A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for certain remedies for air transportation passengers with disabilities who are discriminated against, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 18, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
This bill updates the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 to strengthen protections for passengers with disabilities traveling by air. Currently, the law prohibits discrimination but lacks a "private right of action," meaning passengers cannot sue airlines directly in court for violations. The bill adds this critical enforcement mechanism, allowing individuals with disabilities to file civil lawsuits against airlines within two years of experiencing discrimination, including incidents involving damaged wheelchairs, denial of boarding, physical harm, or inadequate assistance. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to assess civil penalties for specific violations such as loss or damage to assistive devices, failure to provide boarding assistance, and gross negligence, with serious cases referred to the Attorney General. Additionally, prevailing plaintiffs can recover compensatory and punitive damages along with attorney fees and court costs, giving passengers meaningful recourse without first having to go through government administrative processes.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.