The House on Tuesday voted 264–133 against the ROTOR Act, Ted Cruz’s bipartisan air safety legislation co-sponsored with Maria Cantwell Sam Graves and Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (NTSB). The bill aimed at addressing the January 2025 disaster near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which killed 67 people.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted that ALERT Act text had not been reviewed by her office before its introduction, raising concerns over compliance with the agency’s recent recommendations.
The Defense Department also reversed earlier support for the ROTOR Act, citing potential budgetary and operational risks. The House vote represents a win for Graves and Rogers but deepens the House-Senate feud over air safety priorities and the balance between general aviation flexibility and mandated technology upgrades in crowded U.S. airspace.