[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

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



 
         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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    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.

                                  [all]