S.Amdt. 2313

SA 2313. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2137 proposed by Mr.
Schumer (for Ms. Sinema (for herself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr.
Cassidy, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Collins, Mr. Tester, Ms. Murkowski, Mr.
Warner, and Mr. Romney)) to the bill H.R. 3684, to authorize funds for
Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs,
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:

At the appropriate place in division I, insert the
following:

SEC. __. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to establish a
program under which the Secretary awards planning grants to
eligible entities to develop a comprehensive plan for the
infrastructure that may be necessary to integrate advanced
air mobility solutions into the National Airspace System.
(2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to grant applications where an
eligible entity partners with at least one other--
(A) transit agency, port authority, airport sponsor, or
metropolitan planning organization;
(B) political subdivision of State, local, or Tribal
governments in its region or geographic area; or
(C) not-for-profit research institution or institution of
higher education with relevant experience working with
industry on new technology and commercialization.
(3) Minimum allocation to rural areas.--The Secretary shall
ensure that at least 20 percent of amounts made available
under subsection (c) are used to award grants to eligible
entities located in a rural area.
(4) Required report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after an eligible
entity is awarded a grant under this section, the eligible
entity shall submit to the Secretary and the Administrator a
report that includes--
(i) recommendations for methods to ensure that advanced air
mobility equitably connects users to existing transportation
infrastructure, including multi-modal transportation centers,
without compromising safety and efficiency of other
facilities and airspace users;
(ii) a description of potential takeoff and landing
locations at existing airports and heliports for low-,
medium-, and high-volume operations;
(iii) a description of potential takeoff and landing
locations at new vertiports for
low-, medium-, and high-volume operations;
(iv) a plan for electric charging and other fueling
infrastructure;
(v) a plan for community engagement, including
consideration of the noise impact on communities;
(vi) recommendations for any zoning and permitting changes
that would be necessary to implement advanced air mobility;
(vii) recommendations for any regional or national
infrastructure improvements that may be necessary to enable
advanced air mobility; and
(viii) other items determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(B) Public availability of report.--Each report submitted
under subparagraph (A) shall be made available on a public
internet website managed by the Administrator.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(2) Advanced air mobility.--The term ``advanced air
mobility'' means an air transportation system that moves
people and cargo between places using innovative aircraft
designs (such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and new
technologies (such as electric or hybrid (fuel and electric)
driven propulsion), which are integrated into existing
airspace operation as well as operated in local, regional,
interregional, rural, and urban environment, and which may
include remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft.
(3) Advanced propulsion.--The term ``advanced propulsion''
means powered by electric, hydrogen, hybrid technology, or
other propulsion technology, as defined by the Secretary.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a unit of local government;
(C) a metropolitan planning organization;
(D) a Tribal government;
(E) a political subdivision of a State or local government;
(F) a special purpose district or a public authority with a
transportation function, including airport sponsors and port
authorities; and
(G) a group of entities described in subparagraphs (A)
through (F).
(5) High-volume operations.--The term ``high-volume
operations'' means more than 1,000 simultaneous advanced air
mobility operations taking place in the relevant region or
jurisdiction.
(6) Low-volume operations.--The term ``low-volume
operations'' means under 100 simultaneous advanced air
mobility operations taking place in the relevant region or
jurisdiction.
(7) Medium-volume operations.--The term ``medium-volume
operations'' means more than 100, but less than 1,000,
simultaneous advanced air mobility operations taking place in
the relevant region or jurisdiction.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(9) Vertiport.--The term ``vertiport'' means a landing and
takeoff site that supports advanced air mobility operations.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this
section $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
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