WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee executive session, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emphasized the need for strong leadership at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Sen. Cruz urged his colleagues to support the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA Administrator, citing Mr. Bedford’s extensive experience in the aviation industry and his background as a pilot. Mr. Bedford’s background makes him well-positioned to lead the cultural and operational changes necessary to modernize the FAA and enhance safety and efficiency. 

Sen. Cruz also addressed the significance of the legislation being considered today (see list HERE). These measures aim to strengthen data protections for children online, reinforce American leadership in commercial space development, restore confidence in international athletic competitions, and promote U.S. dominance in critical manufacturing.

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Today we’ll consider the nomination of Bryan Bedford to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as five bills and a few Coast Guard promotions.

“Bryan Bedford is ready to be FAA Administrator.  Over his 25-year tenure at Republic Airways, he has demonstrated a laudable commitment to aviation safety.  He has grown Republic Airways to be one of the safest and largest, with over 200 aircraft in the fleet, regional airlines in the country.

“Mr. Bedford doesn’t just have an exemplary safety record at Republic; he’s also a pilot himself and understands the challenges of the job.  He’s familiar with the stress, the endless medical requirements, and how various airspaces work.  He’s just as familiar with aviation safety as previous nominees—if not more so.

“Recall that one of President Biden’s FAA nominees was asked pointed questions about aviation safety:  What airspace requires ADS-B transponders?  What typically causes an aircraft to spin or to stall?  What caused the MAX crashes?

“Democrats criticized these questions, crying ‘hatchet job’ and ‘smear campaign,’ all while hailing the nominee’s experience managing…buses and trains.  Whenever the nominee was asked a complicated aviation question, he responded with answers like ‘I’m not a pilot,’ ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘I would lean on our career employees.’

“Well, Bryan Bedford is a pilot, he knows aviation, and when he listens to FAA employees, he’ll actually understand what they’re talking about.  I would hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who were prepared to support the least qualified nominee for FAA Administrator would be excited to support Mr. Bedford today.

“This Committee understands how important it is to have an FAA Administrator with actual experience.  In January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342, killing 67 people.  It was the deadliest accident in the United States in more than 15 years.  Family members of some of the victims are here today.  I want to thank them for their continued advocacy.

“As the FAA prepares to overhaul the air traffic control system for the 21st century, the agency needs a steady leader with executive experience.  We are preparing to invest more than $12 billion in air traffic control.  This investment in new radar, telecommunications, facilities, runway safety, and other technologies will improve the safety and reliability of the system.  It is a sorely needed investment—and it will take a proven manager to make the most of it.  Bryan Bedford will modernize the FAA to meet today’s challenges.

“Now, we’re also considering five pieces of legislation today.

“Many of these bills will help ensure U.S. leadership in the global arena.  For instance, the Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act of 2025, by Senators Blackburn, Capito, Wicker, Blunt Rochester, and Luján, underscores the importance of fair play in international sports.  As noted at a Commerce subcommittee hearing last week, WADA allowed Chinese athletes who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs to compete in the Olympics without consequence.  This bill addresses that.

“Other bills will strengthen key industries.  Senators Peters and Wicker’s Space Commerce Advisory Committee Act will ensure that key stakeholders have a seat at the table to shape the nascent commercial space industry.  The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, by Senators Ernst and Blunt Rochester, will support the development of our domestic capacity in critical manufacturing.

“Perhaps the most consequential bill we are voting on today is Senator Markey’s Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act or COPPA 2.0.  Today’s teens are growing up in a phone-based world fraught with new online challenges.  This bill updates data and privacy protections from the original COPPA, enacted in 1998, to cover minors between the ages of 13 and 16.  This bill has strong support from members on and off this committee.

“I urge my colleagues to support both the nominee and the legislation we are considering.”

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