October 28, 2025
Press Release
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 16 Democratic colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, urging DOT to reverse its decision to roll back popular consumer protections created by the Biden Administration requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays and cancellations and to disclose any ancillary fees upfront so consumers understand the actual cost of flights.
October 28, 2025
Press Release
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), author of the bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, in denouncing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr’s decision to undermine the 2023 law which would crack down on egregious prison phone rates and make it easier for family members to regularly communicate with incarcerated loved ones, reducing recidivism.
October 22, 2025
Press Release
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:
October 21, 2025
Press Release
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
October 21, 2025
Press Release
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):
October 21, 2025
Press Release
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
October 16, 2025
Press Release
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,
October 15, 2025
Press Release
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.
October 10, 2025
Press Release
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.
October 8, 2025
Press Release
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.