[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1765-S1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3510. Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 636, to amend 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend increased 
expensing

[[Page S1766]]

limitations, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       Strike section 3205 and insert the following:

     SEC. 3205. WORKING GROUP ON IMPROVING AIR SERVICE TO SMALL 
                   COMMUNITIES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
     and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
     shall establish a working group--
       (1) to identify obstacles to attracting and maintaining air 
     transportation service to and from small communities; and
       (2) to develop recommendations for maintaining and 
     improving air transportation service to and from small 
     communities.
       (b) Outreach.--In carrying out the requirements under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the working group 
     shall consult with--
       (1) interested Governors;
       (2) representatives of State and local agencies, and other 
     officials and groups, representing rural States and other 
     rural areas;
       (3) other representatives of relevant State and local 
     agencies; and
       (4) members of the public with experience in aviation 
     safety, economic development, and related issues.
       (c) Considerations.--In carrying out the requirements under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the working group 
     shall--
       (1) consider whether funding for, and terms of, current or 
     potential new programs is sufficient to help ensure 
     continuation of or improvement to air transportation service 
     to small communities, including the Essential Air Service 
     Program and the Small Community Air Service Development 
     Program;
       (2) consider whether Federal funding for airports serving 
     small communities, including airports that have lost air 
     transportation services or had decreased enplanements in 
     recent years, is adequate to ensure that small communities 
     have access to quality, affordable air transportation 
     service;
       (3) identify innovative State or local efforts that have 
     established public-private partnerships that are successful 
     in attracting and retaining air transportation service in 
     small communities;
       (4) identify programs and initiatives that would encourage 
     young people to pursue careers as pilots; and
       (5) consider such other issues as the Secretary and 
     Administrator consider appropriate.
       (d) Composition.--
       (1) In general.--The working group shall be facilitated 
     through the Administrator or the Administrator's designee.
       (2) Membership.--Members of the working group shall be 
     appointed by the Administrator and shall include 
     representatives of--
       (A) State and local government, including State and local 
     aviation officials;
       (B) State governors;
       (C) aviation safety experts;
       (D) economic development officials;
       (E) air carrier pilots; and
       (F) the traveling public from small communities.
       (e) Report and Recommendations.--The working group shall 
     submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, 
     including--
       (1) a summary of the views expressed by the participants in 
     the outreach under subsection (b);
       (2) a description of the working group's findings, 
     including the identification of any areas of general 
     consensus among the non-Federal participants in the outreach 
     under subsection (b); and
       (3) any recommendations for legislative or regulatory 
     action that would assist in maintaining and improving air 
     transportation service to and from small communities.
       (f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to support weakening the pilot qualification 
     standards for first officers, as in effect on the day before 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______