Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen

Re: S 5251 (119th Congress), ACPAC Modernization Act · Latest action (2026-08-05): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
VFA SI Solution #235 · published 2026-08-08 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/235
Office of record (Congress.gov): 713 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510, Washington, DC · (202) 224-6244

Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee Reauthorization and Accountability Act of 2025

The measure, as described from the official record: To extend the life of the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee so it can continue providing expert recommendations to the Department of Transportation on consumer protection issues in air travel.

The proposal

Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the 'Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee Reauthorization and Accountability Act of 2025'. Section 2. Reauthorization. The Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee established under 49 U.S.C. 42301 is reauthorized for a period of five years beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. The Committee shall continue to advise the Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to consumer protections in air transportation, including but not limited to ticket refunds, baggage fees, passenger rights, and accessibility. Section 3. Membership and Transparency. The Committee shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Secretary, with balanced representation from airlines, consumer advocacy groups, airport operators, and state aviation authorities. At least one member shall represent the interests of passengers with disabilities. All meetings shall be open to the public, and the Committee shall publish a public docket of its recommendations within 30 days of each meeting. Section 4. Funding and Oversight. The Secretary shall allocate $500,000 per fiscal year from the general fund of the Department of Transportation to support the Committee's operations. The Inspector General of the Department of Transportation shall conduct an annual audit of the Committee's expenditures and publish the results. The Committee shall submit an annual report to the Congress on its activities and recommendations. Section 5. Sunset and Enforcement. The Committee shall terminate on the date five years after enactment unless reauthorized by Congress. If the Committee fails to meet at least twice per year or fails to submit required reports, the Secretary shall dissolve the Committee and notify Congress.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: General fund of the Department of Transportation (appropriated from the Federal Aviation Administration's budget)
funding amount: $500,000 per fiscal year
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: Inspector General of the Department of Transportation
enforcement mechanism: If the Committee fails to meet twice per year or fails to submit required reports, the Secretary of Transportation shall dissolve the Committee and notify Congress.
effective date: Upon enactment

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce Clause – power to regulate interstate air transportation)
Tenth Amendment (powers reserved to the states are not infringed because the committee is advisory only, and states retain their own consumer protection authority)

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Democratic priorities: Continued consumer protection focus, transparency, inclusion of disability advocates, and public reporting. Republican priorities: Limited funding ($500,000 cap), mandatory sunset, independent oversight by the Inspector General, and accountability provisions that allow dissolution for non-performance.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/235 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology