[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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