• 01 Sep 2022 01:49 PM
• 0

Washington Report, Sept-Oct 2022

Congressional Caucus to Promote AAM
The US Congress has a new advocacy group for the promotion of advanced air mobility (AAM). On June 23, 2022, more than 20 members of Congress joined to launch the Advanced Air Mobility Caucus. Led by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA), the AAM Caucus seeks to educate members on AAM technologies and benefits and to promote revolutionary technologies for transportation by identifying policies to stimulate innovation.

“Advanced air mobility innovations like electric vertical takeoff vehicles show promise as new modes of sustainable transportation for commercial and private use,” said Rep. Panetta in a statement. “This bipartisan caucus will broaden awareness of the industry at the federal level and foster future partnerships with Members on both sides of the aisle.”

Two pieces of AAM legislation are pending in Congress. On June 14, the House passed the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (S.516), less than a month after a nearly identical bill was passed in the Senate. The bill establishes an inter-agency task force to coordinate federal government actions on AAM. The Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, meanwhile, would establish a grant program to fund the development of AAM infrastructure. The House passed its version of the bill, HR.6270, on June 13, while the Senate version has yet to receive a floor vote.