,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #icdb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #ag1 #bjbb,mr4 ,langevin introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 to prevent discrimination against airline passengers with disabilities who use lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids that are safe for air travel1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,working to ,help ,ensure ,equity for ,lithium-ion-powered ,chairs on ,airplanes ,act or the ,w,h,e,e,l,chairs on ,airplanes ,act4 #b4 ,findings2 ,sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,in #aihf1 ,president ,ronald ,reagan signed the ,air ,carrier ,access ,act of #aihf 7,public ,law #ii-dce2 #ajj ,stat4 #ajhj71 adding a provision now codified in section #dagje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 prohibiting disability-based discrimination in air transportation4 7#b7 ,despite this effort1 individuals with disabilities continue to experience significant barriers to and with traveling in air transportation4 7#c7 ,the ,department of ,transportation's ,airline ,passengers with ,disabilities ,bill of ,rights specifies that airlines must accept a battery powered wheelchair1 if it fits in the cargo compartment and can be transported consistent with safety and security requirements4 7#d7 ,wheelchairs and other mobility aids powered by lithium-ion batteries are growing in prevalence1 as lithium-ion batteries are light-weight and can extend a device's range between charges4 7#e7 ,airline passengers with disabilities who travel with lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs or mobility aids have been arbitrarily and erroneously denied boarding despite presenting documentation that their devices meet all applicable safety standards4 7#f7 ,as the popularity of lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids continues to increase1 so will the frequency of instances when airline passengers with disabilities are erroneously and arbitrarily denied boarding4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that an air carrier or foreign air carrier that denies an airline passenger with a disability who use a lithium-ion-powered wheelchair or mobility aid that meets all applicable safety standards for air travel should be considered to have violated such passenger's rights under section #dagje of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 and therefore1 all air carriers and foreign air carriers must maintain clear policies pertaining to lithium-ion battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids that are no more restrictive than all applicable safety standards4 #c4 ,annual survey of air carrier and foreign air carrier lithium-ion battery policies for wheelchairs and mobility aids 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,i of chapter #dag of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dagbg4 ,requirements for air carrier and foreign air carrier lithium-ion battery policies for wheelchairs and mobility aids 7a7 ,survey required ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,w,h,e,e,l,chairs on ,airplanes ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,aviation ,administration shall conduct a survey on all air carriers and foreign air carriers to-- 7#a7 compile the policies regarding lithium-ion battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids of each air carrier and foreign air carrier2 7#b7 determine whether any of the policies described in paragraph 7#a7 are more restrictive than applicable standards in section #age4aj of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations2 and 7#c7 determine whether any of the policies described in paragraph 7#a7 are not consistent with the standards established by the ,administrator under subsection 7f74 7b7 ,report and publication ,upon completion of each survey required under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall-- 7#a7 submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report containing such survey2 and 7#b7 publish on the website of the ,department of ,transportation in an accessible format the information collected under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,noncompliant policies ,an air carrier or foreign air carrier is considered to have a noncompliant policy if the ,administrator determines1 as part of the survey conducted under subsection 7a71 that such air carrier or foreign air carrier-- 7#a7 does not have a policy for lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs or mobility aids in effect2 7#b7 has a policy for lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs or mobility aids in effect that is more restrictive than standards in section #age4aj of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations2 or 7#c7 has a policy that is not consistent with the standards for adequate protection established by the ,administrator under subsection 7f74 7d7 ,notification2 updates ,for any noncompliant policy under subsection 7c71 the ,administrator-- 7#a7 shall notify the air carrier or foreign air carrier of the noncompliant status of the policy2 and 7#b7 shall require such air carrier or foreign air carrier to update any such policy before the date that is #ahj days after the receipt of a notification under paragraph 7#a72 and 7#c7 shall assess a civil penalty under section #dfcja for any policy of the air carrier or foreign air carrier that remains noncompliant beginning on such date4 7e7 ,report on compliant policy ,an air carrier or foreign air carrier that is required to update a noncompliant policy under subsection 7d77#b7 shall-- 7#a7 update such policy2 and 7#b7 submit to the ,administrator a report upon completion of the update that contains the updated policy4 7f7 ,adequate protection ,the ,administrator shall issue such regulations as are necessary to establish standards for adequate protection based on the requirements of section #age4aj7;a77#ag77v7 of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 for purposes of application under this section4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #dfcja7;d77#b7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting section #dagbg1 before chapter #dda4 7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the analysis for chapter #dag of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #dagbf the following3 #dagbg4 ,requirements for air carrier and foreign air carrier lithium-ion battery policies for wheelchairs and mobility aids4 4