119-s697

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 697 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 697

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for air traffic 
 control training improvements, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 24, 2025

 Mr. Hoeven (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Moran) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for air traffic 
 control training improvements, 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.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Air Traffic Control Workforce 
Development Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
 Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

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

SEC. 3. COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 44506
            (c) of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
 ``
            (c) Collegiate Training Initiative.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal 
 Aviation Administration shall maintain the Collegiate Training 
 Initiative program (including the Enhanced-Collegiate Training 
 Initiative program) by making new agreements and continuing 
 existing agreements with institutions of higher education (as 
 defined by the Administrator) under which the institutions 
 prepare students for the position of air traffic controller 
 with the Department of Transportation (as defined in 

section 2109 of title 5). The Administrator may establish standards for 
 the entry of institutions into the program and for their 
 continued participation.
 ``

    (2) 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

    (1) to the position of air 
 traffic controller noncompetitively in the excepted service (as 
 defined in 

section 2103 of title 5). An individual appointed 
 under this paragraph serves at the pleasure of the 
 Administrator, subject to 

section 7511 of title 5. However, 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 (as defined in 
 

section 2102 of title 5) when the individual achieves full 
 performance level air traffic controller status, as determined 
 by the Administrator.
 ``

    (3) Enhanced-CTI grant program.--
 ``
        (A) Establishment.--The Administrator of the 
 Federal Aviation Administration shall establish and 
 carry out a grant program to award grants to 
 institutions of higher education (as defined by the 
 Administrator) that have been approved to, or are 
 seeking to (as determined appropriate by the 
 Administrator), participate in the Enhanced-Collegiate 
 Training Initiative program described in paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
        (B) Grants.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--For the purpose of 
 carrying out the grant program established 
 under subparagraph
        (A) , the Secretary shall 
 make grants to institutions of higher 
 education.
 ``
            (ii) Use of funds.--An institution of 
 higher education shall use a grant awarded 
 under this paragraph for the following 
 purposes:
 ``
            (I) To develop curriculum for the 
 Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative 
 program required under paragraph

    (1) .
 ``
            (II) To provide faculty, 
 simulators, and other necessary 
 classroom supplies (including medical 
 certificates and FAA-required tests) to 
 the Enhanced-Collegiate Training 
 Initiative program.
 ``
            (III) For any other purpose 
 determined appropriate by the 
 Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
 Administration.
 ``
            (iii) Eligibility.--To be eligible to 
 receive a grant under this paragraph, an 
 institution of higher education shall submit an 
 application to the Administrator of the Federal 
 Aviation Administration at such time, in such 
 form, and containing such information as the 
 Administrator may require.
 ``
            (iv) Funding.--There is authorized to be 
 appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
 years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this 
 paragraph.''.

    (b) Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative Program Faculty Annuity 
Supplement.--

Section 8421a
            (c) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``; or'' and inserting a 
 semicolon;

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; or''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (3) air traffic control instructor, or supervisor 
 thereof, at an institution of higher education participating in 
 the Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative program described 
 in 

section 44506
            (c) of title 49.''.
            (c) FAA Academy and Collegiate Training Initiative Program 
Curriculum Aviation Rulemaking Committee.--

    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall convene an 
 aviation rulemaking committee to--
        (A) review--
            (i) the curricula of the air traffic 
 technical training academy of the FAA, the 
 Collegiate Training Initiative program, and the 
 Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative 
 program; and
            (ii) the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (in 
 this section referred to as the ``ATSA'') exam;
        (B) develop findings and recommendations regarding 
 the improvement and modernization of such curricula and 
 the ATSA exam; and
            (C) provide to the Administrator a report on such 
 findings and recommendations and for other related 
 purposes as determined by the Administrator.

    (2) Composition.--The aviation rulemaking committee 
 established under paragraph

    (1) shall consist of members 
 appointed by the Administrator, including representatives of--
        (A) institutions of higher education that are 
 accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board 
 International;
        (B) aviation industry organizations;
            (C) FAA subject matter experts;
            (D) the exclusive bargaining representative of the 
 air traffic controllers certified under 

section 7111 of 
 title 5, United States Code; and
        (E) other aviation safety experts determined 
 appropriate by the Administrator.

    (3) Considerations.--The aviation rulemaking committee 
 established under paragraph

    (1) shall consider the following:
        (A) The advancements in education technology, 
 including digital resources that may be incorporated 
 into a modern curriculum.
        (B) The appropriate balance between the use of 
 theoretical knowledge and practical application.
            (C) A review of instructional techniques to improve 
 the effectiveness of learning outcomes.
            (D) The real-world applicability of air traffic 
 operations procedures included in the curriculum.
        (E) Student success rates, including outcomes of 
 air traffic controller trainees when placed at 
 facilities for on-the-job training.
        (F) Methods for reducing the subjectivity of 
 instructional techniques.
        (G) Methods for improving the ATSA exam to support 
 controller facility placement determinations.
        (H) Student success rates correlated to the 
 Collegiate Training Initiative program and the 
 Enhanced-Collegiate Training Initiative program 
 described in 

section 44506
            (c) of title 49, United 
 States Code.
            (I) Other considerations as determined appropriate 
 by the Administrator.

    (4) Duties.--The Administrator shall--
        (A) not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this section, submit to Congress a copy of 
 the aviation rulemaking committee report provided to 
 the Administrator under paragraph

    (1)
            (C) ; and
        (B) not later than 180 days after the date of 
 submission of the report under subparagraph
        (A) , in 
 consultation with other agencies as determined 
 appropriate by the Administrator--
            (i) initiate a rulemaking activity or make 
 such policy and guidance updates necessary to 
 address any consensus recommendations reached 
 by the aviation rulemaking committee; or
            (ii) submit to Congress a supplemental 
 report with an explanation for each such 
 consensus recommendation not adopted by the 
 Administrator through an action under clause
            (i) .

    (5) Prohibition on compensation.--The members of the 
 aviation rulemaking committee convened under this subsection 
 shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Federal 
 Government by reason of their service on such committee.

SEC. 4. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING IMPROVEMENTS AND RETENTION 
 INCENTIVES.

    (a) FAA Facility Training Equipment Improvements.--

Section 415 of 
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (49 U.S.C. 44506 note) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``

    (f) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for the purpose of the 
procurement and placement of TSS at air traffic control facilities in 
the United States, consistent with the requirements of this section.''.

    (b) Air Traffic Controller Qualification Incentives and Retention 
Enhancements.--

Section 44506 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
 ``

    (g) Retention Bonuses.--
 ``

    (1) CPC qualification incentive.--The Secretary of 
 Transportation shall establish, in accordance with the 
 requirements described in 

section 40122

    (a) , a qualification 
 incentive program for trainees for the position of air traffic 
 controller (as defined in 

section 2109 of title 5, United 
 States Code) with the Department of Transportation.
 ``

    (2) ATC retention incentive.--The Secretary of 
 Transportation shall establish, in accordance with the 
 requirements described in 

section 40122

    (a) , a retention 
 incentive program for air traffic controllers (as defined in 
 

section 2109 of title 5, United States Code) with the 
 Department of Transportation who are Certified Professional 
 Controllers.''.

SEC. 5. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Air Traffic Controller Mental Health Improvements.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
 enactment of this subsection, the Administrator shall 
 establish, in consultation with aviation industry stakeholders 
 and aviation medical professionals, a training course to--
        (A) 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 controllers; and
        (B) develop advanced training programs for Aviation 
 Medical Examiners with respect to mental health.

    (2) Considerations.--In establishing the training course 
 under paragraph

    (1) , the Administrator shall consider--
        (A) the feasibility of virtual and in-person course 
 offerings; and
        (B) the need for an advisory board to ensure 
 continuous improvement of the training course.

    (b) Report on the Airport Non-Cooperative Surveillance Radar 
Program.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
subsection, the Administrator shall submit to the Committees on 
Commerce, Science, 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 (in this subsection 
referred to as ``ANSR'') program, including--

    (1) a determination of funding needs for the ANSR program;

    (2) a cost-benefit analysis of the most effective solutions 
 to provide ongoing ANSR services, including a comparison of a 
 sustainment approach versus a replacement approach;

    (3) an analysis of how the FAA intends to provide 
 commercial service airports with the necessary equipment, 
 including radar, to detect and mitigate any threat posed by 
 non-cooperative flying objects, including aircraft, unmanned 
 aerial systems, balloons, and other objects determined 
 appropriate by the Administrator;

    (4) an update on the Radar Divestiture Program;

    (5) the projected lifecycle support needs of the existing 
 inventory of non-cooperative Airport Surveillance Radar Models 
 8, 9, and 11; and

    (6) any other information determined appropriate by the 
 Administrator.
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