[House Report 117-458]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                     {    Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                     {    117-458

======================================================================

 
            NATIONAL AVIATION PREPAREDNESS PLAN ACT OF 2022

                                _______
                                

 September 13, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. DeFazio, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 884]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 884) to direct the Secretary of 
Transportation to establish a national aviation preparedness 
plan for communicable disease outbreaks, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
with an amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do 
pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose of Legislation...........................................     3
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     3
Hearings.........................................................     4
Legislative History and Consideration............................     5
Committee Votes..................................................     6
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     7
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     7
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     8
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     8
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     8
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     8
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     8
Preemption Clarification.........................................     8
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     9
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     9
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     9
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    10

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``National Aviation Preparedness Plan 
Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL AVIATION PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, and the heads of such other Federal departments or agencies 
as the Secretary of Transportation considers appropriate, shall develop 
a national aviation preparedness plan for communicable disease 
outbreaks.
  (b) Contents of Plan.--The plan developed under subsection (a) shall, 
at a minimum--
          (1) provide airports and air carriers with an adaptable and 
        scalable framework with which to align the individual plans, 
        including the emergency response plans, of such airports and 
        air carriers and provide guidance as to each individual plan;
          (2) improve coordination among airports, air carriers, U.S. 
        Customs and Border Protection, the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention, other appropriate Federal entities, and State 
        and local governments and health agencies with respect to 
        preparing for and responding to communicable disease outbreaks;
          (3) to the extent practicable, improve coordination among 
        relevant international entities;
          (4) create a process to identify appropriate personal 
        protective equipment, if any, for covered employees to reduce 
        the likelihood of exposure to a covered communicable disease, 
        and thereafter issue recommendations for the equipage of such 
        employees;
          (5) create a process to identify appropriate techniques, 
        strategies, and protective infrastructure, if any, for the 
        cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitization of aircraft and 
        enclosed facilities owned, operated, or used by an air carrier 
        or airport, and thereafter issue recommendations pertaining to 
        such techniques, strategies, and protective infrastructure;
          (6) identify and assign Federal agency roles in the 
        deployment of emerging and existing technologies and solutions 
        to reduce covered communicable diseases in the aviation 
        ecosystem;
          (7) clearly delineate the responsibilities of the sponsors 
        and operators of airports, air carriers, and Federal agencies 
        in responding to a covered communicable disease;
          (8) incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations made by 
        the Comptroller General of the United States to the Secretary 
        of Transportation contained in the report titled ``Air Travel 
        and Communicable Diseases: Comprehensive Federal Plan Needed 
        for U.S. Aviation System's Preparedness'', issued in December 
        2015 (GAO-16-127);
          (9) consider the latest peer-reviewed scientific studies that 
        address communicable disease with respect to air 
        transportation; and
          (10) consider funding constraints.
  (c) Consultation.--When developing the plan under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Transportation shall consult with aviation industry and 
labor stakeholders, including representatives of--
          (1) air carriers, which shall include domestic air carriers 
        consisting of major air carriers, low-cost carriers, regional 
        air carriers and cargo carriers;
          (2) airport operators, including with respect to large hub, 
        medium hub, small hub, and nonhub commercial service airports;
          (3) labor organizations that represent airline pilots, flight 
        attendants, air carrier airport customer service 
        representatives, and air carrier maintenance, repair, and 
        overhaul workers;
          (4) the labor organization certified under section 7111 of 
        title 5, United States Code, as the exclusive bargaining 
        representative of air traffic controllers of the Federal 
        Aviation Administration;
          (5) the labor organization certified under such section as 
        the exclusive bargaining representative of airway 
        transportation systems specialists and aviation safety 
        inspectors of the Federal Aviation Administration;
          (6) trade associations representing air carriers and 
        airports;
          (7) aircraft manufacturing companies; and
          (8) such other stakeholders as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
  (d) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the plan is developed under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report that includes such plan.
  (e) Review of Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which a 
report is submitted under subsection (d), and again not later than 5 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall review the plan included in such 
report and, after consultation with aviation industry and labor 
stakeholders, make changes by rule as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
  (f) GAO Study.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct and submit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a study assessing the national aviation 
preparedness plan developed under subsection (a), including--
          (1) whether such plan--
                  (A) is responsive to any previous recommendations 
                relating to aviation preparedness with respect to an 
                outbreak of a covered communicable disease or global 
                health emergency made by the Comptroller General; and
                  (B) meets the obligations of the United States under 
                international conventions and treaties; and
          (2) the extent to which the United States aviation system is 
        prepared to respond to an outbreak of a covered communicable 
        disease.
  (g) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Covered employee.--The term ``covered employee'' means--
                  (A) an individual whose job duties require 
                interaction with air carrier passengers on a regular 
                and continuing basis and who is an employee of--
                          (i) an air carrier;
                          (ii) an air carrier contractor;
                          (iii) an airport; or
                          (iv) the Federal Government; or
                  (B) an air traffic controller or systems safety 
                specialist of the Federal Aviation Administration.
          (2) Covered communicable disease.--The term ``covered 
        communicable disease'' means a communicable disease that has 
        the potential to cause a future epidemic or pandemic of 
        infectious disease that would constitute a public health 
        emergency of international concern as declared, after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
        U.S.C. 247d).

                         PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION

    The purpose of H.R. 884, as amended, is to direct the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), in collaboration with 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to develop a National 
Aviation Preparedness Plan. The plan, at a minimum, must 
delineate the responsibilities of airports, air carriers, and 
government entities in responding to future pandemics; improve 
coordination among aviation stakeholders, and federal and 
international entities in preparing for future pandemics; and 
identify appropriate equipment to protect front-line aviation 
employees from future communicable diseases, among other 
things.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    In 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
recommended that the U.S. DOT, in coordination with relevant 
stakeholders, develop a national aviation preparedness plan for 
communicable disease outbreaks. Though this recommendation was 
issued in response to the Ebola epidemic and focused 
particularly on improving the U.S. aviation sector's 
preparedness for future communicable disease threats from 
abroad, the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic 
further exposed the U.S. aviation sector's vulnerabilities in 
responding to a communicable disease outbreak. Even though more 
than two years have passed since the Federal Government 
declared COVID-19 a national emergency and more than seven 
years have passed since the 2014 Ebola epidemic, the U.S. DOT 
has yet to ensure air carriers have the instructions they need 
to respond to communicable disease threats in a coordinated 
manner with other air carriers and public-health officials. In 
fact, a 2020 GAO report examining the status of Federal efforts 
to develop a national plan for air travel and communicable 
diseases concluded that ``the absence of a national plan 
undermined the ability of the public-health and aviation 
sectors to coordinate on a response or to provide consistent 
guidance to airlines and airports.''
    Moreover, GAO noted in its 2020 report that had the U.S. 
DOT implemented a national aviation preparedness plan prior to 
the COVID-19 outbreak, it ``could have improved coordination 
between public-health and aviation sectors during COVID-19 to 
address issues like passenger screening.'' This was reiterated 
at a Committee hearing in July 2021, with the GAO testifying 
that ``[t]he COVID-19 pandemic [had] highlighted once again the 
need for a national aviation preparedness plan to coordinate 
aviation and public health sector efforts, and ensure 
safeguards are in place to limit the spread of communicable 
disease threats from abroad, while minimizing any unnecessary 
disruptions with travel and trade.'' H.R. 884 requires the U.S. 
DOT to act on the 2015 GAO recommendation, while also ensuring 
the U.S. fulfills international aviation treaty provisions that 
obligate member states to develop such a plan.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6)(A) of the 
117th Congress, the following hearings were used to develop or 
consider H.R. 884:
    On February 4, 2021, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``Protecting Transportation Workers and Passengers from COVID: 
Gaps in Safety, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps.'' The 
Committee received testimony from Dr. David Michaels, 
Professor, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, 
Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington 
University; Ms. Sara Nelson, International President, 
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA; Mr. William ``Lewie'' 
Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent 
Drivers Association; Mr. Ismael Rivera, Bus Operator, Lynx, on 
behalf of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1596; Dr. 
William P. Bahnfleth, Professor, Architectural Engineering, The 
Pennsylvania State University, on behalf of the American 
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning 
Engineers; and the Hon. Joe Buscaino, Councilman, Los Angeles 
City Council, Los Angeles, California, on behalf of the 
National League of Cities.
    This hearing examined the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on 
transportation workers and related issues within the 
Committee's jurisdiction. Members heard about how the COVID-19 
pandemic continued to impact the health, safety, and working 
conditions of transportation industry workers; ongoing gaps; 
lessons learned; and next steps to protect transportation 
workers and passengers from COVID-19.
    On March 2, 2021, the Subcommittee on Aviation held a 
hearing titled ``COVID-19's Effects on U.S. Aviation and the 
Flight Path to Recovery.'' The Subcommittee received testimony 
from Ms. Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastructure, 
U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mr. Nicholas E. Calio, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Airlines for America; 
Mr. Joe DePete, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Line 
Pilots Association; Mr. Peter Bunce, President and Chief 
Executive Officer, General Aviation Manufacturers Association; 
Mr. Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Aviation Division, Port of 
Seattle, Washington, on behalf of American Association of 
Airport Executives; and Mr. Edward M. Bolen, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, National Business Aviation 
Association.
    This hearing examined the continuing effects of the COVID-
19 pandemic on the U.S. aerospace industry, what the industry 
will look like post-pandemic, and how best to aid in the 
recovery.
    On July 29, 2021, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``Assessing the Federal Government's COVID-19 Relief and 
Response Efforts and its Impact.'' The Committee received 
testimony from two panels of witnesses: Panel I: Hon. Michael 
E. Horowitz, Chair, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee; 
Ms. Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, 
Government Accountability Office; Mr. Chris P. Currie, 
Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government 
Accountability Office; Hon. Eric J. Soskin, Inspector General, 
Department of Transportation; and, Mr. James R. Izzard, 
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of 
Homeland Security. Panel II: Mr. Paul Skoutelas, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, American Public Transportation 
Association; Mr. Juan Manuel Ortiz, Director of Homeland 
Security and Emergency Management, City of Austin, TX, on 
behalf of the International Association of Emergency Managers; 
Dr. Michael J. Boskin, T.M. Friedman Professor of Economics and 
Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Dr. 
Wendy Edelberg, Director, The Hamilton Project, The Brookings 
Institution; and, Mr. John Samuelsen, International President, 
Transport Workers Union of America.
    This hearing examined the federal response to the COVID-19 
pandemic, efforts to provide oversight of that response, areas 
for improvement, and the impact of pandemic relief efforts on 
the transportation and infrastructure sectors and their 
workers.
    On September 30, 2021, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``Assessing the Federal Government's COVID-19 Relief and 
Response Efforts and its Impact--Part II.'' The Committee 
received testimony from Mr. Paul P. Skoutelas, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, American Public Transportation 
Association; Mr. Juan Manuel Ortiz, Director, Homeland Security 
and Emergency Management, City of Austin, TX, on behalf of the 
International Association of Emergency Managers; Dr. Michael J. 
Boskin, T.M. Friedman Professor of Economics and Senior Fellow, 
Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Dr. Wendy Edelberg, 
Director, The Hamilton Project, The Brookings Institution; and, 
Mr. Gregory R. Regan, President, Transportation Trades 
Department, AFL-CIO.
    This hearing examined the federal response to the COVID 19 
pandemic and the impact of pandemic relief efforts on the 
transportation and infrastructure sectors and their workers.

                 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND CONSIDERATION

    H.R. 884, the ``National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act of 
2021'', was introduced in the House on February 5, 2021, by Mr. 
Larsen of Washington, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Ms. 
Norton, and Mr. Carson and referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure. Within the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, H.R. 884 was referred to the 
Subcommittee on Aviation.
    The Subcommittee on Aviation was discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 884 on July 20, 2022.
    The Committee considered H.R. 884 on July 20, 2022, and 
ordered the measure to be favorably reported to the House, as 
amended, by a record vote of 57 yeas and 2 nays (Roll Call No. 
98).
    The following amendments were offered:
    An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 884, 
offered by Mr. Larsen of Washington was AGREED TO by voice 
vote.
    An amendment to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute 
to H.R. 884, offered by Mr. Perry (#1); was NOT AGREED TO by a 
record vote of 21 yeas and 36 nays (Roll Call No. 98).

Page 1, strike line 1 and all that follows through page 7, line 4, and 
insert the following: Sec. 1. Short Title

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each committee report to include the 
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote 
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the 
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for 
and against.

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Roll Call No. 98

    On: Agreeing to Amendment #1 offered by Mr. Perry (732)
    Not Agreed to: 21 yeas and 36 nays

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Member                           Vote                    Member                    Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. DeFazio.....................................          Nay   Mr. Graves of MO..................          Yea
Ms. Norton......................................          Nay   Mr. Crawford......................          Yea
Ms. Johnson of TX...............................          Nay   Mr. Gibbs.........................          Yea
Mr. Larsen of WA................................          Nay   Mr. Webster.......................          Yea
Mrs. Napolitano.................................          Nay   Mr. Massie........................  ............
Mr. Cohen.......................................          Nay   Mr. Perry.........................          Yea
Mr. Sires.......................................          Nay   Mr. Rodney Davis of IL............          Yea
Mr. Garamendi...................................          Nay   Mr. Katko.........................  ............
Mr. Johnson of GA...............................          Nay   Mr. Babin.........................          Yea
Mr. Carson......................................          Nay   Mr. Graves of LA..................          Yea
Ms. Titus.......................................          Nay   Mr. Rouzer........................          Yea
Mr. Maloney of NY...............................          Nay   Mr. Bost..........................          Yea
Mr. Huffman.....................................          Nay   Mr. Weber of TX...................          Yea
Ms. Brownley....................................          Nay   Mr. LaMalfa.......................          Yea
Ms. Wilson of FL................................          Nay   Mr. Westerman.....................  ............
Mr. Payne.......................................          Nay   Mr. Mast..........................          Yea
Mr. Lowenthal...................................          Nay   Mr. Gallagher.....................          Yea
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay   Mr. Fitzpatrick...................          Nay
Mr. Lynch.......................................          Nay   Miss Gonzalez-Colon...............  ............
Mr. Carbajal....................................          Nay   Mr. Balderson.....................          Yea
Mr. Brown of MD.................................          Nay   Mr. Stauber.......................          Yea
Mr. Malinowski..................................          Nay   Mr. Burchett......................  ............
Mr. Stanton.....................................          Nay   Mr. Johnson of SD.................          Nay
Mr. Allred......................................  ............  Mr. Van Drew......................  ............
Ms. Davids of KS................................          Nay   Mr. Guest.........................  ............
Mr. Garcia of IL................................          Nay   Mr. Nehls.........................          Yea
Mr. Pappas......................................          Nay   Ms. Mace..........................  ............
Mr. Lamb........................................          Nay   Ms. Malliotakis...................          Yea
Mr. Moulton.....................................          Nay   Ms. Van Duyne.....................          Yea
Mr. Auchincloss.................................  ............  Mr. Gimenez.......................          Yea
Ms. Bourdeaux...................................          Nay   Mrs. Steel........................          Yea
Mr. Kahele......................................          Nay
Ms. Strickland..................................          Nay
Ms. Williams of GA..............................  ............
Ms. Newman......................................          Nay
Mr. Carter of LA................................          Nay
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormack........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Roll Call No. 99

    On: H.R. 884, to be favorably reported to the House, as 
amended.
    Agreed to: 57 yeas and 2 nays

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Member                           Vote                    Member                    Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. DeFazio.....................................          Yea   Mr. Graves of MO..................          Yea
Ms. Norton......................................          Yea   Mr. Crawford......................          Yea
Ms. Johnson of TX...............................          Yea   Mr. Gibbs.........................          Yea
Mr. Larsen of WA................................          Yea   Mr. Webster.......................          Yea
Mrs. Napolitano.................................          Yea   Mr. Massie........................  ............
Mr. Cohen.......................................          Yea   Mr. Perry.........................          Nay
Mr. Sires.......................................          Yea   Mr. Rodney Davis of IL............          Yea
Mr. Garamendi...................................          Yea   Mr. Katko.........................  ............
Mr. Johnson of GA...............................          Yea   Mr. Babin.........................          Yea
Mr. Carson......................................          Yea   Mr. Graves of LA..................          Yea
Ms. Titus.......................................          Yea   Mr. Rouzer........................          Yea
Mr. Maloney of NY...............................          Yea   Mr. Bost..........................          Yea
Mr. Huffman.....................................          Yea   Mr. Weber of TX...................          Yea
Ms. Brownley....................................          Yea   Mr. LaMalfa.......................          Yea
Ms. Wilson of FL................................          Yea   Mr. Westerman.....................  ............
Mr. Payne.......................................          Yea   Mr. Mast..........................          Yea
Mr. Lowenthal...................................          Yea   Mr. Gallagher.....................          Yea
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Yea   Mr. Fitzpatrick...................          Yea
Mr. Lynch.......................................          Yea   Miss Gonzalez-Colon...............          Yea
Mr. Carbajal....................................          Yea   Mr. Balderson.....................          Yea
Mr. Brown of MD.................................          Yea   Mr. Stauber.......................          Yea
Mr. Malinowski..................................          Yea   Mr. Burchett......................  ............
Mr. Stanton.....................................          Yea   Mr. Johnson of SD.................          Yea
Mr. Allred......................................  ............  Mr. Van Drew......................  ............
Ms. Davids of KS................................          Yea   Mr. Guest.........................          Nay
Mr. Garcia of IL................................          Yea   Mr. Nehls.........................          Yea
Mr. Pappas......................................          Yea   Ms. Mace..........................  ............
Mr. Lamb........................................          Yea   Ms. Malliotakis...................          Yea
Mr. Moulton.....................................          Yea   Ms. Van Duyne.....................          Yea
Mr. Auchincloss.................................  ............  Mr. Gimenez.......................          Yea
Ms. Bourdeaux...................................          Yea   Mrs. Steel........................          Yea
Mr. Kahele......................................          Yea
Ms. Strickland..................................          Yea
Ms. Williams of GA..............................  ............
Ms. Newman......................................          Yea
Mr. Carter of LA................................          Yea
Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormack........................          Yea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

               NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee has 
requested but not received from the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office a statement as to whether this bill 
contains any new budget authority, spending authority, credit 
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 
expenditures. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such 
estimate and statement to be printed in the Congressional 
Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, a cost 
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant 
to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not 
made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this 
report. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such estimate 
to be printed in the Congressional Record upon its receipt by 
the Committee.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to 
provide for the U.S. DOT, in collaboration with the HHS and 
DHS, to develop a National Aviation Preparedness Plan--a clear, 
comprehensive plan of action for future communicable disease 
outbreaks.

                    DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision 
of H.R. 884 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the 
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal 
program, a program that was included in any report from the 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance.

   CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF 
                                BENEFITS

    In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule 
XXI.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman 
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 884 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

             SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title

    This section provides that this bill may be cited as the 
``National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act of 2022''.

Sec. 2. National Aviation Preparedness Plan

            Subsection a. In General
    This subsection instructs the Secretary of Transportation, 
in collaboration with HHS and DHS to develop a National 
Aviation Preparedness Plan for future communicable disease 
outbreaks, no later than two years after enactment.
            Subsection b. Contents of Plan
    This subsection mandates that, at a minimum, such a 
National Aviation Preparedness Plan shall:
           Improve coordination between federal 
        agencies, industries, and nations when preparing for 
        and responding to covered communicable disease 
        outbreaks;
           Establish a process for the identification 
        and issuance of personal protective equipment for 
        aviation employees who interact regularly with air 
        carrier passengers;
           Establish a process for the identification 
        of techniques, strategies, and protective 
        infrastructure for the cleaning, disinfecting, and 
        sanitization of aircraft and airports;
           Identify opportunities to develop and deploy 
        emerging technologies and solutions to reduce 
        communicable disease transmission; and
           Clearly delineate the responsibilities of 
        the sponsors and operators of airports, air carriers, 
        and federal agencies in responding to a covered 
        communicable disease.
            Subsection c. Consultation
    This subsection directs the U.S. DOT to work with the U.S. 
air carriers, airports, labor unions representing aviation 
workers, and key aviation stakeholders, including air carriers, 
airports, aircraft manufacturers, and representatives of the 
general aviation community, among others, on the development of 
such a plan.
            Subsection d. Report
    This subsection directs the U.S. DOT to submit a report on 
such a plan to the House Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science 
and Transportation, no later than 30 days after the plan is 
developed.
            Subsection e. Review of Plan
    This subsection requires the U.S. DOT to review the plan 
one year after the report is submitted to Congress and no later 
than five years thereafter. After consultation with aviation 
and labor stakeholders, the U.S. DOT is authorized to make 
changes, through rulemaking, as the Secretary considers 
appropriate.
            Subsection f. GAO Study
    This subsection states that not later than 18 months after 
enactment, calls for a GAO assessment of the plan to determine 
whether it aligns with public health recommendations, meets the 
nation's obligations under international conventions and 
treaties, and to what extent U.S. aviation is prepared for 
future public health emergencies.
            Subsection g. Definitions
    This section defines the terms used in this Act.

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    As reported by the Committee, H.R. 884 makes no changes in 
existing law.

                                  [all]