Coats Amendment to Continue Transportation of Lithium Batteries for Use in Medical Devices Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) today praised the passage of his amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act that would grant an exemption to the proposed ban on transporting lithium batteries via passenger aircraft. The amendment was offered by Coats and Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.).

“Many Hoosiers rely on lithium batteries for their critical medical devices, such as pacemakers, heart pumps and wearable defibrillators,” said Coats. “It is important that patients can obtain the batteries they need to operate their life-saving medical devices.”

The Coats amendment would allow lithium batteries to be transported on passenger aircraft if the batteries are used as a part of a medical device. The amendment passed the Senate unanimously.