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H.R. 1445House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023

Sponsored by Steve CohenRep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Introduced March 8, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:34 AM UTC

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue an annual public report on aviation consumer complaints involving passengers with disabilities. The report is sent to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and must include data on complaint numbers, types, handling times, enforcement actions, and referrals. It aims to increase transparency and accountability for airlines, airport and security staff, and passengers with disabilities.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary must submit a report within one year of enactment and annually thereafter, making it publicly available and delivering it to the designated congressional committees.
  • The report must list the number of disability‑related complaints filed with the DOT over the past five years and categorize the nature of those complaints, such as staff training, mishandling, in‑flight services, communication issues, handling or schedule changes, and service‑animal concerns.
  • It must describe the complaint review process, including how quickly each complaint is initiated and resolved or otherwise addressed.
  • The report must detail complaints that violate the Air Carrier Access Act, indicating how many resulted in formal enforcement orders and how many did not.
  • It must count complaints referred to the Department of Justice for enforcement under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or other laws.
  • It must count complaints involving airport staff or FAA jurisdiction that were referred to the FAA.
  • It must count complaints involving TSA or Department of Homeland Security staff that were referred to those agencies.
  • Appropriations are authorized as needed to carry out the reporting requirements.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

March 9, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 8, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

March 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Aviation Subcommittee

March 9, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 8, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1445

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023.

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.