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RepublicanAmendment · S.Amdt. 3641· Senate(119-SAMDT-3641)

S.Amdt. 3641

Rep. Hoeven
Age: 69 years
North Dakota
Introduced
8/1/2025
Sponsored by
John Hoeven
Cosponsors
Republican - 0Democrat - 1
Changes bill
119-S-2296 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

Amendment SA 3641, submitted by Mr. Hoeven and Mrs. Shaheen, aims to add a section focused on Air Traffic Control Training Improvements to bill S. 2296.

The amendment proposes the following changes and additions:

  • Collegiate Training Programs: It directs the FAA Administrator to maintain the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative. It allows the Administrator to appoint graduates of these programs to air traffic controller positions noncompetitively.

  • Grant Program: It establishes a grant program for institutions of higher education participating in or seeking to participate in the Enhanced initiative. These grants can be used for curriculum implementation, faculty, simulators, classroom supplies, and other needs like medical certificates and FAA tests. The amendment authorizes $20,000,000 per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2031, with the Federal government covering 90 percent of the costs.

  • Faculty Benefits: It amends the law to include air traffic control instructors or supervisors at participating institutions in the faculty annuity supplement.

  • Curriculum Review: It requires the creation of an aviation rulemaking committee to review and recommend improvements for FAA training academy and collegiate program curricula. This committee will consider technology advancements (such as virtual reality), instructional techniques, and student success rates. The Administrator must report these findings to Congress and either act on consensus recommendations or explain why they were not adopted.

  • Mental Health and Surveillance:

    • The Administrator must establish a training course to support mental health providers and Aviation Medical Examiners regarding mental health conditions for air traffic controllers.
    • The Administrator must submit a report to Congress regarding the status, funding, and cost-benefit analysis of the Airport Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar (ANSR) program, including how to detect threats like balloons and unmanned aircraft systems.