Press Releases
Rep. Pettersen, Rep. Mackenzie Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Air Travel with Strollers Easier, Hold Airlines Accountable
Washington,
April 30, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Representative Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) introduced a bipartisan bill that would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue new rules requiring airlines to explicitly include strollers in their liability contract during transit and to handle them with care. The bill would also set a clear obligation standard for airlines – up to $2,175 – if a stroller is damaged. Millions of families travel every day with strollers, and too often, this essential equipment is mishandled or damaged during transit, leaving families without recourse. In 2024, U.S. airlines collectively transported 899,385 mobility devices, and of those, 11,357 were reportedly damaged or destroyed in transit. This bill would create clear, consistent rules to ensure strollers are handled with care all the way into the cabin and make sure families are fairly compensated when airlines fall short. These protections would reduce unnecessary costs and disruptions for families, providing greater certainty and reliability when traveling with young children. “As a mom, I travel a lot with my two boys, and I can tell you that traveling with kids is already stressful enough. This bill will make just one part of that experience much easier for families, making sure that their equipment isn’t lost or broken, so parents aren’t left to worry about how they will safely travel with their kids,” said Pettersen. “At a time when so many families already have so much to worry about, I’m happy to partner with Representative Mackenzie on this commonsense, bipartisan solution that will ease just one of the burdens that moms and dads routinely face when traveling.” “As the father of two young children, I know that air travel for families is already hard enough without worrying about damage to strollers,” said Mackenzie. “Parents count on strollers when they’re traveling, and the stress and cost of damage can turn short trips into nightmares. That’s why we’re introducing legislation that holds airlines accountable for these damages, just like we already do for other pieces of luggage.” The full text of the bill can be found HERE. Since coming to Congress, Rep. Pettersen has been a champion for working families and children in Colorado. As a mom of two, she has pushed back against Trump’s policies that would increase costs for child care, health care, and other basic necessities for families. Rep. Pettersen has fought to support working families and expand access to childcare by supporting legislation that protects paid leave, grows the child care workforce, and strengthens child care infrastructure – while also securing millions of dollars to build new childcare facilities across her district. Rep. Pettersen’s bipartisan BABES Act was signed into law last year, which aims to ease travel for parents with breast milk. ### |