Rep. Onder Introduces House Companion to Sen. Cruz’s ROTOR Act

Contact: Brooke Morgan

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Bob Onder (R-MO) joins Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to introduce the House companion of the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform (ROTOR) Act to strengthen aviation safety. Rep. Onder is a pilot serving on the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The ROTOR Act eliminates a loophole that allowed most military aircraft to operate without Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transmitting – a technology that broadcasts an aircraft’s precise location. It requires all aircraft operating in high-risk and high-volume airspace to use ADS-B In to enhance pilots' visualization. In addition, the bill requires safety reviews at all major and mid-sized airports, strengthens coordination and information sharing between the FAA and the Department of Defense, and calls for The Army Inspector General to audit Army aviation operations, particularly around the National Capital Region.

“The collision that occurred in January over the skies of our nation's capital was a horrific tragedy. Sixty-seven lives were taken, with no survivors. My heart goes out to every family who lost a loved one, and to the first responders who confronted unimaginable devastation,” said Congressman Bob Onder

“This tragedy made it clear that serious gaps exist in our aviation oversight - gaps that demand action. Senator Cruz’s ROTOR Act takes a critical step forward by closing loopholes that allow government and military aircraft to operate without broadcasting their location, and by requiring modern, reliable tracking technology on all aircraft.

“This is commonsense, responsible legislation, and it reflects our duty to protect the American people. The ROTOR Act is necessary, and I am proud to be leading this fight in the House.” 

“I am grateful to Rep. Onder for working to make this bipartisan legislation also bicameral. ROTOR takes commonsense steps to implement lessons learned from this year’s fatal DCA, protect innocent lives in American skies, and improve aviation safety,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation and Science "As Pentagon data shows a dramatic increase in US military aviation mishaps, this legislation – which eliminates a loophole that allowed most military aircraft to operate without location broadcasting – is more urgent than ever. We must honor the victims of the DCA crash by taking steps to prevent future tragedies.”

Transport Workers Union of America International President John Samuelsen: “What happened in DC is a terrible tragedy. Ending the loophole that enabled military aircraft to fly without having their location transmitted and requiring all aircraft to install location transmission technology by 2031 is a commonsense, bipartisan, bicameral solution."

“The Aerospace Industries Association applauds Representative Onder for taking decisive action to strengthen safety in America’s skies by introducing the ROTOR Act in the House of Representatives. AIA supports the bill's objectives and looks forward to working with the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to further strengthen key provisions championed by Senators Cruz and Cantwell as the legislation advances. AIA remains committed to collaborating with Congress, the FAA, and industry partners to move reforms like these forward and deliver a safer airspace for all." – Eric Fanning, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association

American Airlines - “We continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342 and we are grateful for Representatives Onder and Beyer, Senators Cruz and Cantwell, Secretary Duffy, Members of Congress, and everyone involved for their work to make aviation and our national airspace even safer. American Airlines stands in strong support of the bipartisan ROTOR Act." 

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is an official endorser of the ROTOR Act.

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Link to the full text of the bill: ONDER_023_xml.pdf 

Background Information

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342 was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when air traffic controllers asked the pilots if they could redirect to land on a shorter runway. The pilots confirmed they could.

Nearby, an Army Black Hawk helicopter was conducting its annual proficiency training. Less than 30 seconds before the two aircraft collided, a controller radioed the Black Hawk to ask whether it had the incoming flight in sight. Moments later, the collision occurred and there were no survivors.

One of the passengers on board was from the St. Louis region - a woman named Asra Hussain. The entire St. Louis community stands with her family as they grieve this unimaginable loss. We mourn with them, and we honor Asra, a Missourian, a newlywed, a daughter, and a friend. 

At a three-day hearing in July, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed a critical detail: the Army Black Hawk had not broadcast its location via ADS-B for 730 days prior to the crash. Without this tracking data, the helicopter was effectively invisible to other aircraft, leaving both flight crews without situational awareness.

The ADS-B system provides more accurate and continuous information than traditional radar, transmitting an aircraft’s location, speed, altitude, and other critical data in real time.