Democratic News

Press Releases 12/11/2025
Sens. Cantwell and Cruz File Amendment to Strike Section 373 From NDAA
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) striking section 373 which rolls back safety measures put in place after last January’s devastating mid-air collision and codifies loopholes that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace without ADS-B Out transmitting their location. The Senators also filed an amendment to replace section 373 with their bipartisan ROTOR Act.
Press Releases 12/10/2025
“Who thinks it’s a good idea?” Sen. Cantwell Warns Provision Added to NDAA Threatens Aviation Safety, Allows Military Aircraft to Operate in DC Airspace Without ADS-B Out Transmitting Location
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke on the Senate Floor tonight to warn that a last-minute provision added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would threaten aviation safety and must be removed to protect the flying public. Section 373 of the NDAA rolls back safety measures put in place after last January’s devastating mid-air collision which took the lives of 67 people, and preserves loopholes that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace without ADS-B Out transmitting their location.
Press Releases 12/9/2025
FAA Administrator Bedford in Violation of Ethics Agreement, Potentially Holds Millions in Republic Airways Stock Months After Confirmation, Committee
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, demanded answers from Bryan Bedford, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on his failure to divest potentially millions of dollars in Republic Airways holdings within 90 days of his confirmation, a clear violation of his ethics agreement. According to his financial disclosure, at the time of his nomination, Administrator Bedford reported holding stock in Republic worth between $6 million and $30 million.
Press Releases 12/8/2025
Cantwell Slams Trump Admin for Giving Southwest Airlines Free Pass on Millions in Fines Owed for 2022 Holiday Travel Meltdown
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, slammed the Trump Administration for its decision to waive $11 million in fines levied against Southwest Airlines by the Biden Administration following the airline’s 2022 holiday travel meltdown which stranded more than 2 million passengers.
Press Releases 12/8/2025
Cantwell & Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect College Athletes’ New NIL Compensation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Helping Undergraduate Students Thrive with Long-Term Earnings (HUSTLE Act) so that college athletes earning NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money can protect more of it for their post-playing lives. The bill would create a new NIL investment account that would allow student athletes to save a portion of their NIL earnings. The HUSTLE Act also protects athletes’ NIL earnings by reining in abusive practices by unscrupulous athlete agents, including by requiring college athlete agents to register in a state and capping agent fees.
Press Releases 12/6/2025
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.
Press Releases 12/3/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Delivers Opening Remarks at Nomination Hearing for NASA Administrator
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee hearing on the nominations of Jared Isaacman to be NASA Administrator and Steven Haines to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis.
Press Releases 12/2/2025
Experts Agree U.S. Communications Networks Remain Vulnerable Following Salt Typhoon Hack
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, questioned a panel of telecommunications and cybersecurity experts on the continuing weaknesses and vulnerabilities in our communications networks exposed by the Salt Typhoon attack and the ongoing threats to Americans’ sensitive information and national security. To date, telecom companies infiltrated in the attack have failed to prove the Chinese hackers have been eradicated from their networks.
Press Releases 12/1/2025
Cantwell Slams ‘New’ SCORE Act Ahead of Expected House Vote
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, slammed the latest version of the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act ahead of a planned vote this week by the full House. Last week, the House Rules Committee released updated – and deeply flawed – text of the legislation and will vote on advancing the bill this afternoon.
Press Releases 11/21/2025
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.
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