[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3593 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3593

    To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a drone 
   infrastructure inspection grant program and a drone education and 
       workforce training grant program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2023

 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Graves of Louisiana) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
                           and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a drone 
   infrastructure inspection grant program and a drone education and 
       workforce training grant program, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Drone Infrastructure Inspection 
Grant Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Critical infrastructure.--The term ``critical 
        infrastructure'' has the meaning given such term in subsection 
        (e) of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 
        U.S.C. 5195c(e)).
            (2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign 
        entity'' means an entity--
                    (A) included on the Consolidated Screening List or 
                Entity List as designated by the Secretary of Commerce;
                    (B) domiciled in the People's Republic of China or 
                the Russian Federation;
                    (C) subject to influence or control by the 
                Government of the People's Republic of China or by the 
                Russian Federation; or
                    (D) is a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (C).
            (3) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
        institution'' means an institution of higher education (as 
        defined in section 101 of the High Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001)) that participates in a program authorized under 
        sections 631 and 632 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 
        U.S.C. 40101 note).
            (4) Element of critical infrastructure.--The term ``element 
        of critical infrastructure'' means a critical infrastructure 
        facility or asset, including public bridges, tunnels, roads, 
        highways, dams, electric grid, water infrastructure, 
        communication systems, pipelines, or other related facilities 
        or assets, as determined by the Secretary.
            (5) Eligible small unmanned aircraft system.--The term 
        ``eligible small unmanned aircraft system'' means a small 
        unmanned aircraft system manufactured or assembled by a company 
        that is domiciled in the United States and is not a covered 
        foreign entity.
            (6) Eligible small unmanned aircraft system technology.--
        The term ``eligible small unmanned aircraft system technology'' 
        means--
                    (A) an eligible small unmanned aircraft system; or
                    (B) a major component of such a system that is not 
                manufactured by or procured from a covered foreign 
                entity.
            (7) Governmental entity.--The term ``governmental entity'' 
        means--
                    (A) a State, the District of Columbia, the 
                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United 
                States, or a political subdivision thereof;
                    (B) a unit of local government;
                    (C) a Tribal government;
                    (D) a metropolitan planning organization; or
                    (E) a consortia of more than 1 of the entities 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            (8) Project.--The term ``project'' means a project for the 
        inspection, operation, maintenance, repair, modernization, or 
        construction of an element of critical infrastructure, 
        including mitigating environmental hazards to such 
        infrastructure.
            (9) Small unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system.--The 
        terms ``small unmanned aircraft'' and ``unmanned aircraft 
        system'' have the meanings given such terms in section 44801 of 
        title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 3. DRONE INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a drone 
infrastructure inspection grant program to make grants to governmental 
entities to facilitate the use of eligible small unmanned aircraft 
systems to support more efficient inspection, operation, construction, 
maintenance, modernization, and repair of critical infrastructure to 
improve worker safety related to critical infrastructure projects.
    (b) Use of Grant Amounts.--A governmental entity may use a grant 
provided under this section to--
            (1) purchase or lease eligible small unmanned aircraft 
        systems;
            (2) support operational capabilities of eligible small 
        unmanned aircraft systems by the governmental entity;
            (3) contract for services performed using an eligible small 
        unmanned aircraft system in circumstances in which the 
        governmental entity does not have the resources or expertise to 
        safely carry out or assist in carrying out the activities 
        described under subsection (a); and
            (4) support the program management capability of the 
        governmental entity to use an eligible small unmanned aircraft 
        system.
    (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a governmental entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that the 
governmental entity or any contractor of the governmental entity, will 
comply with relevant Federal regulations.
    (d) Selection of Applicants.--In awarding a grant under this 
section, the Secretary shall prioritize applications that propose to--
            (1) carry out a critical infrastructure project in a 
        variety of communities, including urban, suburban, rural, 
        tribal, or any other type of community; and
            (2) address a safety risk in the inspection, operation, 
        construction, maintenance, or repair of critical 
        infrastructure.
    (e) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as to 
interfere with an agreement between a governmental entity and a labor 
union, including requirements under section 5333(b) of title 49, United 
States Code.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the first 
grant is provided under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report that evaluates the program 
carried out under this section, including--
            (1) a description of the number of grants awarded;
            (2) the amount of each grant;
            (3) the activities funded under this section; and
            (4) the effectiveness of such funded activities in meeting 
        the objectives described in subsection (a).
    (g) Funding.--
            (1) Federal share.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried 
                out using a grant under this section shall not exceed 
                50 percent of the total project cost.
                    (B) Waiver.--The Secretary may increase the Federal 
                share requirement under subparagraph (A) to up to 75 
                percent for a project carried out using a grant under 
                this section by a governmental entity if such entity--
                            (i) submits a written application to the 
                        Secretary requesting an increase in the Federal 
                        share; and
                            (ii) demonstrates that the additional 
                        assistance is necessary to facilitate the 
                        acceptance and full use of a grant under this 
                        section, such as alleviating economic hardship, 
                        meeting additional workforce needs, or such 
                        other uses that the Secretary determines to be 
                        appropriate.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section--
                    (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                    (B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                    (C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                    (D) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
                    (E) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.

SEC. 4. DRONE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Authority.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish a drone 
education and training grant program to make grants to educational 
institutions for workforce training for eligible small unmanned 
aircraft system technology.
    (b) Use of Grant Amounts.--Amounts from a grant under this section 
shall be used in furtherance of activities authorized under sections 
631 and 632 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 40101 
note).
    (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an educational institution shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
            (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
            (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
            (4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
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