Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell released a joint statement on Mar. 26 regarding the advancement of the ALERT Act by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. The senators raised concerns about the limited safety reforms included in the current version of the bill.
The issue centers around aviation safety standards following a deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport in 2025 that resulted in 67 fatalities. Lawmakers are debating whether to require all aircraft equipped with ADS-B Out technology to also use ADS-B In situational awareness systems, as recommended multiple times by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
In their statement, Cruz and Cantwell said, “The ADS-B In standard in the ROTOR Act will save lives.” They continued, “Even before the Senate unanimously passed the ROTOR Act in December, the Commerce Committee was ready and willing to engage with our House colleagues on aviation safety legislation. The ALERT Act, while ambitious in its goals, falls short on a strong and clear requirement for common-sense situational awareness technology recommended by the NTSB 18 times. That’s why the ROTOR Act is supported by a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the NTSB, safety experts, major pilots unions, and families of those lost in the midair collision at DCA. And yet today when House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had opportunity to vote on an amendment to mandate a strong ADSB-In requirement they refused to take vote.”
They further stated: “Any legislation that is expected to pass both House and Senate will have to apply strongest ADS-B In safety standards to all aircraft civil and military ensure accountability to broadcast ADS-B Out reform airspace rules to ensure an accident like Flight 5342-PAT 25 collision never happens again.”
The ROTOR Act aims to fulfill longstanding NTSB recommendations for cockpit situational awareness technology but fell one vote short of passing with a two-thirds majority in recent House proceedings after passing unanimously in December through Senate consent.
Statements from groups such as Air Line Pilots Association, labor organizations, and Families of Flight 5342 have echoed concerns about gaps left by current versions of ALERT Act legislation. According to these groups’ statements: “A clear ADS-B In mandate that fully meets NTSB’s own recommendations must be part of any bill that becomes law.”
According to the official website, The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reviews legislation related to commerce issues including science policy during congressional sessions under leadership from both parties. It serves as a standing committee within legislative branch addressing policies involving interstate commerce science transportation with its main office located at Russell Senate Office Building Washington D.C.
