[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 23, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1752-S1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 225, S. 516.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 516) to plan for and coordinate efforts to 
     integrate advanced air mobility aircraft into the national 
     airspace system, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Air Mobility 
     Coordination and Leadership Act''.

     SEC. 2. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY WORKING GROUP.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     establish an advanced air mobility interagency working group 
     (in this section referred to as the ``working group'').
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) represents a key area of 
     sustainable transportation and economic growth for the United 
     States and globally, and that it is imperative that the 
     United States take a leadership role in the adoption and 
     furtherance of this technology. Therefore, given the path to 
     initial operations is taking place utilizing today's 
     regulatory framework, it is critical that government agencies 
     collaborate and focus on taking this vital industry to the 
     next level through policy and investment in energy, 
     infrastructure, security and transportation. The focus of the 
     working group is interagency coordination to enable the 
     maturation and growth of AAM.
       (c) Purpose.--The purpose of the working group established 
     under this section is to plan for and coordinate efforts 
     related to safety, infrastructure, physical security and 
     cybersecurity, and Federal investment necessary for 
     maturation of the AAM ecosystem, particularly passenger-
     carrying aircraft, in the United States in order to--
       (1) further United States leadership;
       (2) grow new transportation options;
       (3) amplify economic activity and jobs;
       (4) advance environmental sustainability and new 
     technologies; and
       (5) support emergency preparedness and competitiveness.
       (d) Membership.--The working group shall be comprised of at 
     least 1 representative of each of the following Federal 
     departments and agencies:
       (1) Department of Transportation.
       (2) Federal Aviation Administration.
       (3) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
       (4) Department of Commerce
       (5) Department of Defense.
       (6) Department of Energy.
       (7) Department of Homeland Security.
       (8) Department of Agriculture.
       (9) Department of Labor.
       (10) Federal Communications Commission.
       (11) Such other departments or agencies as the Secretary of 
     Transportation determines appropriate.
       (e) Coordination.--The working group shall engage with 
     State, local, and Tribal governments, industry and labor 
     stakeholders, stakeholder associations, and others determined 
     appropriate by the Secretary of Transportation, including--
       (1) manufacturers of avionics, AAM use aircraft, propulsion 
     systems, structures, and air traffic management systems;
       (2) air carriers, commercial operators, general aviation 
     operators and future AAM operators;
       (3) airports;
       (4) fixed-based operators, as defined in FAA Advisory 
     Circular 150/5190-7;
       (5) certified labor representatives for pilots 
     associations, air traffic control specialists employed by the 
     Federal Aviation Administration, and aviation safety 
     inspectors;
       (6) State, local, and Tribal officials or public agencies, 
     with representation from both urban and rural areas;
       (7) first responders;
       (8) groups representing environmental interests;
       (9) electric utilities, energy providers and market 
     operators of electricity;
       (10) academia with experience working with industry on new 
     technology and commercialization;

[[Page S1753]]

       (11) groups representing the telecommunications industry; 
     and
       (12) aviation training and maintenance providers.
       (f) Review and Examination.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the working group is established under subsection (a), the 
     working group shall complete a review and examination of, at 
     a minimum--
       (1) the steps that will mature AAM past initial operations;
       (2) the evaluation of air traffic control and management 
     concepts that might be considered as part of evolving AAM to 
     higher levels of traffic density;
       (3) current Federal programs and policies that could be 
     leveraged to advance the maturation of the AAM industry;
       (4) infrastructure, including aviation, surface, energy, 
     and telecommunications infrastructure, physical security and 
     cybersecurity, and utilities necessary to accommodate and 
     support expanded operations of AAM after initial 
     implementation;
       (5) steps needed to ensure a robust domestic supply chain;
       (6) anticipated benefits associated with AAM aircraft 
     operations, including economic, environmental, emergency 
     response, and transportation benefits;
       (7) the interests, roles, and responsibilities of Federal, 
     State, local, and Tribal governments affected by AAM aircraft 
     operations; and
       (8) other factors that may limit the full potential of the 
     AAM industry, including community acceptance or restrictions 
     of such operations.
       (g) AAM National Strategy.--Based on the review and 
     examination performed under subsection (f), the working group 
     shall develop an AAM National Strategy that includes--
       (1) recommendations regarding the safety, security, 
     infrastructure, air traffic concepts, and other Federal 
     investment or actions necessary to support the evolution of 
     early AAM to higher levels of activity and societal benefit; 
     and
       (2) a comprehensive plan detailing the roles and 
     responsibilities of each Federal department and agency, and 
     of State, local, and Tribal governments, necessary to 
     facilitate implementing the recommendations developed under 
     paragraph (1).
       (h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
     of the review and examination performed under subsection (f), 
     the working group shall submit to the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a report--
       (1) detailing the review and examination performed under 
     subsection (f); and
       (2) providing the AAM National Strategy, including the plan 
     and associated recommendations, developed under subsection 
     (g).
       (i) Evaluation of Termination of Working Group.--Not later 
     than 30 days after the date on which the working group 
     submits the report required under subsection (h), the 
     Secretary of Transportation shall evaluate and decide whether 
     to terminate the working group and shall notify the 
     appropriate committees of Congress of such decision.
       (j) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air 
     mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean 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 operations as well as operated in 
     local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban 
     environments, and which may include remotely piloted or 
     autonomous aircraft.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (D) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives;
       (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (3) Vertical take-off and landing; vtol.--The terms 
     ``vertical take-off and landing'' and ``VTOL'' mean an 
     aircraft with lift/thrust units used to generate powered lift 
     and control and with more than two lift/thrust units used to 
     provide lift during vertical take-off or landing.

     SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall--
       (1) conduct a study on the interests, roles, and 
     responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
     governments affected by AAM aircraft and operations; and
       (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the study, including the Comptroller General's 
     findings and conclusions.
       (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under 
     subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review the 
     following:
       (1) The state of the law as of the enactment of this Act 
     with respect to Federal authority over operations of AAM 
     aircraft systems in the national airspace system.
       (2) The state of the law as of the enactment of this Act 
     with respect to State, local, and Tribal authority over 
     operations of AAM aircraft in the national airspace system.
       (3) Potential gaps between authorities under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2).
       (4) Proposals to facilitate the safe and financially viable 
     growth and development of the AAM industry and integration of 
     AAM aircraft into the national airspace system.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered 
read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading 
and was read the third time.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the bill having 
been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 516), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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