[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6380 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6380
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program
to provide flight training for military veterans, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 2023
Mr. Gooden of Texas (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Weber
of Texas, Mr. Guest, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Miller of Illinois,
Mr. Van Drew, and Mr. Moore of Alabama) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program
to provide flight training for military veterans, 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 ``Wings for Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish
a pilot program (in this Act referred to as the ``Program'') to award
grants to not more than 10 covered flight schools to provide flight
training to eligible veterans.
(b) Grant Amount.--Each grant awarded under this section may not
exceed $500,000.
(c) Eligible Uses.--A covered flight school may only use a grant
awarded under the Program for the following:
(1) The provision of guidance and pilot training services,
including tuition and flight training fees for veterans
enrolled in such flight school and any training required for
eligible veterans to earn the following certificates and
ratings issued under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations:
(A) A private pilot certificate.
(B) A commercial pilot certificate.
(C) A certified flight instructor certificate.
(D) A certified flight instructor instrument
certificate.
(E) An instrument rating.
(F) A multiengine rating.
(2) The provision of books, training materials, and
equipment to support pilot training activities and related
education for veterans enrolled in such flight school.
(3) Administrative costs related to providing the services
described in this subsection, not to exceed 10 percent of the
amount awarded.
(d) Applications To Receive Flight Training.--A covered flight
school receiving a grant under the Program shall be responsible for--
(1) soliciting applications for flight training from
eligible veterans;
(2) reviewing such applications to verify that applicants
meet the definition of eligible veteran; and
(3) selecting from such applications eligible veterans to
receive flight training and enrolling such veterans in
appropriate flight training programs.
(e) Termination.--The Program shall terminate 18 months after the
date on which the Program is established under subsection (a).
(f) Reports.--
(1) Reports to secretary.--Each covered flight school that
receives a grant under the Program shall periodically submit to
the Secretary a report describing the use of grant funds and
include in such report documentation of training completed by
veterans enrolled in such flight school under the Program.
(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
Program terminates under subsection (e), the Secretary of
Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, shall submit to the Committees on Education and Labor,
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives, a report that includes a description
of the following:
(A) How the improvement of the consistency and
eligibility for assistance under chapter 33 of title
38, United States Code, may used to provide flight
training to veterans.
(B) The costs associated with obtaining a
commercial pilot certificate and ways in which such
costs could be reduced for veterans seeking a
commercial pilot certificate.
(C) Ways to increase cooperation between the
Department of Transportation and veterans service
organizations to recruit, screen, and train veterans as
commercial pilots.
(D) Ways to improve the availability of Federal
student loans to veterans to use for attending
vocational flight school.
(E) A model program under which States and domestic
commercial airlines provide assistance to veterans to
obtain the flight training necessary to obtain a
commercial pilot certificate with a multiengine rating.
(F) Rates of successful completion of certification
by veterans enrolled in a covered flight school under
the Program.
(G) Challenges faced by such veterans while
receiving flight training.
(g) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered flight school.--The term ``covered flight
school'' means a flight school that holds a pilot school
certificate under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations.
(2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means
an individual who--
(A) served in the active military, naval, air, or
space service, and who was discharged or released from
such service with an honorable discharge;
(B) meets regulatory requirements set forth by the
Secretary to obtain at least a second class medical
certificate;
(C) certifies an intent to pursue a career as a
commercial pilot; and
(D) meets any other requirements for eligibility as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
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