October 24, 2023
Press Release
Tonight, the U.S. Senate voted 98-0 to confirm Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which oversees the FAA, applauded the Senate’s unanimous vote.
October 23, 2023
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded the designation by the Department of Commerce of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs), including Spokane-based American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center’s designation as a U.S. tech hub for aerospace materials manufacturing. The Tech Hub program was established by the CHIPS and Science Act, which Sen. Cantwell spearheaded.
October 18, 2023
Press Release
Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, chaired by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), voted to advance several presidential nominations to the full Senate with strong bipartisan support, including unanimous approval of Michael Whitaker to serve as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. The Committee also advanced nominations for the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Amtrak Board of Directors as well as Coast Guard promotions.
October 17, 2023
Press Release
During the subcommittee hearing on safety and innovation in commercial human space activities, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, emphasized the need to build a robust space workforce to keep pace with the emerging commercial space industry to ensure both safety and innovation demands are being met.
October 13, 2023
Press Release
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, held a press conference at the Othello Station Pharmacy in Seattle with AARP to call attention to the rapid rise of prescription drug costs and called on the Senate to pass her bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act to increase transparency and hold pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) accountable for deceptive and unfair practices that drive up prescription drug costs and force independent pharmacies out of business. The bill awaits Senate passage.
October 11, 2023
Press Release
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, applauded today’s announcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it is proposing a rule to crack down on consumer-burdening junk fees and require all-in pricing across industries.
October 4, 2023
Press Release
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today delivered the following opening statement at the nomination hearing for Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Mr. Whitaker was introduced by Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Chairman of the House Transportation Committee. Watch the hearing live and read the testimony here.
October 4, 2023
Press Release
As a chief architect of the CHIPS and Science Act, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act that authorized nearly $250 billion to spur American manufacturing, research and development, create thousands […]
October 4, 2023
Press Release
Michael Whitaker, President Biden’s nominee to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), demonstrated his depth and breadth of aviation and managerial experience and commitment to meeting the challenges facing the agency during his nomination hearing today in front of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, chaired by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).
September 30, 2023
Press Release
As the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced both an expiration in authorization and funding tonight, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the following statement after both chambers passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government for 45 days and extend the authorities of the FAA through December 31, 2023: