Democratic News

Press Releases 10/30/2025
Cantwell Warns of Dangers of AI and Politically Driven Media Consolidation to Independent Journalism, Demands FCC Chair Brendan Carr Appear Before Committee to Answer for His Threats to Free Speech and a Free Press
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today warned that the rapid deployment of AI combined with politically-driven consolidation of major media and technology companies poses a serious threat to the first amendment and to freedom of the press at today’s hearing on government censorship. Sen. Cantwell called out the failure of Chair Cruz to bring FCC Chair Brendan Carr before the Committee despite Carr’s use of regulatory threats to try to silence voices that do not support President Trump’s agenda.
Press Releases 10/29/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Asks Again: Where is Chairman Carr?
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the below opening statement at the second in a series of Republican hearings allegedly focused on government censorship and the First Amendment. Despite FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s blatant use of regulatory threats against ABC and its affiliates if they didn’t suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel, Chair Cruz has refused to call him to testify before the committee of jurisdiction. The hearing featured Neil Potts, Vice President of Public Policy at Meta, Markham Erickson, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google, Will Creeley, Legal Director for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and Sen. Cantwell’s witness, Harold Feld, Senior Vice President at Public Knowledge.
Press Releases 10/29/2025
Commerce Committee Democrats Strongly Oppose Proposed Nomination Hearing on Trump’s Replacement for Illegally Removed NTSB Vice Chair Alvin Brown
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Committee-members Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) wrote to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz strongly opposing a proposed November 6 nomination hearing that would include John DeLeeuw to replace National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Vice Chair Alvin Brown. Mr. Brown was illegally removed from his position by President Trump earlier this year.
Press Releases 10/28/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Today’s Subcommittee Hearing on Reviving Commercial Shipbuilding
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries hearing on reviving commercial shipbuilding in the United States:
Press Releases 10/28/2025
Cantwell and Duckworth, Colleagues Denounce FCC Chair Brendan Carr for Illegally Gutting Federal Law to Help Ensure Families Stay Connected with Incarcerated Loved Ones
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.
Press Releases 10/28/2025
Senate Commerce Committee Wants Answers on NBA Gambling Scandal
U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Adam Silver, regarding allegations of gambling-related corruption in the league and the threat it poses to the game’s integrity.
Press Releases 10/28/2025
Washington Shipbuilder Joins Cantwell for Hearing on Commercial Maritime Industry
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, was joined by Tuuli Snow, a member of the family-owned Seattle shipbuilder Snow & Company, for a subcommittee hearing on revitalizing our nation’s commercial shipbuilding industry.
Press Releases 10/28/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell, Sen. Markey, Colleagues Call on Trump DOT to Stop Making Air Travel Costs More Expensive, Less Transparent for Passengers
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.
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):
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