Rotor Act Fails by One Vote as Blizzard Keeps Northeast Lawmakers from House Floor, Families Devastated

The rotor act failed to advance to President Trump's desk by a single vote, leaving New England families of victims of the midair collision near Washington, D. C., stunned and frustrated after lawmakers were prevented from reaching the Capitol amid blizzard-related travel disruptions.

Rotor Act stalls in House despite broad support and unanimous Senate passage

The bill known formally as the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act would have required aircraft nationwide to be equipped with ADS-B technology, a system that allows aircraft to communicate their positions with greater accuracy than standard radar. The measure had passed the Senate unanimously and was fast-tracked in the House under a rule that required a two-thirds majority for final passage.

On the House floor the vote fell short of that supermajority: 264 members voted in favor and 133 opposed. All opposing votes were cast by Republicans except for one. Thirty-five representatives did not cast votes, including 26 Democrats, and the absences proved decisive in the final margin.

Families stunned after missed votes and last-minute travel complications

New England relatives of those killed in the collision expressed devastation after the measure failed by one vote. Matt Collins, whose brother Christopher Collins was killed in the crash, said he felt angry, devastated and frustrated. Doug Lane of Barrington, R. I., who lost his wife and teenage son in the collision, said he and Collins both traveled to Washington to be present for the vote.

The list of absent representatives from the region included several members who had publicly supported the bill. Those who did not vote included members from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who were kept from the House by travel delays and complications tied to the historic blizzard that struck New England.

Vote math, absences and what might have changed

Thirty-five members were recorded as not voting on the measure; among them were Massachusetts representatives who had been listed as supporters, and the Rhode Island representative who also backed the bill. Spokespeople for those lawmakers said travel disruptions prevented them from making it to Washington in time for the roll call.

Even if one of the absent lawmakers had arrived and voted in favor, House rules required more than that single additional yes vote to meet the two-thirds threshold under which the measure was being considered. That left families and advocates contending that procedural conditions and the timing of the vote combined with weather disruptions to block final passage.

Immediate reactions and the path forward

Families who traveled at personal cost to be present for the vote expressed anger that elected officials were not on the floor. One family member noted that, as a private citizen, he had managed to travel despite the storm and expected representatives to be available to cast votes on measures tied to public safety.

Supporters of the bill stressed its bipartisan backing in the House roll call and noted the unanimous Senate passage as evidence of wide agreement on the underlying safety goal. With the bill having failed this procedural hurdle, advocates and affected families are left assessing next steps while noting that the legislative math and scheduling played central roles in the outcome.

Key vote totals and absences

• Final House vote: 264 in favor, 133 opposed.
• Representatives not voting: 35 total, including 26 Democrats.
• Named absent members included several Massachusetts representatives and one Rhode Island representative who had supported the bill.

Recent updates indicate the story remains in flux as families and lawmakers consider responses to the failed vote; details may evolve as parties evaluate procedural options and future scheduling.