[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1445 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1445
To require the Secretary of Transportation to annually report on
aviation consumer complaints related to passengers with a disability.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2023
Mr. Cohen (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to annually report on
aviation consumer complaints related to passengers with a disability.
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 ``Prioritizing Accountability and
Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION ON AVIATION
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS RELATED TO PASSENGERS WITH A
DISABILITY.
(a) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of
Transportation shall submit a report on aviation consumer complaints
related to passengers with a disability filed with the Department of
Transportation to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, and shall make each
report publicly available.
(b) Report.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) The number of aviation consumer complaints related to
passengers with a disability filed with the Department of
Transportation during the 5 most recent calendar years.
(2) The nature of such complaints, such as reported issues
with--
(A) an air carrier, including an air carrier's
staff training or lack thereof;
(B) mishandling of passengers with a disability or
their accessibility equipment;
(C) the accessibility of in-flight services for
passengers with a disability;
(D) difficulties experienced by passengers with a
disability in communicating with an air carrier or
staff of an air carrier;
(E) difficulties experienced by passengers with a
disability in being moved, handled, or having their
schedule changed without consent;
(F) issues experienced by passengers with a
disability traveling with a service animal; and
(G) such other issues as the Secretary of
Transportation deems appropriate.
(3) An overview of the review process for such complaints
received during such period.
(4) How quickly review for each such complaint was
initiated.
(5) How quickly each such complaint was resolved or
otherwise addressed.
(6) Of the complaints that were found to violate section
41705 of title 49, United States Code, (commonly known as the
``Air Carrier Access Act of 1986'')--
(A) the number of such complaints for which a
formal enforcement order was issued; and
(B) the number of such complaints for which a
formal enforcement order was not issued.
(7) How many aviation consumer complaints related to
passengers with a disability were referred to the Department of
Justice for an enforcement action under--
(A) section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. 794);
(B) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); or
(C) any other provision of law.
(8) How many aviation consumer complaints related to
passengers with a disability filed with the Department of
Transportation that involved airport staff, or other matters
under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration,
were referred to the Federal Aviation Administration.
(9) How many aviation consumer complaints related to
passengers with a disability filed with the Department of
Transportation that involved Transportation Security
Administration staff, or other matters under the jurisdiction
of the Transportation Security Administration, were referred to
the Transportation Security Administration or the Department of
Homeland Security.
(c) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--The definitions set forth in section 40102
of title 49, United States Code, and section 382.3 of title 14,
Code of Federal Regulations, apply to any term defined in such
sections that is used in this section.
(2) Passengers with a disability defined.--In this section,
the term ``passengers with a disability'' has the meaning given
the term ``qualified individual with a disability'' in section
382.3 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
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