U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has pledged to continue advocating for aviation safety reforms after the House of Representatives narrowly failed to advance the bipartisan Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act. The legislation, which aimed to enhance safety standards following the January 2025 crash near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people, fell short by one vote of the two-thirds majority needed for expedited consideration.
Sen. Cruz expressed his appreciation for the efforts of victims’ families and supporters who pushed for the ROTOR Act, which had previously passed unanimously in the Senate in December. He also acknowledged pilots, aviation stakeholders, his colleagues, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for their work toward safer skies.
Despite not meeting procedural requirements in the House, a significant majority—264 members—voted in favor of the bill, reflecting broad bipartisan support. This follows unanimous approval in the Senate and signals strong congressional backing for measures to improve aviation oversight.
“Over one year ago 67 individuals lost their lives to a preventable tragedy when multiple layers of safety failed. Only the ROTOR Act ensures that all airplanes and helicopters flying in U.S. airspace play by the same set of rules. An overwhelming bipartisan majority of House lawmakers today made it abundantly clear that the ROTOR Act should pass and go to President Trump’s desk. Today’s result was just a temporary delay. We will succeed, and ROTOR Act will become the law of the land. The families and the flying public deserve nothing less,” Sen. Cruz said.
The ROTOR Act would require all aircraft mandated to broadcast their locations using ADS-B Out technology also be equipped to receive those signals—known as ADS-B In—in their cockpits. While this technology is already common among major airlines and many general aviation pilots, its broader implementation was recommended by NTSB after last year’s fatal collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, led by a chairman and composed of senators from both parties, is responsible for reviewing legislation related to commerce, science, and transportation during congressional sessions. As a standing committee within the legislative branch with offices in Washington D.C., it addresses policies on interstate commerce as well as issues affecting national transportation safety.
