Democratic News

Press Releases 10/22/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for MARAD Administrator, FMC Commissioners, NOAA Assistant Secretary
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s nominations hearing for Stephen Carmel to be Administrator of the Maritime Commission (MARAD), Laura DiBella and Robert Harvey to be members of the Federal Maritime Commission, and Dr. Timothy Petty to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration:
Press Releases 10/21/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement Ahead of Commerce Committee Approval of Key Legislation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement during today’s executive session. Several pieces of legislation Sen. Cantwell co-sponsored were approved, including the ROTOR Act (S. 2503), PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025 (S. 2975) and Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 2126):
Press Releases 10/21/2025
Commerce Committee Approves Cantwell-Cruz Bipartisan Aviation Safety Bill
Today, the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation unanimously approved bipartisan aviation safety legislation that requires all aircraft to be equipped with ADS-B In technology, closes a loophole that allowed military aircraft to operate without ADS-B Out transmitting their location, strengthens FAA-Department of Defense (DoD) coordination and requires comprehensive safety reviews of all aircraft operations in the DCA airspace, as well as all major and mid-sized airports across the country. The legislation addresses several safety issues identified by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) ongoing investigation into the mid-air collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that killed 67 people on January 29. Reports of over 15,000 near-misses between commercial aircraft and helicopters in the National Capital Region went unaddressed in the three years before the crash.
Press Releases 10/21/2025
Former College, Pro Players Warn SCORE Act Will Hurt College Sports’ Most Valuable Assets: Athletes
Today, former college and professional athletes joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in warning that the SCORE Act, being considered by the House of Representatives, would roll-back hard fought NIL rights and health protections, leave athletes vulnerable to unscrupulous agents, short-change women’s and Olympic sports and shut the door on collective bargaining rights. Today’s comments came during a virtual press conference hosted by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA), Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA).
Press Releases 10/16/2025
Cantwell, Cruz Bipartisan Aviation Safety Agreement Requires Full Implementation of ADS-B Technology, Delivers Aviation Safety Results for Families
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair of the Committee, announced a bipartisan agreement requiring aircraft operators to equip their fleets with ADS-B In technology by December 31, 2031. The agreement addresses several safety issues identified by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport (DCA) that took 67 lives on January 29. It also closes the ADS-B Out loophole, strengthens FAA-Department of Defense (DoD) coordination, and requires comprehensive safety reviews of all aircraft operations in the DCA airspace, as well as all major and mid-size airports across the country.
Press Releases 10/15/2025
Cantwell Demands Investigation into Kristi Noem’s Official Video Falsely Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, wrote to Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer demanding an investigation into Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for likely Hatch Act violations related to a partisan video featuring her airing at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screening locations across the country. The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act.
Press Releases 10/10/2025
Sen. Cantwell Warns Big Ten Presidents of Dangers in Selling University Assets to Private Equity Firms
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, wrote a letter to the Presidents and Chancellors of the Big Ten Conference schools regarding reports that the Big Ten is considering a proposal to sell a stake of their athletic revenue to private equity investors. The universities must approve such a deal.
Press Releases 10/8/2025
Sen. Cantwell Asks the Important Question at Opening of Committee Hearing on Government Censorship: Where is Chairman Carr?
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, asked aloud at today’s hearing on government censorship, “Where is Chairman Carr?” Sen. Cantwell and Democrats called for Brendan Carr, Chair of the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), to testify before the Commerce Committee after he threatened regulatory action against ABC and its affiliates if they did not suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel, resulting in his immediate suspension from the air.
Press Releases 10/6/2025
Trump’s “Grim Reaper” Cuts off Avenues for Whistleblowers to Report Wrongdoing, Fraud, Abuse Across Federal Government
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, demanded Trump Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought reverse his latest illegal action to cut off the ability for the public and whistleblowers to report misconduct, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars in the federal government. Vought recently moved to withhold funding for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, which operates a whistleblower hotline and website on behalf of independent inspectors general including for the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Press Releases 10/1/2025
Cantwell Statement on Shuttering of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement on the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), as a result of the rescission of its Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027 funding passed on a partisan basis in July 2025.
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