AAP Statement on U.S. House of Representatives’ Passage of FAA Reauthorization Bill

By: Colleen Kraft, MD, MBA, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics

“The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that includes the bipartisan Airplane Kids in Transit Safety (KITS) Act (H.R. 2485). The AAP has been a leading advocate for the Airplane KITS Act—legislation that helps make air travel safer for children. The advancement of this common-sense policy in the House today is a needed step forward for children’s safety.

“When a family boards a commercial flight, the last thing on their minds should be what would happen should their child experience an in-flight medical emergency, like a seizure, asthma attack, or allergic reaction. Currently, the emergency medical kits on airplanes are not equipped to meet children’s unique needs – the medications aren’t dosed appropriately for children, and the equipment they include aren’t sized to fit children. This bill would fix that. Almost 20 years have passed since Congress required the FAA to update the emergency medical kits on airplanes, making a review of their contents necessary and long overdue.

“Pediatricians also commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers Act (H.R. 2375) as part of the FAA reauthorization bill. This provision will help ensure that mothers who are traveling can access a clean and private place to breastfeed or pump breastmilk in an airport.

“The AAP thanks Representatives Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) and John J. Faso (R-N.Y.) for authoring and championing the Airplane KITS Act as part of the FAA reauthorization bill and urges the U.S. Senate to take up and pass a similar provision without delay.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 66,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.