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S. 3700 would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to create an independent expert review panel to evaluate and make recommendations for strengthening the FAA's Safety Management System (SMS). The panel would examine how effectively the FAA identifies, manages, and mitigates safety risks across the agency, including reviewing safety policies, risk management practices, safety assurance processes, and voluntary safety reporting programs. The panel would include experts from NASA, aviation labor organizations, air carriers, aerospace manufacturers, and the National Transportation Safety Board, and would submit findings and recommendations to the FAA Administrator and Congress within 180 days of its first meeting.
The bill responds to concerns raised following a January 2025 mid-air collision near Washington D.C. between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 that killed 67 people. Investigators found the FAA had not adequately acted on safety data showing over 15,000 near misses at that airport in the years before the crash. Supporters argue the bill would help ensure the FAA applies the same rigorous safety management practices it requires of airlines and manufacturers to its own operations. If enacted, the bill would not directly change aviation safety rules but would provide expert recommendations to guide future FAA safety improvements.
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Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Jan 27, 2026
Feb 3, 2026 · 14:45
On February 3, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session (business meeting) to consider eight bills and five nominations. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for orbital debris remediation and uniform debris standards; S. 2585 would modernize the Broadband Funding Map to improve federal broadband deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would create a multi-stakeholder advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network for research; S. 3639 would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700 would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also considered nominations of Daniel Edwards, Ryan McCormack, Steven Haines, Robert Harvey, and John DeLeeuw to various transportation and commerce positions. Following the February 3 session, the committee advanced all eight bills on February 12, 2026, with amendments. A business meeting does not guarantee bills will advance to the full Senate, though in this case the committee voted to move them forward.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider eight bipartisan bills. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail car bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for active remediation of orbital debris and develop uniform orbital debris standards; S. 2585, the MAP for Broadband Funding Act, would modernize the federal broadband funding map to improve deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would establish an advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would create a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research and innovation; S. 3639, the SAT Streamlining Act, would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700, the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act, would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also cleared Coast Guard promotions. Following the business meeting, the committee held a hearing to examine the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on a midair collision near Washington, D.C. All eight bills were advanced by the committee that day, though advancement from committee does not guarantee passage in the full Senate.
Feb 3, 2026 · 14:45
On February 3, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session (business meeting) to consider eight bills and five nominations. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for orbital debris remediation and uniform debris standards; S. 2585 would modernize the Broadband Funding Map to improve federal broadband deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would create a multi-stakeholder advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would establish a national programmable cloud laboratories network for research; S. 3639 would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700 would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also considered nominations of Daniel Edwards, Ryan McCormack, Steven Haines, Robert Harvey, and John DeLeeuw to various transportation and commerce positions. Following the February 3 session, the committee advanced all eight bills on February 12, 2026, with amendments. A business meeting does not guarantee bills will advance to the full Senate, though in this case the committee voted to move them forward.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026 · 15:00
On February 12, 2026, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a business meeting to consider eight bipartisan bills. The bills addressed diverse policy areas: S. 71 would require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in passenger rail car bathrooms; S. 1898, the ORBITS Act, would establish a demonstration program for active remediation of orbital debris and develop uniform orbital debris standards; S. 2585, the MAP for Broadband Funding Act, would modernize the federal broadband funding map to improve deployment efficiency; S. 3199 would establish an advisory committee to address geolocation information challenges for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; S. 3266 would support athletic programs at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; S. 3468 would create a national programmable cloud laboratories network to enhance research and innovation; S. 3639, the SAT Streamlining Act, would expedite satellite and space license processing; and S. 3700, the FAA SMS Compliance Review Act, would establish an expert review panel for FAA safety management systems. The committee also cleared Coast Guard promotions. Following the business meeting, the committee held a hearing to examine the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on a midair collision near Washington, D.C. All eight bills were advanced by the committee that day, though advancement from committee does not guarantee passage in the full Senate.
