[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1935 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1935

  To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to 
provide grants to improve the preparation and representation of certain 
                  students in aviation-related fields.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2023

Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Carper, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kaine, 
   Mr. Lujan, Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to 
provide grants to improve the preparation and representation of certain 
                  students in aviation-related fields.

    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 ``Advancing Inclusion and 
Representation in the Workforce of Aviation and Transportation Systems 
Act'' or the ``AIRWAYS Act''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDING AVIATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to provide 
grants for eligible projects to support the education and recruitment 
of--
            (1) aircraft pilots and the development of the aircraft 
        pilot workforce;
            (2) aviation maintenance technical workers and the 
        development of the aviation maintenance workforce; and
            (3) aviation manufacturing technical workers and the 
        development of the aviation manufacturing workforce.
    (b) Eligible Applicants.--
            (1) Aircraft pilot workforce.--An application for a grant 
        for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(1) may be 
        submitted by--
                    (A) an institution of higher education, a 
                postsecondary vocational institution, or a local 
                educational agency;
                    (B) a flight school that provides flight training, 
                as defined in part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or that holds a pilot school certificate 
                under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal 
                Regulations;
                    (C) a State or local governmental entity;
                    (D) a non-profit organization that participates in 
                the creation and delivery of workforce programs; or
                    (E) an air carrier in partnership with an 
                institution of higher education, a postsecondary 
                vocational institution, or a local educational agency, 
                or a flight school described in subparagraph (B).
            (2) Aviation maintenance workforce.--An application for a 
        grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(2) 
        may be submitted by--
                    (A) an institution of higher education, a 
                postsecondary vocational institution, or a local 
                educational agency;
                    (B) a holder of a certificate issued under part 21, 
                121, 135, or 145 of title 14, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or a labor organization representing 
                aviation maintenance workers;
                    (C) a holder of a type or production certificate or 
                similar authorization issued under section 44704 of 
                title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant 
                for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary;
                    (D) a State or local governmental entity; or
                    (E) a non-profit organization that participates in 
                the creation and delivery of workforce programs.
            (3) Aviation manufacturing workforce.--An application for a 
        grant for an eligible project described in subsection (a)(3) 
        may be submitted by--
                    (A) an institution of higher education, a 
                postsecondary vocational institution, or a local 
                educational agency;
                    (B) a holder of a type or production certificate or 
                similar authorization issued under section 44704 of 
                title 49, United States Code, or a credible applicant 
                for such a certificate as determined by the Secretary;
                    (C) a State or local governmental entity; or
                    (D) a non-profit organization that participates in 
                the creation and delivery of workforce programs.
            (4) Form.--The Secretary shall specify the form and manner 
        in which to submit an application for a grant for an eligible 
        project under this section.
    (c) Eligible Projects.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
project is a project--
            (1) to create and deliver a program designed to provide 
        students enrolled in a public secondary school with meaningful 
        aviation education that is designed to help prepare the 
        students to become aircraft pilots, aerospace engineers, 
        unmanned aircraft systems operators, aviation maintenance 
        technical workers, or aviation manufacturing technical workers;
            (2) to support the professional development of teachers and 
        other educators in implementing the program described in 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) to establish new educational programs that teach 
        technical skills used by aircraft pilots, in aviation 
        maintenance, or in aviation manufacturing, including purchasing 
        equipment, or to improve existing such programs;
            (4) to establish scholarships or registered apprenticeships 
        for individuals pursuing employment as aircraft pilots, or in 
        the aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing industries;
            (5) to support outreach about careers as aircraft pilots, 
        or careers in the aviation maintenance and aviation 
        manufacturing industries to--
                    (A) students enrolled in public elementary schools 
                and public secondary schools, and postsecondary school 
                students; or
                    (B) communities under represented in the aviation 
                pilot, maintenance, and manufacturing industries, 
                including women, minorities, and individuals in 
                economically disadvantaged geographic areas and rural 
                communities;
            (6) to support educational opportunities related to 
        aircraft pilots, aviation maintenance, and aviation 
        manufacturing in economically disadvantaged geographic areas 
        and rural communities;
            (7) to support transition to aircraft pilot careers or 
        careers in aviation maintenance and aviation manufacturing, 
        including for veterans and members of the Armed Forces; or
            (8) to otherwise expand the aircraft pilot, aviation 
        maintenance, and aviation manufacturing workforces.
    (d) Grant Application Review.--In reviewing and selecting 
applications for grants for eligible projects under this section, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) give priority to applicants that--
                    (A) provide an assurance to use grant funds to 
                encourage the participation of populations that are 
                under represented in the aviation industry, including 
                women, minorities, and individuals in economically 
                disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities;
                    (B) provide an assurance to use grant funds to 
                encourage the participation of populations that are 
                under represented in the aviation industry, including 
                women, minorities, and individuals in economically 
                disadvantaged geographic areas and rural communities, 
                to address the workforce needs of rural and regional 
                airports; or
                    (C) provide an assurance to strengthen aviation 
                programs at a minority-serving institution, a public 
                institution of higher education, or a public 
                postsecondary vocational institution; and
            (2) prior to selecting among competing applications, 
        consult, as appropriate, with representatives of aircraft 
        repair stations, design and production approval holders, air 
        carriers, labor organizations, business aviation, general 
        aviation, educational institutions, and other relevant aviation 
        sectors.
    (e) Partnership With Other Entities.--A recipient of a grant under 
this section may enter into a partnership agreement with an institution 
of higher education, a nonprofit organization, or another entity, to 
carry out activities with the grant funds.
    (f) Grant Amount.--The maximum amount of a grant awarded for an 
eligible project under this section for a fiscal year shall be 
$1,000,000.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years 2024 
through 2029, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for making grants for eligible projects under this 
section.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Air carrier.--The term ``air carrier'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States 
        Code.
            (2) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (5) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution described in section 
        371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q(a)).
            (6) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term 
        ``postsecondary vocational institution'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1002(c)).
            (7) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
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