Nominations Hearing
10:00 AM Russell Senate Office Building 253
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the following hearing on the nominations of Dr. Patricia K. Falcone, to be Associate Director of National Security and International Affairs, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Ms. Marietta S. Robinson, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Mr. Richard A. Lidinsky, Jr., to be a Commissioner at the Federal Maritime Commission, and Mr. William P. Doyle, to be a Commissioner at the Federal Maritime Commission.
Please note the hearing will be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committee website. Refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to automatically begin streaming the webcast.
Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should contact Collenne Wider at 202-224-5511 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.
###
If you are having trouble viewing this hearing, please try the following steps:
- Clear your browser's cache - Guide to clearing browser cache
- Close and re-open your browser
- If the above two steps do not help, please try another browser. Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge have the highest level of compatibility with our player.
Majority Statement
-
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationMajority Statement
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today we will consider four nominations.
Our first nominee is Dr. Patricia Falcone. She has been nominated to be one of the President’s key advisers on science and technology issues. As Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), she will coordinate science and technology research within the national security arena, including cybersecurity. Dr. Falcone's career includes more than 30 years at Sandia National Laboratories, developing science-based technologies that support our national security.
I can’t talk about Dr. Falcone without mentioning her deep family ties to my state of West Virginia. Dr. Falcone’s father grew up in Swiss, West Virginia, in Nicholas County, which her family helped establish in the 1880s. Her mother is a Morgantown native and her father and uncles worked in the coal mines.
Next, is Ms. Marietta Robinson, who has been nominated to be a Commissioner at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Each year, consumer products cause 28,000 deaths and 33 million injuries. The CPSC is the front line of defense protecting American consumers from dangerous products. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 provided the CPSC with more resources and authority to protect the public. As we are going to hear from Senator Levin in a few minutes, Ms. Robinson has more than 30 years experience as a lawyer and consumer advocate. I look forward to hearing her testimony.
Finally, we have two nominations for commissioners to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). One of the nominees before us is the current Chairman of the FMC, Richard Lidinsky. Mr. Lidinsky has served admirably as Chairman for the past 3 years and has worked well with this Committee. Here’s what Lloyd’s List (the leading maritime newspaper) had to say recently about his tenure:
Richard Lidinsky has transformed the Federal Maritime Commission since he took over as chairman in 2009, re-establishing the Washington agency’s position in the shipping world after several rudderless years.
That’s high praise. Chairman Lidinsky, I look forward to hearing today what you plan to do with another term at the helm of the FMC.
The other FMC nominee is Bill Doyle, who served as Chief of Staff for the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association for the past 4 years. He is a well-qualified nominee with a deep background in maritime issues. Congratulations on your nomination, Mr. Doyle. I look forward to hearing from you about how we can strengthen our maritime commercial system.
###
Testimony
-
Dr. Patricia K. Falcone
to be Associate Director of National Security and International AffairsOffice of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the PresidentDownload Testimony (153.75 KB) -
Ms. Marietta S. Robinson
to be CommissionerConsumer Product Safety CommissionDownload Testimony (37.84 KB) -
Mr. Richard A. Lidinsky Jr.
to be CommissionerFederal Maritime CommissionDownload Testimony (70.23 KB) -
Mr. William P. Doyle
to be CommissionerFederal Maritime CommissionDownload Testimony (71.64 KB)
