The 114th Congress is considering several measures that would impact the airline industry if signed into law. From e–cigarettes to the size of an aircraft’s seats, here are a few of the topics being debated in Congress:

H.R. 4441 – Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016
This Act, sponsored by Rep. Bill Shuster (R–PA), covers a broad range of topics, including a plan to privatize the Federal Aviation Administration. This would mean creating a non–governmental organization to take over the daunting task of air traffic control throughout the country. The plan was approved in committee on February 11, 2016. If signed into law, it would come with a price tag of $17 billion per year for the first 3 years (while private air traffic control is being implemented), and then drop to $6 billion per year to cover the FAA’s non–air traffic control related responsibilities.

H.R. 4441 also includes a measure, passed on February 11, 2016, to ban the use of electronic cigarettes on commercial flights. The amendment was filed by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D– DC) and was approved after a lengthy debate that saw one lawmaker use an electronic cigarette while the House was in session, in protest of the amendment. This amendment would allow airlines to implement the same limitations on electronic cigarettes as they currently have in place for traditional, tobacco cigarettes.

H.R. 4490 – SEAT Act of 2016
Rep. Steve Cohen (D– TN) introduced the SEAT Act of 2016 to the House, which would allow the Secretary of Transportation to mandate minimum dimensions (length, width, and seat pitch) for aircraft seats. As airlines continue to reconfigure their aircraft to become more profitable, the measures set forth in this Act aim to ensure a requisite level of passenger comfort.

H.R. 2530 – Friendly Airports for Mothers Act of 2015
A bill introduced by Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D–IL) would allow large and medium hub airports to receive development grants if they agree to operate a “lactation area” for mothers to breast feed their children. These areas would be required to be behind the airport security area, shielded from public view, have a locking door, and not be located in a restroom.

H.R. 3334 – Families Flying Together Act of 2015
The Families Flying Together Act, brought to the floor by Rep. Rodney Davis (R– IL), would establish policies to ensure that families are seated together, provided the family includes a child under 12 years of age and an accompanying adult, 18 years or older, who is acting as the child’s responsible party.

This bill would make it so that airlines cannot engage in unfair trade practices by not disclosing to passengers, at the time of purchase, that they cannot or may not be able to sit together on any segment of the flight reservation. This includes flights with “free” seating available, as well as flights with “fee–based” seating options. The bill specifies that it must be disclosed if “two or more laterally adjacent seats are not available for advance assignment.”