Pressured by Obama, Biden, Amtrak Spent Millions on Slower Acelas
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released an investigative report examining how the Obama-Biden administration’s handling of the NextGen Acela trains incurred decade-long delays that cost American taxpayers $287 million, only to produce brand-new trains that typically operate about 10 minutes slower than the original Acelas.
WTAS: Advocates Commend Senate Passage of ROTOR, Urge House Consideration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aviation groups and families of the victims of the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash praised the Senate’s unanimous passage on Wednesday of the ROTOR Act, Chairman Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) aviation safety bill. The ROTOR Act, a bipartisan effort with Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), tightens the rules for military aircraft, requiring them to transmit precise location information to avert future collisions. Advocates urged quick House passage of the legislation, which also has the backing of the White House and the Department of War.
Cantwell Expects New Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Lunday to Implement Reforms to Combat Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Required by Senator’s Bipartisan Coast Guard Reauthorization Law
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the below statement following Senate confirmation of Admiral Kevin Lunday as Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard:
Cantwell and Merkley Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding Answers on NIST’s Unauthorized Dismantling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, led 27 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter demanding Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Craig Burkhardt provide clear answers to why the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been withholding and delaying congressionally-approved funds to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program’s Centers and why the Administration has repeatedly insisted MEP is inconsistent with their priorities. The MEP Program is a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Sen. Moran Leads Hearing to Review FAA ATC Modernization Plan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation – yesterday led a hearing with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford on the FAA’s air traffic control (ATC) modernization plan. Congress provided $12.5 billion for ATC modernization in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the Department of Transportation recently announced the selection of Peraton as the Prime Integrator, which functions as the project manager for integrating the new ATC system.
New Day, New Excuse Cantwell Blasts Bedford About Failure to Divest Airline Stock Holdings
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, blasted Bryan Bedford, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, for failing to take responsibility for divesting potentially millions of dollars in Republic Airways holdings within 90 days of his confirmation, a clear violation of his ethics agreement. The exchange came during an aviation subcommittee hearing.
Sen. Cantwell: Brendan Carr’s FCC is Hurting Consumers, Doing Nothing about Rising Costs for TV, Cellphone and Broadband Services
As American families face an affordability crisis, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, led her Democratic committee colleagues in demanding to know why Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is failing to address the crisis at an FCC oversight hearing that also included Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez. Sen. Cantwell made clear that the FCC is enabling continued industry consolidation that will only lead to less competition, creating higher prices and fewer choices for consumers across a range of services.
Cantwell to Vote Yes on Isaacman for NASA Administrator, Citing Commitment to Competition, Science
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke on the Senate floor this morning in support of the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), citing his commitment to NASA’s science mission and winning the race to the moon against China.
Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Hearing with FCC Chair Carr
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr:
Ahead of Hearing, New Report Shows the High Cost to Consumers of Brendan Carr’s FCC
Ahead of today’s hearing with Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released a Snapshot Report highlighting the increasing costs to American consumers of policies being pushed and actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Brendan Carr’s leadership.