Rick Larsen in the news as lawmakers clash with FAA over aviation safety and airspace issues. Rep. from WA’s 2nd since 2001, Democrat.
The ROTOR Act, which would mandate aircraft ADS-B location systems to prevent midair collisions, has stalled in the House after Pentagon opposition and cost concerns, despite Senate support and continued advocacy from victims’ families and safety advocates.
On February 26, 2026, the Pentagon used a high-energy laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, marking the second such incident in two weeks near the US-Mexico border. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanded a temporary airspace closure around Fort Hancock, though commercial flights were unaffected. Lawmakers criticized poor inter-agency coordination and called for investigations.