Democratic News

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, discussed the importance of building a pipeline of aviation talent to meet the growing demand for commercial air travel and expanding efforts to recruit, educate and train more women and minorities for career opportunities in aerospace. Her remarks came at today’s Commerce Committee hearing on strengthening the aviation workforce.

Today, during the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing on strengthening the aviation workforce, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, President of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, which represents more than 67,000 pilots at 39 airlines, and David Spero, National President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, which represents more than 11,000 public servants at the FAA and DOD expressed their strong support for Phil Washington to lead the FAA.

Underscoring the strong support of the hard working men and women in the airline industry, today Phil Washington received the endorsement of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest airline union in North America.

Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) – the largest airline workers union in the United States – underscored their support for Phil Washington to be the next FAA Administrator, calling him “exactly the leader that the FAA needs as it navigates the increasingly complex issues facing our national airspace.” TWU represents nearly every class and craft of worker across 17 airlines and several airline contractors.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, questioned FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen today on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms required in the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act (ACSAA), which Congress passed following the tragic 737 MAX crashes. Sen. Cantwell emphasized the need for transparency to ensure the FAA is meeting key deadlines, including workforce reviews to build a technical workforce.

Adding to the chorus of support for Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next FAA Administrator, Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle wrote to the Senate Commerce Committee to “wholeheartedly” recommend Mr. Washington’s confirmation. Along with its headquarters in Denver, Frontier operates major hubs from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and Orlando International Airport. Additionally, the airline serves travelers from bases in Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tampa.

Former FAA Administrators today rebuked Republicans’ distortion of the aviation qualifications needed to effectively lead the agency, and publicly endorsed Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next Administrator, citing his invaluable safety experience, record of successfully managing large, complex organizations and his decades of public service.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following opening remarks during today’s hearing with Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen on the status and implementation of aviation safety reforms outlined in in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA) which Congress passed following the tragic MAX-8 crashes. Sen. Cantwell authored the aviation safety legislation and it was signed into law on December 27, 2020.

During his nomination hearing last week to serve as FAA Administrator, Republicans questioned Phil Washington’s experience as CEO of Denver International Airport – the 3rd largest airport in the country – asserting the job doesn’t have anything to do with safety or aviation. In a letter to the Committee, the President of Airports Council International – North America, which represents more than 300 airports in the U.S. and Canada and more than 400 aviation-related businesses, refuted Republicans, outlining the extensive responsibilities that come with running an airport, such as meeting a complex set of FAA safety requirements in order to

On behalf of 36,000 airport service employees across the country, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced its strong endorsement of Phil Washington, President Biden’s nominee to serve as the next FAA Administrator.