S. 697

119 S697 IS: Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-24
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 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 697  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025  .
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.
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.
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.
 .
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.