On June 14, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. This legislation would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years. We are pleased that the legislation includes several important provisions that will improve the air travel experience for people with disabilities. Some of these provisions include training requirements for assisting passengers with limited mobility and properly stowing assistive devices; improving the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) complaint process; and addressing the need for more access standards. The bill also requires continued study into safe and secure in-cabin wheelchair restraint systems; and for DOT to perform a more in-depth analysis of mishandled wheelchairs as reported by airlines. Additionally, the legislation reauthorizes the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee and includes a focus on the needs of passengers with disabilities in evacuations. 

We are pleased that the bill includes elements of the PVA-supported Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (ACAAA) (H.R. 1267) and the MOBILE Act (H.R. 3082). The legislation will now head to the House floor. It may be up for consideration in the House following the July 4th recess. 

The Senate’s FAA bill also includes several of the provisions in the House bill. It was slated to be marked up on June 15, but committee action was postponed. We are working to add elements of the ACAAA (S. 545) to the Senate bill as amendments during the Committee markup process.