S.Amdt. 1003

SA 1003. Ms. CANTWELL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed

[[Page S3491]]

by her to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2024 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 subtitle G of title X, insert
the following:

SEC. __. FLIGHT EDUCATION ACCESS ACT.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Flight
Education Access Act''.
(b) Increase in Federal Student Loan Limits for Students in
Flight Education and Training Programs.--Section 455 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended--
(1) in subsection (p)--
(A) by striking ``Each institution'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--Each institution''; and
(B) in paragraph (1) (as designated by subparagraph (A)),
by inserting before the period at the end the following:
``and, shall, with respect to Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loans made after the date of enactment of the Flight
Education Access Act to an eligible student (as defined in
subsection (r)), comply with the requirements of paragraph
(2)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Additional disclosures.--At or prior to the
disbursement of a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
after the date of enactment of the Flight Education Access
Act to an eligible student (as defined in subsection (r)),
the following shall be disclosed:
``(A) The principal amount of the loan, the stated interest
rate on the loan, the number of required monthly payments to
be made on the loan (which shall be based on a standard
repayment plan), and the estimated number of months before
the start of the repayment period for the loan (based on the
expected date on which the repayment period is to begin or
the deferment period is to end, as applicable).
``(B) The estimated balance to be owed by the borrower on
such loan (including, if applicable, the estimated amount of
interest to be capitalized) as of the scheduled date on which
the repayment period is to begin or the deferment period is
to end, as applicable, and an estimate of the projected
monthly payment.
``(C) An estimate of the aggregate amount the borrower will
pay for the loan, including the total amount of monthly
payments made over the life of the loan plus the amount of
any charges for the loan, such as an origination fee.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(r) Increase in Loan Limits for Students in Flight
Education and Training Programs.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Act, the loan limits for Federal Direct Unsubsidized
Stafford Loans made after the date of enactment of the Flight
Education Access Act with respect to eligible students shall
be subject to this subsection.
``(2) Definitions.--In this section:
``(A) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student' means
a student who is enrolled in an eligible undergraduate flight
education and training program.
``(B) Eligible undergraduate flight education and training
program.--The term `eligible undergraduate flight education
and training program' means an undergraduate flight education
and training program that offers training for applicants
seeking a commercial pilot certificate and--
``(i) during the period beginning on the date of enactment
of the Flight Education Access Act and ending on the date on
which 3 years of data has been collected pursuant to
paragraph (3)(C), that meets all the applicable requirements
of this Act; and
``(ii) beginning on the date on which 3 years of data has
been collected pursuant to paragraph (3)(C), that meets all
the applicable requirements of this Act and has a completion
rate averaged over a 3-year period, as calculated under
paragraph (3)(C) that is equal to or greater than 70 percent.
``(C) Undergraduate flight education and training
program.--The term `undergraduate flight education and
training program'--
``(i) has the meaning given the term by the Secretary, in
consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration;
``(ii) shall include a flight education and training
program offered by an eligible institution that is accredited
by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary, that--

``(I) awards undergraduate certificates or associate or
bachelor degrees; and
``(II) provides pilot training in accordance with part 141
of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation; and

``(iii) shall not include a flight education and training
program certified under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation.
``(3) Loan limits for eligible undergraduate flight
education and training programs.--
``(A) Limits for eligible students who are dependent
students.--
``(i) Annual limits.--The maximum annual amount of Federal
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible student who is
a dependent student may borrow in any academic year (as
defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be--

``(I) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible
institution who has not successfully completed the first year
of an eligible undergraduate flight education and training
program--

``(aa) $13,500, if such student is enrolled in such a
program whose length is at least one academic year in length;
or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year;

``(II) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible
institution who has successfully completed the first year of
an eligible undergraduate flight education and training
program but has not yet successfully completed the remainder
of such program--

``(aa) $15,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year;

``(III) in the case of a student at an eligible institution
who has successfully completed the first year and second
years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and
training program but has not yet successfully completed the
remainder of such program--

``(aa) $16,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year; and

``(IV) in the case of a student at an eligible institution
who has successfully completed the first, second, and third
years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and
training program but has not yet successfully completed the
remainder of such program--

``(aa) $15,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year.
``(ii) Aggregate limits.--The maximum aggregate amount of
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible
student who is a dependent student may borrow shall be
$65,000.
``(B) Limits for eligible students who are independent
students.--
``(i) Annual limits.--The maximum annual amount of Federal
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible student who is
an independent student may borrow in any academic year (as
defined in section 481(a)(2)) or its equivalent shall be--

``(I) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible
institution who has not successfully completed the first year
of an eligible undergraduate flight education and training
program--

``(aa) $21,500, if such student is enrolled in such a
program whose length is at least one academic year in length;
or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year;

``(II) in the case of an eligible student at an eligible
institution who has successfully completed the first year of
an eligible undergraduate flight education and training
program but has not yet successfully completed the remainder
of such program--

``(aa) $25,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year;

``(III) in the case of a student at an eligible institution
who has successfully completed the first year and second
years of an eligible undergraduate flight education and
training program but has not yet successfully completed the
remainder of such program--

``(aa) $25,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year; and

``(IV) in the case of a student at an eligible institution
who has successfully completed

[[Page S3492]]

the first, second, and third years of an eligible
undergraduate flight education and training program but has
not yet successfully completed the remainder of such
program--

``(aa) $22,500; or
``(bb) if such student is enrolled in such a program that
is less than one academic year, the maximum annual loan
amount that such student may receive may not exceed the
amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in
item (aa) as the length of such program measured in semester,
trimester, quarter, or clock hours bears to one academic
year.
``(ii) Aggregate limits.--The maximum aggregate amount of
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans an eligible
student who is an independent student may borrow shall be
$107,500.
``(C) Data collection on, and calculation of, completion
rates.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall annually calculate
the completion rate of each undergraduate flight education
and training program at each eligible institution based on
the information collected under clause (ii).
``(ii) Collection of information.--The Secretary shall
annually collect information, for each academic year, on--

``(I) the total number of students enrolled in an
undergraduate flight education and training program at an
eligible institution; and
``(II) those students who complete such program--

``(aa) who earn a private pilot's certificate for an
airplane category rating with a single-engine class rating
while enrolled in such program; or
``(bb) who at the time of enrollment, possess such a
certificate.
``(iii) Calculation of completion rate.--To calculate the
completion rate described in clause (i), the Secretary
shall--

``(I) consider as having completed, those students who earn
a private pilot's certificate for an airplane category rating
with a single-engine class rating, or who at the time of
enrollment possess such a certificate, and complete the
undergraduate flight education and training program at an
eligible institution--

``(aa) that predominantly awards associate degrees, within
200 percent of the normal time for completion;
``(bb) that predominantly awards bachelor degrees, within
150 percent of the normal time for completion; and
``(cc) that predominantly awards undergraduate
certificates, within 200 percent of the normal time for
completion;

``(II) consider as not having completed, those students who
earn a private pilot's certificate for an airplane category
rating with a single-engine class rating, or who at the time
of enrollment possess such a certificate, and who transfer
out of the undergraduate flight education and training
program to another program at the eligible institution that
is not an undergraduate flight education and training program
or to a program that is not an undergraduate flight education
and training program at another eligible institution; and
``(III) not include in the calculation, any student who--

``(aa) is a foreign national;
``(bb) earns a private pilot's certificate for an airplane
category rating with a single-engine class rating and
transfers out of the undergraduate flight education and
training program to another undergraduate flight education
and training program at a different eligible institution; or
``(cc) is enrolled in an undergraduate flight education and
training program and never earns a private pilot's
certificate for an airplane category rating with a single-
engine class rating.
``(D) Reporting requirements.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall require each
undergraduate flight education and training program that
enrolls students who receive assistance under this part to
provide the data described in this subparagraph that is
necessary for the completion of the reporting requirements
described in this subparagraph.
``(ii) Form of data collection.--The Secretary shall
prescribe the form and format of the data required to be
provided under this subparagraph and include, at a minimum,
the following data elements:

``(I) Student data elements necessary to calculate student
enrollment, persistence, retention, transfer, and completion
rates.
``(II) Information disaggregated by gender, race,
ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

``(iii) Report to congress.--Not later than 9 months after
the date of enactment of the Flight Education Access Act and
biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Education and
the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives, analyzing and assessing the data
collected pursuant to this subparagraph and conforming to the
requirements of this subparagraph that shall include the
following:

``(I) An assessment of the effectiveness of the
requirements under this subsection.
``(II) Information on enrollment, persistence, retention,
transfer, completion, utilization of Federal financial aid,
and unmet financial need, including information on applicable
institutions.
``(III) Information on the gender, race, ethnicity, and
socioeconomic status of students enrolled in an undergraduate
flight education and training program.''.

(c) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States shall--
(1) examine and review the implementation of this section
and the amendments made by this section, which review shall
include--
(A) the number of participating institutions offering
undergraduate flight education and training programs (as
defined in section 455(r) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087e(r)), as amended by this section);
(B) the number of students enrolled in such undergraduate
flight education and training programs, and demographic data
regarding such students;
(C) the level of such students' participation in the loan
program under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.), including demographic data
as appropriate; and
(D) feedback from participating institutions regarding the
implementation of this section and the amendments made by
this section;
(2) develop recommendations to the Department of Education
on any changes that should be made to improve the
implementation of this section and the amendments made by
this section; and
(3) prepare and submit a report on the findings and
recommendations under paragraphs (1) and (2) to--
(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House
of Representatives.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or an
amendment made by this section, shall be construed to repeal,
amend, supersede, or affect any pilot training or
qualification provision under existing law.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education, in addition
to any amounts otherwise available, to carry out the
amendments made by this section, $3,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2024 through 2033. Such funds shall be available
until expended.

SEC. __. REGIONAL AIR CARRIER PILOT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation
(in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall
establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible
applicants to support payment of costs--
(1) related to required flight education and training for
aspiring pilots to become employed by a certificate holder
under part 119 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations,
which conducts scheduled operations under part 135 or 121 of
that title exclusively with aircraft having a seating
capacity of not more than 80 passengers; and
(2) for the training of pilots employed by a certificate
holder that conducts operations described in paragraph (1).
(b) Eligible Applicants.--An application for a grant under
this section shall be submitted in such form as the Secretary
may require, by an eligible applicant pursuing flight
education or training, including flight training on regional
aircraft, who demonstrates to the Secretary--
(1) documentation of enrollment in an eligible pilot
development program described in subsection (g); and
(2) receipt of direct financial assistance from a
certificate holder for costs described in subsection (a)
relating to flight education and training to participate in
such pilot development program.
(c) Matching Funds.--In carrying out the pilot program
established under this section, the Secretary shall award
grants to support the flight education and training of an
eligible applicant by issuing matching funds for amounts
equal to the amount of direct financial assistance provided
by a certificate holder that conducts operations described in
subsection (a)(1) for the purposes of participation in an
eligible pilot development program, provided that an
individual grant for an eligible applicant provided under
this subsection does not exceed $30,000. An eligible
applicant may receive no more than one grant under the pilot
program. The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the
funds made available under subsection (j) per fiscal year to
carry out this section and provide oversight of the program
by the Secretary.
(d) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--A grant awarded under this section shall
be used to support the costs of an eligible applicant's--
(A) flight training services;
(B) program tuition;
(C) training materials;
(D) equipment; or
(E) any other cost associated with expenses incurred by an
eligible applicant for purposes of receiving flight education
and training, including aircraft type training on regional
jet aircraft or simulation equipment, through an eligible
pilot development program.
(2) Return of grant funds.--

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(A) In general.--Grant funds disbursed to an eligible
applicant by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (c) that
are--
(i) used in violation of paragraph (1);
(ii) not expended as of the earlier of the date of
termination of the eligible applicant's participation in, or
the expiration of, the pilot program established in
subsection (a); or
(iii) used by an eligible applicant who withdraws from, or
does not complete, flight education and training,
shall be returned to the Secretary not later than 30 days
after the Secretary issues a written determination to the
eligible applicant stating the necessity for, and compelling
the return of, appropriate grant funds.
(B) Authority.--The Secretary may investigate any eligible
applicants who use grant funds in violation of paragraph (1).
(e) Preference for Employment With Regional Air Carriers.--
In awarding grants under subsection (c) to an eligible
applicant, the Secretary shall give preferential
consideration to an eligible applicant who demonstrates a
documented commitment, on a voluntary basis, to initiate or
continue employment with a certificate holder that conducts
operations described in subsection (a)(1) until such time as
the eligible applicant attains the position of captain and
serves in such position for at least 2 years.
(f) Considerations.--In carrying out the pilot program
established under this section, the Secretary shall consider
the following:
(1) Ensuring the issuance of awards reflects equal
consideration of all eligible pilot development programs
operated by certificate holders that conducts operations
described in subsection (a)(1) from which eligible applicants
could be enrolled in and receive direct financial assistance
for flight education and training.
(2) Developing and issuing policies, in coordination with
eligible pilot development programs described in subsection
(g) that are operated by such certificate holders, to verify
the use of awarded grant funds by eligible applicants to
support costs related to flight education and training.
(g) Eligible Pilot Development Program.--For purposes of
the pilot program established under this section, an eligible
pilot development program shall meet the following criteria:
(1) The program shall be operated by, affiliated with, or
have an agreement with, a certificate holder that conducts
operations described in subsection (a)(1) for the purposes of
conducting flight education and training and providing
student pilots pathways for employment with a certificate
holder.
(2) The program shall be operated in conjunction with an
eligible institution that--
(A) is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by
the Secretary of Education that awards undergraduate
certificates or associate or bachelor's degrees; or
(B) provides pilot training in accordance with part 141 of
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation, and contracts with an eligible institution
described in subparagraph (A).
(3) The program shall not include a flight education and
training program certified under part 61 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(4) The program shall be able to facilitate an eligible
applicant's ability to fulfill Federal Aviation
Administration flight education and training requirements.
(5) The program provides direct financial assistance to an
enrolled eligible applicant or reimburses an enrolled
eligible applicant for costs associated with expenses
incurred by an enrolled eligible applicant for purposes of
receiving flight education and training.
(h) Consolidation of Information.--The Secretary shall
provide, in a readily accessible web-based format,
consolidated information on grants available under the pilot
program established under this section.
(i) Report to Congress.--No later than 5 years after the
establishment of the pilot program under this section, the
Secretary shall submit a report (and provide a briefing) to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
of the House of Representatives on the progress of the pilot
program under this section, including--
(1) any detailed metrics associated with the implementation
of the pilot program;
(2) the resulting impact on the domestic regional carrier
pilot workforce; and
(3) any related recommendations for future action to
improve the recruitment and retention of pilots at domestic
regional carriers.
(j) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to repeal, amend, supersede, or affect any pilot
training or qualification provision under existing law.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $21,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026, to remain available
until expended.
______