Hearings

Chairman Cruz Hosts Press Conference on New Aviation Safety Legislation

July 29, 2025
11:30 AM

Post-DCA crash, Cruz-led bill proposes key safety enhancement for aircraft and improved air traffic control 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Tuesday, July 29, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will unveil new aviation safety legislation in response to the January 29th tragedy near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and amid ongoing concerns about airspace safety in the National Capital Region (NCR).

WHAT:

Event introducing new legislation related to aviation safety

 

WHO:

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

The Honorable Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation

The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, Chairwoman of NTSB

Mr. Tim and Ms. Sheri Lilley, parents of Flight 5342 First Officer Sam Lilley

Mr. Doug Lane, on behalf of the Families of Flight 5342

 

WHEN:

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

 

TIME:

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET

Press may arrive at 11:15 a.m. ET

 

WHERE:

SR 253

 

RSVP:

Please RSVP to Republican Committee Press if you plan to attend.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: Immediately following the tragic January 29th incident, Chairman Cruz hosted a briefing for Commerce Committee members with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Army. The Committee also held a hearing on the crash where Cruz pressed a top Army official about how the Army’s special exemption from safety regulations contributed to the tragic crash. Subsequently, Cruz successfully secured the release of a 2024 memo about how and when the Army would turn off helicopter location transponders while flying near DCA (“ADS-B Out Off Operations in the National Airspace”). Additionally, Chairman Cruz led his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Transportation and the Inspector General of the Department of the Army requesting concurrent audits to evaluate how the FAA and Army evaluate safety in the NCR.

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