Commerce Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reinforce U.S. Space Leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2025, which sets clear near-term priorities for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) programs, advances American leadership in deep space exploration, prevents a gap in low Earth orbit leadership and capability, and upholds scientific ingenuity. The bipartisan bill also equips NASA with the support it needs to continue critical science and exploration missions that will lead to breakthrough discoveries across our solar system.
Sens. Cruz and Moran Demand Answers from the Army on DCA Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) sent a letter pressing Brigadier General Matthew Braman, Director, Army Aviation for Headquarters, for more information on the tragic crash between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk in the DCA airspace. The Army’s timely response to Congress would inform Congressional oversight into the Army’s use of ADS-B Out.
Chairman Cruz Issues Statement Following Release of NTSB Preliminary Report on DCA Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the tragic accident between Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk in the DCA airspace.
Chairman Cruz and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Moran Announce Hearing on DCA Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “NTSB Preliminary Report: DCA Midair Collision” on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 10:00 am EST. This hearing will examine preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the deadly crash involving American Airlines 5342 and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Cantwell Calls for Permanent Helicopter Restrictions Near DCA
Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the following statement regarding the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report on the Jan. 29 mid-air collision involving an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk military helicopter near DCA that resulted in the deaths of 67 people:
Cantwell Leads Dems in Voting Unanimously Against Steven Bradbury for DOT Dep. Sec.
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the Senate vote on the nomination of Steven Bradbury, President Trump’s pick to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. All Democrats voted against his confirmation.
Cantwell Urges Colleagues to Reject Steven Bradbury for Deputy Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senate Floor, urging her colleagues to reject President Trump’s nominee to be Deputy Secretary for the Department of Transportation, Steven Bradbury:
Cantwell Asks DOD to Explain Why Capital-Area Flights Aren’t Using Key Safety Feature
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requesting that the Department of Defense (DoD) clarify how often and why it operates aircraft in the National Capital Region without Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out activated.
Senate Approves Coast Guard Authorization Act Unanimously
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, which was introduced by U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The bipartisan measure was agreed to at the end of last year by leaders of both the Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but the session ended before final passage could occur. The bill authorizes funding to strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to protect our borders, facilitate maritime commerce, unleash American energy, bolster deterrence efforts, and improve support for Coast Guard personnel and their families.
Chairman Cruz Announces Executive Session for March 12th
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee Executive Session on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET to consider the following nominations and legislation: