United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 6 R · 6 D cosponsors

S 697 — Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 R · 6 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025This bill expands and modifies Air Traffic Control (ATC) workforce training and programs.The bill provides statutory authority for the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. As background, standard AT-CTI institutions of higher education offer nonengineering aviation degrees that teach basic courses in ATC and aviation administration, and graduates complete training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. Students at Enhanced AT-CTI schools are provided with equivalent FAA Academy ATC training and may be placed directly into an ATC facility.The bill establishes a grant program for schools participating in the Enhanced AT-CTI program and provides for a faculty annuity supplement for ATC instructors at participating institution of higher education.The FAA must convene an aviation rulemaking committee to review and provide recommendations on the (1) curricula of the FAA Academy, AT-CTI program, and Enhanced AT-CTI program; and (2) Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam. Based on the committee's recommendations, the FAA must initiate a rulemaking or make policy and guidance updates, with an exception.The bill authorizes funding through FY2031 for the procurement and placement at ATC facilities of Tower Simulator Systems, which are used to train air traffic controllers on airport tower operations.The bill also requiresDOT to establish ATC recruitment and retention incentive programs,the FAA to support the development of mental health services training related to conditions for ATCs, andthe FAA to submit a report to Congress on the status of the Airspace Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar program.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 535 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (535)

535 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

transportation education
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 697 do?
Air Traffic Control Workforce Development Act of 2025This bill expands and modifies Air Traffic Control (ATC) workforce training and programs.The bill provides statutory authority for the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. As background, standard AT-CTI institutions of higher education offer nonengineering aviation degrees that teach basic courses in ATC and aviation administration, and graduates complete training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy. Students at Enhanced AT-CTI schools are provided with equivalent FAA Academy ATC training and may be placed directly into an ATC facility.The bill establishes a grant program for schools participating in the Enhanced AT-CTI program and provides for a faculty annuity supplement for ATC instructors at participating institution of higher education.The FAA must convene an aviation rulemaking committee to review and provide recommendations on the (1) curricula of the FAA Academy, AT-CTI program, and Enhanced AT-CTI program; and (2) Air Traffic Skills Assessment exam. Based on the committee's recommendations, the FAA must initiate a rulemaking or make policy and guidance updates, with an exception.The bill authorizes funding through FY2031 for the procurement and placement at ATC facilities of Tower Simulator Systems, which are used to train air traffic controllers on airport tower operations.The bill also requiresDOT to establish ATC recruitment and retention incentive programs,the FAA to support the development of mental health services training related to conditions for ATCs, andthe FAA to submit a report to Congress on the status of the Airspace Non-cooperative Surveillance Radar program.
Who sponsors S 697?
S 697 is sponsored by Hoeven, John (Republican), Shaheen, Jeanne (Democratic), Moran, Jerry (Republican), Duckworth, Tammy (Democratic), Warnock, Raphael G. (Democratic), Risch, James E. (Republican), Crapo, Mike (Republican), Hassan, Margaret Wood (Democratic), Daines, Steve (Republican), Kim, Andy (Democratic), Hyde-Smith, Cindy (Republican), and Heinrich, Martin (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 697?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 697?
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