Page 3 - Desert Oracle April 2019

President’s Report

I want to wish a happy April to all my AZPVA Brothers and Sisters. On
March 3 through the 8th I had the pleasure of going to the Paralyzed
Veterans of America Advocacy & Legislation Seminar with Matthew
Jansen. That week brought many PVA members and advocates from
various Chapters to Washington DC for Advocacy & Legislation Seminar.
Monday and Tuesday consisted of discussing legislative and advocacy
issues and Wednesday and Thursday we were on the Hill to present PVA’s
legislative priorities to our states congressional delegates.

The first two days, we welcomed guest speakers including Fred Downs
Prosthetics Consultant, Dallas Thomas from Southwest Airlines, Joy
Jenkins from Frontier Airlines, Livaughn Chapman US Department of
Transportation and keynote speaker Mark Takano House Veterans Affairs
Committee Chairman. Also presenting at the legislative seminar was
National PVA staff from various departments including Architecture,
Advocacy, Government Relations, and Veterans Benefits. Every year, PVA
prioritizes current issues that are most important to its members and the
disability community as a whole. This year, there are 7 issues on which
PVA is focusing its efforts. All 7 issues are as equally important however, I
will highlight the first three:

AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination based on
disability in air travel. Despite progress, too many passengers with
disabilities regularly encounter significant barriers. Enforcement of ACAA
protections is limited to administrative action and civil fines. In October
2018, the President signed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation
Administration (Public Law 115-254). This legislation included several
provisions from the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act (ACAAA),
including increased civil fines for passenger injuries and wheelchair
damage, development of an Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of
Rights, and establishment of a Department of Transportation (DOT)
Advisory Committee on the Air Travel Needs of Passengers with
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Disabilities. In the 116 Congress, PVA is supporting congressional
oversight of these provisions to ensure that DOT carries out the law’s
requirements. PVA is also working to ensure the reintroduction of
legislation addressing the remaining pieces of the ACAAA not already
enacted into law.