WASHINGTON – A prominent Democratic senator is pushing the House of Representatives to schedule another vote on aviation safety legislation that came up just one vote short of passage despite Pentagon resistance.
The House cast ballots with 264 members supporting and 133 opposing the ROTOR Act on Wednesday. The legislation had previously received unanimous approval from the Senate in December. The bill was drafted in response to a tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional aircraft and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington D.C. airspace that resulted in 67 fatalities. Senator Maria Cantwell is advocating for the House to hold another vote on the measure.
Because the legislation was considered under expedited procedures, it required approval from two-thirds of House members to advance – missing that threshold by a single vote.
