[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 76 (Thursday, May 2, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1984. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1911 submitted by Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mr. Cruz, 
Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Moran) and intended to be proposed to the bill 
H.R. 3935, to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize and 
improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil aviation 
programs, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the 
table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title IX, add the following:

     SEC. 937. EXPANDING USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE 
                   GULF OF MEXICO.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator 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 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) Innovative technologies.--The term ``innovative 
     technologies'' means unmanned aircraft systems and powered-
     lift aircraft.
       (3) UAS.--The term ``UAS'' means an unmanned aircraft 
     system.
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