Democratic News

Press Releases 01/8/2026
Cantwell, Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act to accelerate quantum technology development and real-world applications that are vital to U.S. national security and global economic competitiveness.
Press Releases 12/18/2025
Cantwell Expects New Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Lunday to Implement Reforms to Combat Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault Required by Senator’s Bipartisan Coast Guard Reauthorization Law
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the below statement following Senate confirmation of Admiral Kevin Lunday as Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard:
Press Releases 12/18/2025
Cantwell and Merkley Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding Answers on NIST’s Unauthorized Dismantling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, led 27 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter demanding Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Craig Burkhardt provide clear answers to why the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been withholding and delaying congressionally-approved funds to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program’s Centers and why the Administration has repeatedly insisted MEP is inconsistent with their priorities. The MEP Program is a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Press Releases 12/17/2025
Cantwell to Vote Yes on Isaacman for NASA Administrator, Citing Commitment to Competition, Science
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke on the Senate floor this morning in support of the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), citing his commitment to NASA’s science mission and winning the race to the moon against China.
Press Releases 12/17/2025
Sen. Cantwell: Brendan Carr’s FCC is Hurting Consumers, Doing Nothing about Rising Costs for TV, Cellphone and Broadband Services
As American families face an affordability crisis, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, led her Democratic committee colleagues in demanding to know why Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is failing to address the crisis at an FCC oversight hearing that also included Commissioners Olivia Trusty and Anna Gomez. Sen. Cantwell made clear that the FCC is enabling continued industry consolidation that will only lead to less competition, creating higher prices and fewer choices for consumers across a range of services.
Press Releases 12/17/2025
Ahead of Hearing, New Report Shows the High Cost to Consumers of Brendan Carr’s FCC
Ahead of today’s hearing with Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released a Snapshot Report highlighting the increasing costs to American consumers of policies being pushed and actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Brendan Carr’s leadership.
Press Releases 12/17/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Hearing with FCC Chair Carr
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr:
Press Releases 12/15/2025
PHMSA Officials Weakening Federal Safety Protections Amid Conflict-of Interest Allegations
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, sent letters to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Deputy Administrator Ben Kochman and PHMSA Chief Counsel Keith Coyle, as well as Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and INGAA Foundation President & CEO Amy Andryszak, regarding serious conflict of interest allegations raised in a recent ProPublica story. The story clearly describes how Kochman—whom INGAA employed as its Director of Pipeline Safety Policy until President Trump appointed him to PHMSA in January 2025—and Coyle, a former attorney for INGAA, have spearheaded efforts to weaken safety laws opposed and disfavored by INGAA while also significantly curtailing safety enforcement actions against companies INGAA represents.
Press Releases 12/12/2025
Ranking Member Cantwell Statement on Trump AI Executive Order
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement on the AI Executive Order signed yesterday by President Trump:
Press Releases 12/11/2025
Sens. Cantwell and Cruz File Amendment to Strike Section 373 From NDAA
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) striking section 373 which rolls back safety measures put in place after last January’s devastating mid-air collision and codifies loopholes that allowed military aircraft to operate in DC airspace without ADS-B Out transmitting their location. The Senators also filed an amendment to replace section 373 with their bipartisan ROTOR Act.
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