[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4550. Mr. THUNE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2022 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF IMPROVED SCHEDULING AND 
                   MANAGEMENT OF SPECIAL ACTIVITY AIRSPACE.

       (a) Sense of Congress on Adaptive Airspace.--It is the 
     sense of Congress that--
       (1) where it does not conflict with safety, improved 
     scheduling and management of special activity airspace (also 
     referred to as ``adaptive airspace'' and ``dynamic 
     airspace'') is expected to optimize the use of the national 
     airspace system for all stakeholders; and
       (2) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration and the Secretary of Defense should take such 
     actions as may be necessary to support ongoing efforts to 
     develop improved scheduling and management of special 
     activity airspace, including--
       (A) the continuation of formal partnerships between the 
     Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense 
     that focus on special activity airspace, future airspace 
     needs, and joint solutions; and
       (B) maturing research within their federally funded 
     research and development centers, Federal partner agencies, 
     and the aviation community.
       (b) Pilot Program.--
       (1) Pilot program required.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
     the Federal Aviation Administration, in coordination with the 
     Secretary of Defense, shall establish a pilot program on 
     developing and testing improved management of special 
     activity airspace supported by efficient scheduling 
     capabilities.
       (2) Testing of special activity airspace scheduling and 
     management.--Under the pilot program established under 
     paragraph (1), the Administrator and the Secretary shall 
     jointly test not fewer than three areas of special activity 
     airspace designated by the Federal Aviation Administration 
     for use by the Department of Defense, of which--
       (A) at least one shall be over coastal waters of the United 
     States; and
       (B) at least two shall be over land of the United States.
       (c) Report.--Not less than two years after the date of the 
     establishment of the pilot program under subsection (b)(1), 
     the Administrator and Secretary shall submit to the following 
     congressional committees a report on the interim results of 
     the pilot program:
       (1) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
       (2) The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
       (d) Authorization of Funds.--The Administrator and 
     Secretary shall be authorized to use such funds as necessary 
     to carry out the activities established under subsections (b) 
     and (c).
       (e) Limits on Staff.--Any such hour or other employee 
     limitations concerning staff or workforce that may be 
     dedicated to the execution of the activities established 
     under subsections (b) and (c), including work associated with 
     the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development, shall be 
     waived.

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