Senate and House Requestors Issue Statement on GAO Political “Burrowing” Review Findings
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that approximately one quarter of Obama administration political appointee conversions to career federal civil service positions reviewed by GAO did not follow proper procedures intended to prevent improper political favoritism.
Thune to FCC: Don’t Keep FCC Set-top Box Proposal Secret
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) urged the Federal Communications Commission to publicly release its revised proposal for new regulation of pay-TV set-top boxes by issuing a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM).
Daines, Nelson: Hotel Patrons Should Be Protected from Online Booking Scams
U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced legislation to protect consumers from online booking scams. The lawmakers introduced the Stop Online Booking Scams Act that protects consumers from illegitimate third party websites that trick consumers into thinking they are making reservations directly with hotels.
Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act Addresses TSA Vulnerabilities
S. 3379, the Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act, addresses deficiencies in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) efforts to protect rail, transit, highway, and maritime passenger and freight transportation identified through congressional oversight and a recent report by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.
Commerce Announces Second FTC Oversight Hearing on September 27 – Postponed
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance & Data Security, will convene a hearing on Tuesday, September 27, 2016,* at 2:00 p.m. entitled, “Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission: Perspectives From Beyond the Commission.”
Commerce Approves NASA Transition Act, BOTS Act, and 3 Other Bills
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved five bills, including the NASA Transition Authorization Act which advances deep space exploration, the journey to Mars and the International Space Station for fiscal year 2017.
Thune Statement on the Release of Federal Automated Vehicles Guidelines
“As we move closer to a future of automated vehicles, regulators will need to oversee advancements in safety technology without hampering innovation,” said Thune.
Commerce Committee Senators Introduce The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2016
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) announced the introduction of S. 3346, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2016. The legislation provides stability for NASA to sustain and build upon existing national space investments designed to advance space exploration and science with an overall authorization level of $19.508 billion for fiscal year 2017.
Commerce to Mark Up NASA Transition Act and Five Other Bills
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Wednesday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m. to consider the NASA Transition Authorization Act and five other bills.
Thune and Nelson Statement on Inspector General Criticisms of TSA Risk Assessments
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve respectively as the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, issued the follow statements on a new report released today by the office of the Department of Homeland Security inspector general concluding that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), “lacks an intelligence-driven, risk-based security strategy that informs security and resource decisions across all transportation modes.”