,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #fig ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bd1 #bjbe,mr4 ,hoeven 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 and ,mr4 ,moran7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide for air traffic control training improvements1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,air ,traffic ,control ,workforce ,development ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration4 7#b7 ,,faa ,the term ,,faa means the ,federal ,aviation ,administration4 #c4 ,collegiate ,training ,initiative program improvements 7a7 ,in general ,section #ddejf7;c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7c7 ,collegiate ,training ,initiative 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration shall maintain the ,collegiate ,training ,initiative program 7including the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program7 by making new agreements and continuing existing agreements with institutions of higher education 7as defined by the ,administrator7 under which the institutions prepare students for the position of air traffic controller with the ,department of ,transportation 7as defined in section #baji of title #e74 ,the ,administrator may establish standards for the entry of institutions into the program and for their continued participation4 7#b7 ,appointment of program graduates ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration may appoint an individual who has successfully completed a course of training in a program described in paragraph 7#a7 to the position of air traffic controller noncompetitively in the excepted service 7as defined in section #bajc of title #e74 ,an individual appointed under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the ,administrator1 subject to section #geaa of title #e4 ,however1 an appointment under this paragraph may be converted from one in the excepted service to a career conditional or career appointment in the competitive civil service 7as defined in section #bajb of title #e7 when the individual achieves full performance level air traffic controller status1 as determined by the ,administrator4 7#c7 ,enhanced-,,cti grant program 7,a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration shall establish and carry out a grant program to award grants to institutions of higher education 7as defined by the ,administrator7 that have been approved to1 or are seeking to 7as determined appropriate by the ,administrator71 participate in the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program described in paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,grants 7i7 ,in general ,for the purpose of carrying out the grant program established under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall make grants to institutions of higher education4 7ii7 ,use of funds ,an institution of higher education shall use a grant awarded under this paragraph for the following purposes3 7,i7 ,to develop curriculum for the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program required under paragraph 7#a74 7,,ii7 ,to provide faculty1 simulators1 and other necessary classroom supplies 7including medical certificates and ,,faa-required tests7 to the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program4 7,,iii7 ,for any other purpose determined appropriate by the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration4 7iii7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph1 an institution of higher education shall submit an application to the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration at such time1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7iv7 ,funding ,there is authorized to be appropriated #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca to carry out this paragraph4 4 7b7 ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program faculty annuity supplement ,section #hdba;a7c7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking 2 or and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 or2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#c7 air traffic control instructor1 or supervisor thereof1 at an institution of higher education participating in the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program described in section #ddejf7;c7 of title #di4 4 7c7 ,,faa ,academy and ,collegiate ,training ,initiative program curriculum aviation rulemaking committee 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall convene an aviation rulemaking committee to-- 7,a7 review-- 7i7 the curricula of the air traffic technical training academy of the ,,faa1 the ,collegiate ,training ,initiative program1 and the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program2 and 7ii7 the ,air ,traffic ,skills ,assessment 7in this section referred to as the ,,atsa7 exam2 7,b7 develop findings and recommendations regarding the improvement and modernization of such curricula and the ,,atsa exam2 and 7,c7 provide to the ,administrator a report on such findings and recommendations and for other related purposes as determined by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,composition ,the aviation rulemaking committee established under paragraph 7#a7 shall consist of members appointed by the ,administrator1 including representatives of-- 7,a7 institutions of higher education that are accredited by the ,aviation ,accreditation ,board ,international2 7,b7 aviation industry organizations2 7,c7 ,,faa subject matter experts2 7,d7 the exclusive bargaining representative of the air traffic controllers certified under section #gaaa of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7,e7 other aviation safety experts determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#c7 ,considerations ,the aviation rulemaking committee established under paragraph 7#a7 shall consider the following3 7,a7 ,the advancements in education technology1 including digital resources that may be incorporated into a modern curriculum4 7,b7 ,the appropriate balance between the use of theoretical knowledge and practical application4 7,c7 ,a review of instructional techniques to improve the effectiveness of learning outcomes4 7,d7 ,the real-world applicability of air traffic operations procedures included in the curriculum4 7,e7 ,student success rates1 including outcomes of air traffic controller trainees when placed at facilities for on-the-job training4 7,f7 ,methods for reducing the subjectivity of instructional techniques4 7,g7 ,methods for improving the ,,atsa exam to support controller facility placement determinations4 7,h7 ,student success rates correlated to the ,collegiate ,training ,initiative program and the ,enhanced-,collegiate ,training ,initiative program described in section #ddejf7;c7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code4 7,i7 ,other considerations as determined appropriate by the ,administrator4 7#d7 ,duties ,the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this section1 submit to ,congress a copy of the aviation rulemaking committee report provided to the ,administrator under paragraph 7#a77;,c72 and 7,b7 not later than #ahj days after the date of submission of the report under subparagraph 7,a71 in consultation with other agencies as determined appropriate by the ,administrator-- 7i7 initiate a rulemaking activity or make such policy and guidance updates necessary to address any consensus recommendations reached by the aviation rulemaking committee2 or 7ii7 submit to ,congress a supplemental report with an explanation for each such consensus recommendation not adopted by the ,administrator through an action under clause 7i74 7#e7 ,prohibition on ,compensation ,the members of the aviation rulemaking committee convened under this subsection shall not receive pay1 allowances1 or benefits from the ,federal ,government by reason of their service on such committee4 #d4 ,air traffic control training improvements and retention incentives 7a7 ,,faa facility training equipment improvements ,section #dae of the ,,faa ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbd 7#di ,u4,s4,c4 #ddejf note7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7f7 ,funding ,there is authorized to be appropriated #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca for the purpose of the procurement and placement of ,,tss at air traffic control facilities in the ,united ,states1 consistent with the requirements of this section4 4 7b7 ,air traffic controller qualification incentives and retention enhancements ,section #ddejf of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7g7 ,retention bonuses 7#a7 ,,cpc qualification incentive ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish1 in accordance with the requirements described in section #djabb7;a71 a qualification incentive program for trainees for the position of air traffic controller 7as defined in section #baji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code7 with the ,department of ,transportation4 7#b7 ,,atc retention incentive ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall establish1 in accordance with the requirements described in section #djabb7;a71 a retention incentive program for air traffic controllers 7as defined in section #baji of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code7 with the ,department of ,transportation who are ,certified ,professional ,controllers4 4 #e4 ,other improvements 7a7 ,air traffic controller mental health improvements 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,administrator shall establish1 in consultation with aviation industry stakeholders and aviation medical professionals1 a training course to-- 7,a7 support the development of mental health providers with an innate knowledge and understanding of the ,,faa criteria and decision making regarding mental health conditions for air traffic controllers2 and 7,b7 develop advanced training programs for ,aviation ,medical ,examiners with respect to mental health4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in establishing the training course under paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall consider-- 7,a7 the feasibility of virtual and in-person course offerings2 and 7,b7 the need for an advisory board to ensure continuous improvement of the training course4 7b7 ,report on the ,airport ,non-,cooperative ,surveillance ,radar program ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,administrator shall submit to the ,committees on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation and ,appropriations of the ,senate and the ,committees on ,transportation and ,infrastructure and ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the status of the ,airport ,non-cooperative ,surveillance ,radar 7in this subsection referred to as ,,ansr7 program1 including-- 7#a7 a determination of funding needs for the ,,ansr program2 7#b7 a cost-benefit analysis of the most effective solutions to provide ongoing ,,ansr services1 including a comparison of a sustainment approach versus a replacement approach2 7#c7 an analysis of how the ,,faa intends to provide commercial service airports with the necessary equipment1 including radar1 to detect and mitigate any threat posed by non-cooperative flying objects1 including aircraft1 unmanned aerial systems1 balloons1 and other objects determined appropriate by the ,administrator2 7#d7 an update on the ,radar ,divestiture ,program2 7#e7 the projected lifecycle support needs of the existing inventory of non-cooperative ,airport ,surveillance ,radar ,models #h1 #i1 and #aa2 and 7#f7 any other information determined appropriate by the ,administrator4