Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3593 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a drone infrastructure inspection grant program and a drone education and workforce training grant program, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 22, 2023 Mr. STANTON (for himself and Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a drone infrastructure inspection grant program and a drone education and workforce training grant program, 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 ‘‘Drone Infrastructure 4 Inspection Grant Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 6 In this Act: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 3593 IH (1) CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 1 ‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning given such 2 term in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructures 3 Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). 4 (2) COVERED FOREIGN ENTITY.—The term 5 ‘‘covered foreign entity’’ means an entity— 6 (A) included on the Consolidated Screening 7 List or Entity List as designated by the Sec- 8 retary of Commerce; 9 (B) domiciled in the People’s Republic of 10 China or the Russian Federation; 11 (C) subject to influence or control by the 12 Government of the People’s Republic of China 13 or by the Russian Federation; or 14 (D) is a subsidiary or affiliate of an entity 15 described in subparagraphs (A) through (C). 16 (3) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term 17 ‘‘educational institution’’ means an institution of 18 higher education (as defined in section 101 of the 19 High Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that 20 participates in a program authorized under sections 21 631 and 632 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 22 2018 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note). 23 (4) ELEMENT OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUC- 24 TURE.—The term ‘‘element of critical infrastruc- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 3593 IH ture’’ means a critical infrastructure facility or 1 asset, including public bridges, tunnels, roads, high- 2 ways, dams, electric grid, water infrastructure, com- 3 munication systems, pipelines, or other related facili- 4 ties or assets, as determined by the Secretary. 5 (5) ELIGIBLE SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 6 SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘eligible small unmanned air- 7 craft system’’ means a small unmanned aircraft sys- 8 tem manufactured or assembled by a company that 9 is domiciled in the United States and is not a cov- 10 ered foreign entity. 11 (6) ELIGIBLE SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 12 SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘‘eligible small 13 unmanned aircraft system technology’’ means— 14 (A) an eligible small unmanned aircraft 15 system; or 16 (B) a major component of such a system 17 that is not manufactured by or procured from 18 a covered foreign entity. 19 (7) GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘gov- 20 ernmental entity’’ means— 21 (A) a State, the District of Columbia, the 22 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of 23 the United States, or a political subdivision 24 thereof; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 3593 IH (B) a unit of local government; 1 (C) a Tribal government; 2 (D) a metropolitan planning organization; 3 or 4 (E) a consortia of more than 1 of the enti- 5 ties described in subparagraphs (A) through 6 (D). 7 (8) PROJECT.—The term ‘‘project’’ means a 8 project for the inspection, operation, maintenance, 9 repair, modernization, or construction of an element 10 of critical infrastructure, including mitigating envi- 11 ronmental hazards to such infrastructure. 12 (9) SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT; UNMANNED 13 AIRCRAFT SYSTEM.—The terms ‘‘small unmanned 14 aircraft’’ and ‘‘unmanned aircraft system’’ have the 15 meanings given such terms in section 44801 of title 16 49, United States Code. 17 SEC. 3. DRONE INFRASTRUCTURE INSPECTION GRANT 18 PROGRAM. 19 (a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 20 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor- 21 tation shall establish a drone infrastructure inspection 22 grant program to make grants to governmental entities 23 to facilitate the use of eligible small unmanned aircraft 24 systems to support more efficient inspection, operation, 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •HR 3593 IH construction, maintenance, modernization, and repair of 1 critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to 2 critical infrastructure projects. 3 (b) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—A governmental enti- 4 ty may use a grant provided under this section to— 5 (1) purchase or lease eligible small unmanned 6 aircraft systems; 7 (2) support operational capabilities of eligible 8 small unmanned aircraft systems by the govern- 9 mental entity; 10 (3) contract for services performed using an eli- 11 gible small unmanned aircraft system in cir- 12 cumstances in which the governmental entity does 13 not have the resources or expertise to safely carry 14 out or assist in carrying out the activities described 15 under subsection (a); and 16 (4) support the program management capability 17 of the governmental entity to use an eligible small 18 unmanned aircraft system. 19 (c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 20 under this section, a governmental entity shall submit an 21 application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, 22 and containing such information as the Secretary may re- 23 quire, including an assurance that the governmental entity 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 6 •HR 3593 IH or any contractor of the governmental entity, will comply 1 with relevant Federal regulations. 2 (d) SELECTION OF APPLICANTS.—In awarding a 3 grant under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize ap- 4 plications that propose to— 5 (1) carry out a critical infrastructure project in 6 a variety of communities, including urban, suburban, 7 rural, tribal, or any other type of community; and 8 (2) address a safety risk in the inspection, oper- 9 ation, construction, maintenance, or repair of critical 10 infrastructure. 11 (e) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall be 12 construed as to interfere with an agreement between a 13 governmental entity and a labor union, including require- 14 ments under section 5333(b) of title 49, United States 15 Code. 16 (f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 17 after the first grant is provided under this section, the 18 Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transpor- 19 tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 20 and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 21 tation of the Senate a report that evaluates the program 22 carried out under this section, including— 23 (1) a description of the number of grants 24 awarded; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 7 •HR 3593 IH (2) the amount of each grant; 1 (3) the activities funded under this section; and 2 (4) the effectiveness of such funded activities in 3 meeting the objectives described in subsection (a). 4 (g) FUNDING.— 5 (1) FEDERAL SHARE.— 6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 7 subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost 8 of a project carried out using a grant under 9 this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the 10 total project cost. 11 (B) WAIVER.—The Secretary may increase 12 the Federal share requirement under subpara- 13 graph (A) to up to 75 percent for a project car- 14 ried out using a grant under this section by a 15 governmental entity if such entity— 16 (i) submits a written application to 17 the Secretary requesting an increase in the 18 Federal share; and 19 (ii) demonstrates that the additional 20 assistance is necessary to facilitate the ac- 21 ceptance and full use of a grant under this 22 section, such as alleviating economic hard- 23 ship, meeting additional workforce needs, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 8 •HR 3593 IH or such other uses that the Secretary de- 1 termines to be appropriate. 2 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 3 There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 4 this section— 5 (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 6 (B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 7 (C) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 8 (D) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 9 (E) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 10 SEC. 4. DRONE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING 11 GRANT PROGRAM. 12 (a) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days after the 13 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor- 14 tation shall establish a drone education and training grant 15 program to make grants to educational institutions for 16 workforce training for eligible small unmanned aircraft 17 system technology. 18 (b) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—Amounts from a 19 grant under this section shall be used in furtherance of 20 activities authorized under sections 631 and 632 of the 21 FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49 U.S.C. 40101 22 note). 23 (c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 24 under this section, an educational institution shall submit 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 9 •HR 3593 IH an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, 1 and containing such information as the Secretary may re- 2 quire. 3 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 4 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec- 5 tion— 6 (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 7 (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; 8 (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; 9 (4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and 10 (5) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:00 Jun 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3593.IH H3593 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB