March 7, 2024
Press Release
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Todd Young (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) praised the inclusion of $10 million in initial funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to establish the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (USAISI).
March 7, 2024
Press Release
Tonight, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to confirm Rebecca Slaughter, Melissa Holyoak and Andrew Ferguson to serve as Commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the following statement applauding the confirmations, which further secures the FTC’s Democratic majority:
March 6, 2024
Press Release
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 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 accident, the East Palestine train derailment and other ongoing investigations, with testimony from NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy.
March 6, 2024
Press Release
Following disturbing testimony from the Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, that Boeing has failed to provide access to key protocols, documents and personnel necessary for its investigation into the cause of January’s 737 MAX-9 door plug, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee, said she will be sending a letter to Boeing calling for their full and immediate cooperation. To date, Boeing has not provided documentation associated with the removal and re-installment of the “door plug” which flew off the aircraft, nor has given NTSB access to the team of employees assigned to aircraft
February 29, 2024
Press Release
During yesterday’s nomination hearing for the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, asked FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei and Commissioner Rebecca Dye about the progress the agency is making to implement the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to boost farmers’ and exporters’ ability to get their goods to the global marketplace.
February 26, 2024
Press Release
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today commented on a report by an independent panel of aviation experts regarding Boeing’s safety culture that was released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act, which Sen. Cantwell spearheaded, required the FAA to convene an expert panel to review aviation manufacturer Organization Designation Authorizations (ODAs), with a focus on the Boeing ODA, and make recommendations to improve safety management processes.
February 21, 2024
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined a launch celebration for the Coast Guard’s new “Whale Desk” traffic alert system at Coast Guard Base Seattle.
February 16, 2024
Press Release
New WA facility built by IonQ is the first known dedicated quantum computing manufacturing facility in the country Quantum computing can help us fight disease, develop better energy sources and solve complicated problems On Thursday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, spoke at a press […]
February 8, 2024
Press Release
Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the bipartisan Senate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023. The legislation includes several provisions to strengthen safety standards and oversight at the FAA and responds to safety concerns from recent aviation accidents and near-misses.
February 6, 2024
Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released the statement below regarding the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) preliminary report on the Alaska Airlines flight 1282 plug door accident. The Senator and other Committee leaders were briefed this morning at NTSB headquarters by Chair Homendy ahead of the report’s release: