S. 1796 – Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:20 AM UTC

The bill amends Title 49 of the U.S. Code to keep the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence operating under the Federal Aviation Administration. It expands the Center’s mission to include research on safe use of composites, crashworthiness, and accessibility for passengers with disabilities, including wheelchair restraints. The legislation also authorizes up to $20 million per year in funding for FY 2024‑2028.

Key Provisions

Updates the Center’s start date to March 1 2023 and adds a focus on applied research, safety of aircraft structures, and accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Defines the Center’s responsibilities to promote collaboration among universities, FAA, industry, and other stakeholders; set goals for advancing material technologies and education; and create safety criteria for all passengers, including those using personal wheelchairs.
Allows the FAA Administrator to award grants to the Center within 90 days of recommendation and provides funding of up to $20 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 1, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 1, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

June 1, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 1, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1796

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 1, 2023

Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) 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 direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Authority to continue operation of the Advanced Materials Center of Excellence, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act.

2.

Advanced Materials Center of Excellence

Section 44518 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking March 1, 2016 and all that follows through the period and inserting on March 1, 2023, which shall focus on applied research and training on the safe use of composites and advanced materials in airframe structures. The Center shall also conduct research and development into aircraft structure crash worthiness and passenger safety, as well as address safe and accessible air travel of individuals with a disability (as defined in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)), including materials required to facilitate safe wheelchair restraint systems on commercial aircraft. The Administrator shall award grants to the Center within 90 days from the date the Grants Officer recommends a proposal for award to the Administrator.;

(2)

by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

(b)

Responsibilities

The Center shall—

(1)

promote and facilitate collaboration among member universities, academia, the Federal Aviation Administration, the commercial aircraft industry, including manufacturers, commercial air carriers, and suppliers, and other appropriate stakeholders;

(2)

establish goals set to advance technology, improve engineering practices, and facilitate continuing education in relevant areas of study, which should include all structural materials, such as carbon fiber polymers and thermoplastic composites, and structural technologies, such as additive manufacturing, to be used in applications within the commercial aircraft industry, including traditional fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, and emerging aircraft types such as advanced air mobility aircraft; and

(3)

establish criteria for the safe movement of all passengers, including individuals with a disability (as defined in section 382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)), and individuals using their personal wheelchairs in flight, that takes into account the modeling, engineering, testing, operating, and training issues significant to all passengers and relevant stakeholders.

; and

(3)

in subsection (c), by inserting , and not more than $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, after 2023.