119-s1985

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1985 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1985

 To improve aviation safety, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 5, 2025

 Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, 
Mr. Kaine, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Warnock) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
 Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To improve aviation safety, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Operations of 
Shared Airspace Act of 2025''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 3. Expert compliance review of FAA Safety Management System.

Sec. 4. ADS-B Out Reforms.

Sec. 5. ADS-B In requirement to enhance safety.

Sec. 6. Safety reviews of airspace.

Sec. 7. FAA-Department of Defense Safety Information Sharing.

Sec. 8. No disruptions to FAA workforce.

Sec. 9. Extension of FAA air traffic controller max hiring requirement.

Sec. 10. Air traffic controller training improvements.

Sec. 11. TARAM analyses.

Sec. 12. Employee reporting.

Sec. 13. Conflicts of interest.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
 Administrator of the FAA.

    (2) ADS-B in.--The term ``ADS-B In'' means onboard avionics 
 technology that periodically receives ADS-B Out broadcasts of 
 an aircraft's state vector (3-dimensional position and 3-
 dimensional velocity) and other required information as 
 described in part 91.277 of title 14, Code of Federal 
 Regulations (or a successor regulation).

    (3) ADS-B out.--The term ``ADS-B Out'' has the meaning 
 given such term in 

section 91.227 of title 14, Code of Federal 
 Regulations (or a successor regulation).

    (4) Air carrier; foreign air carrier.--The terms ``air 
 carrier'' and ``foreign air carrier'' have the meanings given 
 such terms in 

section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.

    (5) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
 ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
 Representatives.

    (6) Cabinet member.--The term ``Cabinet Member'' means an 
 individual who is the head (including an acting head) of the 
 Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department 
 of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, 
 Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland 
 Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
 Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, Department 
 of Labor, Department of State, Department of Transportation, 
 Department of the Treasury, or Department of Veterans Affairs, 
 or any other individual who occupies a position designated by 
 the President as a Cabinet-level position.

    (7) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General'' 
 means the Comptroller General of the United States.

    (8) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation 
 Administration.

    (9) Powered-lift.--The term ``powered-lift'' has the 
 meaning given such term in 

section 1.1 of title 14, Code of 
 Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).

    (10) Rotorcraft.--The term ``rotorcraft'' has the meaning 
 given such term in 

section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal 
 Regulations (or a successor regulation).

    (11) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Transportation.

    (12) SMS.--The term ``SMS'' means a safety management 
 system.

    (13) Transport airplane.--The term ``transport airplane'' 
 means a transport category airplane designed for operation by 
 an air carrier or foreign air carrier type-certificated with a 
 passenger seating capacity of 30 or more or an all-cargo or 
 combi derivative.

    (14) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ```unmanned 
 aircraft system''' has the meaning given such term in 

section 44801 of title 49, United States Code.

SEC. 3. EXPERT COMPLIANCE REVIEW OF FAA SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

    (a) Expert Compliance Review.--

    (1) Establishment.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
 date of enactment of this section, the Administrator 
 shall convene an independent expert panel (in this 
 section referred to as the ``review panel'') to review 
 and make findings and recommendations on the matters 
 listed in paragraph

    (2) .
        (B) === Purpose ===
-The purpose of the review panel is to 
 review and evaluate FAA orders and policies to inform 
 the FAA's implementation of a comprehensive and 
 integrated SMS for all lines of business within the 
 FAA.

    (2) Contents of review.--The review panel shall review the 
 following:
        (A) The extent to which the FAA's SMS complies with 
 relevant FAA orders and policies.
        (B) The actual and projected safety enhancements 
 achieved through the FAA's prior implementation of SMS.
            (C) The effectiveness of SMS, including with 
 respect to the implementation of the following 4 
 components:
            (i) Safety policy.
            (ii) Safety risk management.
            (iii) Safety assurance.
            (iv) Safety promotion.
            (D) The extent to which SMS and each of the 4 
 components described in subparagraph
            (C) are integrated 
 among and across all lines of business of the FAA.
        (E) The extent to which SMS and each of the 4 
 components so described are understood, communicated, 
 and trained to personnel at the FAA.
        (F) The efficacy of the FAA's Voluntary Safety 
 Reporting Programs as part of SMS, including any 
 actions taken by the FAA in response to reports filed 
 under such program.
        (G) Whether the Federal Government should advocate 
 for changes to Annex 19-Safety Management of the 
 International Civil Aviation Organization (in this 
 section referred to as ``ICAO'') to ensure appropriate 
 updates to the State Safety Program standards and 
 recommended practices, including--
            (i) a systems-level approach to evaluating 
 and improving SMS for air navigation service 
 providers; and
            (ii) the implementation of SMS for civil 
 aviation regulators.
        (H) Any other matter determined by the 
 Administrator for which review by the review panel 
 would be consistent with the public interest in 
 aviation safety.

    (3) Composition of review panel.--
        (A) Appointed members.--The review panel shall 
 consist of the following members appointed by the 
 Administrator:
            (i) Two representatives of the National 
 Aeronautics and Space Administration with 
 expertise in SMSs.
            (ii) Three appropriately qualified 
 representatives of aviation labor organizations 
 (designated by the applicable represented 
 organization), including--
            (I) the principal organization 
 representing the largest certified 
 collective bargaining representative of 
 airline pilots; and
            (II) the exclusive bargaining 
 representatives of FAA air traffic 
 controllers certified under 

section 7111 of title 5, United States Code.
            (iii) Not less than 5 independent subject 
 matter experts in safety management systems 
 who--
            (I) have not served as a political 
 appointee in the FAA; and
            (II) have a minimum of 10 years of 
 relevant applied experience.
            (iv) Three representatives from the 
 aviation industry with expertise in SMS.
            (v) A representative of the United States 
 Mission to the ICAO.
        (B) Advisory members.--
            (i) In general.--In addition to the 
 appointed members described in subparagraph
        (A) , the review panel shall be advised by up to 
 5 employees of the FAA, at least 3 of whom 
 shall be subject matter experts in implementing 
 SMS at the FAA.
            (ii) Duties.--The advisory members may take 
 part in deliberations of the review panel and 
 provide subject matter expertise with respect 
 to the review panel's work.

    (4) Recommendations.--The review panel shall issue 
 recommendations to the Administrator based on the review of the 
 matters listed in paragraph

    (2) in order to inform the FAA's 
 implementation of a comprehensive and integrated SMS for all 
 lines of business within the FAA.

    (5) Report.--
        (A) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the 
 date of the first meeting of the review panel, the 
 review panel shall submit to the Administrator and the 
 appropriate committees of Congress a report containing 
 the findings and recommendations regarding the matters 
 listed in paragraph

    (2) that are endorsed by a majority 
 of the review panel.
        (B) Dissenting views.--In submitting the report 
 under subparagraph
        (A) , the review panel shall append 
 to such report the dissenting views of any individual 
 member or group of members of the review panel 
 regarding the findings or recommendations of the review 
 panel.
            (C) Publication.--Not later than 5 days after 
 receiving the report under subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 Administrator shall publish such report, including any 
 dissenting views appended to the report, on the website 
 of the FAA.
            (D) Termination.--The review panel shall terminate 
 upon the submission of the report under subparagraph
        (A) .

    (6) Administrative provisions.--
        (A) Access to information.--
            (i) In general.--The review panel shall 
 have the authority to perform the following 
 actions if a majority of the review panel 
 members consider each action necessary and 
 appropriate:
            (I) Entering onto the premises of 
 the FAA for access to and inspection of 
 records or other purposes.
            (II) Notwithstanding any other 
 provision of law, except as provided in 
 clause
            (ii) , accessing and inspecting 
 de-identified, but otherwise 
 unredacted, records directly necessary 
 for the completion of the review 
 panel's work under this section that 
 are in the possession of the FAA.
            (III) Interviewing employees of the 
 FAA as necessary for the review panel 
 to complete its work.
            (ii) Non-federal government members.--
 Members of the review panel who are not 
 officers or employees of the Federal Government 
 shall only have access to, and be allowed to 
 inspect, information provided to the FAA 
 pursuant to 

section 40123 of title 49, United 
 States Code, and part 193 of title 14, Code of 
 Federal Regulations, in a de-identified form.
        (B) Nondisclosure of confidential information.--
            (i) Nondisclosure for non-federal 
 government members.--
            (I) Non-federal government 
 participants.--Prior to participating 
 on the review panel, each individual 
 serving on the review panel 
 representing a non-Federal entity shall 
 execute an agreement with the 
 Administrator in which the individual 
 shall be prohibited from disclosing at 
 any time, except as required by law, to 
 any person, foreign or domestic, any 
 non-public information made available 
 to the panel under subparagraph
        (A) .
            (II) Federal government 
 participants.--Federal officers or 
 employees serving on the review panel 
 as representatives of the Federal 
 Government and subject to the 
 requirement to protect confidential 
 information (including proprietary 
 information and trade secrets under 
 

section 1905 of title 18, United States 
 Code) shall not be required to execute 
 agreements under this clause.
            (ii) Protection of information.--
 Information that is obtained or reviewed by the 
 review panel shall not constitute a waiver of 
 the protections applicable to the information 
 under 

section 552 of title 5, United States 
 Code (commonly referred to as the ``Freedom of 
 Information Act''). Members of the review panel 
 shall protect such information to the extent 
 required under applicable law.
            (iii) Protection of proprietary information 
 and trade secrets.--Members of the review panel 
 shall protect proprietary information, trade 
 secrets, and other information otherwise exempt 
 under 

section 552 of title 5, United States 
 Code, to the extent permitted under applicable 
 law.

    (7) Inapplicability of faca.--The review panel shall not be 
 subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly 
 referred to as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act'').

    (8) Process improvements.--Not later than 1 year after the 
 submission of the recommendations under paragraph

    (4) , the 
 Administrator shall report to the appropriate committees of 
 Congress on the status of any ongoing actions in response to 
 such recommendations, including the status of implementation of 
 each of the recommendations of the review panel, if any, with 
 which the Administrator concurs.

    (b) Non-Concurrence With Recommendations.--Not later than 6 months 
after submission of the recommendations under subsection

    (a)

    (4) , with 
respect to each recommendation of the review panel with which the 
Administrator does not concur, if any, the Administrator shall publish 
on the website of the FAA and submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a detailed explanation for such determination.

SEC. 4. ADS-B OUT REFORMS.

    (a) Applicability of Certain Exceptions.--For purposes of applying 

section 91.225

    (f) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
successor regulation), the term ``sensitive government mission'' shall 
be strictly construed and shall not include training flights, flights 
of Federal officials below the rank of Cabinet Member, or any routine 
flights.

    (b) Conforming Amendment.--

Section 1046

    (e)

    (3) of the John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (49 U.S.C. 
40101 note) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (3) The term `special mission aircraft' means an aircraft 
 the Secretary of Defense designates, in coordination with the 
 Federal Aviation Administration, for a unique mission to which 
 operating with ADS-B Out equipment installed and activated 
 creates a unique risk when weighed against any risk to the 
 safety of the national airspace system posed by non-equipage 
 and deactivation of ADS-B Out equipment.''.
            (c) Administrative Action.--The Administrator shall modify 

section 91.225

    (f) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulation), and any pertinent Memorandum of Agreement, to conform with 
the requirements of this section.
            (d) GAO Review and Report.--Not later than the date that is 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General 
shall--

    (1) review the utilization of exceptions specified in 
 

section 91.225

    (f) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or 
 any successor regulation), as modified to conform with the 
 requirements of this section, and 

section 1046

    (e)

    (3) of the 
 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
 Year 2019 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note), as amended by subsection

    (b) , 
 to determine whether the Department of Defense and other 
 relevant Federal agencies, or other applicable operators, have 
 utilized those exceptions in accordance with relevant law and 
 regulation and the extent of such utilization; and

    (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
 report on the findings of the review conducted under paragraph

    (1) .

    (e) FAA Review.--Upon submission of the report specified in 
subsection
            (d) (2) , the Administrator shall determine whether any 
Federal agencies that have been found to have not utilized exceptions 
in accordance with relevant laws and regulations shall be permitted to 
continue to utilize those exceptions. The Administrator shall brief the 
appropriate committees of Congress on such determination.

    (f) Joint Council.--The Administrator, through the Office of FAA-
DOD Coordination established or designated under 

section 6, and the 
Secretary of Defense, shall establish a joint council to regularly 
review all operations, including those operated by Federal agencies, 
that utilize the exceptions to the ADS-B Out equipage and transmission 
requirements to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations. 
The joint council shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on 
an annual basis.

SEC. 5. ADS-B IN REQUIREMENT TO ENHANCE SAFETY.

    (a) Deadline for Compliance.--Not later than the date that is 4 
years after the date of enactment of this section, an air carrier 
operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations or 
providing service under part 135 of title 14 of such Code pursuant to a 
schedule or in conjunction with part 380 of title 14 of such Code may 
not operate an aircraft unless the aircraft has Automatic Dependent 
Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) equipment installed and 
operational at all times unless otherwise authorized by air traffic 
control, regardless of whether the Administrator has issued regulations 
to implement such requirement.

    (b) Performance Requirements.--The Administrator shall determine 
appropriate performance requirements for the ADS-B In equipment 
referenced in subsection

    (a) for the purposes of providing safety-
enhancing capabilities for flight crews, including but not limited to 
increasing situational awareness, receiving indications and alerts of 
air traffic conflicts, and facilitating aircraft collision avoidance. 
The Administrator shall issue relevant guidance to operators and other 
appropriate stakeholders on the types of equipment that satisfy the 
requirements of this section.

SEC. 6. SAFETY REVIEWS OF AIRSPACE.

    (a) FAA-DOD Coordination .--Not later than 30 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall establish or 
designate an office within the FAA as the Office of FAA-DOD 
Coordination (in this section referred to as the ``Office''), which 
shall--

    (1) coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and 
 rotorcraft with relevant FAA lines of business including the 
 Air Traffic Organization; and

    (2) carry out the safety review required by subsection

    (b) .

    (b) Safety Reviews.--

    (1) Review of ronald reagan washington national airport.--
 Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Office is 
 established or designated, the Administrator, in coordination 
 with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any other 
 Federal agencies determined appropriate by the Administrator, 
 shall initiate a safety review (in this subsection referred to 
 as the ``review'') of all military, law enforcement, and 
 civilian rotary wing, powered lift, and unmanned aircraft 
 system flight operations and flight routes in the Washington DC 
 Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, including but not 
 limited to flight operations conducted by the Department of 
 Defense and emergency response providers, to evaluate any 
 associated safety risk on commercial transport airplane 
 operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

    (2) Other airport reviews.--
        (A) In general.--The Administrator, in coordination 
 with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any 
 Federal agencies determined appropriate by the 
 Administrator, shall conduct safety reviews of all 
 military, law enforcement and civilian rotary wing, 
 powered lift, and unmanned aircraft system flight 
 operations and flight routes at other Class B airports 
 (as listed in 

section 1 of Appendix D to part 91 of 
 title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
 regulation)) in Class B airspace in the national 
 airspace system, including flight operations conducted 
 by the Department of Defense and emergency response 
 providers, to evaluate any associated safety risk on 
 commercial transport airplane operations.
        (B) Prioritization.--
            (i) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
 after the date of enactment of this section, 
 for the sole purpose of carrying out the safety 
 reviews required by subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 Administrator shall classify Class B airports 
 into the following categories based on the 
 volume of mixed air traffic at each airport, as 
 determined by the Administrator:
            (I) Class B airports with higher 
 volumes of mixed air traffic.
            (II) Class B airports with lower 
 volumes of mixed air traffic.
            (ii) Priority.--In conducting the safety 
 reviews required by subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 Administrator shall prioritize the evaluation 
 of Class B airports in the category under 
 clause
            (i) 
            (I) .
            (C) Deadline of initiation of reviews.--
            (i) Class b airports with higher volumes.--
 The Administrator shall initiate the review 
 under subparagraph
        (A) of Class B airports in 
 the category under subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (I) no 
 later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
 of this section.
            (ii) Class b airports with lower volumes.--
 The Administrator shall initiate the review 
 under subparagraph
        (A) of Class B airports in 
 the category under subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (II) no 
 later than 90 days after the deadline for 
 completion of the reviews under paragraph

    (4)
        (B)
            (i) .

    (3) Requirements.--In conducting the safety reviews 
 required by paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) , the Office shall do the 
 following:
        (A) Analyze air traffic and airspace management.
        (B) Evaluate the level of coordination the 
 Administrator exercises with the Secretary of Defense 
 and the heads of any other Federal agencies, and 
 emergency response providers as appropriate, to inform 
 the designation and approval of airspace use and flight 
 routes for non-transport airplane operations.
            (C) Assess any risks posed to transport airplanes 
 from military aircraft, civil rotorcraft, powered lift 
 aircraft, and unmanned aircraft systems operating in 
 Class B airspace in proximity to Class B airports.
            (D) Review relevant incidents submitted to the 
 Administrator through Air Traffic Mandatory Occurrence 
 reports (as documented via FAA Form 7210-13), Aviation 
 Safety Reporting System reports, and Aviation Safety 
 Action Program reports, and relevant reports submitted 
 to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
 Space Administration through the Aviation Safety 
 Reporting System, to identify any safety trends 
 regarding the operation of military aircraft, civil 
 rotorcraft, powered lift aircraft, and unmanned 
 aircraft systems in Class B airspace near Class B 
 airports.
        (E) Select appropriately qualified representatives 
 of aviation labor organizations (designated by the 
 applicable represented organization) as participants in 
 the reviews, including, at a minimum--
            (i) the principal organization representing 
 the largest certified collective bargaining 
 representative of airline pilots; and
            (ii) the exclusive bargaining 
 representative of air traffic controllers of 
 the FAA certified under 

section 7111 of title 
 5, United States Code.

    (4) Deadlines for completion of safety reviews.--
        (A) Ronald reagan washington national airport.--The 
 Administrator shall complete the safety review required 
 by paragraphs

    (1) not later than 120 days after the 
 date on which such review is initiated.
        (B) Other airports.--
            (i) Class b airports with higher volumes.--
 The Administrator shall complete the safety 
 reviews required by paragraphs

    (2) of Class B 
 airports in the category under subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (I) of such paragraph no later than 2 
 years after the date on which the first of such 
 reviews is initiated.
            (ii) Class b airports with lower volumes.--
 The Administrator shall complete the safety 
 review required by paragraphs

    (2) of Class B 
 airports in the category under subparagraph
        (B)
            (i) 
            (II) of such paragraph no later than 2 
 years after the deadline for completion of the 
 reviews under clause
            (i) .

    (5) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the safety 
 reviews required by paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) are completed, the 
 Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
 Congress a report detailing the analysis and results of the 
 review, together with relevant findings and recommendations, 
 including any recommendations for legislative or administrative 
 action determined appropriate by the Administrator.

SEC. 7. FAA-DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAFETY INFORMATION SHARING.

    (a) MOU With the Department of the Army.--Not later than the date 
that is 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of the Army shall 
establish a Memorandum of Understanding to permit, as appropriate, the 
sharing of information from the Army's Safety Management Information 
System with the FAA to facilitate communications and analysis of any 
applicable impacts to the safety and efficiency of civil aviation 
operations and to mitigate risk in the national airspace system.

    (b) Other Department of Defense MOUs.--Not later than the date that 
is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall establish a Memorandum of Understanding 
with the following military departments to permit, as appropriate, the 
sharing of information from applicable aviation safety information 
systems to facilitate communications and analysis of any applicable 
impacts to the safety and efficiency of civil aviation operations and 
to mitigate risk in the national airspace system:

    (1) The Department of the Navy.

    (2) The Department of the Air Force.

    (3) The Coast Guard.

SEC. 8. NO DISRUPTIONS TO FAA WORKFORCE.

    (a) Hiring Freeze Exclusion.--

    (1) In general.--Any action by the President, the 
 Secretary, the Administrator, the Director of the Office of 
 Personnel Management, or other head, officer, or employee of a 
 Federal executive entity to halt appointment activities in the 
 Federal service on or after the date of enactment of this 
 section shall exclude the FAA workforce.

    (2) Retroactive application.--Each action by the President, 
 the Secretary, the Administrator, the Director of the Office of 
 Personnel Management, or other head, officer, or employee of a 
 Federal executive entity to halt appointment activities at the 
 FAA during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and ending 
 on the date of enactment of this section is reversed.

    (b) Deferred Resignation Program and Voluntary Furlough 
Exclusion.--

    (1) In general.--Any action on or after the date of 
 enactment of this section by the President, the Secretary, the 
 Administrator, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management, or other head, officer, or employee of a Federal 
 executive entity to offer a deferred resignation program or 
 voluntary furlough opportunity to Federal employees shall 
 exclude the FAA workforce.

    (2) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
 construed to affect the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments 
 program carried out under part 576 of title 5, Code of Federal 
 Regulations (as in effect on January 1, 2025).
            (c) GAO Review of FAA Probationary Personnel Terminations.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall 
 initiate a review of each action by the President, the 
 Secretary, the Administrator, the Director of the Office of 
 Personnel Management, and other head, officer, or employee of a 
 Federal executive entity during the period beginning on 
 February 14, 2025, and ending on the date of enactment of this 
 section to terminate an employee in a probationary period of 
 employment of the FAA.

    (2) Requirements.--In conducting the review, the 
 Comptroller General shall evaluate--
        (A) whether a comprehensive safety risk management 
 analysis evaluating the impacts of the proposed 
 workforce reduction on the safety and efficiency of the 
 national airspace system was performed by the Secretary 
 or Administrator prior to the terminations;
        (B) whether the President, the Secretary, the 
 Administrator, the Director of the Office of Personnel 
 Management, or other head, officer, or employee of a 
 Federal executive entity made efforts to notify 
 congressional committees of jurisdiction of the 
 proposed and confirmed workforce reductions; and
            (C) whether the workforce reductions resulted in a 
 detrimental impact to the safety and efficiency of the 
 national airspace system.

    (3) Deadline.--The Comptroller General shall complete the 
 review required by this subsection not later than 180 days 
 after the date on which the review is initiated.

    (4) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which 
 the review is completed, the Comptroller General shall submit 
 to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing 
 the results of the review together with relevant findings and 
 recommendations, including any recommendations for legislative 
 or administrative action.
            (d) Prohibition on FAA Staffing Reductions.--The Secretary and the 
Administrator shall not--

    (1) carry out a reduction in force for employees of the 
 FAA; or

    (2) reduce the number of full-time equivalent positions at 
 the FAA.

SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER MAX HIRING REQUIREMENT.

 

Section 437

    (a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 
44506 note) is amended by striking ``2028'' and inserting ``2033''.

SEC. 10. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program.--

    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall leverage the 
 Collegiate Training Initiative program described in 

section 44506
            (c) of title 49, United States Code, to maintain an 
 Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program (in 
 this section referred to as the ``Enhanced Initiative'') to 
 support the recruitment, education, and hiring of well-
 qualified developmental air traffic controllers.

    (2) Requirements.--In maintaining the Enhanced Initiative 
 under paragraph

    (1) , the Administrator shall, at a minimum, 
 include the following criteria:
        (A) Selecting and leveraging partnerships with 
 accredited institutions of higher education (as defined 
 in 

section 61.1 of title 14, Code of Federal 
 Regulations) that administer an accredited air traffic 
 curriculum to undergraduate students.
        (B) Determining criteria for accredited 
 institutions of higher education to participate in the 
 Enhanced Initiative.
            (C) Soliciting applications from, and provide 
 guidance to, interested accredited institutions of 
 higher education that administer an accredited air 
 traffic curriculum to undergraduate students, including 
 accredited institutions that participate in the 
 Collegiate Training Initiative, to help increase 
 qualified accredited institutions participating in the 
 Enhanced Initiative.

    (3) Selection criteria.--Prior to selecting an accredited 
 institution of higher education for participation in the 
 Enhanced Initiative, the Administrator shall--
        (A) evaluate the institution's air traffic 
 curriculum, including the institution's--
            (i) access to air traffic educational 
 resources; and
            (ii) proximity and access to air traffic 
 facilities and equipment;
        (B) certify that each institution of higher 
 education seeking to participate in the Enhanced 
 Initiative has a qualified air traffic curriculum that 
 provides, at a minimum, an equivalent level of 
 education and training for air traffic controller 
 trainees to that provided at the FAA Academy; and
            (C) certify that all evaluations of students at 
 accredited institutions of higher education seeking to 
 participate in the Enhanced Initiative shall be 
 conducted by FAA-approved and certified evaluators.

    (4) Program expansion.--The Administrator shall establish a 
 minimum target of certifying 15 qualified institutions of 
 higher education that meet the criteria described in this 
 section for selection to participate in the Enhanced 
 Initiative. The qualified institutions of higher education 
 selected for such minimum target shall include any institution 
 of higher education selected and certified by the Administrator 
 for participation in the Enhanced Initiative as of January 20, 
 2025.

    (5) Hiring qualified graduates.--The Administrator may 
 appoint qualified individuals who have successively completed 
 an air traffic curriculum certified by the Administrator under 
 paragraph

    (3) at a participating institution of higher 
 education selected by the Administrator and received at least a 
 well-qualified score on the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, or 
 successor air traffic entrance exam, on a non-competitive basis 
 for the position of Air Traffic Control Specialist in the 
 excepted service (as defined in 

section 2103 of title 5, United 
 States Code).

    (6) Supporting the hiring of qualified instructors.--Using 
 amounts made available under 

section 106

    (k)

    (1) of title 49, 
 United States Code, the Administrator may award funds to 
 support the recruitment and hiring of qualified faculty and 
 FAA-approved and certified evaluators at accredited 
 institutions of higher education that administer an accredited 
 air traffic curriculum to undergraduate students that either--
        (A) participate in the Collegiate Training 
 Initiative and are interested and qualified applicants 
 for participation in the Enhanced Initiative; or
        (B) have been selected by the Administrator for 
 participation in the Enhanced Initiative.

    (7) Review of enhanced at-cti program.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the 
 date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller 
 General shall initiate a study to examine the 
 effectiveness of the Enhanced Initiative in increasing 
 FAA air traffic controller education and training 
 capacity and throughput to grow the FAA air traffic 
 controller workforce.
        (B) Contents.--In conducting the study under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the Comptroller General shall, at a 
 minimum, evaluate the effectiveness of the program in 
 producing--
            (i) students that score at least a well-
 qualified score on the Air Traffic Skills 
 Assessment or successor air traffic entrance 
 exam;
            (ii) developmental controllers that enter 
 en route and terminal air traffic environments 
 after completing the Enhanced Initiative; and
            (iii) developmental controllers that become 
 Certified Professional Controllers.
            (C) Consultation.--In conducting the study required 
 under subparagraph
        (A) , the Comptroller General shall 
 consult with the FAA and appropriate stakeholders 
 involved in overseeing, operating, and administering 
 the Enhanced Initiative.
            (D) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
 the Comptroller General initiates the study under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the Comptroller General shall submit 
 to the appropriate committees of Congress and the 
 Administrator a report describing the results of the 
 study, together with any appropriate recommendations 
 for legislative or administrative action.

    (b) Improving Aviation Medical Examiner Staffing.--Using amounts 
made available under 

section 106

    (k)

    (1) of title 49, United States Code, 
the Administrator shall exercise all actions necessary to hire 
qualified licensed medical physicians with knowledge of or a background 
in aerospace medicine, psychiatry, psychology, neurology, cardiology, 
or internal medicine in order to--

    (1) increase the Aviation Medical Examiner (as described in 
 

section 183.21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations) 
 workforce; and

    (2) achieve maximum staffing capacity within the FAA Office 
 of Aerospace Medicine.
            (c) Air Traffic Control Instructor Recruitment Program.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
 enactment of this section, the Administrator shall develop and 
 execute an air traffic control instructor outreach and 
 engagement program to assist with the recruitment, hiring, and 
 retention of air traffic control instructors at the FAA Academy 
 and at FAA air traffic control facilities with a demonstrated 
 shortage of air traffic control personnel to provide classroom 
 instruction or on-the-job training.

    (2) Requirements.--In executing the program under paragraph

    (1) , the Administrator shall conduct outreach and engagement 
 activities relating to air traffic control instructor career 
 opportunities to air traffic controllers who are within 1 year 
 of--
        (A) meeting the age and service requirements for an 
 annuity under sections 8336

    (e) and 8412

    (e) of title 5, 
 United States Code; and
        (B) attaining the mandatory separation age for air 
 traffic controllers described in sections 8335

    (a) and 
 8425

    (a) of title 5, United States Code.

    (3) Consideration.--In developing the outreach and 
 engagement program, the Administrator may consider the results 
 of the study conducted in 

section 416 of the FAA 
 Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63, 138 Stat. 
 1161).

    (4) Publication.--In executing the program under paragraph

    (1) , the Administrator shall make publicly available on the 
 website of the FAA, in a conspicuous manner, qualification 
 criteria and hiring materials relating to air traffic control 
 instructor careers, including active job postings for air 
 traffic control instructors.

SEC. 11. TARAM ANALYSES.

    (a) Assessment.--

    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall conduct a 
 Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology (in this section 
 referred to as ``TARAM'') analysis with respect to any 
 transport airplane accidents in the United States that result 
 in a fatality, regardless of whether an aircraft design or a 
 manufacturing issue is believed to have contributed to the 
 accident.

    (2) Report.--Not later than 30 days after conducting a 
 TARAM analysis in accordance with paragraph

    (1) , the 
 Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
 Congress a report containing the results of the analysis, 
 together with recommendations for such legislation and 
 administrative action as the Administrator determines 
 appropriate.

    (3) Employee designation.--Not later than 60 days after the 
 date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall 
 designate multiple employees of the FAA as experts for the 
 TARAM analysis process who shall be responsible for the 
 advocacy, maintenance, and training of TARAM guidance and 
 processes, including updating FAA Policy Statement PS-ANM-25-
 05, Risk Assessment Methodology for Transport Category 
 Airplanes (dated November 4, 2011) to reflect, among other 
 things, current National Transportation Safety Board accident 
 rates.

    (b) Required Updates.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Administrator shall revise FAA Policy 
Statement PS-ANM-25-05, Risk Assessment Methodology for Transport 
Category Airplanes (dated November 4, 2011) and any successor policy 
statement in accordance with the requirements of this section.
            (c) Conforming Amendment.--

Section 130
            (c) of the Aircraft 
Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (Public Law 116-260; 134 
Stat. 2349) is amended to read as follows:
 ``
            (c) Required Notice.--The Administrator shall provide notice to 
the congressional committees of jurisdiction on the findings and 
recommendations of a TARAM conducted following a transport airplane 
accident in which a loss of life occurred.''.

SEC. 12. EMPLOYEE REPORTING.

    (a) Whistleblower Audit.--

    (1) In general.--The Inspector General of the Department of 
 Transportation shall initiate an audit of the FAA, including 
 the FAA Whistleblower Protection Program, to review whether the 
 FAA is appropriately processing and acting on submitted 
 complaints.

    (2) Requirement.--The audit conducted under paragraph

    (1) shall not compromise the identity of any individual who 
 submitted a report through the Whistleblower Protection Program 
 or the FAA Hotline of the FAA Office of Audit and Evaluation.

    (b) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
containing the results of the audit conducted under subsection

    (a) , 
together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative 
action as the Inspector General determines appropriate.

SEC. 13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

    (a) Interim Final Rule.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
an interim final rule to require strict adherence to the requirements 
described in 

section 208 of title 18, United States Code.

    (b) Compliance Review and Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Transportation shall review the Department of 
Transportation's compliance with the requirements of this section and 
identify any applicable conflict of interest waivers granted by the 
Federal Government for the Department of Transportation relating to 
Department of Transportation and FAA employees, contracting, 
acquisition, and procurement, and shall brief the appropriate 
committees of Congress about the findings of such review.
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