PASSED: Sens. Moran, Cruz’s ROTOR Act to Improve Aviation Safety Standards After DCA Tragedy

WASHINGTON- Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act, bipartisan aviation safety legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation - and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) following the midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that claimed 67 lives on January 29th near Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). The ROTOR Actwould strengthen aviation safety standards impacted by a provision in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

Sen. Moran spoke on the Senate floor in support of the ROTOR Act before the Senate unanimously passed the aviation safety legislation with family members of the DCA crash victims in the Senate gallery.

"That flight - Flight 5342 - originated in Wichita, Kansas, and as we know, on January 29th, it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, and it changed the way we look at air safety every moment since then," said Sen. Moran. "After numerous conversations with my colleagues, Senator Cruz and Senator Cantwell, we secured an agreement from the Senate leadership - and I thank that Senate leadership, Senator Thune - for an amended version of the ROTOR Act, that it be quickly brought to the Senate floor for consideration to reinstate the advanced critical standards of safety for commercial and military aviation."

"I commend the FAA Administrator for his commitment, and particularly Secretary Duffy, for their combined commitment to air safety," continued Sen. Moran. "Our aviation system is fragile, and over the last year, Congress has passed significant legislation investing in that airspace to increase the safety and to make sure that all who fly can be and are safe and feel safe. More work to be done, but it's a pretty good day to be taking the steps we're taking and knowing that more is to come in honor of those who perished on January 29th, from Kansas, across the country and around the world."

This legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

Timeline of Sen. Moran's work on the ROTOR Act:

• Dec. 11: Sen. Moran warned that the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) failed to implement the minimum standards necessary for military helicopters operating in mixed airspace, and he called on Congress to amend the defense bill or pass legislation to maintain current safety standards.
• Oct. 21: The Senate Commerce Committee passed the ROTOR Act, including elements of Sen. Moran's legislation requiring broad adoption of ADS-B technology.
• July 29: Sens. Moran and Cruz introduced the original text of the ROTOR Act on the six-month anniversary of the aviation tragedy near DCA that claimed 67 lives on January 29th.
• May 16: Sen. Moran introduced legislation to require all aircraft operating in Class B airspace to install and use ADS-B In and Out and repealed the FY19 NDAA provision permitting exemptions to the military's use of ADS-B requirements.

Watch Sen. Moran's Full Remarks HERE

Sen. Moran's full remarks as delivered:

"Senator Cruz - the gentleman from Texas - and Senator Cantwell - the gentlewoman from Washington state - thank you very much for the opportunity to join with you today and throughout a long process since January, the 29th, earlier this year.

"That flight - Flight 5342 - originated in Wichita, Kansas, and as we know, on January 29th, it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. And it changed the way we look at air safety every moment since then.

"And I appreciate the leadership of my two colleagues on the full committee - as well as Senator Duckworth, my colleague on the subcommittee on aviation - to make certain that we take all the steps necessary to make certain that the families who remind us today, and almost every day since January the 29th, about the importance of making the skies of the United States safe for those who fly today and in the future.

"There's numerous, numerous circumstances that led to this horrific incident, and NTSB's critical investigation into this collision is continuing. While NTSB's final recommendations have not yet been released, the Chair of NTSB, Jennifer Homendy, took the unprecedented step of publicly stating the National Defense Authorization Act does not adequately address the safety concerns surrounding the mixed airspace at DCA.

"And while NDAA is critical to bolstering our defense capabilities, I have major concerns with the portion of the bill that is being fixed by the efforts today here on the Senate floor with this unanimous consent request.

"After numerous conversations with my colleagues, Senator Cruz and Senator Cantwell, we secured an agreement from the Senate leadership - and I thank that Senate leadership, Senator Thune - for an amended version of the ROTOR Act, that it be quickly brought to the Senate floor for consideration to reinstate the advanced critical standards of safety for commercial and military aviation. We're doing that right now.

"The ROTOR Act closes the loopholes that have been described by my colleagues; it strengthens ADS-B requirements for commercial and military aircraft, among many other things. It requires a safety review of DCA and requires better coordination and information sharing between FAA and DoD.

"I commend the FAA Administrator for his commitment, and particularly Secretary Duffy, for their combined commitment to air safety. In fact, when we conclude this effort here on the Senate floor, our committee is in session - our subcommittee is in session - with Administrator Bedford, the FAA Administrator, to review what other steps are being taken across the country for a safe airspace at every airport. We are bringing technology to bear that has been only talked about in the past and is now being accomplished.

"Our aviation system is fragile, and over the last year, Congress has passed significant legislation investing in that airspace to increase the safety and to make sure that all who fly can be and are safe and feel safe.

"Now is not the time to take any steps backwards, and that's what we were worried, concerned about, that the NDAA provision does. While Congress works to ensure in law the safety of our airspace, our DOT and FAA leaders are committed to abide by current safety standards, maintaining that safety at the DCA airspace.

"As both have said, more work to be done, but it's a pretty good day to be taking the steps we're taking and knowing that more is to come in honor of those who perished on January 29th, from Kansas, across the country and around the world."

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