Congress passes law extending greater protection for air travelers with disabilities

The U.S. Senate voted of 93 to 6 to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 302), and the President signed it into law, creating a ‘bill of rights’ and an advisory panel for passengers with disabilities, as well as revised training and procedures for TSA screenings of people with disabilities.

Expert traveler, Cory Lee, waiting at the gate to board his flight.

H.R. 302 includes several provisions similar to those found in the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (ACAAA - H.R. 5004/S. 1318) introduced by Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I. earlier this year and by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. in 2017. Some of the provisions include increased civil penalties for wheelchair damage or bodily harm and a study on the feasibility of in-cabin wheelchair restraint systems.

For more details, read THIS ARTICLE from New Mobility magazine.