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S. 400Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023

Sponsored by Tammy DuckworthSen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Introduced February 14, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:32 AM UTC

The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to produce an annual report on aviation consumer complaints involving passengers with disabilities. The report must be sent to the relevant Senate and House committees and made publicly available. It aims to improve transparency and accountability for airlines and related agencies regarding disability access issues.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary must submit the first report within one year of enactment and then annually thereafter.
  • Reports are sent to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and are posted for public access.
  • Each report must list the number of disability‑related complaints filed with the DOT over the five most recent years.
  • The report must detail the nature of complaints, covering issues such as staff training, handling of passengers and equipment, in‑flight services, communication, schedule changes, service animals, and other relevant problems.
  • It must include an overview of the complaint review process, and how quickly reviews were started and resolved.
  • The report must note how many complaints resulted in formal enforcement orders under the Air Carrier Access Act, and how many did not.
  • It must track referrals of complaints to the Department of Justice, FAA, and TSA for further enforcement or action.
  • Appropriations are authorized as needed to carry out these reporting requirements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

February 14, 2023

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 14, 2023

SenateIntro Referral

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

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

February 14, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued February 14, 2023

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 400

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 14, 2023

Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mrs. Fischer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

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 condition or lack of accessibility equipment or materials;

(D)

the accessibility of in-flight services, including accessing and utilizing on-board lavatories, for passengers with a disability;

(E)

difficulties experienced by passengers with a disability in communicating with an air carrier or staff of an air carrier;

(F)

difficulties experienced by passengers with a disability in being moved, handled, or having their schedule changed without consent;

(G)

issues experienced by passengers with a disability traveling with a service animal; and

(H)

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.