Sen. Cruz: Phil Washington Doesn’t Qualify Because He Has Woefully Inadequate Aviation Safety Experience

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  In his opening statement at today’s full committee to consider President Biden’s nominee for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator, Phil Washington, Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) detailed his concerns over Washington’s thin aviation safety record, legal entanglements, and ineligibility to serve as FAA administrator without a congressional waiver. Ranking Member Cruz’s […]

Sen. Cruz: The Flying Public Is Stuck with a Self-regulating and Flailing Agency Stuck in the 20th Century

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s full committee hearing on “the Federal Aviation Administration’s NOTAM System Failure and its Impacts on a Resilient National Airspace,” Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) criticized U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s failure to deliver any meaningful reforms to the FAA and discussed the need for upgrades to the […]

Sen. Cruz: Regulatory Overreach by the DOT Would Make Air Travel Costlier, Limit Routes

WASHINGTON, D.C. –In his opening statement at today’s full committee hearing titled, “Strengthening Airline Operations and Consumer Protection,” Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Biden administration efforts to micromanage airline fares and routes would result in higher overall fares, fewer routes, and leave consumers worse off. Sen. Cruz’s full remarks are included below.  (WATCH: Sen. […]

Wicker Remarks at Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today participated in an Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation subcommittee hearing titled “FAA Reauthorization: Integrating New Entrants into the National Airspace System.” The hearing included testimony on the 2023 reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and how the agency can best integrate uncrewed aviation systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility platforms.

Wicker Expresses Concern Surrounding Warrant Naming FAA Nominee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement regarding a search warrant for multiple Los Angeles County locations that names Federal Aviation Administration nominee Phil Washington. “When Mr. Washington was nominated in July, I expressed my skepticism surrounding his lack […]

Wicker Statement on White House Nominee for FAA Administrator

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement regarding President Biden’s intent to nominate Phillip A. Washington for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Wicker Statement on Lifting of Pre-Departure COVID Testing Requirement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today responded to news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would be lifting the pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers entering the U.S.

Wicker, Fischer Introduce TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, today introduced the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act. The legislation would help reduce the burden on workers applying for two or more of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), hazardous materials endorsement (HME), or TSA PreCheck programs by standardizing the enrollment and renewal systems administered by TSA.