Sen. Cruz wants restrictions on military flights approved soon to prevent another midair collision

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he wants restrictions on military flights approved before government funding runs out at the end of next month to prevent another midair collision like the one over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people in January.

Cruz and Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell held a news conference Monday with some of the victims’ families to denounce provisions in a massive defense bill that’s expected to pass this week. The provisions would allow military aircraft to get a waiver to return to operating without broadcasting their precise location, just as they were before the Jan. 29 crash between an airliner and an Army helicopter.

Cruz and Cantwell want the provisions removed, but changing the bill would send it back to the House, potentially delaying raises for soldiers and other key provisions. With that unlikely, Cruz said he’ll seek action to reimpose the restrictions on military flights as part of a government funding package in January.

“I’m seeking a vote on the ROTOR Act as part of any appropriations measure before the current continuing resolution expires at the end of next month,” Cruz said. ROTOR stands for “Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform.”

The provision in the defense...