        Detection and Ranging, hyperspectral, 
                        thermographic, and visible imaging 
                        capabilities;
                            (ii) nonoptical electromagnetic 
                        capabilities, including radar and 
                        radiofrequency capabilities;
                            (iii) acoustic capabilities, including 
                        ultrasonic and infrasonic capabilities;
                            (iv) micro and nano technology;
                            (v) collection, processing, and storage of 
                        uniquely identifiable signatures; and
                            (vi) radiation detection, gravimetric, 
                        hyperspectral or other measurement modalities;
                    (B) advanced technologies and methods for remote 
                handling, precision positioning, and navigation 
                control;
                    (C) advanced technologies for secure autonomous 
                operation, including edge computing and artificial 
                intelligence;
                    (D) power electronics and wireless charging 
                systems;
                    (E) novel materials, including lightweight 
                materials and materials with robust performance under 
                extreme conditions;
                    (F) scalability of unmanned aircraft systems for 
                increased payload capacity;
                    (G) technologies and processes to improve secure 
                interoperability practices, including with existing 
                satellites, constellation networks, industrial control 
                systems, and surface-based facilities;
                    (H) strategies and technologies for integrated 
                cybersecurity considerations;
                    (I) strategies and technologies for improved 
                endurance, including lightweight long duration fuels, 
                batteries, fuel cells, and other storage systems;
                    (J) open architectures and advanced algorithms to 
                enable multi-sensor fusion and tracking of unmanned 
                aircraft systems;
                    (K) swarm and cooperative drone data collection and 
                operation, and integration of drone control systems 
                with dynamic sampling and real-time digital twin 
                simulations;
                    (L) approaches to allow for use of advanced 
                artificial intelligence and advanced computation for 
                improved aircraft structural and aerodynamic design;
                    (M) relevant microelectronics technologies, 
                including novel devices, systems, and architectures; 
                and
                    (N) strategies and technologies for energy 
                efficient manufacturing of specialized components;
            (2) approaches for leveraging unmanned aircraft systems for 
        diverse applications, which may include--
                    (A) advanced assessment, characterization, mapping, 
                and recovery of energy resources, such as geothermal 
                energy, bioenergy feedstock resources, and critical 
                minerals resources;
                    (B) real time asset management, infrastructure 
                inspection, monitoring, fault prediction and detection, 
                and field testing of electric grid and energy 
                infrastructure systems, such as onshore and offshore 
                wind energy, fossil energy, solar energy, marine 
                energy, nuclear energy, and hydropower systems;
                    (C) damage assessment of the electric grid and 
                energy infrastructure following cyberattacks and other 
                human-caused destruction and other physical events such 
                as wildland fires, including prescribed burns 
                containment and emissions measurements, potential 
                health and safety effects from contaminant releases and 
                dispersals, and real-time analysis of impacted assets;
                    (D) leak detection of greenhouse gases related to 
                resource extraction and energy production and delivery, 
                including methane leak detection;
                    (E) agriculture and aquaculture applications;
                    (F) integrated data collection to inform and 
                enhance Department modeling capabilities, including the 
                development of climate and earth systems models and 
                computational tools;
                    (G) assistance in environmental management and 
                cleanup activities;
                    (H) assistance in Department infrastructure 
                management at National Laboratories and other relevant 
                Department sites;
                    (I) intrusion detection and facility monitoring for 
                physical security applications;
                    (J) data collection of building envelope features 
                and characteristics for rapid energy modeling purposes; 
                and
                    (L) improving efficiency of manufacturing 
                processes.
    (d) Technology Transfer.--In carrying out subsection (a), and in 
coordination with the Office of Technology Transitions, the Secretary 
shall support technology transfer of unmanned aircraft systems 
research.
    (e) Facility Use.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
may make available high-performance computing infrastructure and other 
relevant research facilities and test beds at the National 
Laboratories.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department to carry out this section--
            (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $57,881,775 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $60,775,863 for fiscal year 2028.
    (g) Definitions.--In this title:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entity'' 
        means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education;
                    (B) a National Laboratory;
                    (C) a State, local, territorial, or Tribal 
                government research agency;
                    (D) a nonprofit research organization;
                    (E) a private sector entity; or
                    (F) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in 
                any of subparagraphs (A) through (E).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

         TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES

SEC. 701. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102 
and in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as 
appropriate, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 
Science and Technology--
            (1) shall support research, development, evaluation, and 
        testing for advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, 
        counter-UAS systems and detection systems capabilities, 
        including for--
                    (A) air domain awareness and advanced air mobility 
                and unmanned aircraft systems traffic monitoring;
                    (B) privacy, security, and cybersecurity of 
                advanced air mobility systems, unmanned aircraft 
                systems, and counter-UAS systems and detection systems 
                capabilities;
                    (C) safe operations of counter-UAS systems and 
                detection systems in the National Airspace System; and
                    (D) testing and evaluation of unmanned aircraft 
                systems and counter-UAS systems and detection systems 
                capabilities, performance systems engineering, 
                operational analysis and human systems integration, 
                including factors that impact performance of end-users 
                in the operation and maintenance of advanced air 
                mobility and unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (E) leveraging and preparing for adversarial use of 
                artificial intelligence against advanced air mobility, 
                unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-UAS systems and 
                detection systems; and
                    (F) maritime detection and monitoring of hazards to 
                navigation, potential and actual pollution incidents, 
                vessel discharge and vessel air emissions monitoring 
                and enforcement, and pollution response operations;
            (2) shall coordinate with all relevant offices and programs 
        at the Department, including the Cybersecurity and 
        Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Customs and Border 
        Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
        Federal Protective Service, the Transportation Security 
        Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the United 
        States Secret Service, the Office of Strategy, Policy and 
        Plans, and the Department of Homeland Security Special Events 
        Program;
            (3) may produce curated, standardized, representative, 
        secure, and privacy protected data sets for advanced air 
        mobility systems, unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-UAS 
        systems and detection systems, including detection systems, 
        development, archiving, and use, prioritizing data for high-
        value, high-risk research;
            (4) may support one or more institutes as described in 
        section 201(a) for the purpose of advancing the field of 
        advanced air mobility, unmanned aircraft systems, and counter-
        UAS systems and detection systems capabilities; and
            (5) shall enter into and perform such contracts, including 
        cooperative research and development arrangements and grants 
        and cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be 
        necessary in the conduct of the work of the Department and on 
        such terms as the Secretary considers appropriate, in 
        furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Counter-uas Center of Excellence.--Subject to the availability 
of appropriations for the purpose, the Secretary may, in consultation 
with the Federal Aviation Administration and the heads of other 
relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, establish a center of 
excellence to carry out research and development that advances counter-
UAS systems and detection systems capabilities.
            (1) Selection of host institution.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall select an 
                institution of higher education, or a consortium of 
                institutions of higher education, to host and maintain 
                the center of excellence established under this 
                subsection.
                    (B) Selection criteria.--In selecting a such an 
                institution or consortium, the Secretary shall--
                            (i) give preference to applicants with 
                        strong past performance related to counter-UAS 
                        systems and detection systems research, 
                        education, and workforce development 
                        activities;
                            (ii) give preference to applicants 
                        geographically collocated within 100 miles of 
                        Federal departments or agencies that currently 
                        possess or operate extant counter-UAS systems 
                        and detection systems facilities:
                            (iii) give preference to applicants having 
                        proven abilities and strong research 
                        enterprises in systems engineering, radio 
                        frequency directed energy, radar and antenna 
                        research and development, atmospheric 
                        monitoring that can support of chemical, 
                        biological, radiological and nuclear detection 
                        to include trace gases and particular matter, 
                        target tracking, remote sensing and the ability 
                        to leverage artificial intelligence and machine 
                        learning to support the required data 
                        analytics;
                            (iv) consider the extent to which the 
                        applicant would involve the public and private 
                        sectors; and
                            (v) consider the regional and national 
                        impacts of the applicant's proposed research 
                        and development activities.
            (2) Use of funds.--Notwithstanding section 46502 of title 
        49, United States Code, or sections 32, 1030, 1367 and chapters 
        119 and 206 of title 18, the institution of higher education or 
        consortium may use funds provided under this subsection to 
        carry out fundamental research, evaluation, education, 
        workforce development, and training efforts related to counter-
        UAS systems and detection systems subject areas, including 
        safety, privacy, security, cybersecurity, detecting, 
        identifying, monitoring, tracking, disrupting and seizing 
        control, confiscating, disabling, damaging, destruction, remote 
        sensing, forensics, testing and evaluation of systems 
        capabilities, performance, systems engineering, operational 
        analysis, and advanced technologies.
            (3) Federal share.--The Department share of a grant under 
        this subsection shall not exceed 75 percent of the costs of 
        establishing and operating the center of excellence and related 
        research activities carried out by the grant recipient.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    (A) Fiscal year 2024.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for fiscal 
                year 2024 for making awards under this subsection.
                    (B) Fiscal years 2025 through 2028.--There are 
                authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
                $5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028 
                for making awards under this subsection.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section--
            (1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $33,075,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $34,728,750 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $36,465,187 for fiscal year 2028.
    (d) Definitions.--In this title:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security.

 TITLE VIII--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

SEC. 801. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator, consistent with the research 
plan in section 102, shall carry out and support research, development, 
and demonstration activities to advance unmanned aircraft systems 
technologies, and capabilities, and to enhance the deployment of, and 
data collected by, unmanned aircraft systems relevant to the mission of 
the Administration, incorporate such data into operations, and ensure 
data are managed, stewarded and archived appropriately. In carrying out 
these activities, the Administrator shall coordinate across all 
relevant offices and programs at the Administration, including the 
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Environmental 
Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, and the 
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
    (b) Research Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator--
            (1) shall test, evaluate, and demonstrate the utility of 
        unmanned aircraft systems technologies for the Administration.
            (2) may support Administration activities and Cooperative 
        Institute projects, and support and encourage Federal and State 
        agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, 
        industry representatives, and others to--
                    (A) enable the transition of unmanned aircraft 
                systems capabilities from research to operations and 
                other uses and facilitate new unmanned aircraft systems 
                applications within the Administration;
                    (B) evaluate current observation strategies and 
                identify critical data gaps best suited for advanced 
                unmanned aircraft systems;
                    (C) prioritize activities that collect or acquire 
                routine observations which feed forecasts and models;
                    (D) test, develop, and evaluate safe systems 
                capable of safely operating beyond visual line of 
                sight;
                    (E) collect or acquire measurements of atmospheric 
                and oceanic parameters; and
                    (F) ensure the archiving, stewardship, utility, and 
                preservation of and public accessibility to the 
                observations collected are shared with the 
                Administration;
            (3) shall provide and support research experiences and 
        training for undergraduate and graduate students in unmanned 
        aircraft systems research, development, and operations relevant 
        to the mission of the Administration, and other education and 
        training opportunities consistent with the purpose of this Act;
            (4) may contribute to and supplement field campaigns at the 
        Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user 
        facility in order to incorporate unmanned aircraft systems and 
        resulting data into the development of combined observational 
        and modeling elements; and
            (5) shall support and conduct leading-edge research and 
        development of innovative unmanned aircraft systems 
        technologies and concepts to advance research areas in 
        subsection (c).
    (c) Research Areas.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall award financial assistance to eligible entities to 
carry out projects on the use of unmanned aircraft systems to collect 
environmental data and monitor climate impacts, including--
            (1) severe weather forecasts and damage assessments;
            (2) rapid flood mapping;
            (3) real-time hurricane data, including close-to-surface 
        and low altitude meteorological measurements;
            (4) enhanced atmospheric monitoring and sampling, including 
        physical and chemical measurements in the atmospheric boundary 
        layer;
            (5) marine mammal detection and monitoring;
            (6) near-real time harmful algal bloom measurements for 
        rapid response efforts;
            (7) coastal restoration and habitation monitoring, 
        including detection and monitoring of marine debris, oil spill, 
        and hazardous materials;
            (8) mapping, charting, and geodesy applications to support 
        safety of navigation;
            (9) wildfire observations and data to improve fire weather 
        modeling;
            (10) other areas related to science and stewardship of the 
        climate, weather, oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes; and
            (11) any other areas the Administrator deems necessary and 
        appropriate.
    (d) Priority.--In carrying out the research areas in subsection 
(c), the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
prioritize activities that increase the Administration's operational 
use of unmanned aircraft systems by extending the range of times, 
location, and conditions in which observations can be made at lower 
cost. As part of these activities, the Administrator may--
            (1) enter into contracts with one or more entities in the 
        commercial data sector to acquire data collected by unmanned 
        aircraft systems; and
            (2) leverage existing facilities, instruments, and tools, 
        including the Administration's satellites, fleet of ships, and 
        crewed aircraft.
    (e) Technology Transfer.--In carrying out subsection (a) the 
Administrator shall support technology transfer of unmanned aircraft 
systems research by partnering with Federal agencies and industry.
    (f) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate the 
activities authorized in this section with the activities authorized in 
section 3 of the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act of 
2018 (33 U.S.C. 4102) and engage with other Federal departments and 
agencies, research communities, nongovernmental organizations, and 
industry stakeholders through the interagency committee established by 
section 103.
    (g) Support of Institutes.--For the purposes of subsection (a), the 
Administrator may support relevant activities at one or more Institutes 
as described in section 201(a) of this Act for the purpose of advancing 
the field of unmanned aircraft systems.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administration to carry out this section--
            (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $15,750,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $16,537,500 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $17,364,375 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $18,232,593 for fiscal year 2028.
    (i) Definitions.--In this title:
            (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            (2) Eligible entities.--The term ``eligible entities'' 
        means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education;
                    (B) a National Laboratory;
                    (C) a NOAA Cooperative Institute;
                    (D) a State, local, territorial, or Tribal 
                government agency;
                    (E) a nonprofit organization;
                    (F) a private sector entity; or
                    (G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (F).
            (3) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.

          TITLE IX--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES

SEC. 901. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--Consistent with the research plan in section 102, 
the Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other Federal 
agencies, shall carry out and support research, development, testing, 
demonstration, technology transfer, and implementation activities to 
enable advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems and to 
facilitate the safe integration of advanced air mobility and unmanned 
aircraft systems into the national airspace system, in areas 
including--
            (1) beyond visual-line-of-sight operations;
            (2) command and control link technologies;
            (3) development and integration of unmanned aircraft system 
        traffic management into the national airspace system;
            (4) noise and other societal and environmental impacts;
            (5) development of an industry consensus vehicle-to-vehicle 
        standard;
            (6) safety, including collisions between advanced air 
        mobility and unmanned aircraft systems of various sizes, 
        traveling at various speeds, and various other crewed aircraft 
        or various parts of other crewed aircraft of various sizes and 
        traveling at various speeds; and
            (7) detect and avoid capabilities.
    (b) Lessons Learned.--The Administrator shall apply lessons learned 
from unmanned aircraft systems research, development, demonstration, 
and testing to advanced air mobility systems.
    (c) Research on Approaches to Evaluating Risk.--The Administrator 
shall conduct research on approaches to evaluating risk in emerging 
vehicles, technologies, and operations for unmanned aircraft systems 
and advanced air mobility systems. Such research shall include--
            (1) defining quantitative metrics, including those needed 
        for the Secretary of Transportation to make determinations and 
        establish requirements for the operations of certain unmanned 
        aircraft systems, as described under section 44807 of title 49, 
        United States Code, as amended by this title;
            (2) developing risk-based processes and criteria to inform 
        the development of regulations and certification of complex 
        operations, to include autonomous beyond-visual-line-of-sight 
        operations, of unmanned aircraft systems of various sizes and 
        weights, and advanced air mobility systems; and
            (3) considering the utility of performance standards to 
        make determinations under section 44807 of title 49, United 
        States Code, as amended by this title.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
actions taken by the Administrator to implement provisions under this 
section that includes--
            (1) a summary of the costs and results of research under 
        subsection (a)(6);
            (2) a description of plans for and progress toward the 
        implementation of research and development under subsection 
        (c);
            (3) a description of the Administration's progress using 
        research and development to inform the development of 
        certification guidance and regulations of--
                    (A) large unmanned aircraft systems, including 
                those weighing more than 55 pounds; and
                    (B) extended autonomous and remotely piloted 
                operations beyond visual line of sight in controlled 
                and uncontrolled airspace; and
            (4) a current Plan for Full Operational Capability of 
        Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management, as described in 
        section 376 of Public Law 115-254, the FAA Reauthorization Act 
        of 2018.

SEC. 902. PARTNERSHIPS FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND 
              TESTING.

    (a) Study.--The Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with 
the National Academy of Public Administration to examine Administration 
research, development, demonstration, and testing partnerships to 
advance unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility and to 
facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the 
national airspace system.
    (b) Considerations.--The study in subsection (a) shall--
            (1) identify existing Administration partnerships with 
        external entities, including academia and Centers of 
        Excellence, industry, and nonprofit organizations, and the 
        types of such partnership arrangements;
            (2) examine the partnerships in paragraph (1), including 
        the scope and areas of research, development, demonstration, 
        and testing carried out, and associated arrangements for 
        performing research and development activities;
            (3) review the extent to which the Administration uses the 
        results and outcomes of each partnership to advance the 
        research and development in unmanned aircraft systems;
            (4) identify additional research and development areas, if 
        any, that may benefit from partnership arrangements, and 
        whether such research and development would require new 
        partnerships;
            (5) identify any duplication of ongoing or planned 
        research, development, demonstration, or testing activities;
            (6) identify effective and appropriate means for 
        publication and dissemination of the results and sharing with 
        the public, commercial, and research communities related data 
        from such research, development, demonstration, and testing 
        conducted under such partnerships;
            (7) identify effective mechanisms, either new or already 
        existing, to facilitate coordination, evaluation, and 
        information-sharing among and between such partnerships;
            (8) identify effective and appropriate means for 
        facilitating technology transfer activities within such 
        partnerships;
            (9) identify the extent to which such partnerships broaden 
        participation from groups historically underrepresented in STEM 
        and include participation by industry, workforce, and labor 
        organizations; and
            (10) review options for funding models best suited for such 
        partnerships, which may include cost-sharing and public-private 
        partnership models with industry.
    (c) Transmittal.--The Administrator shall transmit the study 
directed in subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 12 
months after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 903. UAS TEST RANGES AND OPERATIONS.

    (a) Extension.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 44803, in subsection (h), by striking 
        ``2023'' and inserting ``2028''; and
            (2) in section 44807, in subsection (d), by striking 
        ``2023'' and inserting ``2028''.
    (b) Expansion.--Title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in section 44803, in paragraph (b)(7), by inserting 
        after subparagraph (E)--
                    ``(F) implementing unmanned aircraft systems 
                traffic management services for commercial unmanned 
                aircraft systems in uncontrolled airspace;
                    ``(G) advanced air mobility concepts in controlled 
                airspace, including communication, navigation, and 
                surveillance standards;
                    ``(H) the verification and validation of the 
                autonomy of unmanned aircraft systems; and
                    ``(I) improving the cybersecurity of unmanned 
                aircraft systems.''; and
            (2) in section 44807, in subsection (c), after 
        ``proprietary systems'', by inserting ``, unmanned aircraft 
        systems traffic management systems, and advanced air mobility 
        systems''.
    (c) Workforce Development.--Subsection (b) of section 44803 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (11) as 
        paragraphs (6) through (12), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) support, to the extent practicable, opportunities for 
        apprenticeships and internships in the research and development 
        activities and uses of test ranges to prepare, enhance, and 
        expand workforce skills;''.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report that includes the following:
            (1) The number of waivers granted under subsection (c) of 
        section 44803 of title 49, United States Code, with respect to 
        unmanned aircraft system test ranges and operations conducted 
        under such section;
            (2) Measures taken to further implement subsection (c) of 
        section 44803 of title 49, United States Code;
            (3) Measures taken to implement section 44807 of title 49, 
        United States Code; and
            (4) Strategies to communicate broadly to industry regarding 
        the safest, most efficient, and effective path toward testing 
        goals.

SEC. 904. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Federal Aviation Administration Research and Development 
Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration 
to carry out section 901--
            (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $22,050,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $23,152,500 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $24,310,125 for fiscal year 2028.
    (b) Partnerships for Research, Development, Demonstration, and 
Testing.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administration 
$1,000,000 to carry out section 902.

SEC. 905. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
            (2) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
        Federal Aviation Administration.

                          TITLE X--LIMITATION

SEC. 1001. LIMITATION.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, none 
of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be used for 
the purchase, acquisition, research, development, or operation of 
advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems--
            (1) produced or assembled in, or containing components 
        produced or assembled in, a foreign country of concern; or
            (2) produced or assembled by entities owned, controlled by, 
        or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of the government 
        of, a foreign country of concern.
    (b) Exception.--The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply to 
the acquisition of advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems 
for the purposes of research and development for improving the United 
States counter-UAS systems and detection systems capabilities.
    (c) Waiver.--The Secretary of Commerce may waive the limitation in 
subsection (a) if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the 
Director of National Intelligence, that such waiver is in the national 
security interest of the United States.
    (d) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Commerce shall report the 
issuance of such a waiver to the relevant committees of jurisdiction of 
Congress not later than 30 days after issuing such waiver.
    (e) Definition.--In this section, the term ``foreign country of 
concern'' means--
            (1) a country that is a covered nation (as defined in 
        section 4872(d)(2) of title 10 United States Code); or
            (2) any other country that the Secretary of Commerce, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of 
        National Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that 
        is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of 
        the United States.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 527

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 3560

                      [Report No. 118-630, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To provide for coordinated Federal efforts to accelerate civilian 
   unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility research and 
development for economic and national security, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            August 13, 2024

 Reported from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with an 
                               amendment

                            August 13, 2024

   Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Homeland Security, and 
    Transportation and Infrastructure discharged; committed to the 
 Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to 
                               be printed