Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is hoping to quickly pass a bill Wednesday dealing with military helicopter safety.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations who was granted anonymity to speak candidly, Cruz plans to bring his bipartisan ROTOR Act legislation to the floor via unanimous consent, a fast-track procedure.
The bill would include a new provision striking a contentious helicopters-related section of the National Defense Authorization Act, according to the person.
Cruz plans to speak around 2 p.m. and seek the unanimous consent agreement, the person said. Cruz’s office has struck an agreement with other senators, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to pass the legislation via this fast-track mechanism, said the person, who added that they are making progress with the White House and Pentagon.
A spokesperson for Thune didn’t immediately provide comment.
The Senate cleared the NDAA earlier Wednesday, 77-20. Cruz voted for the bill.
Cruz’s ROTOR Act, which is cosponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, the committee’s top Democrat, seeks to address a litany of issues raised following January’s midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport between a regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.
The two lawmakers had raised safety concerns about the NDAA provision, which the nation’s top transportation accident investigator argued would allow certain military helicopters to fly without using an advanced location-broadcasting technology in the Washington area, endangering flyers.
