FLIGHT Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 3953 To require pilot programs in connection with Senior Reserve Officers’ Train- ing Corps units at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority institutions, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 11, 2020 Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, and Mr. CARPER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require pilot programs in connection with Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units at Historically Black Col- leges and Universities and minority institutions, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Leadership 4 and Inclusion by Growing HBCU Training Act of 2020’’ 5 or the ‘‘FLIGHT Act’’. 6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 7 Congress makes the following findings: 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 3953 IS (1) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen- 1 tation in the Military Services report found that 2 while minorities comprise 38 percent of the national 3 population, they comprise only 23 percent of the ac- 4 tive component commissioned officer corps. 5 (2) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen- 6 tation in the Military Services report further found 7 that African Americans only comprised 8 percent of 8 the active component commissioned officer corps, 9 while more than 12 percent of the general popu- 10 lation is African American. 11 (3) The Fiscal Year 2018 Population Represen- 12 tation in the Military Services report further found 13 that African American and Hispanic cadets were re- 14 cipients of a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 15 (ROTC) scholarship at a rate of half of their rep- 16 resentation in the general population. 17 (4) A 2018 RAND study titled ‘‘Understanding 18 Demographic Differences in Undergraduate Pilot 19 Training Attrition’’ found that ‘‘[candidates for pilot 20 training from Reserve Officers’ Training Corps pro- 21 gram] with more hours of flying experience were also 22 less likely to be eliminated from Initial Flight Train- 23 ing and Primary Pilot Training’’. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 3953 IS (5) In 2020, Air Education and Training Com- 1 mand, in partnership with the University of Texas- 2 San Antonio, conducted a study that reinforced, in- 3 cluding within the Pilot Candidate Selection Method, 4 the number of flight hours a candidate accumulates 5 before attending undergraduate pilot training. 6 (6) The United States Air Force has acknowl- 7 edged that ‘‘flight hours . . . can be difficult to ob- 8 tain for potential candidates depending on their 9 socio-economic background’’. 10 SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAMS IN CONNECTION WITH SROTC 11 UNITS AND CSPI PROGRAMS AT HISTORI- 12 CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 13 AND MINORITY INSTITUTIONS. 14 (a) PILOT PROGRAMS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 15 Defense shall carry out two pilot programs as follows: 16 (1) A pilot program, with elements as provided 17 for in subsection (c), at covered institutions in order 18 to assess the feasibility and advisability of mecha- 19 nisms to reduce barriers to participation in the Sen- 20 ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at such institu- 21 tions by creating partnerships between satellite or 22 extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 23 units at such institutions and military installations. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 3953 IS (2) In consultation with the Secretary of Home- 1 land Security, a pilot program, with elements as pro- 2 vided for in subsection (d), in order to assess the 3 feasibility and advisability of the provision of finan- 4 cial assistance to members of the Senior Reserve Of- 5 ficers’ Training Corps, and members of the Coast 6 Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initia- 7 tive, at covered institutions for participation in flight 8 training. 9 (b) DURATION.—The duration of each pilot program 10 under subsection (a) may not exceed five years. 11 (c) PILOT PROGRAM ON PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN 12 SATELLITE OR EXTENSION SROTC UNITS AND MILITARY 13 INSTALLATIONS.— 14 (1) PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS.—The Sec- 15 retary of Defense shall carry out the pilot program 16 required by subsection (a)(1) at not fewer than five 17 covered institutions selected by the Secretary for 18 purposes of the pilot program. 19 (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTION.—Each 20 covered institution selected by the Secretary for pur- 21 poses of the pilot program under subsection (a)(1) 22 shall— 23 (A) currently maintain a satellite or exten- 24 sion Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •S 3953 IS unit under chapter 103 of title 10, United 1 States Code, that is located more than 20 miles 2 from the host unit of such unit; or 3 (B) establish and maintain a satellite or 4 extension Senior Reserve Officers’ Training 5 Corps unit that meets the requirements in sub- 6 paragraph (A). 7 (3) PREFERENCE IN SELECTION OF INSTITU- 8 TIONS.—In selecting covered institutions under this 9 subsection for participation in the pilot program 10 under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall give 11 preference to covered institutions that are located 12 within 20 miles of a military installation of the same 13 Armed Force as the host unit of the Senior Reserve 14 Officers’ Training Corps of the covered institution 15 concerned. 16 (4) PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES.—The activities 17 conducted under the pilot program under subsection 18 (a)(1) between a satellite or extension Senior Re- 19 serve Officers’ Training Corps unit and the military 20 installation concerned shall include such activities 21 designed to reduce barriers to participation in the 22 Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the cov- 23 ered institution concerned as the Secretary considers 24 appropriate, including measures to mitigate travel 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 6 •S 3953 IS time and expenses in connection with receipt of Sen- 1 ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instruction. 2 (d) PILOT PROGRAM ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 3 SROTC AND CSPI MEMBERS FOR FLIGHT TRAINING.— 4 (1) ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION BY SROTC 5 AND CSPI MEMBERS.—A member of a Senior Re- 6 serve Officers’ Training Corps unit, or a member of 7 a Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning 8 Initiative program, at a covered institution may par- 9 ticipate in the pilot program under subsection (a)(2) 10 if the member meets such academic requirements at 11 the covered institution, and such other requirements, 12 as the Secretary shall establish for purposes of the 13 pilot program. 14 (2) PREFERENCE IN SELECTION OF PARTICI- 15 PANTS.—In selecting members under this subsection 16 for participation in the pilot program under sub- 17 section (a)(2), the Secretary shall give a preference 18 to members who will pursue flight training under the 19 pilot program at a covered institution. 20 (3) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FLIGHT TRAIN- 21 ING.— 22 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 23 provide any member of a Senior Reserve Offi- 24 cers’ Training Corps unit or a College Student 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 7 •S 3953 IS Pre-Commissioning Initiative program who par- 1 ticipates in the pilot program under subsection 2 (a)(2) financial assistance to defray, whether in 3 whole or in part, the charges and fees imposed 4 on the member for flight training. 5 (B) FLIGHT TRAINING.—Financial assist- 6 ance may be used under subparagraph (A) for 7 a course of flight training only if the course 8 meets Federal Aviation Administration stand- 9 ards and is approved by the Federal Aviation 10 Administration and the applicable State approv- 11 ing agency. 12 (C) USE.—Financial assistance received by 13 a member under subparagraph (A) may be used 14 only to defray the charges and fees imposed on 15 the member as described in that subparagraph. 16 (D) CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—Finan- 17 cial assistance may not be provided to a mem- 18 ber under subparagraph (A) as follows: 19 (i) If the member ceases to meet the 20 academic and other requirements estab- 21 lished pursuant to paragraph (1). 22 (ii) If the member ceases to be a 23 member of the Senior Reserve Officers’ 24 Training Corps or the College Student 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 8 •S 3953 IS Pre-Commissioning Initiative, as applica- 1 ble. 2 (e) EVALUATION METRICS.—The Secretary of De- 3 fense shall establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness 4 of the pilot programs under subsection (a). 5 (f) REPORTS.— 6 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 7 after the commencement of the pilot programs under 8 subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit 9 to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 10 and the House of Representatives a report on the 11 pilot programs. The report shall include the fol- 12 lowing: 13 (A) A description of each pilot program, 14 including in the case of the pilot program under 15 subsection (a)(2) the requirements established 16 pursuant to subsection (d)(1). 17 (B) The evaluation metrics established 18 under subsection (e). 19 (C) Such other matters relating to the 20 pilot programs as the Secretary considers ap- 21 propriate. 22 (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 23 after the end of each fiscal year in which the Sec- 24 retary carries out the pilot programs, the Secretary 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 9 •S 3953 IS shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 1 of the Senate and the House of Representatives a 2 report on the pilot programs during such fiscal year. 3 Each report shall include, for the fiscal year covered 4 by such report, the following: 5 (A) In the case of the pilot program re- 6 quired by subsection (a)(1), a description of the 7 partnerships between satellite or extension Sen- 8 ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units and 9 military installations under the pilot program. 10 (B) In the case of the pilot program re- 11 quired by subsection (a)(2), the following: 12 (i) The number of members of Senior 13 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units, 14 and the number of members of Coast 15 Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning 16 Initiative programs, at covered institutions 17 selected for purposes of the pilot program, 18 including the number of such members 19 participating in the pilot program. 20 (ii) The number of recipients of finan- 21 cial assistance provided under the pilot 22 program, including the number who— 23 (I) completed a ground school 24 course of instruction in connection 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 10 •S 3953 IS with obtaining a private pilot’s certifi- 1 cate; 2 (II) completed flight training, 3 and the type of training, certificate, or 4 both received; 5 (III) were selected for a pilot 6 training slot in the Armed Forces; 7 (IV) initiated pilot training in the 8 Armed Forces; or 9 (V) successfully completed pilot 10 training in the Armed Forces. 11 (iii) The amount of financial assist- 12 ance provided under the pilot program, 13 broken out by covered institution, course of 14 study, and such other measures as the Sec- 15 retary considers appropriate. 16 (C) Data collected in accordance with the 17 evaluation metrics established under subsection 18 (e). 19 (3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 20 prior to the completion of the pilot programs, the 21 Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 22 Services of the Senate and the House of Representa- 23 tives a report on the pilot programs. The report 24 shall include the following: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 11 •S 3953 IS (A) A description of the pilot programs. 1 (B) An assessment of the effectiveness of 2 each pilot program. 3 (C) A description of the cost of each pilot 4 program, and an estimate of the cost of making 5 each pilot program permanent. 6 (D) An estimate of the cost of expanding 7 each pilot program throughout all eligible Sen- 8 ior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units and 9 College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative 10 programs. 11 (E) Such recommendations for legislative 12 or administrative action as the Secretary con- 13 siders appropriate in light of the pilot pro- 14 grams, including recommendations for extend- 15 ing or making permanent the authority for each 16 pilot program. 17 (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 18 (1) The term ‘‘covered institution’’ has the 19 meaning given that term in section 262(g)(2) of the 20 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 21 2020 (Public Law 116–92). 22 (2) The term ‘‘flight training’’ means a course 23 of instruction toward obtaining any of the following: 24 (A) A private pilot’s certificate. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 12 •S 3953 IS (B) A commercial pilot certificate. 1 (C) A certified flight instructor certificate. 2 (D) A multi-crew pilot’s license. 3 (E) A flight instrument rating. 4 (F) Any other certificate, rating, or pilot 5 privilege the Secretary considers appropriate for 6 purposes of this section. 7 (3) The term ‘‘military installation’’ means an 8 installation of the Department of Defense for the 9 regular components of the Armed Forces. 10 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 11 authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec- 12 essary to carry out this section. 13 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:52 Jun 25, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S3953.IS S3953 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2P [Text truncated for display. 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