Cantwell to Chair Commerce Committee Hearing on Impact of Surging Gas Prices on U.S. Consumers and Commerce
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today announced that, in the coming weeks, the Committee will hold a hearing to examine the impact of the surge in petroleum prices on commerce and consumers, and has invited leading oil industry executives to testify.
Senators Urge Leadership to Maintain EPSCoR Provisions in Conference Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today led a letter with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., to congressional leadership in support of maintaining provisions found in the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) to strengthen the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
Wicker Calls on Federal Trade Commission to Produce Evidence for Claims of Market Manipulation in Gas and Oil Markets
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent a letter to Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), calling on the agency to provide evidence to support suggestions from the White House and Democrats in Congress that market manipulation, collusion, or other improper or illegal behavior in the gasoline and crude oil markets is responsible for the surges in gas prices in the U.S.
Wicker Calls for Oversight Review on COVID-19 Broadband Spending
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today urged the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) to conduct an oversight review into pandemic-related spending to ensure broadband funds were used appropriately for assisting unserved communities and those economically affected by the pandemic.
Senators Introduce Bill to Improve Tornado Forecasting Following Devastating Outbreak
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, along with U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., John Thune, R-S.D., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, today introduced the Tornado Observation Research Notification and Deployment to Operations (TORNADO) Act to improve the forecasting and understanding of tornadoes and other hazardous weather. The TORNADO Act would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to update its methods for communicating alerts to residents in the surrounding areas.
Wicker Leads Call to End Federal COVID Travel Restrictions, Mask Mandates
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today led 31 senators in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to lift travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators called for an end to pre-departure testing requirements for travel to the U.S. and the federal mask mandate for travel. The current mandate for masks is expected to expire on March 18 if it is not extended by the Biden Administration.
Cantwell, Wicker Introduce Legislation to Rename National Air Grant Fellowship Program After Ethiopian Air 302 Crash Victim Samya Rose Stumo & to Honor 347 Lives Lost in 737 MAX-8 Crashes
Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, respectively, introduced legislation to rename the National Air Grant Fellowship Program and to commemorate the 347 lives lost due to the Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX-8 crashes.
ICYMI: Cantwell, POTUS Agree “We Can’t Wait” on Passing USICA Legislation
Earlier today, President Biden and Commerce Secretary Raimondo met with executives of several companies to discuss the importance of legislation to boost semiconductor production, calling on Congress to pass bipartisan innovation and competitiveness legislation “as soon as you can.”
Wicker, Grassley Seek Information Regarding Potentially Illicit Methods ITMS Used to Gain Special Deputy Marshal Authority
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, today sent a letter to United States Marshals Service (USMS) Director Ronald Davis seeking additional information regarding the potentially illicit methods the Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS) office took to gain special deputy marshal status.
Wicker, Thune Request FCC Provide More Information on Future Spectrum Auction Opportunities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel requesting information on future spectrum auction opportunities and policy reforms that can be made to auction rules to promote international competitiveness, maximize spectrum use efficiency, and foster the rapid deployment of next-generation technologies. The agency’s statutory authority to conduct spectrum auctions is set to expire later this year, absent Congressional action.