Overview
- At a Capitol news conference with victims' families, Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell called for stripping Section 373 from the defense bill, arguing it would let military aircraft fly without broadcasting precise locations.
- Cruz said he will seek a vote on the ROTOR Act as part of the next government funding package before the current resolution expires at the end of next month.
- The Associated Press corrected an earlier report that Cruz threatened a shutdown, clarifying he intends to pursue the safety measure through the appropriations process.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it would be hard to reopen the defense bill now but signaled support for an amendment vote on the ROTOR Act when spending bills come up.
- Safety agencies and unions have criticized the NDAA language, the FAA has required ADS-B broadcasting around D.C. since March after a January midair collision that killed 67, and the NTSB’s final report is still pending.