Home rejects aviation security invoice after Pentagon balks : NPR

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Mariam Zuhaib/AP WASHINGTON — The Home of Representatives narrowly rejected an aviation security invoice that was spurred by the lethal midair collision close to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, at some point after the Pentagon abruptly withdrew its help for the bipartisan invoice.

The ROTOR Act, because the invoice is understood, would require wider use of a security system referred to as ADS-B in and ADS-B out which might transmit an plane's location to different plane. It will additionally restrict exemptions for navy helicopters.

The Senate authorized the invoice unanimously in December. It additionally had huge help from households of the crash victims, a lot of whom had traveled to Capitol Hill for the vote.

However the Pentagon has reservations.

After supporting the ROTOR Act final 12 months, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned in an announcement on Monday that the invoice might create "unresolved budgetary burdens and operational safety dangers," although he didn't specify what they're.

Underneath Home guidelines, a two-thirds majority was required for passage. The ultimate tally was 264 in favor and 133 opposed, with greater than 130 Republicans voting towards it.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board mentioned ADS-B expertise might have prevented the midair collision of a U.S. Military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airways passenger jet that killed 67 individuals final 12 months by giving pilots extra time to react and keep away from the crash.

"The ROTOR Act would've saved lives," NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy mentioned on social media earlier than the vote. "What number of extra individuals have to die earlier than we act?"

However the invoice bumped into headwinds within the Home from a number of highly effective Republican committee leaders.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2666+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F99%2F7192416446df8b5ebb6c821b3b7a%2Fgettyimages-2258284235.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2666+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1b%2F99%2F7192416446df8b5ebb6c821b3b7a%2Fgettyimages-2258284235.jpg" class="img" alt="An American Airlines jet takes off from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2026, on the anniversary of when 67 people died after a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commuter jet over the Potomac River." loading="lazy"/> An American Airways jet takes off from the Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on January 29, 2026, on the primary anniversary of the day 67 individuals died after a U.S. Military Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commuter jet over the Potomac River. Tom Brenner/Getty Photos conceal caption

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Tom Brenner/Getty Photos "This invoice will undermine our nationwide safety," mentioned Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the chairman of the Home Armed Providers Committee in remarks Monday night. "Requiring our fighters and bombers and extremely categorized belongings to frequently broadcast their location places our women and men in uniform in danger."

Sam Graves, R-Mo., the chairman of the Home Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, described the ROTOR Act as an "unworkable authorities mandate," and raised issues that it might be "burdensome" to some pilots.

Graves and Rogers put their help behind their very own bipartisan invoice, referred to as the ALERT Act, organising a potential conflict between highly effective GOP lawmakers within the Home and Senate.

However the Home invoice doesn't have the endorsement of the NTSB, aviation trade commerce unions, or the households of the crash victims. After the vote, a lot of these victims' households mentioned they'd proceed to push for the ROTOR Act's passage.

"We're devastated. At the moment, a majority of the Home voted to move the ROTOR Act. It was not sufficient," an announcement from the Households of Flight 5342 learn. "We name on Home management to carry the ROTOR Act again for a vote that lets the bulk move it."

The invoice's co-author, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, additionally vowed to maintain up the stress.

"Solely the ROTOR Act ensures that each one airplanes and helicopters flying in U.S. airspace play by the identical algorithm," Cruz mentioned in an announcement after the vote. "At the moment's end result was only a short-term delay. We'll succeed, and [the] ROTOR Act will develop into the legislation of the land. The households and the flying public deserve nothing much less."