[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3085-S3087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 911. Ms. CANTWELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 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 subtitle G of title X, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __. FLIGHT EDUCATION ACCESS ACT.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Flight 
     Education Access Act''.
       (b) Increase in Federal Student Loan Limits for Students in 
     Flight Education and Training Programs.--Section 455 of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (p)--
       (A) by striking ``Each institution'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--Each institution''; and
       (B) in paragraph (1) (as designated by subparagraph (A)), 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
     ``and, shall, with respect to Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
     Stafford Loans made after the date of enactment of the Flight 
     Education Access Act to an eligible student (as defined in 
     subsection (r)), comply with the requirements of paragraph 
     (2)''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Additional disclosures.--At or prior to the 
     disbursement of a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan 
     after the date of enactment of the Flight Education Access 
     Act to an eligible student (as defined in subsection (r)), 
     the following shall be disclosed:
       ``(A) The principal amount of the loan, the stated interest 
     rate on the loan, the number of required monthly payments to 
     be made on the loan (which shall be based on a standard 
     repayment plan), and the estimated number of months before 
     the start of the repayment period for the loan (based on the 
     expected date on which the repayment period is to begin or 
     the deferment period is to end, as applicable).
       ``(B) The estimated balance to be owed by the borrower on 
     such loan (including, if applicable, the estimated amount of 
     interest to be capitalized) as of the scheduled date on which 
     the repayment period is to begin or the deferment period is 
     to end, as applicable, and an estimate of the projected 
     monthly payment.
       ``(C) An estimate of the aggregate amount the borrower will 
     pay for the loan, including the total amount of monthly 
     payments made over the life of the loan plus the amount of 
     any charges for the loan, such as an origination fee.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(r) Increase in Loan Limits for Students in Flight 
     Education and Training Programs.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this Act, the loan limits for Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
     Stafford Loans made after the date of enactment of the Flight 
     Education Access Act with respect to eligible students shall 
     be subject to this subsection.
       ``(2) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(A) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means 
     a student who is enrolled in an eligible undergraduate flight 
     education and training program.
       ``(B) Eligible undergraduate flight education and training 
     program.--The term `eligible undergraduate flight education 
     and training program' means an undergraduate flight education 
     and training program that offers training for applicants 
     seeking a commercial pilot certificate and--
       ``(i) during the period beginning on the date of enactment 
     of the Flight Education Access Act and ending on the date on 
     which 3 years of data has been collected pursuant to 
     paragraph (3)(C), that meets all the applicable requirements 
     of this Act; and
       ``(ii) beginning on the date on which 3 years of data has 
     been collected pursuant to paragraph (3)(C), that meets all 
     the applicable requirements of this Act and has a completion 
     rate averaged over a 3-year period, as calculated under 
     paragraph (3)(C) that is equal to or greater than 70 percent.
       ``(C) Undergraduate flight education and training 
     program.--The term `undergraduate flight education and 
     training program'--
       ``(i) has the meaning given the term by the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration;
       ``(ii) shall include a flight education and training 
     program offered by an eligible institution that is accredited 
     by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary, that--

       ``(I) awards undergraduate certificates or associate or 
     bachelor degrees; and
       ``(II) provides pilot training in accordance with part 141 
     of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulation; and

       ``(iii) shall not include a flight education and training 
     program certified under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or any successor regulation.
       ``(3) Loan limits for eligible undergraduate flight 
     education and training programs.--
       ``(A) Limits for eligible students who are dependent 
     students.--
       ``(i) Annual limits.--The maximum annual amount of Federal 
     Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible student who is 
     a dependent student may borrow in any academic year (as 
     defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be--

       ``(I) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible 
     institution who has not successfully completed the first year 
     of an eligible undergraduate flight education and training 
     program--

       ``(aa) $13,500, if such student is enrolled in such a 
     program whose length is at least one academic year in length; 
     or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year;

       ``(II) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible 
     institution who has successfully completed the first year of 
     an eligible undergraduate flight education and training 
     program but has not yet successfully completed the remainder 
     of such program--

       ``(aa) $15,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year;

       ``(III) in the case of a student at an eligible institution 
     who has successfully completed the first year and second 
     years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and 
     training program but has not yet successfully completed the 
     remainder of such program--

       ``(aa) $16,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year; and

       ``(IV) in the case of a student at an eligible institution 
     who has successfully completed the first, second, and third 
     years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and 
     training program but has not yet successfully completed the 
     remainder of such program--

       ``(aa) $15,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year.
       ``(ii) Aggregate limits.--The maximum aggregate amount of 
     Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible 
     student who is a dependent student may borrow shall be 
     $65,000.
       ``(B) Limits for eligible students who are independent 
     students.--
       ``(i) Annual limits.--The maximum annual amount of Federal 
     Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible student who is 
     an independent student may borrow in any academic year (as 
     defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be--

       ``(I) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible 
     institution who has not successfully completed the first year 
     of an eligible undergraduate flight education and training 
     program--

       ``(aa) $21,500, if such student is enrolled in such a 
     program whose length is at least one academic year in length; 
     or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year;

       ``(II) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible 
     institution who has successfully completed the first year of 
     an eligible undergraduate flight education and training 
     program but has not yet successfully completed the remainder 
     of such program--

       ``(aa) $25,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year;

       ``(III) in the case of a student at an eligible institution 
     who has successfully completed the first year and second 
     years of an eligible

[[Page S3086]]

     undergraduate flight education and training program but has 
     not yet successfully completed the remainder of such 
     program--

       ``(aa) $25,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year; and

       ``(IV) in the case of a student at an eligible institution 
     who has successfully completed the first, second, and third 
     years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and 
     training program but has not yet successfully completed the 
     remainder of such program--

       ``(aa) $22,500; or
       ``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that 
     is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan 
     amount that such student may receive may not exceed the 
     amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in 
     item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester, 
     trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic 
     year.
       ``(ii) Aggregate limits.--The maximum aggregate amount of 
     Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible 
     student who is an independent student may borrow shall be 
     $107,500.
       ``(C) Data collection on, and calculation of, completion 
     rates.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall annually calculate 
     the completion rate of each undergraduate flight education 
     and training program at each eligible institution based on 
     the information collected under clause (ii).
       ``(ii) Collection of information.--The Secretary shall 
     annually collect information, for each academic year, on--

       ``(I) the total number of students enrolled in an 
     undergraduate flight education and training program at an 
     eligible institution; and
       ``(II) those students who complete such program--

       ``(aa) who earn a private pilot's certificate for an 
     airplane category rating with a single-engine class rating 
     while enrolled in such program; or
       ``(bb) who at the time of enrollment, possess such a 
     certificate.
       ``(iii) Calculation of completion rate.--To calculate the 
     completion rate described in clause (i), the Secretary 
     shall--

       ``(I) consider as having completed, those students who earn 
     a private pilot's certificate for an airplane category rating 
     with a single-engine class rating, or who at the time of 
     enrollment possess such a certificate, and complete the 
     undergraduate flight education and training program at an 
     eligible institution--

       ``(aa) that predominantly awards associate degrees, within 
     200 percent of the normal time for completion;
       ``(bb) that predominantly awards bachelor degrees, within 
     150 percent of the normal time for completion; and
       ``(cc) that predominantly awards undergraduate 
     certificates, within 200 percent of the normal time for 
     completion;

       ``(II) consider as not having completed, those students who 
     earn a private pilot's certificate for an airplane category 
     rating with a single-engine class rating, or who at the time 
     of enrollment possess such a certificate, and who transfer 
     out of the undergraduate flight education and training 
     program to another program at the eligible institution that 
     is not an undergraduate flight education and training program 
     or to a program that is not an undergraduate flight education 
     and training program at another eligible institution; and
       ``(III) not include in the calculation, any student who--

       ``(aa) is a foreign national;
       ``(bb) earns a private pilot's certificate for an airplane 
     category rating with a single-engine class rating and 
     transfers out of the undergraduate flight education and 
     training program to another undergraduate flight education 
     and training program at a different eligible institution; or
       ``(cc) is enrolled in an undergraduate flight education and 
     training program and never earns a private pilot's 
     certificate for an airplane category rating with a single-
     engine class rating.
       ``(D) Reporting requirements.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall require each 
     undergraduate flight education and training program that 
     enrolls students who receive assistance under this part to 
     provide the data described in this subparagraph that is 
     necessary for the completion of the reporting requirements 
     described in this subparagraph.
       ``(ii) Form of data collection.--The Secretary shall 
     prescribe the form and format of the data required to be 
     provided under this subparagraph and include, at a minimum, 
     the following data elements:

       ``(I) Student data elements necessary to calculate student 
     enrollment, persistence, retention, transfer, and completion 
     rates.
       ``(II) Information disaggregated by gender, race, 
     ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

       ``(iii) Report to congress.--Not later than 9 months after 
     the date of enactment of the Flight Education Access Act and 
     biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
     the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Education and 
     the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives, analyzing and assessing the data 
     collected pursuant to this subparagraph and conforming to the 
     requirements of this subparagraph that shall include the 
     following:

       ``(I) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
     requirements under this subsection.
       ``(II) Information on enrollment, persistence, retention, 
     transfer, completion, utilization of Federal financial aid, 
     and unmet financial need, including information on applicable 
     institutions.
       ``(III) Information on the gender, race, ethnicity, and 
     socioeconomic status of students enrolled in an undergraduate 
     flight education and training program.''.

       (c) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall--
       (1) examine and review the implementation of this section 
     and the amendments made by this section, which review shall 
     include--
       (A) the number of participating institutions offering 
     undergraduate flight education and training programs (as 
     defined in section 455(r) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1087e(r)), as amended by this section);
       (B) the number of students enrolled in such undergraduate 
     flight education and training programs, and demographic data 
     regarding such students;
       (C) the level of such students' participation in the loan 
     program under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.), including demographic data 
     as appropriate; and
       (D) feedback from participating institutions regarding the 
     implementation of this section and the amendments made by 
     this section;
       (2) develop recommendations to the Department of Education 
     on any changes that should be made to improve the 
     implementation of this section and the amendments made by 
     this section; and
       (3) prepare and submit a report on the findings and 
     recommendations under paragraphs (1) and (2) to--
       (A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
     and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
     the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or an 
     amendment made by this section, shall be construed to repeal, 
     amend, supersede, or affect any pilot training or 
     qualification provision under existing law.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education, in addition 
     to any amounts otherwise available, to carry out the 
     amendments made by this section, $3,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2024 through 2033. Such funds shall be available 
     until expended.

     SEC. __. REGIONAL AIR CARRIER PILOT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation 
     (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall 
     establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible 
     applicants to support payment of costs--
       (1) related to required flight education and training for 
     aspiring pilots to become employed by a certificate holder 
     under part 119 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     which conducts scheduled operations under part 135 or 121 of 
     that title exclusively with aircraft having a seating 
     capacity of not more than 80 passengers; and
       (2) for the training and retention of pilots employed by a 
     certificate holder that conducts operations described in 
     paragraph (1).
       (b) Eligible Applicants.--An application for a grant under 
     this section shall be submitted in such form as the Secretary 
     may require, by an eligible applicant pursuing flight 
     education or training, including flight training on regional 
     aircraft, who demonstrates to the Secretary--
       (1) documentation of enrollment in an eligible pilot 
     development program described in subsection (g); and
       (2) receipt of direct financial assistance from a 
     certificate holder for costs described in subsection (a) 
     relating to flight education and training to participate in 
     such pilot development program.
       (c) Matching Funds.--In carrying out the pilot program 
     established under this section, the Secretary shall award 
     grants to support the flight education and training of an 
     eligible applicant by issuing matching funds for amounts 
     equal to the amount of direct financial assistance provided 
     by a certificate holder that conducts operations described in 
     subsection (a)(1) for the purposes of participation in an 
     eligible pilot development program, provided that an 
     individual grant for an eligible applicant provided under 
     this subsection does not exceed $30,000. An eligible 
     applicant may receive no more than one grant under the pilot 
     program. The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the 
     funds made available under subsection (j) per fiscal year to 
     carry out this section and provide oversight of the program 
     by the Secretary.
       (d) Use of Funds.--

[[Page S3087]]

       (1) In general.--A grant awarded under this section shall 
     be used to support the costs of an eligible applicant's--
       (A) flight training services;
       (B) program tuition;
       (C) training materials;
       (D) equipment; or
       (E) any other cost associated with expenses incurred by an 
     eligible applicant for purposes of receiving flight education 
     and training, including aircraft type training on regional 
     jet aircraft or simulation equipment, through an eligible 
     pilot development program.
       (2) Return of grant funds.--Any grant funds disbursed to an 
     eligible applicant by the Secretary pursuant to subsection 
     (c) that are used in violation of paragraph (1), or are not 
     expended as of the earlier of the date of termination of the 
     eligible applicant's participation in, or the expiration of, 
     the pilot program established in subsection (a), shall be 
     returned to the Secretary not later than 30 days after the 
     Secretary issues a written determination to the eligible 
     applicant stating the necessity for and compelling the return 
     of such grant funds. The Secretary may investigate any 
     eligible applicants who use grant funds in violation of 
     paragraph (1).
       (e) Preference for Employment With Regional Air Carriers.--
     In awarding grants under subsection (c) to an eligible 
     applicant, the Secretary shall give preferential 
     consideration to an eligible applicant who demonstrates a 
     documented commitment, on a voluntary basis, to initiate or 
     continue employment with a certificate holder that conducts 
     operations described in subsection (a)(1) until such time as 
     the eligible applicant attains the position of captain and 
     serves in such position for at least 2 years.
       (f) Considerations.--In carrying out the pilot program 
     established under this section, the Secretary shall consider 
     the following:
       (1) Ensuring the issuance of awards reflects equal 
     consideration of all eligible pilot development programs 
     operated by certificate holders that conducts operations 
     described in subsection (a)(1) from which eligible applicants 
     could be enrolled in and receive direct financial assistance 
     for flight education and training.
       (2) Developing and issuing policies, in coordination with 
     eligible pilot development programs described in subsection 
     (g) that are operated by such certificate holders, to verify 
     the use of awarded grant funds by eligible applicants to 
     support costs related to flight education and training.
       (g) Eligible Pilot Development Program.--For purposes of 
     the pilot program established under this section, an eligible 
     pilot development program shall meet the following criteria:
       (1) The program shall be operated in conjunction with an 
     eligible institution that is accredited by an accrediting 
     agency recognized by the Secretary that--
       (A) awards undergraduate certificates or associate or 
     bachelor's degrees; or
       (B) provides pilot training in accordance with part 141 of 
     title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
     regulation.
       (2) The program shall be able to facilitate an eligible 
     applicant's ability to fulfill necessary flight education and 
     training requirements, as determined by the Administrator of 
     the Federal Aviation Administration, to obtain a restricted 
     airline transport pilot certificate.
       (3) The program provides direct financial assistance to an 
     enrolled eligible applicant or reimburses an enrolled 
     eligible applicant for costs associated with expenses 
     incurred by an enrolled eligible applicant for purposes of 
     receiving pilot training necessary to fulfill the 
     certification described in paragraph (2).
       (4) The program shall be operated by, affiliated with, or 
     have an agreement with, a certificate holder that conducts 
     operations described in subsection (a)(1) for the purposes of 
     conducting flight education and training and developing 
     pilots for employment with the certificate holder.
       (h) Consolidation of Information.--The Secretary shall 
     provide, in a readily accessible web-based format, 
     consolidated information on grants available under the pilot 
     program established under this section.
       (i) Report to Congress.--No later than 5 years after the 
     establishment of the pilot program under this section, the 
     Secretary shall submit a report (and provide a briefing) to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
     of the House of Representatives on the progress of the pilot 
     program under this section, including--
       (1) any detailed metrics associated with the implementation 
     of the pilot program;
       (2) the resulting impact on the domestic regional carrier 
     pilot workforce; and
       (3) any related recommendations for future action to 
     improve the recruitment and retention of pilots at domestic 
     regional carriers.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $21,000,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026, to remain available 
     until expended.
                                 ______