Sec. 912. Drone infrastructure inspection grant program
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Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an unmanned aircraft system infrastructure inspection grant program to provide grants to governmental entities to facilitate the use of small unmanned aircraft systems to support more efficient inspection, operation, construction, maintenance, and repair of an element of critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to projects. A governmental entity may use a grant provided under this section to— purchase or lease small unmanned aircraft systems; support the operational capabilities of small unmanned aircraft systems used by the governmental entity; contract for services performed using a small unmanned aircraft system in circumstances in which the governmental entity does not have the resources or expertise to safely carry out or assist in carrying out the activities described under subsection (a); and support the program management capability of the governmental entity to use or contract the use of a small unmanned aircraft system, as described in paragraph (3).
To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a governmental entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that the governmental entity or any contractor of the governmental entity, will comply with relevant Federal regulations. In selecting an application for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize applications that propose to— carry out a project in a variety of communities, including urban, suburban, rural, Tribal, or any other type of community; and address a safety risk in the inspection, operation, construction, maintenance, or repair of an element of critical infrastructure.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with an agreement between a governmental entity and a labor union, including the requirements of section 5333(b) of title 49, United States Code. Not later than 2 years after the first grant is provided under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that evaluates the program carried out under this section that includes— a description of the number of grants provided under this section; the amount of each grant provided under this section; the activities carried out with a grant provided under this section; and the effectiveness of such activities in meeting the objectives described in subsection (a).
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant provided under this section shall not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. The Secretary may increase the Federal share under subparagraph
(A)to up to 75 percent for a project carried out using a grant provided under this section by a governmental entity if such entity— submits a written application to the Secretary requesting an increase in the Federal share; and demonstrates that the additional assistance is necessary to facilitate the acceptance and full use of a grant under this section, such as alleviating economic hardship, meeting additional workforce needs, or any other uses that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. Out of amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 106(k) of title 49, United States Code, the following amounts are authorized to carry out this section: $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. In this section: The term critical infrastructure has the meaning given such term in subsection
(e)of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 ( 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e) ). The term element of critical infrastructure means a critical infrastructure facility or asset, including public bridges, tunnels, roads, highways, dams, electric grid, water infrastructure, communication systems, pipelines, or other related facilities or assets, as determined by the Secretary. The term governmental entity means— a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof; a unit of local government; a Tribal government; a metropolitan planning organization; or a consortia of more than 1 of the entities described in subparagraphs
(A)through (D). The term project means a project for the inspection, operation, construction, maintenance, or repair of an element of critical infrastructure, including mitigating environmental hazards to such infrastructure.
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Sec. 912
Drone infrastructure inspection grant program
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