Text of Senate Amendment 6551

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Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: June 24, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

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SA 6551. Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Moran, and Ms. Duckworth) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title , insert the

following:

SEC. . AIR TRAFFIC-COLLEGIATE TRAINING INITIATIVE PROGRAM

IMPROVEMENTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Administrator.—The term “Administrator” means the

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

(2) FAA.—The term “FAA” means the Federal Aviation

Administration.

(b) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program

Improvements.—

(1) In general.—Section 44506(c) of title 49, United

States Code, is amended to read as follows:

“(c) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and

Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative.—

“(1) In general.—The Administrator of the Federal

Aviation Administration shall maintain the Air Traffic-

Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air

Traffic-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).

“(3) Enhanced air traffic-collegiate training initiative

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 Air Traffic-

Collegiate Training Initiative program described in paragraph

(1).

“(B) Grants.—

“(i) Use of funds.—An institution of higher education

shall use a grant awarded under this paragraph for the

following purposes:

“(I) To implement curriculum for the Enhanced Air Traffic-

Collegiate Training Initiative program described in paragraph

(1).

“(II) To provide faculty, simulators, and other necessary

classroom supplies to the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate

Training Initiative program.

“(III) For any other purpose determined appropriate by the

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration,

including providing medical certificates and FAA-required

tests.

“(ii) 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.

“(iii) Funding.—

“(I) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated

$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to

carry out this paragraph.

“(II) Federal share of costs.—The Federal share of costs

for a grant under this paragraph shall be 90 percent.”.

(2) Enhanced air traffic-collegiate training initiative

program faculty annuity supplement.—Section 8421a(c) of

title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “; or” and inserting a

semicolon;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; or”; and

“(3) air traffic control instructor, or supervisor

thereof, at an institution of higher education participating

in the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative

program described in section 44506(c) of title 49.”.

(3) FAA academy and collegiate training initiative program

curriculum aviation rulemaking committee.—

(A) In general.—The Administrator shall convene an

aviation rulemaking committee to—

(i) review the curricula of the air traffic technical

training academy of the FAA used in the Air Traffic-

Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air

Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program;

(ii) develop findings and recommendations regarding the

improvement and modernization of such curricula; and

(iii) provide to the Administrator a report on such

findings and recommendations and for other related purposes

as determined by the Administrator.

(B) Composition.—The aviation rulemaking committee

established under subparagraph (A) shall consist of members

appointed by the Administrator, including representatives

of—

(i) institutions of higher education that are accredited by

the Aviation Accreditation Board International;

(ii) aviation industry organizations;

(iii) FAA subject matter experts;

(iv) military and commercial operators of aircraft,

helicopters, and powered-lift aircraft;

(v) the exclusive bargaining representative of the air

traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5,

United States Code; and

(vi) aviation safety experts and other experts determined

appropriate by the Administrator.

established under subparagraph (A) shall consider the

following:

(i) The advancements in education technology, including

digital resources and augmented reality or virtual reality

capabilities, that may be incorporated into a modern

curriculum.

(ii) The appropriate balance between the use of theoretical

knowledge and practical application.

(iii) A review of instructional techniques to improve the

effectiveness of learning outcomes.

(iv) The real-world applicability of air traffic operations

procedures included in the curriculum.

(v) Student success rates, including outcomes of air

traffic controller trainees when placed at facilities for on-

the-job training.

(vi) Methods for reducing the subjectivity of instructional

techniques.

(vii) Student success rates correlated to the Air Traffic-

Collegiate Training Initiative program and the Enhanced Air

Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program described in

section 44506(c) of title 49, United States Code.

(viii) The appropriate method for ensuring the curriculum

incorporates new entrants into the national airspace system.

(ix) Other considerations as determined appropriate by the

Administrator.

(D) Duties.—

(i) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date of

enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to

Congress a copy of the aviation rulemaking committee report

provided to the Administrator under subparagraph (A)(iii).

(ii) Implementation.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of submission of the report under clause (i), the

Administrator shall implement the recommendations of the

report, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.

(iii) Justification.—If the Administrator decides not to

implement a recommendation

described in the report submitted under clause (i), the

Administrator shall submit to Congress a justification for

such decision not later than 90 days after receiving such

report.

(E) Prohibition on compensation.—The members of the

aviation rulemaking committee convened under this paragraph

shall not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the

Federal Government by reason of their service on such

committee. This paragraph shall not be construed to affect

the pay, allowances, or benefits of any Federal employee who

serves as a member of the aviation rulemaking committee as

part of their official duties.

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