[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8492 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8492
To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
for unmanned aircraft system pilot training, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 23, 2026
Mr. Subramanyam (for himself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
for unmanned aircraft system pilot training, 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 ``Public Safety UAS Readiness Act''.
SEC. 2. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PILOT TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting through
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall
establish a program to award grants to covered entities to carry out
activities to support training of unmanned aircraft system pilots.
(b) Eligible Activities.--A covered entity in receipt of a grant
awarded under this section may use such grant--
(1) to establish and develop an unmanned aircraft system
training program, including curriculum design, instructional
materials, and related resources necessary to carry out--
(A) training of public safety personnel on aviation
safety, Federal Aviation Administration regulations,
basic airspace principles, and public safety mission
profiles relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft
systems;
(B) training of certified remote pilots on risk
management, flight execution, data collection for
unmanned aircraft systems;
(C) specialized instruction for certified remote
pilots leading unmanned aircraft system missions in
complex, multi-agency environments; and
(D) the development and validation of public safety
UAS instructors to serve as instructors in certain
regions throughout the United States upon completion of
such certification;
(2) to purchase an unmanned aircraft system that meets all
Federal safety standards and regulatory requirements for the
purpose of carrying out the training described in this
paragraph; and
(3) for reasonable administrative costs directly associated
with the delivery of training and program implementation under
this section, including support services necessary to ensure
student participation and program completion, expenses incurred
due to staff attendance, including travel coordination, and
local facility use.
(c) Comprehensive Plan.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, a covered entity shall demonstrate the ability to manage
Federal funds and submit to the Secretary a comprehensive plan
describing how such entity will use such funds to develop and sustain
unmanned aircraft system training and operations. Such entity shall
include in the comprehensive plan information on--
(1) administration and oversight for any program proposed
to be established using such grant;
(2) risk management procedures;
(3) airspace coordination and safety protocols;
(4) certified personnel rosters;
(5) equipment maintenance schedules;
(6) data and privacy protections; and
(7) legal compliance documentation.
(d) Requirements.--With respect to a training program established
with a grant awarded under this section, a covered entity shall--
(1) operate or administer such program in accordance with
applicable Federal law and regulations, which may include
section 44807 of title 49, United States Code, or parts 91 or
107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable,
and--
(A) National Wildfire Coordinating Group Standard
A-450 or S-373;
(B) ASTM International Standard F3266, F3330, or
F3370; or
(C) National Fire Protection Association Standard
2400; and
(2) ensure--
(A) that the curriculum for such program is
maintained by, or licensed through, a national
nonprofit public safety organization or a nonprofit
emergency response training entity;
(B) that such curriculum remains consistent with
operational standards and reflects mission specific
public safety training needs; and
(C) that any modification to such curriculum is
subject to the approval of the organization through
which the curriculum is maintained or licensed.
(e) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall prioritize selecting covered entities who--
(1) engage in high risk operations or operate in
underserved regions;
(2) demonstrate multi-agency or regional coordination;
(3) propose to carry out training that is consistent with
Federal Aviation Administration, National Wildfire Coordinating
Group, and National Fire Protection Association standards; and
(4) lack the capacity for unmanned aircraft systems
training.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Report by recipient.--Each recipient of a grant awarded
under this section shall, not less frequently than annually,
submit to the Secretary a report containing the following
information:
(A) The number and type of personnel trained using
such grant.
(B) The number of certifications of public safety
UAS instructors under subsection (b)(4).
(C) The number of instructors participating in any
training provided using such grant.
(D) The number of unmanned aircraft system
deployments carried out by such recipient after
completion of training carried out with such grant.
(E) Challenges or recommendations related to a
program established using such grant.
(2) Report by secretary.--Not less frequently than
annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the grant program carried out under this section that contains
the following information:
(A) A description of grant recipients,
disaggregated by region and type of entity receiving
such grant.
(B) A summary of progress made in building unmanned
aircraft system training capacity across the United
States.
(C) Any recommendations for improvements to
training standards and the grant program established
under this section.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Certified remote pilot.--The term ``certified remote
pilot'' means a pilot certified to operate an unmanned aircraft
system under part 107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations,
or under a valid public aircraft operation or Federal Aviation
Administration authorization.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a governmental or nonprofit fire department,
emergency medical service, or law enforcement agency;
(B) a State or regional public safety training
academy;
(C) an interagency unmanned aircraft system
collaborative; or
(D) a nonprofit public safety training organization
that--
(i) has demonstrated a national presence in
public safety education;
(ii) maintains a primary mission focused on
emergency response readiness; and
(iii) has a documented history of
partnerships with Federal, State, Tribal,
territorial, or local public safety agencies.
(3) Emergency medical service.--The term ``emergency
medical service'' has the meaning given the term ``emergency
medical services'' under section 553(e) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee-10(e)).
(4) High risk operation.--The term ``high risk operation''
means an unmanned aircraft mission conducted in an environment,
condition, or for purposes where a loss of control, system,
failure, or operational error could reasonably be expected to
result in serious injury or death, substantial property damage,
or disruption to public safety or critical infrastructure.
(5) Interagency unmanned aircraft system collaborative.--
The term ``interagency unmanned aircraft system collaborative''
means a formal partnership, task force, or mutual aid framework
involving 2 or more governmental or nonprofit public safety or
emergency response agencies that jointly develop, operate, or
coordinate unmanned aircraft system training and deployment to
support all-hazards response.
(6) Nonprofit.--The term ``nonprofit'', with respect to a
covered entity, means an entity that is described in section
501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from
taxation under section 501(a) of such code.
(7) Public safety uas instructor.--The term ``public safety
UAS instructor'' means an instructor providing training for
unmanned aircraft system operations conducted for the purpose
of emergency response at or on behalf of a covered entity.
(8) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft
system'' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of
title 49, United States Code.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2029.
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