[Senate Report 117-53]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 225
117th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 117-53
_______________________________________________________________________
ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP ACT
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 516
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
December 17, 2021.--Ordered to be printed
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
29-010 WASHINGTON : 2021
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred seventeenth congress
first session
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington, Chair
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota ROGER WICKER, Mississippi
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii ROY BLUNT, Missouri
EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts TED CRUZ, Texas
GARY PETERS, Michigan DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin JERRY MORAN, Kansas
TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
JON TESTER, Montana MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona TODD YOUNG, Indiana
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada MIKE LEE, Utah
BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia
RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia RICK SCOTT, Florida
CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming
Melissa Porter, Acting Staff Director
John Keast, Minority Staff Director
Calendar No. 225
117th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 117-53
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ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY COORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP ACT
_______
December 17, 2021.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Cantwell, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 516]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred 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, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and recommends that
the bill (as amended) do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of S. 516, the Advanced Air Mobility
Coordination and Leadership Act, as reported, is to plan for
and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced air mobility
aircraft into the national airspace system, and for other
purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEEDS
S. 516 seeks to further the growth and maturation of the
advanced air mobility (AAM) industry--transportation systems
involving electric or hybrid aircraft capable of vertical
takeoff and landing--in the United States and to enhance U.S.
leadership in this cutting-edge sector. AAM technology is
envisioned as a supplement to existing modes, with electric or
hybrid aircraft providing short- and medium-distance point-to-
point transportation. The bill calls for interagency
coordination and focus, along with coordination with
stakeholders, for developing a national AAM strategy to inform
future policy and investment beyond the existing regulatory
framework.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS
If enacted, the bill would do the following:
Direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish
an AAM interagency working group to plan for and
coordinate efforts necessary for the maturation of the
AAM ecosystem.
Direct the working group to develop an AAM National
Strategy that includes recommendations to support the
evolution of early AAM to higher levels of activity and
societal benefit, and a comprehensive plan detailing
the roles and responsibilities of each Federal
department and agency.
Require the working group to submit a report to
Congress detailing the review and examination
performed, and providing the AAM National Strategy.
Require the Comptroller General to conduct a study
on the interest, roles, and responsibilities of
Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments affected
by AAM, and to submit a report to Congress on that
study.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 516, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and
Leadership Act, was introduced on March 1, 2021, by Senator
Moran (for himself and Senator Sinema) and was referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate. On May 12, 2021, the Committee met in open Executive
Session and, by voice vote, ordered S. 516 reported favorably
with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute with
amendments). The Committee adopted, by voice vote, four first-
degree amendments by Senator Lee and one first-degree amendment
by Senator Scott.
ESTIMATED COSTS
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 26, 2021.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Chair, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chair: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 516, the Advanced
Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Aaron
Krupkin.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director.
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
S. 516 would require the Department of Transportation (DOT)
to establish an interagency working group on advanced air
mobility (AAM) consisting of representatives from at least 10
federal agencies.\1\ The working group would evaluate the
policies and infrastructure necessary to advance AAM
operations, coordinate with state and local governments and the
private sector, develop an AAM national strategy, and report to
the Congress. Within 30 days of issuing that report, DOT would
determine whether to continue or terminate the working group.
In addition, the bill would require the Government
Accountability Office to report on the authority of various
levels of government over AAM operations.
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\1\Advanced air mobility refers to the development and
implementation of innovative aviation technologies that use existing
airspace operations to transport people and cargo, such as electric
vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and autonomous aircraft.
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Using information from DOT and based on the cost of similar
activities, CBO estimates that implementing S. 516 would cost
$1 million over the 2021-2026 period; such spending would be
subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aaron Krupkin.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT
Because S. 516 does not create any new programs, the
legislation will have no additional regulatory impact, and will
result in no additional reporting requirements. The legislation
will have no further effect on the number or types of
individuals and businesses regulated, the economic impact of
such regulation, the personal privacy of affected individuals,
or the paperwork required from such individuals and businesses.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
This section would provide that the legislation may be
cited as the ``Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and
Leadership Act''.
Section 2. Advanced Air Mobility working group
This section would require the Secretary of Transportation
to establish an advanced air mobility interagency working group
to plan for and coordinate efforts related to safety,
infrastructure, physical security and cybersecurity, and
Federal investment necessary for maturation of the AAM
ecosystem, particularly passenger carrying aircraft, in the
United States. Not later than 1 year after the working group is
established, the working group would complete its review and
examination. Not later than 180 days after the review and
examination is completed, the working group would submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the
working group's review and examination, and proposing an AAM
National Strategy. Not later than 30 days after the date on
which the working group submits the report, the Secretary of
Transportation would decide whether to terminate the working
group. This section would also prescribe the membership of the
working group, and require the working group to engage with
State, local, and Tribal governments, industry and labor
stakeholders, stakeholder associations, and others.
Section 3. GAO study and report
This section would require, no later than 180 days after
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the
United States to conduct a study on the interests, roles, and
responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments affected by AAM aircraft and operations, and to
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on
the study, including the Comptroller General's findings and
conclusions.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the
bill as reported would make no change to existing law.
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