S. 2503ROTOR Act

1 recorded actionWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Ted Cruz [R-TX]
Cosponsors: 21 · 11 Democrats · 10 Republicans
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Committee: Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Latest action: Feb 24, 2026 · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 264 - 133 (Roll no. 72).

IntroducedJul 29, 2025
Passed the SenateDec 17, 2025
Failed in the HouseFeb 24, 2026
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight.

As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather information) between aircraft and air traffic control.

Under the bill, aircraft must generally operate with ADS-B In equipment to provide the aircraft with location information of other aircraft and traffic advisories. Current law does not require this equipment.

Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations allow aircraft performing a sensitive government mission to be excepted from requirements for using ADS-B Out equipment. This bill limits which flights may be considered sensitive government missions (e.g., not training flights) and requires additional reporting and notifications for the exception.

The Government Accountability Office must review the use of the ADS-B Out exception and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Transportation must annually audit FAA oversight of operations that use the exception.

Further, the bill repeals a 2025 law that exempts certain military helicopters from the ADS-B Out requirements for the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

The bill also requires

the OIG of the Army to audit the Army’s coordination with the FAA,
the FAA to establish an office to coordinate airspace usage of military aircraft and review the safety of flight operations and routes around airports, and
the FAA to enter into memoranda of understanding with military agencies for safety information sharing.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing S. 2503 as passed Senate on Dec 17, 2025. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 72

House Feb 24, 2026

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass

ROTOR Act

Failed · Two-thirds required

264 Yea 133 Nay 35 not voting

Crossed both parties 78 of 397 voting members broke with their own party: 1 Democrat, 77 Republicans.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members432 members

Democratic214 members

Independent1 member

Republican217 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors21 · 11 Democrats · 10 Republicans

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor S. 2503 and vote against it. 8 signed when it was filed.

Who lobbied on S. 250378 organizations

Organizations that named S. 2503 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.filed by CGCN GROUP, LLC, THE DOERRER GROUP LLC, ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC, PENN AVENUE PARTNERSIts PAC: American Airlines Inc. PAC

Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills) · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +4 more14 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

FEDEX CORPORATIONfiled by FEDEX CORPORATION, HARBINGER STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: Fedex Corp. PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Postal · Trade (domestic/foreign) +7 more10 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

REGIONAL AIRLINE ASSOCIATIONfiled by REGIONAL AIRLINE ASSOCIATION, ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLCIts PAC: Regional Airline Association PAC

Education · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Budget/Appropriations · Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills)10 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVESfiled by AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES, THE DOERRER GROUP LLCIts PAC: American Association of Airport Executives

Homeland Security · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Budget/Appropriations · Aviation/Airlines/Airports8 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL - NORTH AMERICAfiled by MARSHALL & POPP, LLC, HILL EAST GROUP, LLCIts PAC: Airports Council International-North America PAC

Aviation/Airlines/Airports7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATIONfiled by GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, MEHLMAN CONSULTING, INC.Its PAC: General Aviation Manufacturers Association PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Manufacturing · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code +4 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

JOBY AERO, INC.filed by ELEVATE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, LLC, JOBY AERO, INC.Its PAC: Joby Aero PAC

Aerospace · Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Energy/Nuclear · Budget/Appropriations +4 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

THE BOEING COMPANYfiled by THE DOERRER GROUP LLC, CROSSROADS STRATEGIES, LLCIts PAC: The Boeing Co. PAC

Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Budget/Appropriations · Aerospace · Environment/Superfund7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANYfiled by THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY, OGR

Environment/Superfund · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Trade (domestic/foreign) · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace +5 more7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

UNITED AIRLINES INCfiled by UNITED AIRLINES, INC.Its PAC: United Airlines, Inc. PAC

Aviation/Airlines/Airports · Budget/Appropriations · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code · Agriculture7 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2026Filing

304 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-25. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.