AAIM Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6270) to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to provide grants related to advanced air mobility infrastructure, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6270, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6270, legislation sponsored by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

With the recent passage of the landmark Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress renewed its commitment to robust Federal investment in the Nation's airport infrastructure to address the rising demand for air travel. As the needs of the traveling public evolve, we must build on this momentum to leverage innovative aviation technologies, such as advanced air mobility, called AAM, to help address future challenges.

The success of these efforts depends on early and consistent engagement with State and local communities to ensure that AAM infrastructure is safely integrated into the national airspace system, accessible to all, and built to the appropriate Federal standards.

H.R. 6270 continues Congress' thorough oversight of the emerging AAM industry and helps local communities across the country prepare for and take advantage of the tremendous potential of this technology.

The bill invests $25 million to establish a 2-year U.S. Department of Transportation pilot program to fund comprehensive planning grants for State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to prepare for the deployment of AAM vertiports and related infrastructure in their communities.

These comprehensive plans may include details on potential vertiport locations; physical and digital infrastructure needs; potential environmental effects; connectivity to existing transportation systems; and strategies to ensure community engagement and equity.

The bill's pilot program would also provide limited funding for some public vertiport construction activities, such as design, bidding, and environmental study activities, only after the FAA has certified at least two AAM aircraft models, issued airworthiness determinations for at least two AAM operators, and published an advisory circular on vertiport design and performance and siting standards, among other criteria.

H.R. 6270 has the support of cosponsors from both sides of the aisle and the endorsement of several organizations representing the U.S. aviation and aerospace sector, and State and local governments.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, to reiterate, we have an emerging technology. For once, we need to get ahead of the curve, including the FAA, so that we are not impeding the tremendous potential of AAM across so many sectors and virtually every community in America.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, let's start with the basics. What is advanced air mobility, AAM? This bill and the next one deal a fair amount with the concept. It is just

making sure that we have got in place a system so the remotely piloted or autonomous or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are able to integrate into our existing air infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, it is incredibly important to do that in a way that is effective and that is safe. As the chairman said, Mr. Speaker, that is where H.R. 6270 comes in, the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act. It does establish a pilot program which would provide targeted grants related to the planning and construction of this AAM.

We all know that the United States has a robust network of general aviation airports and heliports. Their impact on most every community in America is probably not fully grasped. They are a critically important part of our Nation's infrastructure.

We want to make sure that those facilities have the necessary infrastructure in place for innovative new entrants so we can make sure our Nation's airports and airspace system are used by these innovative new entrants in a way that is safe and safely integrated with the existing traffic.

Of course, as is the case with most transportation planning, it is State and local experts that are best suited to help plan for the integration of AAM into our national system.

Mr. Speaker, that is the approach that this bill takes. It doesn't give all the money to USDOT. It makes sure that these grants are targeted at the State and local level so we can get the best bang for our buck. Making certain that AAM works for all of our constituent communities is the goal. It is the goal of this bill. I look forward to seeing how different communities embrace advanced air mobility operations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen and Ranking Member Garret Graves for their work and leadership on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, H.R. 6270 takes an important step in giving our State and local transportation planning experts the tools they need to continue the introduction of advanced air mobility aircraft.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6270, the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, or the AAIM Act.

H.R. 6270 would establish a pilot program to help state, local and Tribal governments prepare for advanced air mobility operations and ensure that communities can take advantage of the potential benefits of the safe integration of these technologies in our nation's airspace.

The AAIM Act outlines a comprehensive set of considerations for infrastructure planning that will enable communities to maximize the societal benefits that Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) stands to offer.

Air mobility is a promising industry set to advance and enhance American methods of transportation.

For more than 100 years, the U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) industry has been at the forefront of innovation.

From the first flight in the air to the first steps on the moon, the industry has led the United States' economic and national security success domestically and internationally.

AAM is a new concept of air transportation using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to move people and cargo between places not currently or easily served.

The AAM market is estimated to reach US$115 billion annually by 2035, employing more than 280,000 high-paying jobs.

To keep pace with this growing sector, states and localities need to prepare for anticipated AAM operations and ensure local communities can take advantage of the potential benefits of the safe integration of AAM technologies in U.S. airspace.

H.R. 6270 establishes a two-year pilot program that invests $25 million in competitive grants for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to prepare for the development and deployment of AAM vertiports and related infrastructure.

Powered by electric or hybrid propulsion, AAM offers significant potential to improve mobility and complement existing public, transportation networks while reducing congestion and carbon and noise emissions.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 6270 the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.