Hearings

Hearings 05/25/2021
Subcommittee: Investing In America’s Tourism and Hospitality Workforce and Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, will convene a hearing titled, “Investing In America’s Tourism and Hospitality Workforce and Small Businesses,” at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021. This hearing will examine the state of the tourism and hospitality workforce in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the experiences and challenges of small businesses in those sectors. Additionally, this hearing will review regional impacts of COVID-19 on economies that rely on the tourism and hospitality workforce and provide insight on how Congress can support workers and small businesses as the travel and tourism industry rebounds.
Hearings 05/20/2021
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to consider the nomination of Eric S. Lander to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Directly following the executive session, the committee will consider the presidential nominations of Pamela A. Melroy to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Carlos A. Monje, Jr. to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy; and Richard W. Spinrad to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
Hearings 05/18/2021
Subcommittee: Reviving International Travel and Tourism to Create and Restore Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, will convene a hearing titled, “Reviving International Travel and Tourism to Create and Restore Jobs,” at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. This hearing will examine the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel to the United States, with a particular focus on ripple-effects on other industries, such as hospitality and tourism. It will also review regional impacts of COVID-19 on the communities and workers hardest hit by decreases in international travel to the United States. Witnesses will have the opportunity to provide their insights surrounding these critical issues, as well as discuss solutions for supporting, promoting, and revitalizing safe international travel to the U.S. moving forward, increasing international tourism, and supporting businesses and workers dependent on leisure and business travelers from abroad.
Hearings 05/18/2021
Subcommittee: Protecting Kids Online: Internet Privacy and Manipulative Marketing
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, will convene a hearing titled, “Protecting Kids Online: Internet Privacy and Manipulative Marketing” at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Skyrocketing screen time has deepened parents’ concerns about their children’s online safety, privacy, and wellbeing. Apps such as TikTok, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram draw younger audiences onto their platforms raising concerns about how their data is being used and how marketers are targeting them. This hearing will examine the issues posed by Big Tech, child-oriented apps, and manipulative influencer marketing. The hearing will also explore needed improvements to our laws and enforcement, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, child safety codes, and the Federal Trade Commission’s advertising disclosure guidance.
Hearings 05/12/2021
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, to consider the following measures and nominations:
Hearings 05/11/2021
Subcommittee: Freight Mobility: Strengthening America’s Supply Chains and Competitiveness
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, will convene a hearing titled, “Freight Mobility: Strengthening America’s Supply Chains and Competitiveness,” at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The hearing will address the current challenges facing the freight industry, and the ways in which Congress and stakeholders can enhance our nation’s transportation infrastructure and supply chains to ensure the continued competitiveness of American freight movement. Witnesses will also have the opportunity to discuss other opportunities to strengthen U.S. freight and transportation policy.
Hearings 04/29/2021
Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2021 to consider the presidential nomination of Dr. Eric Lander to be Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
Hearings 04/28/2021
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 to consider the following measures:
Hearings 04/27/2021
Subcommittee: Driving Innovation: the Future of Automotive Mobility, Safety, and Technology
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, will convene a hearing titled, “Driving Innovation: the Future of Automotive Mobility, Safety, and Technology,” at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The hearing will address how automotive innovation will influence the future of vehicle safety, mobility, and technology in a global economy. Witnesses will have the opportunity to discuss the state of automotive innovation and current challenges and opportunities, and the ways in which Congress and stakeholders can help the automotive industry provide equitable access to world-class safety and mobility for all Americans.
Hearings 04/27/2021
Subcommittee: Curbing COVID Cons: Warning Consumers about Pandemic Frauds, Scams, and Swindles
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, will convene a hearing titled, “Curbing COVID Cons: Warning Consumers about Pandemic Frauds, Scams, and Swindles,” at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The hearing will examine scams related to COVID-19 and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) actions to stop these scams. In particular, the hearing will raise awareness of ongoing schemes such as identity theft, fake personal protective equipment, fraudulent vaccination claims, and robocalls; the FTC’s education efforts around these scams; the FTC’s use of its new civil penalty authority for COVID-related scams; and the FTC’s threatened “13(b)” consumer redress authority.
Hearings 04/21/2021
Subcommittee: Prepare for Takeoff: America’s Safe Return to Air Travel
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation will convene a hearing titled, “Prepare for Takeoff: America’s Safe Return to Air Travel,” at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. The hearing will examine the safe return to air travel in the United States as many Americans are getting vaccinated and testing availability has increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Assessing the aviation industry’s rebound, the impact of federal COVID-19 relief programs for commercial aviation and the appropriate health and safety precautions as Americans return to air travel in larger numbers will be considered.
Hearings 04/21/2021
Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 to consider the presidential nominations of Bill Nelson to be National Aeronautics and Space Administration Administrator, Lina Khan to be a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, and Leslie Kiernan to be General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Hearings 04/20/2021
Strengthening the Federal Trade Commission’s Authority to Protect Consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Strengthening the Federal Trade Commission’s Authority to Protect Consumers,” at 10:00 a.m. on April 20, 2021. The hearing will address the Commission’s endangered consumer redress authority; the Commission’s efforts to fight fraud during the pandemic, including its new first-time civil penalty authority for COVID-related scams; and the Commission’s tools and capabilities in the information age, including $30.4 million in funding for consumer protection matters that Congress provided in the American Rescue Plan Act.
Hearings 04/15/2021
Subcommittee: Shot of Truth: Communicating Trusted Vaccine Information
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, will convene a hearing titled, “Shot of Truth: Communicating Trusted Vaccine Information,” at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The hearing will examine the ways in which media is disseminating vaccine safety and COVID-health related information to encourage Americans, particularly those in rural areas and in communities of color, to get vaccinated. It also will explore what more can be done to encourage media outlets, including television, radio, and online platforms, to promote reliable and trustworthy vaccine information.
Hearings 04/14/2021
Legislative Hearing on the Endless Frontier Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Legislative Hearing on the Endless Frontier Act,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The hearing will address potential actions to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem, including increasing National Science Foundation research funding; growing and diversifying the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pipeline; improving technology transfer; and investing in regional innovation centers. Witnesses will also have the opportunity to discuss other opportunities to strengthen U.S. innovation policy.
Hearings 04/13/2021
Subcommittee: The State of Travel and Tourism During COVID
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, will convene a hearing titled, “The State of Travel and Tourism During COVID,” at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. This hearing will examine the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, with a particular focus on the hotels, conventions, and the broader hospitality industry. It will also review regional impacts of COVID on tourism-heavy economies and those communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic's resulting economic downturn. Witnesses will have the opportunity to provide their insights surrounding these critical issues, as well as discuss solutions for supporting and revitalizing the travel and tourism industry moving forward.
Hearings 03/24/2021
Executive Session
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to consider the agenda below. Directly following the executive session, the committee will hold a full hearing titled, “Driving the Road to Recovery: Rebuilding America’s Transportation Infrastructure.” This hearing will examine surface transportation infrastructure needs across the country, including freight, rail, highway, and port infrastructure, and the impact of those needs on surface transportation reauthorization. A panel of expert witnesses will discuss the current challenges posed by our transportation infrastructure at the local, state, and federal level, and how federal action improve our nation’s transportation systems and boost our economy.
Hearings 03/17/2021
Recent Federal Actions to Expand Broadband: Are We Making Progress?
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled “Recent Federal Actions to Expand Broadband: Are We Making Progress?” at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The hearing will review recent federal actions to expand broadband coverage, including the Federal Communications Commission’s actions on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), the Re-Connect program, and moves to enhance federal coordination among these existing programs. It also will consider the measures directed at broadband expansion adopted by Congress in response to the pandemic, like the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) broadband grant programs for Tribes, unserved areas, and minority-serving institutions. Witnesses will have the opportunity to discuss the effectiveness of these programs in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved Americans throughout the country.
Hearings 03/10/2021
Nomination Hearing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 to consider the presidential nomination of Don Graves to be Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce.
Hearings 03/3/2021
Nomination Hearing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 to consider the presidential nomination of Polly Trottenberg to be Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.