Democratic News

Press Releases 02/12/2026
Commerce Committee Approves Cantwell, Cruz Agreement on Satellite Streamlining Legislation, Addressing Key Cantwell Concerns
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved the SAT Streamlining Act today, after Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) came to agreement on changes proposed by Sen. Cantwell. The updated legislation streamlines satellite licensing while adding critical guardrails to protect federal spectrum operations and national security. It directs the FCC to define what constitutes a complete application, establish the qualifications an applicant must meet, and determine which projects require full review versus those eligible for expedited deemed granted treatment.
Press Releases 02/12/2026
Cantwell Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on NTSB’s Final Report on the DCA Mid-Air Collision
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the below opening statement at a hearing about the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) final report on the January 29, 2025, mid-air collision near DCA Airport that took the lives of 67 people. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy testified before the Committee about the findings the report contained.
Press Releases 02/12/2026
Commerce Committee Passes Legislation to Strengthen FAA’s Safety Management System
The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee passed the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 led by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill,), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The bill directs the FAA to establish an independent expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive, integrated and effective FAA safety management system (SMS) to better predict, manage and mitigate safety risks across the agency.
Press Releases 02/12/2026
Cantwell Addresses FAA Closure of El Paso Airspace: "We Have a Real Problem of Coordination Between DoD & FAA"
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In her opening remarks at today's Commerce Committee hearing on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) final report on the tragic mid-air collision near DCA, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member, addressed the FAA's closure of the airspace over El Paso and her ongoing concerns about the lack of interagency coordination necessary to keep the public safe.
Press Releases 02/10/2026
Cantwell Delivers Opening Remarks at Hearing on Broadcast Ownership
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the below opening statement at a hearing on the future of broadcast ownership featuring testimony from Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, Curtis LeGeyt, President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, Thomas Johnson, Partner and Co-Chair of Issues and Appeals at Wiley Rein LLP and Steve Waldman, President of Rebuild Local News.
Press Releases 02/10/2026
Cantwell Presses for Sustainable Solutions to Support Local Journalism, Warns Against Industry Consolidation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, called for sustainable solutions to support the future of local journalism at today’s hearing on the future of broadcast ownership. Sen. Cantwell focused on the importance of finding a sustainable business model to avoid a future in which communities across the nation are left without local journalists and without a voice.
Press Releases 02/6/2026
Cantwell Cheers on Team USA Ahead of Olympics Opening Ceremony
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, emphasized the need to invest in women’s and Olympic sports at U.S. colleges and universities—the nation’s Olympic pipeline—in a statement ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. While many colleges have eliminated or cut funding for these sports programs, Sen. Cantwell’s SAFE Act would amend the Sports Broadcasting Act to expand media revenues so schools can protect and invest more funding in women’s and Olympic sports programs.
Press Releases 02/5/2026
As Communities Face Increasing Weather Threats, Cantwell, Budd Introduce Bill to Deploy Nation’s Next Generation Weather Radar
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) today introduced legislation to establish the Radar Next Program which will carry out deployment of the nation’s next generation weather radar system.
Press Releases 02/5/2026
Bedford’s Violation of Ethics Agreement May Yield the Sitting FAA Chief Millions
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Ranking Member of the aviation subcommittee, and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) General Counsel Gregory Zerzan demanding information and accountability regarding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford’s refusal to comply with his ethics agreement and divest his shares in Republic Airways. Instead, Bedford stalled while Republic Airways completed a merger with Mesa Air Group, which appears to have vastly increased the value of his holdings.
Press Releases 02/4/2026
Cantwell Warns Trump Administration Gutting of NHTSA Puts Americans at Risk as Self-Driving Cars Take to the Road in Increasing Numbers
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee warned that the Trump administration’s gutting of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will make it impossible for the agency to regulate autonomous vehicle technology to protect consumers while at the same time support the future growth of self-driving cars in the United States. Sen. Cantwell also emphasized the importance of ensuring consumers have a means for holding Autonomous Vehicle (AV) companies accountable.
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