The U.S. House of Representatives rejected the ROTOR Act on Tuesday, dealing a setback to bipartisan aviation safety legislation and raising uncertainty about the bill’s future. Lawmakers voted 264–133 against the measure, falling short of the two-thirds majority required under the chamber’s fast-track procedure. More than 130 Republicans opposed the bill. Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, described the vote as a temporary setback. Speaking to reporters, Cruz said the legislation had strong bipartisan support and predicted it would eventually pass.
The Senate had unanimously approved the measure in December, but it encountered resistance in the House. Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has instead promoted a separate proposal, the ALERT Act, following a deadly January 2025 aviation accident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people. Families of victims expressed disappointment with the vote and urged House leaders to bring the ROTOR Act back for another vote.
The legislation would require aircraft operating in congested airspace to install Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast In (ADS-B In) technology to improve real-time aircraft awareness. Graves, a licensed pilot, has argued the mandate could impose costly burdens on general aviation operators. Supporters of the bill include labor groups, victims’ families, and Jennifer Homendy, who has advocated for broader adoption of ADS-B In systems. The measure also faced a late setback after the U.S. Department of Defense reversed its earlier support, warning the requirement could create budgetary pressures and pose operational security risks. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise voted against the bill, while Rep. Don Beyer, a supporter, said the outcome was disappointing and suggested the measure might have passed under normal voting conditions.
