Rep. Mackenzie introduces bill in U.S. House to require airlines to include strollers in contract of carriage

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the U.S. House aims to improve stroller handling and protection for airline passengers traveling with small children, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8579 was introduced on April 29, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish regulations requiring air carriers to include strollers in their contract of carriage and to tag them for careful handling. The FAA must implement these regulations within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. Additionally, the bill mandates that the FAA set a liability limit for damaged strollers at $2,175, consistent with existing baggage liability limits. The term “stroller” is defined as a collapsible carriage for small children and any similar device used for carrying children.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Republican-PA-7th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (Democrat-PA-7th District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Mackenzie has introduced another 16 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Ryan Mackenzie is a Representative from Pennsylvania, born in Allentown on August 2, 1982. He graduated with a B.S. from New York University in 2004 and an M.B.A. from Harvard University in 2010, and has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024.

Mackenzie was a staffer for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey in 2004 and worked at the United States Department of Labor in 2007. He was also the policy director for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and served as a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2016. He was elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, beginning January 3, 2025.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.