S. 1965Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

AIR Security Act

Introduced June 14, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:54 AM UTC

The AIR Security Act bars the use of airport improvement grant money for buying passenger boarding bridge equipment from companies that have infringed U.S. intellectual‑property rights. It targets firms owned, controlled, or subsidized by the People’s Republic of China, as well as any entities linked to them. The rule applies to any airport receiving federal improvement grants and to contractors seeking those funds.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits airport improvement grant funds from being used for contracts to procure passenger boarding bridges from entities on a designated prohibited list.
  • Requires the U.S. Trade Representative, the Attorney General, and the FAA to publish a public list of entities that are Chinese‑owned, have been found to misappropriate U.S. IP, or are connected to such entities, within 30 days of the law’s enactment.
  • Mandates the list be updated at least every 90 days for the first 180 days and at least annually thereafter, based on information from the Attorney General and FAA.
  • Bars any grant‑funded contract with an entity appearing on the list, effectively restricting funding to those companies.

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.

June 14, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 14, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

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

June 14, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 14, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1965

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 14, 2023

Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Young, and Mr. Lee) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To prohibit airport improvement grants funds from being used for contracts with entities that have violated intellectual property rights of United States entities.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Airport Infrastructure Resources Security Act of 2023 or the AIR Security Act.

2.

Prohibition on provision of airport improvement grant funds to certain entities that have violated intellectual property rights of United States entities

(a)

In general

During the period beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, amounts provided as project grants under subchapter I of chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, may not be used to enter into a contract described in subsection (b) with any entity on the list required by subsection (c).

(b)

Contract described

A contract described in this subsection is a contract or other agreement for the procurement of infrastructure or equipment for a passenger boarding bridge at an airport.

(c)

List required

(1)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and thereafter as required by paragraph (2), the United States Trade Representative, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall make available a publicly-available a list of entities manufacturing airport passenger boarding infrastructure or equipment that—

(A)

are owned, directed by, or subsidized in whole, or in part by the People’s Republic of China;

(B)

have been determined by a Federal court to have misappropriated intellectual property or trade secrets from an entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States;

(C)

own or control, are owned or controlled by, are under common ownership or control with, or are successors to, an entity described in subparagraph (A);

(D)

own or control, are under common ownership or control with, or are successors to, an entity described in subparagraph (A); or

(E)

have entered into an agreement with or accepted funding from, whether in the form of minority investment interest or debt, have entered into a partnership with, or have entered into another contractual or other written arrangement with, an entity described in subparagraph (A).

(2)

Updates to list

The United States Trade Representative shall update the list required by paragraph (1), based on information provided by the Attorney General and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration—

(A)

not less frequently than every 90 days during the 180-day period following the initial publication of the list under paragraph (1); and

(B)

not less frequently than annually thereafter.

(d)

Definitions

In this section, the definitions in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply.