H.R. 8492

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8492 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8492

To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
for unmanned aircraft system pilot training, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 23, 2026

Mr. Subramanyam (for himself and Mr. Bresnahan) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program 
for unmanned aircraft system pilot training, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Public Safety UAS Readiness Act''.

SEC. 2. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM PILOT TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation, acting through 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, shall 
establish a program to award grants to covered entities to carry out 
activities to support training of unmanned aircraft system pilots.
(b) Eligible Activities.--A covered entity in receipt of a grant 
awarded under this section may use such grant--
(1) to establish and develop an unmanned aircraft system 
training program, including curriculum design, instructional 
materials, and related resources necessary to carry out--
(A) training of public safety personnel on aviation 
safety, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, 
basic airspace principles, and public safety mission 
profiles relating to the operation of unmanned aircraft 
systems;
(B) training of certified remote pilots on risk 
management, flight execution, data collection for 
unmanned aircraft systems;
(C) specialized instruction for certified remote 
pilots leading unmanned aircraft system missions in 
complex, multi-agency environments; and
(D) the development and validation of public safety 
UAS instructors to serve as instructors in certain 
regions throughout the United States upon completion of 
such certification;
(2) to purchase an unmanned aircraft system that meets all 
Federal safety standards and regulatory requirements for the 
purpose of carrying out the training described in this 
paragraph; and
(3) for reasonable administrative costs directly associated 
with the delivery of training and program implementation under 
this section, including support services necessary to ensure 
student participation and program completion, expenses incurred 
due to staff attendance, including travel coordination, and 
local facility use.
(c) Comprehensive Plan.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, a covered entity shall demonstrate the ability to manage 
Federal funds and submit to the Secretary a comprehensive plan 
describing how such entity will use such funds to develop and sustain 
unmanned aircraft system training and operations. Such entity shall 
include in the comprehensive plan information on--
(1) administration and oversight for any program proposed 
to be established using such grant;
(2) risk management procedures;
(3) airspace coordination and safety protocols;
(4) certified personnel rosters;
(5) equipment maintenance schedules;
(6) data and privacy protections; and
(7) legal compliance documentation.
(d) Requirements.--With respect to a training program established 
with a grant awarded under this section, a covered entity shall--
(1) operate or administer such program in accordance with 
applicable Federal law and regulations, which may include 
section 44807 of title 49, United States Code, or parts 91 or 
107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as applicable, 
and--
(A) National Wildfire Coordinating Group Standard 
A-450 or S-373;
(B) ASTM International Standard F3266, F3330, or 
F3370; or
(C) National Fire Protection Association Standard 
2400; and
(2) ensure--
(A) that the curriculum for such program is 
maintained by, or licensed through, a national 
nonprofit public safety organization or a nonprofit 
emergency response training entity;
(B) that such curriculum remains consistent with 
operational standards and reflects mission specific 
public safety training needs; and
(C) that any modification to such curriculum is 
subject to the approval of the organization through 
which the curriculum is maintained or licensed.
(e) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall prioritize selecting covered entities who--
(1) engage in high risk operations or operate in 
underserved regions;
(2) demonstrate multi-agency or regional coordination;
(3) propose to carry out training that is consistent with 
Federal Aviation Administration, National Wildfire Coordinating 
Group, and National Fire Protection Association standards; and
(4) lack the capacity for unmanned aircraft systems 
training.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Report by recipient.--Each recipient of a grant awarded 
under this section shall, not less frequently than annually, 
submit to the Secretary a report containing the following 
information:
(A) The number and type of personnel trained using 
such grant.
(B) The number of certifications of public safety 
UAS instructors under subsection (b)(4).
(C) The number of instructors participating in any 
training provided using such grant.
(D) The number of unmanned aircraft system 
deployments carried out by such recipient after 
completion of training carried out with such grant.
(E) Challenges or recommendations related to a 
program established using such grant.
(2) Report by secretary.--Not less frequently than 
annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the grant program carried out under this section that contains 
the following information:
(A) A description of grant recipients, 
disaggregated by region and type of entity receiving 
such grant.
(B) A summary of progress made in building unmanned 
aircraft system training capacity across the United 
States.
(C) Any recommendations for improvements to 
training standards and the grant program established 
under this section.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Certified remote pilot.--The term ``certified remote 
pilot'' means a pilot certified to operate an unmanned aircraft 
system under part 107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
or under a valid public aircraft operation or Federal Aviation 
Administration authorization.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means--
(A) a governmental or nonprofit fire department, 
emergency medical service, or law enforcement agency;
(B) a State or regional public safety training 
academy;
(C) an interagency unmanned aircraft system 
collaborative; or
(D) a nonprofit public safety training organization 
that--
(i) has demonstrated a national presence in 
public safety education;
(ii) maintains a primary mission focused on 
emergency response readiness; and
(iii) has a documented history of 
partnerships with Federal, State, Tribal, 
territorial, or local public safety agencies.
(3) Emergency medical service.--The term ``emergency 
medical service'' has the meaning given the term ``emergency 
medical services'' under section 553(e) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee-10(e)).
(4) High risk operation.--The term ``high risk operation'' 
means an unmanned aircraft mission conducted in an environment, 
condition, or for purposes where a loss of control, system, 
failure, or operational error could reasonably be expected to 
result in serious injury or death, substantial property damage, 
or disruption to public safety or critical infrastructure.
(5) Interagency unmanned aircraft system collaborative.--
The term ``interagency unmanned aircraft system collaborative'' 
means a formal partnership, task force, or mutual aid framework 
involving 2 or more governmental or nonprofit public safety or 
emergency response agencies that jointly develop, operate, or 
coordinate unmanned aircraft system training and deployment to 
support all-hazards response.
(6) Nonprofit.--The term ``nonprofit'', with respect to a 
covered entity, means an entity that is described in section 
501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from 
taxation under section 501(a) of such code.
(7) Public safety uas instructor.--The term ``public safety 
UAS instructor'' means an instructor providing training for 
unmanned aircraft system operations conducted for the purpose 
of emergency response at or on behalf of a covered entity.
(8) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
system'' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of 
title 49, United States Code.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2029.
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