Cantwell Blasts Republicans Ahead of Vote to Replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, Illegally Fired by Trump
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, slammed Senate Republicans ahead of a vote scheduled for Monday evening on Trump nominee John DeLeeuw to replace NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown, who President Trump unlawfully removed from his position. Vice Chair Brown, who was unanimously approved by the Senate for a term through December 2026, has a pending lawsuit over the removal.
Cantwell Demands Answers from BP About Pipeline Spill Severely Impacting Delivery of Jet Fuel to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today wrote to BP North America Chief Executive Officer Murray Auchincloss demanding immediate answers about the Olympic Pipeline leak that has cut off delivery of jet fuel to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA) just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, there are concerns that the incident may increase gas prices in Western Washington for the next several weeks.
Cantwell Questions NTSB Nominee Over FAA Failure to Implement Safety Recommendations, Including ADS-B In Technology
During the nomination hearing of Michael Graham to serve on the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, continued her criticism of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety oversight, pointing to the agency’s failure to act on numerous warnings at Washington National Airport (DCA) and its long delays in implementing NTSB safety recommendations, including ADS-B In and Out technology.
Cantwell Tells OSTP Director Kratsios that White House AI Action Plan Tenets Align with Bipartisan Bills Previously Passed by Commerce Committee
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, called for the passage of seven previously approved bipartisan AI bills that align with components of the White House AI Action Plan during a subcommittee hearing today on the Administration’s artificial intelligence strategy. Just prior to the start of the hearing, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the Trump Administration is pursuing a proposal that would allow the federal government to take 50 percent of profits from patents that are the result of university research supported by federal funding.
Cantwell Statement on Trump Illegal Firing of Dem STB Member as Scrutiny of Massive Rail Merger Proposal Set to Begin
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the below statement regarding President Trump’s August 27 illegal firing of Robert Primus, one of two Democratic members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Primus had been confirmed unanimously by the Senate and his sudden firing comes as the STB is set to consider the controversial proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroads, that, if approved, would be the largest rail merger in the Nation’s history. If not reversed, the Board would be left with two Republicans and one Democrat with two vacancies.
Cantwell Delivers Opening Statement at July 30 Markup
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at the July 30, 2025, Full Committee Markup:
Ranking Member Cantwell Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing for Three Department of Transportation Nominees
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing on three Department of Transportation (DOT) nominees: Gregory Zerzan, to be General Counsel of DOT; Michael Rutherford, to be Assistant Secretary for the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy; and Seval Oz, to be Assistant Secretary for the Office of Research and Technology.
Ranking Members Cantwell and Peters Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Potentially Illegal Blocking of Consumer Protection Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, demanded documents and information from Director of the Federal Register Oliver Potts and from Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Acting Chairman Peter Feldman about the unexplained withdrawal of a proposed safety rule that would help protect American consumers from fires caused by lithium-ion batteries despite a vote by the CPSC approving it.
Cantwell, Markey File Amendment to Strip AI Moratorium from GOP Reconciliation Bill Amid Opposition to Blackburn-Cruz “Compromise”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As opposition to the new Blackburn-Cruz AI moratorium “compromise” continues to grow, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) filed an amendment to strip any AI moratorium from the Republican budget reconciliation bill.
10 More Organizations, 10 More Reasons to Oppose 10-Year AI Moratorium
Republicans are trying to enact a controversial provision in the Senate reconciliation bill imposing a sweeping 10-year moratorium on States’ enforcement of laws “limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating” artificial intelligence (AI). Below are 10 more reactions to this proposal from organizations across the country.