Chair Cantwell, Senators Markey, Blumenthal, Statement on Proposed Rule to Improve Consumer Protections for Travelers Seeking Airline Refunds
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), both members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) released a proposed rule to strengthen protections for consumers seeking refunds for airline tickets.
Cantwell Statement on the Nomination of Phil Washington as FAA Administrator
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), released the following statement after President Biden’s announcement that he will nominate Phil Washington to be the next FAA Administrator:
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Strengthen Wildfire Response, Advance R&D, Combat Human Rights Abuses, Support Advanced Aviation
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced several bills today, including Senator Cantwell’s Transportation Fuel Market Transparency Act that would give the Federal Trade Commission authority to monitor and prevent any fraud or manipulation that may be artificially inflating gas pump prices. All are subject to approval by the full Senate.
Cantwell Presses Sec. Buttigieg on Strengthening Protections for Airline Travelers, Increasing Efficiency of Consumer Refunds
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, pressed Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the need for DOT to strengthen consumer protections for airline travelers, increase the transparency of the ticket refund process, and ensure airlines issue refunds to consumers for canceled or changed flights promptly.
Senate Passes Legislation to Rename National Air Grant Fellowship Program After Ethiopian Air 302 Crash Victim Samya Rose Stumo & Honor 347 Lives Lost in 737 MAX-8 Crashes
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, respectively, applauded Senate passage of legislation to rename the National Air Grant Fellowship Program and to commemorate the 347 lives lost due to the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX-8 crashes.
Cantwell, Wicker Introduce Legislation to Rename National Air Grant Fellowship Program After Ethiopian Air 302 Crash Victim Samya Rose Stumo & to Honor 347 Lives Lost in 737 MAX-8 Crashes
Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, respectively, introduced legislation to rename the National Air Grant Fellowship Program and to commemorate the 347 lives lost due to the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX-8 crashes.
Commerce Committee Releases Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today called on Steve Dickson, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to review and act upon concerns raised by whistleblowers in a newly released Committee report, which illustrate a troubling erosion of safety oversight in the aviation manufacturing process.
Committee Chair Cantwell to FAA Administrator: “I’m a firm believer that engineers on the ground know their job. What’s not clear to me is whether people are listening to them, and whether the FAA has their back”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation delivered the following opening statement at today’s oversight hearing with Federal Aviation Administrator Steve Dickson:
Cantwell, Durbin Call on DOJ, FAA to Toughen Actions Against Dangerous Airline Passengers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Richard Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee today sent separate letters to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson regarding increased incidents involving dangerous airline passengers. The senators called on the agencies to coordinate efforts to ensure that those airline passengers who commit criminal acts are prosecuted.
As Workforce Shortages Force Flight Cancellations, Delays, and Passenger Frustrations, Chair Cantwell Calls on Airlines for Answers
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today wrote the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Republic Airways, and Allegiant Airlines seeking information related to recent reports of workforce shortages, flight cancellations, and delays, creating havoc and frustrating consumers as more Americans resume travel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline industry received billions in federal payroll support funding to retain their workforces and ensure carriers were better prepared to ramp up when travel returned.