Democratic News

Press Releases 03/17/2023
Sen. Duckworth Statement in Support of Phil Washington’s Nomination to Lead FAA
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and former combat pilot, released the following statement regarding her strong support for Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator:
Press Releases 03/16/2023
Flight Attendants Nationwide Call for Phil Washington Confirmation
Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next FAA Administrator, has now received the major endorsements of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), the largest flight attendants union with 50,000 flight attendants across 19 airlines, and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), representing American Airlines’ 25,000 flight attendants. Both organizations made clear the need for a strong, Senate-confirmed leader at the FAA in light of several recent “close calls.”
Press Releases 03/16/2023
Cantwell at Aviation Workforce Hearing: “Now More Than Ever, We Cannot Afford to Leave Good Talent on the Table”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, discussed the importance of building a pipeline of aviation talent to meet the growing demand for commercial air travel and expanding efforts to recruit, educate and train more women and minorities for career opportunities in aerospace. Her remarks came at today’s Commerce Committee hearing on strengthening the aviation workforce.
Press Releases 03/16/2023
Pilots and Safety Specialists Tell Commerce Committee: Phil Washington Has What it Takes to Lead FAA
Today, during the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on strengthening the aviation workforce, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, which represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 airlines, and David Spero, National President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, which represents more than 11,000 public servants at the FAA and DOD expressed their strong support for Phil Washington to lead the FAA.
Press Releases 03/15/2023
100k Strong, Machinists & Aerospace Workers Back Phil Washington as FAA Administrator
Underscoring the strong support of the hard working men and women in the airline industry, today Phil Washington received the endorsement of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest airline union in North America.
Press Releases 03/10/2023
Largest Airline Workers Union Says Phil Washington is the Leader FAA Needs to Ensure Safety, Competitiveness
Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) – the largest airline workers union in the United States – underscored their support for Phil Washington to be the next FAA Administrator, calling him “exactly the leader that the FAA needs as it navigates the increasingly complex issues facing our national airspace.” TWU represents nearly every class and craft of worker across 17 airlines and several airline contractors.
Press Releases 03/9/2023
NEW: Frontier Airlines Endorses Phil Washington for FAA Administrator “Wholeheartedly”
Adding to the chorus of support for Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next FAA Administrator, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle wrote to the Senate Commerce Committee to “wholeheartedly” recommend Mr. Washington’s confirmation. Along with its headquarters in Denver, Frontier operates major hubs from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Orlando International Airport. Additionally, the airline serves travelers from bases in Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tampa.
Press Releases 03/9/2023
Cantwell Keeps Commitment to Safety with 737 MAX Oversight Hearing to Ensure Safety Reforms are Being Met
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, questioned FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen today on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms required in the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act (ACSAA), which Congress passed following the tragic 737 MAX crashes. Sen. Cantwell emphasized the need for transparency to ensure the FAA is meeting key deadlines, including workforce reviews to build a technical workforce.
Press Releases 03/8/2023
Past FAA Administrators Endorse Phil Washington, Biden’s Nominee for FAA Administrator
Former FAA Administrators today rebuked Republicans’ distortion of the aviation qualifications needed to effectively lead the agency, and publicly endorsed Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next Administrator, citing his invaluable safety experience, record of successfully managing large, complex organizations and his decades of public service.
Press Releases 03/8/2023
Cantwell Opening Remarks at MAX Aviation Safety Oversight Hearing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks during today’s hearing with Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms outlined in in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA) which Congress passed following the tragic MAX-8 crashes. Sen. Cantwell authored the aviation safety legislation and it was signed into law on December 27, 2020.