Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation | Facebook Website
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg accepted the Consumer Federation of America (CFA)’s Philip Hart Public Service Award for his dedication to consumer advocacy at CFA’s 52nd Annual Awards Celebration. Past recipients of the award include President Joe Biden, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren.
In recognizing Secretary Buttigieg, CFA cited several initiatives by the Department of Transportation (USDOT) aimed at enhancing aviation consumer protection. These initiatives include:
- Implementing new rules to address surprise fees, delayed refunds, and the treatment of passengers with disabilities.
- Collaborating with a bipartisan group of attorneys general to protect consumers.
- Taking enforcement action against Southwest Airlines for the 2022 holiday disruptions.
- Advocating for a ban on family seating fees.
- Reviewing the JetBlue-Spirit merger and supporting the Department of Justice’s lawsuit to block it.
“We were honored to be able to recognize Secretary Buttigieg’s dedication to fighting for consumers and powerful advocacy measures to improve air travel and hold airlines accountable,” said Susan Weinstock, CEO and president of Consumer Federation of America. “CFA has been a longtime advocate for air travel reform, and we are excited to continue working with the Department of Transportation to enhance consumer protections and competition in the air travel industry.”
In his acceptance speech delivered via video, Secretary Buttigieg expressed gratitude for the recognition from CFA. He acknowledged CFA's long-standing efforts in advocating for consumer rights across various issues.
“It is a particularly meaningful honor to receive an award named for Senator Hart: a decorated World War II veteran, a deeply respected public servant, a leading voice in Congress on civil rights, and a legendary champion of consumer rights,” Buttigieg stated.
Buttigieg emphasized that under his leadership at USDOT within the Biden-Harris Administration, there has been significant progress in expanding airline passenger rights since deregulation in the 1970s. He highlighted several key achievements:
- Issuing rules requiring upfront disclosure of baggage, change, and cancellation fees.
- Ensuring automatic refunds for canceled or significantly changed flights.
- Reducing flight cancellations by collaborating with airlines.
- Enforcing penalties against airlines that fail passengers.
The department has also taken steps to increase transparency through resources like flightrights.gov and improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Additionally, USDOT has launched reviews concerning airlines' handling of personal information and partnered with other agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on related consumer protection issues.
“Our reforms are long-needed. They are common-sense. They are fair,” Buttigieg asserted. He reiterated his commitment to making life simpler, safer, fairer, and more affordable for all consumers as part of President Biden’s broader agenda.
Buttigieg concluded by thanking CFA for their recognition and support in advancing transportation consumer protections.
