Sec. 303. National Center for the Advancement of Aerospace
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Chapter 1 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The National Center for the Advancement of Aerospace (in this section referred to as the Center ) is a federally chartered entity which shall be incorporated in the District of Columbia. The Center is a private independent entity, not a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government or a component thereof. Except as provided in subsection (f)(1), an officer or employee of the Center is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government.
Except as otherwise provided, the Center shall have perpetual existence. The Board of Directors (in this section referred to as the Board ) is the governing body of the Center. The Board shall adopt bylaws, policies, and procedures to carry out the purpose of the Center and may take any other action that it considers necessary (in accordance with the duties and powers of the Center) for the management and operation of the Center. The Board is responsible for the general policies and management of the Center and for the control of all funds of the Center.
The Board shall have the power to do the following: Adopt and alter a corporate seal. Establish and maintain offices to conduct its activities. Enter into contracts or agreements as a private entity not subject to the requirements of title 41. Acquire, own, lease, encumber, transfer, and dispose of property as necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Center. Publish documents and other publications in a publicly accessible manner. Incur and pay obligations as a private entity not subject to the requirements of title 31.
Perform any other act necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the Center as described in its bylaws or duties outlined in this section. The Board shall have 10 Directors as follows: The following individuals, or their designees, shall be considered ex-officio members of the Board: The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. The Executive Director, pursuant to paragraph (5)(D). From among those members of the public who are highly respected and have exert knowledge and experience in the fields of aviation, finance, or academia— the Secretary of Transportation shall appoint 5 members to the Board; the Secretary of Defense shall appoint 1 member to the Board; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall appoint 1 member to the Board; and the Secretary of Education shall appoint 1 member to the Board.
The members appointed under subclause
(I)shall serve for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed. The Board shall stagger the duration of the terms of the initial members appointed to promote the stability of the Board. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment. All Members of the Board shall have equal voting powers, regardless if they are ex-officio members or appointed. The Board shall choose a Chair of the Board from among the members of the Board that are not ex-officio members under paragraph (3)(A)(i). The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair but not less than 2 times each year and may, as appropriate, conduct business by telephone or other electronic means. Except as provided in subclause (II), a meeting of the Board shall be open to the public. A meeting, or any portion of a meeting, may be closed if the Board, in public session, votes to close the meeting because the matters to be discussed— relate solely to the internal personnel rules, practices, and matters of the Center; may result in disclosure of commercial or financial information obtained from a person that is privileged or confidential; may disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; or are matters that are specifically exempted from disclosure by Federal or District of Columbia law. At least 1 week before a meeting of the Board, and as soon as practicable thereafter if there are any changes to the information described in subclauses
(I)through (III), the Board shall make a public announcement of the meeting that describes— the time, place, and subject matter of the meeting; whether the meeting is to be open or closed to the public; and the name and appropriate contact information of a person who can respond to requests for information about the meeting. The Board shall keep minutes from each Board meeting. Such minutes shall be made available to the public in an accessible format, except for portions of the meeting that are closed pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii)(II). A majority of members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall adopt a code of ethics for Directors, officers, agents, and employees of the Center to— prevent inappropriate conflicts of interest and promote good employee conduct; and at a minimum, prohibit any member of the Board from participating in any proceeding, application, ruling, or other determination, contract claim, award, controversy, or other matter in which the member, the member’s employer or prospective employer, or the member’s immediate family member has a direct financial interest. The Board shall appoint and fix the pay of an Executive Director of the Center (in this section referred to as the Executive Director ) who shall— serve as an ex officio Member of the Board; serve at the pleasure of the Board, under such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish; is subject to removal by the Board at the discretion of the Board; and be responsible for the daily management and operation of the Center and for carrying out the purposes and duties of the Center. The Board shall delegate to the Executive Director the authority to appoint additional personnel as the Board considers appropriate and necessary to carry out the purposes and duties of the Center. The Board shall keep correct and complete records of accounts. With the exception of the matters described in subsection (b)(5)(A)(ii)(II), nothing in this section may be construed to withhold disclosure of information or records that are subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5. The purpose of the Center is to— develop a skilled and robust aerospace workforce in the United States; provide a forum to support collaboration and cooperation between governmental, nongovernmental, and private aerospace sector stakeholders regarding the advancement of the aerospace workforce, including general, business, and commercial aviation, education, labor, manufacturing, international organizations, and commercial space transportation organizations; serve as a repository for research conducted by institutions of higher education, research institutions, or other stakeholders regarding the aerospace workforce and related technical and skill development. serve as a centralized resource that provides comprehensive and relevant information sources on the following: Aviation pathway programs and professional development opportunities. Aviation apprenticeship, scholarship, and internship programs. Aviation-related curricula and resources about aviation occupations and career pathways developed for students, teachers, and guidance counselors at all levels of education. Aviation industry organizations. In order to accomplish the purpose described in subsection (c), the Center shall perform the following duties: Improve access to aerospace education and related skills training to help grow the U.S. aerospace workforce, including by— assessing the state of the aerospace workforce, including challenges and identifying actions to address such challenges; developing a comprehensive workforce strategy to help coordinate workforce development initiatives; establishing or supporting apprenticeship, scholarship, internship, and mentorship programs that assist individuals who wish to pursue a career in an aerospace-related field; supporting the development of aerospace education curricula, including syllabi, training materials, and lesson plans, for use by an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )), or a high school or secondary school (as such terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )); and building awareness of youth-oriented aerospace programs and other robust outreach programs, including for primary, secondary, and post-secondary school students. supporting the professional development of teachers using the curricula, syllabi, training materials, and lesson plans described in subparagraph (D); and developing an array of educational and informative aviation-related educational activities and materials for students of varying ages and levels of education to use in the classroom and at home. Support personnel or veterans of the Armed Forces seeking to transition to a career in aerospace through outreach, training, scholarships, apprenticeships, or other means. Amplify and support the work carried out at the Centers of Excellence and Technical Centers of the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the aerospace workforce, or related technical and skills advancement, including organizing and hosting symposiums, conferences, and other forums as appropriate. Administer on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation the Cooperative Aviation Recruitment, Enrichment, and Employment Readiness Program established by subsection
(a)of 40131. The Center shall be operated in a manner and for purposes that qualify the Center for exemption from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of such Code. At the request of the Center, the head of any Federal agency or department may, at the discretion of such agency or department, detail to the Center, on a reimbursable basis, an employee of the agency or department. The detail of an employee under subparagraph
(A)shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. The Center may accept, retain, and use proceeds derived from the Center’s use of the exclusive right to use its name and seal, emblems, and badges incorporating such name as lawfully adopted by the Board in furtherance of the purpose and duties of the Center. The Center may accept, retain, use, and dispose of gifts, grants, bequests, or devises of money, services, or property from any public or private source for the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Center in furtherance of the purpose and duties of the Center. The Center may accept voluntary services from any person that are provided in furtherance of the purpose and duties of the Center. The Center may not engage in business activity for profit. The Center may not issue any shares of stock or declare or pay any dividends. The Center shall be nonpolitical and may not provide financial aid or assistance to, or otherwise contribute to or promote the candidacy of, any individual seeking elective public office or political party. The Center may not engage in activities that are, directly, or indirectly, intended to be or likely to be perceived as advocating or influencing the legislative process. The assets of the Center may not inure to the benefit of any member of the Board, or any officer or employee of the Center or be distributed to any person. This paragraph does not prevent the payment of reasonable compensation to any officer, employee, or other person or reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses in amounts approved by the Board. The Center may not make a loan to any member of the Board or any officer or employee of the Center. Except as otherwise provided by section 40131, the Center may not claim approval of Congress or of the authority of the United States for any of its activities. The Executive Director shall appoint members to an advisory committee subject to approval by the Board. Members of the Board may not sit on the advisory committee. The advisory committee shall consist of not more than 15 members who represent various aviation industry and labor stakeholders, stakeholder associations, and others as determined appropriate by the Board. The advisory committee shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members by majority vote. The advisory committee shall— provide recommendations to the Board on an annual basis regarding the priorities for the activities of the Center; consult with the Board on an ongoing basis regarding the appropriate powers of the Board to accomplish the purposes and duties of the Center; and provide relevant data and information to the Center in order to carry out the duties set forth in subsection (d). The provisions for meetings of the Board under subsection (b)(5) shall apply as similarly as is practicable to meetings of the advisory committee. The Board may establish working groups as determined necessary and appropriate to achieve the purpose of the Center under subsection (c). Any working group established by the Board shall be composed of private sector representatives, stakeholder associations, members of the public, labor representatives, and other relevant parties, as determined appropriate by the Board. Once established, the membership of such working group shall choose a Chair from among the members of the working group by majority vote. Not later than September 30, 2026, the Executive Director, in coordination with the Secretary, shall establish a council (in this section referred to as the CAREER Council ) for the CAREER Program established under section 40131. The CAREER Council shall aid the Secretary and the Center in carrying out the CAREER Program by reviewing grant applications and recommending grant recipients. The CAREER Council shall be appointed from candidates nominated by national associations representing various sectors of the aviation industry, including— general aviation; commercial aviation; aviation labor, including collective bargaining representatives of Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspectors, aviation safety engineers, and air traffic controllers; aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul; and unmanned aviation. Each council member appointed under paragraph
(3)shall serve a term of 4 years. The Board shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate that, at minimum, includes a review and examination of— the activities performed as set forth in subsection
(d)during the prior fiscal year; the advisory committee described in subsection (h); the working groups described in subsection (i); and the Cooperative Aviation Recruitment, Enrichment, and Employment Readiness Program and related activities established under section 40131, including activities of the CAREER Council established under subsection (j). Not later than 2 years after the date on which the Center is established under subsection (a), the inspector general of the Department of Transportation shall conduct a review of the Center. The review shall— include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the efforts taken at the Center to achieve the purpose set forth in subsection (c); and provide any other information that the inspector general determines is appropriate. Not later than 30 days after the date of completion of the audit, the inspector general shall submit to the Secretary a report on the results of the audit. Not later than 60 days after the date of receipt of the report under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a copy of the report, together with, if appropriate, a description of any actions taken or to be taken to address the results of the audit. There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Center for the Advancement of Aerospace out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to carry out this section— $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2027; and $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2028. . The analysis for chapter 1 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 119 the following: 120. National Center for the Advancement of Aerospace. .
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