Hearings

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.

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.

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:

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.