Tran, Lowering Costs Caucus Leaders Call on Department of Transportation to Protect Air Travelers Facing Delays or Cancellations

Washington, DC -Today, U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45), with fellow Lowering Costs Caucus Co-Chairs Hillary Scholten (MI-03) and Greg Landsman (OH-01), urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) to take action to protect consumers by ensuring that airline passengers are appropriately compensated in the event of a flight disruption caused by a carrier.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

"Traveling for family, work, or school is non-negotiable for so many Californians. They deserve the peace of mind that if their flight is delayed or cancelled, they will not need to foot the bill," said Representative Tran."I am proud to join my Lowering Cost Caucus colleagues to urge the Department of Transportation to require commercial airlines to properly compensate passengers for travel delays. By rescinding this rule, the Trump Administration could cost the average family over $2,000 every year. The American people deserve better."

"The Trump Administration is once again putting corporate profits over American families," said Representative Scholten. "Whether traveling for a family vacation or a work trip, the DOT must ensure that vulnerable Americans do not have to pick up the bill for airline carriers' mistakes. I am grateful to my Lowering Costs Caucus colleagues for their commitment to commonsense approaches to protecting consumers and keeping Americans' hard-earned dollars in their pockets."

"Air travel is already stressful and expensive enough," said Representative Landsman."When delays or cancellations are the airline's fault, families should not be left paying the price. DOT created a rule that helps consumers, and this Administration is rolling that back."

The DOT recently rescinded a December 2024 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that would have provided consumers with compensation for delays or cancellations caused by carrier mechanical delays, staffing issues, or technological outages. The Lowering Costs Caucus leaders urged the DOT to reverse course to save everyday consumers, who already spend significant resources on travel.

Since taking office, Representative Tran has been focused on tackling the cost-of-living crisis and championed legislation to bring down prices for working families. Alongside Representatives Scholten and Landsman, Tran introduced the Toll of Tariffs Act,which would assess the impacts of President Trump's trade policies on the cost of goods for everyday American families. In July, as part of the Congressional Dads Caucus's 'Babies Over Billionaires' initiative, he introduced the Baby Food Tax Relief Actto exempt essential baby food products-including highchairs, bottles, and formula-from President Trump's tariffs. Tran also joined Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) to introduce the Keep Kids Covered Act, which would ensure uninterrupted access to affordable health care for all children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. He has consistently rejected legislation that would increase the cost of basic necessities like food and health care, including voting againstthe Republican budget proposal that would eliminate billions in funding for Medicaid and SNAP.

Tran recently launched the Congressional Lowering Costs Caucuswith Representatives Scholten and Landsman, where he will continue to work with his colleagues to develop solutions to make life more affordable for American families. Tran also serves on the New Democrat Coalition's Economic Growth and Cost of Living Working Group and the Congressional Dads Caucus, which aims to ease the cost burden on working parents by advocating for the expanded child tax credit, affordable child care, and paid family leave.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.