ROTOR Act Falls Short in House Vote, Senators Push for Safety Reform

House rejects ROTOR Act in 264-133 vote, falling short of fast-track passage threshold

The ROTOR Act (S. 2503), which would require all aircraft broadcasting ADS-B Out to also receive ADS-B In, failed in the House on Feb. 24. The 264-133 vote fell 26 votes shy of the roughly 290 needed for fast-track passage. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz called the outcome a "temporary delay" and pledged continued advocacy for the bill's adoption.

Families of the 67 victims from the Jan. 5 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., expressed devastation and urged a new vote under simple majority rules. The Department of Defense reversed its earlier support one day before the vote, citing "significant unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks." House Transportation Chair Sam Graves defended the chamber's alternative ALERT Act and announced plans for a markup next week.

The legislation follows National Transportation Safety Board recommendations that ADS-B In be mandatory on all relevant aircraft to prevent collisions in shared civilian-military airspace. The failure delays implementation of safety reforms designed to reduce midair collision risks similar to the January incident.