Democratic News

Press Releases 11/9/2023
Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, NTSB Tell Committee: Senate FAA Reauthorization Bill Key to Boosting Aviation Safety in Wake of Alarming Close Calls and Near Misses
At a hearing today in the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation, witnesses representing U.S. airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told senators that the most important action needed to address “near miss” incidents and boost safety is to pass the Senate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill to make key investments in the air traffic controller workforce, runway safety technology and critical infrastructure improvements.
Press Releases 11/1/2023
Cantwell, Hickenlooper Bill to Clean Up Space Junk Passes Senate Unanimously
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Orbital Sustainability (ORBITS) Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a first-of-its-kind demonstration program to reduce the amount of space junk in orbit. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee, joined Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in introducing the bill in February and it passed the Committee in July. It now heads to the House.
Press Releases 10/30/2023
Cantwell Applauds President Biden’s Executive Order on AI
Ahead of President Biden’s signing later today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded his Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that establishes new standards for AI safety, security and innovation.
Press Releases 10/24/2023
Senate Unanimously Confirms Michael Whitaker to Lead FAA
Tonight, the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to confirm Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which oversees the FAA, applauded the Senate’s unanimous vote.
Press Releases 10/24/2023
Ahead of Cloture Vote, Cantwell Calls for Strong, Bipartisan Senate Support for Whitaker to Lead FAA
Ahead of today’s cloture vote on Michael Whitaker to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, urged senators to advance his nomination with bipartisan support in a speech on the Senate floor. The Senate will hold a cloture vote on his nomination at 2:15 PM EDT, with the expected confirmation vote this evening at 5 PM EDT.
Press Releases 10/23/2023
Commerce Dept. Designates 31 Regional Tech Hubs to Boost American Innovation, Manufacturing and Jobs
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded the designation by the Department of Commerce of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs), including Spokane-based American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center’s designation as a U.S. tech hub for aerospace materials manufacturing. The Tech Hub program was established by the CHIPS and Science Act, which Sen. Cantwell spearheaded.
Press Releases 10/18/2023
Cantwell-Led Committee Sends FAA Administrator to Full Senate with Unanimous Approval
Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, chaired by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), voted to advance several presidential nominations to the full Senate with strong bipartisan support, including unanimous approval of Michael Whitaker to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. The Committee also advanced nominations for the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Amtrak Board of Directors as well as Coast Guard promotions.
Press Releases 10/17/2023
Cantwell Says Commercial Space Brings Unprecedented Workforce Opportunities
During the subcommittee hearing on safety and innovation in commercial human space activities, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, emphasized the need to build a robust space workforce to keep pace with the emerging commercial space industry to ensure both safety and innovation demands are being met.
Press Releases 10/13/2023
AARP, Pharmacists Endorse Cantwell Bill to Combat Rising Prescription Drug Costs and Unfair Practices by PBM Drug Industry Middlemen
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, held a press conference at the Othello Station Pharmacy in Seattle with AARP to call attention to the rapid rise of prescription drug costs and called on the Senate to pass her bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act to increase transparency and hold pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable for deceptive and unfair practices that drive up prescription drug costs and force independent pharmacies out of business. The bill awaits Senate passage.
Press Releases 10/11/2023
Cantwell Applauds FTC’s Proposed Rulemaking to Crack Down on Junk Fees Burdening Consumers
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded today’s announcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it is proposing a rule to crack down on consumer-burdening junk fees and require all-in pricing across industries.