[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 100 (Monday, June 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5454-H5456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP ACT

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 516) to plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced 
air mobility aircraft into the national airspace system, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 516

       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 ``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) Purpose.--Advanced Air Mobility represents a key area 
     of sustainable transportation and economic growth for the 
     United States and it is imperative that the Federal 
     Government foster leadership and interagency collaboration in 
     the adoption and deployment of this technology. The purpose 
     of the working group established under this section shall be 
     to plan for and coordinate efforts related to safety, 
     operations, infrastructure, physical security and 
     cybersecurity, and Federal investment necessary for 
     maturation of the AAM ecosystem in the United States, 
     particularly passenger-carrying aircraft, in order to--
       (1) grow new transportation options;
       (2) amplify economic activity and jobs;
       (3) advance environmental sustainability and new 
     technologies; and
       (4) support emergency preparedness and competitiveness.
       (c) Membership.--Not later than 60 days after the 
     establishment of the working group under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary of Transportation shall--
       (1) appoint the Under Secretary of Transportation for 
     Policy to chair the working group;
       (2) designate not less than 1 additional representative to 
     participate on the working group from each of--
       (A) the Department of Transportation; and
       (B) the Federal Aviation Administration; and
       (3) invite the heads of each of the following departments 
     or agencies to designate not less than 1 representative to 
     participate on the working group, including--
       (A) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
       (B) the Department of Commerce;
       (C) the Department of Defense;
       (D) the Department of Energy;
       (E) the Department of Homeland Security;
       (F) the Department of Agriculture;
       (G) the Department of Labor;
       (H) the Federal Communications Commission; and
       (I) such other departments or agencies as the Secretary of 
     Transportation determines appropriate.
       (d) Coordination.--
       (1) In general.--The working group shall engage with State, 
     local, and Tribal governments, aviation industry and labor 
     stakeholders, stakeholder associations, and others determined 
     appropriate by the Secretary of Transportation and the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
     including--
       (A) manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, propulsion 
     systems, structures, and air traffic management systems;

[[Page H5455]]

       (B) commercial air carriers, commercial operators, unmanned 
     aircraft system operators, and general aviation operators, 
     including helicopter operators;
       (C) intended operators of AAM aircraft;
       (D) airports, heliports, fixed-base operators;
       (E) certified labor representatives for pilots 
     associations, air traffic control specialists employed by the 
     Federal Aviation Administration, aircraft mechanics, and 
     aviation safety inspectors;
       (F) State, local, and Tribal officials or public agencies, 
     with representation from both urban and rural areas;
       (G) first responders;
       (H) groups representing environmental interests;
       (I) electric utilities, energy providers and energy market 
     operators;
       (J) academia with experience working with industry on new 
     technology and commercialization;
       (K) groups representing the telecommunications industry; 
     and
       (L) aviation training and maintenance providers.
       (2) Advisory committees.--The Secretary of Transportation 
     and Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may 
     use such Federal advisory committees as may be appropriate to 
     coordinate with the entities listed in paragraph (1).
       (e) 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 aircraft operations, 
     concepts, and regulatory frameworks beyond initial 
     operations;
       (2) the air traffic management and safety 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, cybersecurity, 
     telecommunication, multimodal, and utility infrastructure, 
     necessary to accommodate and support expanded operations of 
     AAM after initial implementation;
       (5) steps needed to ensure a robust and secure domestic 
     supply chain;
       (6) anticipated benefits associated with AAM aircraft 
     operations, including economic, environmental, emergency and 
     natural disaster 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.
       (f) AAM National Strategy.--Based on the review and 
     examination performed under subsection (e), the working group 
     shall develop an AAM National Strategy that includes--
       (1) recommendations regarding the safety, operations, 
     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 or implement the recommendations developed under 
     paragraph (1).
       (g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
     of the review and examination performed under subsection (e), 
     the working group shall submit to the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a report--
       (1) detailing findings from the review and examination 
     performed under subsection (e); and
       (2) providing the AAM National Strategy, including the plan 
     and associated recommendations developed under subsection 
     (f).
       (h) 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 (g), 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.
       (i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section and section 
     3:
       (1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air 
     mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean a transportation system that 
     transports people and property by air between two points in 
     the United States using aircraft with advanced technologies, 
     including electric aircraft or electric vertical take-off and 
     landing aircraft, in both controlled and uncontrolled 
     airspace.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (3) Electric aircraft.--The term ``electric aircraft'' 
     means an aircraft with a fully electric or hybrid (fuel and 
     electric) driven propulsion system used for flight.
       (4) Fixed-base operator.--The term ``fixed-base operator'' 
     means a business granted the right by an airport sponsor or 
     heliport sponsor to operate on an airport or heliport and 
     provide aeronautical services, including fueling and 
     charging, aircraft hangaring, tiedown and parking, aircraft 
     rental, aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
     term in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code.
       (6) Vertical take-off and landing.--The term ``vertical 
     take-off and landing'' means an aircraft with lift/thrust 
     units used to generate powered lift and control and with two 
     or more 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and the gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon, the chairman of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. 516, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 516, the Advanced Air Mobility 
Coordination and Leadership Act.
  Last November, this Chamber took a critical first step in fostering 
innovative advanced air mobility, AAM, in the U.S., by passing with an 
overwhelming majority, H.R. 1339, companion legislation also titled 
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.
  That bill would establish an interagency working group comprised of 
the Federal Government, States, localities, the aviation industry, 
labor unions, and other key stakeholders to plan and coordinate efforts 
to safely integrate AAM operations into our airspace system.
  Today, we are one step closer to making what was once only thought of 
as a figment of the imagination--as people used to refer to flying cars 
and things like that. S. 516, as amended, reflects a bipartisan, 
bicameral agreement that will make this a reality.
  It will require the development of an AAM National Strategy; include 
a Government Accountability Office study on the interests, roles and 
responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments 
affected by AAM aircraft and operations; and direct the Department of 
Transportation to conduct an evaluation of whether the AAM working 
group should be terminated after the group submits its required 
recommendations to Congress. It will incorporate relevant language and 
technical corrections from H.R. 1339; and clarify the key stakeholders 
with whom the new AAM working group will collaborate.
  The Federal Government industry stakeholders alike recognize the 
potential for AAM aircraft to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce the 
current burden on surface infrastructure, create good-paying U.S. jobs, 
and provide a more environmentally sustainable mode of daily 
transportation.
  As these new aircraft emerge in an already complex national airspace, 
we must be certain that they are safe for

[[Page H5456]]

those on board, those on the ground, and fully and safely and 
effectively integrated into the national airspace system.
  The interagency working group and subsequent AAM National Strategy on 
safety, security, and infrastructure will help support the development 
and deployment of AAM and advance U.S. leadership in this growing 
global industry.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors of the original House bill, 
Representatives Sharice Davids and Garret Graves, for their bipartisan 
effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I support S. 516, as amended, and I urge all my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, to maintain safe airspace, we know we have to have 
coordination. Think about all of the moving parts that are required to 
keep people safe in that shared resource. That kind of coordination is 
also important at the Federal level if we want to keep everybody safe, 
and if we want to make sure AAM keeps moving in the right direction.
  That is what S. 516 does, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and 
Leadership Act. It makes sure that we are able to continue moving 
forward and that AAM has the Federal support it needs from a variety of 
agencies to be successful.
  As the chairman mentioned, we had a similar bill, H.R. 1339, which 
passed the House overwhelmingly, 383 yeas to 41 nays.

                              {time}  1515

  I think we all realize that that kind of strong bipartisan support is 
not always as typical around here as we would like. Of course, this has 
got a Senate number so, of course, we have strong bicameral support as 
well. Indeed, the text that is before us today has been amended, and so 
it reflects language that has been negotiated and agreed upon, Mr. 
Speaker, by both Chambers.
  This sort of bipartisan, bicameral agreement ensures that industry 
and government can start to hash out these questions on the tough and 
sometimes thorny issues that have to be addressed so that we make sure 
that innovative new entrants are able to operate safely within our 
transportation system.
  We know that it is not always easy to deal with the Senate--our 
colleagues on the other side of the Capitol--but my hope is that once 
we pass this legislation, they will quickly take up the amended bill 
and send it to the President's desk for speedy signing into law.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Congresswoman Sharice Davids, as well as 
Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves, whom I am normally 
loath to say anything good about, but in this instance, I will. I thank 
them both for their leadership on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte).
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, advanced air mobility has the potential 
to revolutionize personal transportation in the United States.
  Imagine a future just a few years from now where instead of summoning 
a taxicab, Mr. Speaker, you walk several blocks to a nearby vertiport 
where an autonomous aerial vehicle comes down to pick you up, hovers 
briefly, touches down, the doors open for you, and it takes you 
straight to your destination at a cost similar to calling an Uber 
today. That is the potential of advanced air mobility. Unfortunately, 
it is going to require the coordination and cooperation of many 
different Federal, State, and local government agencies to realize its 
potential.
  There are many thorny problems that have to be solved before that 
reality is available to us, for example, problems around the 
certification of these vehicles and problems around the regulation of 
the industry.
  Are they regulated like a taxicab operator, or are they regulated 
like an air carrier?
  Who pays for and conducts the planning for these vertiports?
  What considerations are there for aircraft noise?
  What certification standards surround the autonomous vehicle software 
that controls these aerial vehicles?
  All of these are problems that will have to be solved before this can 
become a reality.
  If we are not careful about laying the foundation for success with 
this industry, then, unfortunately, regulation will serve to crush this 
optimistic future instead of catalyzing it.
  That is why I am so happy that we are considering two important bills 
with respect to advanced air mobility on the floor of the House today. 
The first of these bills will establish a working group of different 
government agencies whose coordination and cooperation will be 
necessary to solve some of these regulatory problems that face this 
burgeoning industry.
  The second of these bills will establish a new grant program for the 
planning and development of the infrastructure necessary to support 
advanced air mobility.
  Mr. Speaker, together these bills represent a very meaningful first 
investment in this incredibly exciting new industry. I urge support, 
and I am happy to see the House take up these bills tonight.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
and I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from California just did a 
wonderful job rattling off a number of key questions that policymakers 
have to settle on before we can make sure that AAM is safely integrated 
into our existing airports and airspace. This bill will do much to make 
sure that we have the coordination that will be necessary to answer 
those questions.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, we have just heard the bipartisan consensus expressed by 
the two speakers on that side about the looming extraordinary 
importance of this industry and how we have to get it right as we move 
forward to not impede it but also to protect safety.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly recommend this legislation to my colleagues, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 516, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________