Findings; sense of Congress

(a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–435; 100 Stat. 1080), adding a provision now codified in section 41705 of title 49, United States Code (in this section referred to as the ACAA), prohibiting disability-based discrimination in air transportation. (2) Despite the effort, individuals, including veterans, with disabilities continue to experience significant barriers to and with traveling by air, such as— (A) damaged assistive devices and physical harm; (B) inaccessible aircraft and communications; (C) inadequate assistance; (D) inappropriate treatment of service animals; and (E) a lack of suitable seating accommodations. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) access for individuals with disabilities in air transportation must move into the 21st century, or individuals with disabilities will be left behind and unable to compete in today’s job market or enjoy the opportunities available to other citizens of the United States; (2) the ACAA must be updated to improve access to air transportation for individuals with disabilities; (3) legislation is necessary to ensure that individuals with disabilities have adequate remedies available when air carriers and foreign air carriers violate the ACAA; and (4) unlike other civil rights statutes, the ACAA does not contain a private right of action, which is critical to the enforcement of such statutes, and Congress must correct this anomaly.