[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2313. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2137 proposed by Mr. 
Schumer (for Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr. 
Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. 
Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the bill H.R. 3684, to authorize funds for 
Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the appropriate place in division I, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to establish a 
     program under which the Secretary awards planning grants to 
     eligible entities to develop a comprehensive plan for the 
     infrastructure that may be necessary to integrate advanced 
     air mobility solutions into the National Airspace System.
       (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to grant applications where an 
     eligible entity partners with at least one other--
       (A) transit agency, port authority, airport sponsor, or 
     metropolitan planning organization;
       (B) political subdivision of State, local, or Tribal 
     governments in its region or geographic area; or
       (C) not-for-profit research institution or institution of 
     higher education with relevant experience working with 
     industry on new technology and commercialization.
       (3) Minimum allocation to rural areas.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that at least 20 percent of amounts made available 
     under subsection (c) are used to award grants to eligible 
     entities located in a rural area.
       (4) Required report.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after an eligible 
     entity is awarded a grant under this section, the eligible 
     entity shall submit to the Secretary and the Administrator a 
     report that includes--
       (i) recommendations for methods to ensure that advanced air 
     mobility equitably connects users to existing transportation 
     infrastructure, including multi-modal transportation centers, 
     without compromising safety and efficiency of other 
     facilities and airspace users;
       (ii) a description of potential takeoff and landing 
     locations at existing airports and heliports for low-, 
     medium-, and high-volume operations;
       (iii) a description of potential takeoff and landing 
     locations at new vertiports for 
     low-, medium-, and high-volume operations;
       (iv) a plan for electric charging and other fueling 
     infrastructure;
       (v) a plan for community engagement, including 
     consideration of the noise impact on communities;
       (vi) recommendations for any zoning and permitting changes 
     that would be necessary to implement advanced air mobility;
       (vii) recommendations for any regional or national 
     infrastructure improvements that may be necessary to enable 
     advanced air mobility; and
       (viii) other items determined appropriate by the Secretary.
       (B) Public availability of report.--Each report submitted 
     under subparagraph (A) shall be made available on a public 
     internet website managed by the Administrator.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
       (2) Advanced air mobility.--The term ``advanced air 
     mobility'' means an air transportation system that moves 
     people and cargo between places using innovative aircraft 
     designs (such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and new 
     technologies (such as electric or hybrid (fuel and electric) 
     driven propulsion), which are integrated into existing 
     airspace operation as well as operated in local, regional, 
     interregional, rural, and urban environment, and which may 
     include remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft.
       (3) Advanced propulsion.--The term ``advanced propulsion'' 
     means powered by electric, hydrogen, hybrid technology, or 
     other propulsion technology, as defined by the Secretary.
       (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
       (A) a State;
       (B) a unit of local government;
       (C) a metropolitan planning organization;
       (D) a Tribal government;
       (E) a political subdivision of a State or local government;
       (F) a special purpose district or a public authority with a 
     transportation function, including airport sponsors and port 
     authorities; and
       (G) a group of entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
     through (F).
       (5) High-volume operations.--The term ``high-volume 
     operations'' means more than 1,000 simultaneous advanced air 
     mobility operations taking place in the relevant region or 
     jurisdiction.
       (6) Low-volume operations.--The term ``low-volume 
     operations'' means under 100 simultaneous advanced air 
     mobility operations taking place in the relevant region or 
     jurisdiction.
       (7) Medium-volume operations.--The term ``medium-volume 
     operations'' means more than 100, but less than 1,000, 
     simultaneous advanced air mobility operations taking place in 
     the relevant region or jurisdiction.
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Transportation.
       (9) Vertiport.--The term ``vertiport'' means a landing and 
     takeoff site that supports advanced air mobility operations.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this 
     section $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
                                 ______