Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 562.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill establishes an independent expert review panel to evaluate the safety management system at the Federal Aviation Administration. The review panel must be convened by the Administrator not later than 60 days after the enactment of the section. The panel is tasked with reviewing FAA orders, safety policies, internal audits, and voluntary safety reporting programs. Not later than 180 days after its first meeting, the panel must submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Administrator and appropriate committees of Congress. Finally, the Administrator is required to publish this report on the FAA website and provide regular status briefings to Congress on the implementation of the recommendations.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Requires reports to be published on the FAA website and detailed explanations provided to Congress.
- Scored +4
Would union members be better off under this?
Specifically includes labor representatives for pilots and controllers in the review panel.
- Scored +3
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
Aims to improve aviation safety, which protects passengers and consumers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(1)(A) and Section 2(a)(3)(A) establish an independent expert review panel consisting of diverse aviation labor representatives, NASA experts, and independent subject matter experts. This is positive because it brings outside expertise and labor voices together to evaluate and improve aviation safety systems.
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Section 2(a)(5)(C) requires the Administrator to publish the review panel's report and any dissenting views on the FAA website not later than 5 days after receiving it. This is positive because it ensures transparency and holds public officials accountable by making the safety findings available to the public.
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Section 2(a)(8) requires the Administrator to report to appropriate committees of Congress on the status of ongoing actions and recommendation implementations every 90 days after the report submission. This is positive because it keeps elected officials informed and maintains oversight over whether safety improvements are actually being carried out.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2(a)(6)(B)(i)(I) prohibits non-federal participants on the review panel from disclosing any non-public information made available to the panel at any time, except as required by law. This might be considered a burden because it restricts complete public transparency regarding the raw non-public details reviewed during the panel's investigation.
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Section 2(a)(6)(A)(iii) states that nothing in the Act authorizes access to classified information by review panel members who lack the appropriate security clearance or need-to-know. This could be viewed as a limitation if critical safety information happens to be classified and certain experts are blocked from reviewing it fully.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — Specifically includes labor representatives for pilots and controllers in the review panel. Would business owners be better off under this? — Improves systemic safety management which benefits aerospace industry operators.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires reports to be published on the FAA website and detailed explanations provided to Congress. Does this give the federal government more power? — Mandates a federal review and oversight mechanism within the FAA.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Aims to improve aviation safety, which protects passengers and consumers. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Includes representatives from aviation labor organizations in the safety review process.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — Coordinates with ICAO standards for global aviation safety.
- 9/14/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-143.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 562.
- 2/12/2026
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 1/30/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/27/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia