[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 37 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S1089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1615. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 7454, to amend title 49, United States Code, to 
extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure 
authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end, add the following:

                        TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 401. EXPANDING USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE 
                   GULF OF MEXICO.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration shall prioritize the authorization of an 
     eligible UAS test range sponsor partnering with an eligible 
     airport authority to achieve the goals specified in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Goals.--The goals of a partnership authorized pursuant 
     to subsection (a) shall be to test the operations of 
     innovative technologies in both commercial and non-commercial 
     applications to--
       (1) identify challenges associated with aviation operations 
     over large bodies of water;
       (2) provide transportation of cargo and passengers to 
     offshore energy infrastructure;
       (3) assess the impacts of operations in saltwater 
     environments;
       (4) identify the challenges of integrating such 
     technologies in complex airspace, including with commercial 
     rotorcraft; and
       (5) identify the differences between coordinating with 
     Federal air traffic control towers and towers operated under 
     the FAA Contract Tower Program.
       (c) Briefing to Congress.--The Administrator of the Federal 
     Aviation Administration shall provide an annual briefing to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress on the status of the 
     partnership authorized under this section, including 
     detailing any barriers to the commercialization of innovative 
     technologies in the Gulf of Mexico.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible airport authority.--The term ``eligible 
     airport authority'' means an AIP-eligible airport authority 
     that is--
       (A) located in a state bordering the Gulf of Mexico which 
     does not already contain a UAS Test Range;
       (B) has an air traffic control tower operated under the FAA 
     Contract Tower Program;
       (C) is located within 60 miles of a port; and
       (D) does not have any scheduled passenger airline service 
     as of the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Eligible uas test range sponsor.--The term ``eligible 
     UAS test range sponsor'' means an existing sponsor of a UAS 
     test range located in a landlocked State.
       (3) Innovative technologies.--The term ``innovative 
     technologies'' means unmanned aircraft systems and powered-
     lift aircraft.
       (4) UAS.--The term ``UAS'' means an unmanned aircraft 
     system.
       (5) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
     system'' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of 
     title 49, United States Code.

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