Democratic News

Press Releases 06/6/2023
Cantwell-Authored Program to Eliminate Dangerous Traffic-Blocking Rail Crossings in 32 States
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding a total $570 million for projects to eliminate highway-railroad crossings in 32 states including nearly $40.5 million to the City of Washougal, Washington to eliminate one of the busiest BNSF railroad grade crossings in the state. Sen. Cantwell authored the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program and shepherded its passage through Congress as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Press Releases 06/6/2023
NOAA Announces $3.31 Billion Investment in Coastal Resilience, Salmon Recovery, and Infrastructure – Largest in Agency’s History
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., to announce a $3.31 billion framework to build climate resilience and support coastal communities through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.
Press Releases 05/19/2023
NASA Selects Washington’s Blue Origin to Help Land Astronauts on the Moon for Artemis V Mission
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected Kent-based Blue Origin to develop the human landing system for NASA’s Artemis V mission to the Moon.
Press Releases 05/18/2023
‘Rail Town’ Mayors Call for Passage of Railway Safety Act
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, held a press conference with mayors and municipal leaders from railroad communities calling for the Senate to pass legislation to prevent a disastrous train derailment like the one that devastated East Palestine from happening in their cities.
Press Releases 05/16/2023
Cantwell Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing on NASA’s Budget and Priorities: “We Cannot Operate our Science Agencies on the Cheap”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following remarks at today’s hearing on examining National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Fiscal Year 24 budget and priorities. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson testified before the Committee. Sen. Cantwell secured the latest NASA reauthorization in last year’s CHIPS and Science Act, which authorizes the Artemis program and the extension of the International Space Station program until 2030.
Press Releases 05/10/2023
Commerce Committee Approves Rail Safety Legislation, Sends 6 Bills to the Senate Floor
Press Releases 05/10/2023
Cantwell-Cruz Bills to Modernize Nation’s Weather Alert Radio, Instant Messaging Service Head to Senate Floor
Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, unanimously passed two national weather bills aimed at modernizing the nation’s weather communication and radio service as the country faces increased weather disasters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio Modernization Act and the National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act were introduced by Chair U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Both bills now head to the Senate floor.
Press Releases 05/10/2023
Cantwell Delivers Opening Statement Before Committee Approves Rail Safety Legislation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following remarks at today’s executive session immediately before the Committee approved the Railway Safety Act of 2023. Earlier this week, Sen. Cantwell released a summary of the legislation.
Press Releases 05/10/2023
Bipartisan Railway Safety Act Heads to Senate Floor
Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023 following negotiations led by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee, sending the legislation to the Senate floor. The Railway Safety Act of 2023 was introduced by Ohio and Pennsylvania Sens. Sherrod Brown, J.D. Vance, Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), following the devastating train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Press Releases 05/8/2023
Bipartisan Railway Safety Legislation Heads to Commerce Committee Vote
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said today that the Committee will vote Wednesday, May 10, on bipartisan railway safety legislation. The Railway Safety Act of 2023 builds upon legislation introduced by Ohio and Pennsylvania Sens. Sherrod Brown, J.D. Vance, Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), following the devastating train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.