Democratic News

Press Releases 08/10/2022
Cantwell, Capito Propose Broadband Buildout Along America’s Electricity Grid
Last week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced the Grant to Rapidly Invest and Deploy Broadband, or GRID Broadband Act, a pioneering proposal that would provide a robust new federal cost-share to spur investment in a nationwide middle-mile backbone along the nation’s existing electricity grid. The goal of this bipartisan initiative is to help provide affordable high-speed Internet options to the 120 million American households that lack connectivity and enhance the resiliency, diversity, and security of America’s electrical grid.
Press Releases 08/9/2022
ICYMI: Sen. Cantwell on CNBC The Exchange Following President Biden’s Signing of CHIPS and Science Act
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined Kelly Evans on CNBC’s The Exchange on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, following today’s White House ceremony where President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law.
Press Releases 08/9/2022
Cantwell Statement on President Biden’s Signing of CHIPS and Science Act Into Law During White House Ceremony
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, attended today’s signing by President Biden of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 at a White House ceremony. Sen. Cantwell was a lead architect of the law and successfully rallied a last-minute bipartisan push to secure the inclusion of historic investments in scientific research and development.
Press Releases 08/8/2022
Sen. Cantwell, Democrats Deliver Wins to Boost Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Support Coastal and Climate Resiliency, and Improve Weather Forecasting in Inflation Reduction Act
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, applauded the passage by Senate Democrats on Sunday, August 7, of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower costs for American families and tackle the generational challenge of climate change. As Chair, Sen. Cantwell authored key provisions to boost development and production of sustainable aviation fuel and low-emission technologies, support coastal and climate resiliency projects, and improve weather research and forecasting.
Press Releases 08/4/2022
ICYMI: Sen. Cantwell on CNBC Squawk Box Talking What CHIPS and Science Act Means for Americans, Ahead of President Biden’s Signing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, joined Andrew Ross Sorkin on CNBC Squawk Box on Wednesday, August 4, 2022, to talk about the importance of the CHIPS and Science Act investments, ahead of next Tuesday’s signing by President Biden.
Press Releases 08/3/2022
Chair Cantwell, Senators Markey, Blumenthal, Statement on Proposed Rule to Improve Consumer Protections for Travelers Seeking Airline Refunds
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), both members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Transportation (DOT) released a proposed rule to strengthen protections for consumers seeking refunds for airline tickets.
Press Releases 07/29/2022
View the CHIPS+ Legislation
Press Releases 07/29/2022
Cantwell, Key Architect of CHIPS Package: “A great day for what might seem to many Americans as a very kind of ‘what does science and R&D really mean for me?’ Well, in reality, investment today means jobs for tomorrow.”
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Chair of the bipartisan Conference Committee on innovation and competition legislation, applauded overwhelming Senate passage today of a nearly $250 billion package of historic federal investments in American science and technology research, innovation and manufacturing. Sen. Cantwell was a key architect of the bill’s provisions and helped rally a last-minute bipartisan push for keeping investments in science in the legislation. The Act passed the Senate by a 64-33 vote.
Press Releases 07/28/2022
Cantwell Co-Sponsors Bill to Reinstate Net Neutrality, Reverse Damaging Trump-Era Deregulation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees federal internet policy, today joined Commerce Committee member Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Representative Doris Matsui (CA-06) in introducing the Net Neutrality and Broadband Justice Act. The legislation would accurately classify broadband internet access as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, giving the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the appropriate authority to reinstate net neutrality protections.
Press Releases 07/28/2022
Commerce Committee Approves Dr. Prabhakar for OSTP Director, Sends President Biden’s Nominee Closer to Confirmation
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the nomination of Dr. Arati Prabhakar to serve as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee, applauded her nomination as a qualified leader to head the agency’s efforts to grow diversity in STEM and advance U.S. leadership in science and technology. Her nomination will next be considered by the full Senate.