Cash Refunds for Coronavirus Cancellations Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3727
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced: 2020-05-13
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Consumer affairs

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Transportation costs
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Cash Refunds for Coronavirus Cancellations Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires air carriers and ticket agents to offer full cash refunds for all cancelled tickets during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period, regardless of whether the air carrier cancelled an entire flight or the passengers cancelled their individual tickets.</p> <p>The bill permits air carriers and tickets agents to offer alternative forms of compensation, including credit, or vouchers, provided that such offer is valid indefinitely and the offer includes a clear and conspicuous notice of the passenger's right to a cash refund.</p> <p>Additionally, the bill provides that passengers who received an alternative form of compensation prior to the enactment of this bill, but have not used it, may request a cash refund to replace the alternative compensation.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3727 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2020 Mr. Blumenthal (for Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Ms. Warren , Mr. Murphy , and Ms. Harris )) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide for cash refunds for canceled airline flights and tickets during the COVID–19 emergency.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cash Refunds for Coronavirus Cancellations Act of 2020 . 2. Cash refunds for canceled airline flights and tickets during the COVID–19 emergency (a) Cash refunds (1) In general A covered carrier or ticket agent who sells a ticket for a passenger to take a covered flight, and either such flight is canceled by the covered carrier or such ticket is canceled by the passenger, shall promptly offer the passenger a full cash refund for such ticket, including any ancillary fees paid. (2) Alternative form of compensation (A) In general A covered carrier or ticket agent may also offer an alternative form of compensation determined appropriate by the covered carrier or ticket agent, including credit, voucher, or other mechanism to compensate a passenger, provided that any such offer includes clear and conspicuous notice of a passenger’s right to a cash refund under paragraph (1). (B) No expiration date An alternative form of compensation provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall remain valid and redeemable by the passenger indefinitely. (3) Retroactive refunds In the case of a passenger who— (A) received an alternative form of compensation prior to the date of enactment of this Act for a covered flight or ticket for a covered flight canceled by the covered carrier or by the passenger; and (B) has not used such alternative compensation, such passenger may request a cash refund to replace the alternative compensation and the covered carrier or ticket agent shall promptly comply with such request. (4) Reimbursement to ticket agent A ticket agent who provides a cash refund to a passenger under this section, including a retroactive refund under paragraph (3), shall be entitled to prompt reimbursement from any covered carrier for the portion of the ticket price paid to that carrier. (b) Funding (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), a covered carrier or ticket agent may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the commercial airline industry in any appropriations enacted on or after March 1, 2020, in response to COVID–19 to pay for the cash refunds under subsection (a), including retroactive refunds under paragraph (3) of such subsection. (2) Limitation A covered carrier may not use amounts appropriated under section 4112 of the Coronavirus Economic Stabilization Act of 2020 (title IV of division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( Public Law 116–136 )) to pay for the cash refunds under subsection (a), including retroactive refunds under paragraph (3) of such subsection. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Air carrier The term air carrier has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (2) Covered carrier The term covered carrier means— (A) any passenger air carrier that had an operating revenue in 2018 that exceeded $1,500,000,000 according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics; or (B) any passenger foreign air carrier operating a flight to or from the United States. (3) Covered flight The term covered flight means a flight of a covered carrier that is scheduled to depart from, or arrive at, an airport located in the United States during the COVID–19 emergency period. (4) COVID–19 emergency period The term COVID–19 emergency period means the period— (A) beginning on March 1, 2020; and (B) ending on the date that is 180 days after the later of the expiration of— (i) the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ) with respect to COVID–19; or (ii) the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). (5) Foreign air carrier The term foreign air carrier has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (6) Ticket agent The term ticket agent has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code. (7) United States The term United States has the meaning given that term in section 40102 of title 49, United States Code.