Minorities in Aviation Education Act of 2023

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2428 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to improve the preparation and representation of certain students in aviation-related fields, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 30, 2023 Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. JACK- SON LEE, Mr. CASTEN, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CARSON, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. NORTON, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. CAR- TER of Louisiana, Ms. CROCKETT, and Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN) intro- duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Trans- portation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to improve the preparation and represen- tation of certain students in aviation-related fields, 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 ‘‘Minorities in Aviation 4 Education Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:17 Apr 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2428.IH H2428 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 2428 IH SEC. 2. BESSIE COLEMAN AVIATION EDUCATION PROGRAM. 1 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation 2 shall establish the Bessie Coleman Aviation Education 3 Program to provide grants to eligible entities to improve 4 the preparation and representation of students, particu- 5 larly women and minorities, in aviation-related fields. 6 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—A grant awarded 7 under this section may only be used for activities that in- 8 crease exposure and access to aviation-related education 9 and jobs through such means as— 10 (1) internships, apprenticeships, or scholarships 11 that offer students experience in the aviation indus- 12 try; 13 (2) programs that introduce students to un- 14 manned aircraft systems (as the term is defined in 15 section 44801 of title 49, United States Code); 16 (3) career exploration and educational programs 17 that teach technical skills used in aviation mainte- 18 nance, or to improve existing such programs; and 19 (4) programs to increase the recruitment and 20 retention of underrepresented minorities in postsec- 21 ondary aviation degree programs. 22 (c) APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCEDURES.— 23 (1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seeking a 24 grant under this section shall submit an application 25 to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:17 Apr 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2428.IH H2428 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 2428 IH containing such information as the Secretary may 1 require, including a description of how grant funds 2 will be used to increase exposure and access to avia- 3 tion-related education and jobs. 4 (2) PRIORITY.—In reviewing and selecting ap- 5 plications for grants under this section, the Sec- 6 retary shall give priority to applicants that propose 7 to use grant funds to encourage the participation of 8 women, minorities, and individuals in rural and 9 urban areas in the aviation industry. 10 (3) PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—An 11 eligible entity may enter into a partnership agree- 12 ment with an institution of higher education, a non- 13 profit organization, or another entity, to carry out 14 activities with a grant awarded under this section. 15 (d) GRANT AMOUNT.—The maximum amount of a 16 grant awarded under this section in a fiscal year shall be 17 $500,000. 18 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 19 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti- 20 ty’’ means— 21 (A) a local educational agency; 22 (B) a State educational agency; and 23 (C) a State or local government. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:17 Apr 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2428.IH H2428 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 2428 IH (2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 1 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 2 meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 3 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 4 (3) LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 5 ‘‘local educational agency’’ has the meaning given 6 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec- 7 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 8 (4) STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—The term 9 ‘‘State educational agency’’ has the meaning given 10 the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec- 11 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 12 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 13 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 14 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 15 2026, and 2027. 16 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:17 Apr 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2428.IH H2428 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB