Congressmen Cohen and Fitzpatrick Introduce Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023

WASHINGTON – Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today introduced the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act to ensure that passengers with disabilities have up-to-date data on the Department of Transportation’s effectiveness in resolving disability-related complaints ranging from untrained staff at the ticket counter to lost or damaged mobility aids to passenger injuries and more.

A companion measure was introduced in the Senate by Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Deb Fischer of Nebraska.

Congressman Cohen, the Ranking Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, made the following statement:

“This measure ensures that all passengers, including those with disabilities, receive the same service and convenience we all expect from the airlines. It also provides for a clearer assessment of the conditions disabled passengers endure with the aim of alleviating difficulties. I look forward to working with Congressman Fitzpatrick and Senators Duckworth and Fischer on this commonsense reform as we begin work on the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.”

Congressman Fitzpatrick made the following statement:

“Millions of Americans with disabilities travel by air every year, and still face unnecessary challenges during the entirety of their flight experience. Discrimination against disabled passengers in the form of bureaucratic and logistical hurdles is flatly unacceptable. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will demand accountability from airlines and the Department of Transportation, encouraging all stakeholders to address passenger complaints seriously and directly. I’m proud to join Representative Cohen and to work to improve the quality-of-life of all Americans with disabilities.”

According to a 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) received 1,394 disability-related complaints in 2021, which was a 54 percent increase from the 905 disability-related complaints DOT received in 2019 and a more than 157 percent increase from the 542 complaints received in 2020.         

Specifically, the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act requires the Secretary of Transportation to publish an annual report on several issues, including:

• The number of aviation consumer complaints related to passengers with a disability filed within the last five years;

• The nature of the complaints, including issues with an air carrier, mishandling a passenger’s assistive technology, such as a power wheelchair, accessibility of in-flight services, difficulty in being moved or mishandled by staff or having difficulties communicating with an air carrier or its staff; and

• An overview of the review process for such complaints, and description of how quickly each complaint was initiated for review and resolved or addressed.

The Senate version of the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act (S. 400) is endorsed by:

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Caring Across Generations, Family Voices, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Access Living, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Amputee Coalition, Cure SMA, RespectAbility, American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, The Arc of the United States, United Spinal Association, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Autism Speaks, American Council of the Blind (ACB), Equip for Equality, All Wheels Up and Access Ready.

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