Commerce Committee Approves Bipartisan Tourism Legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Rick Scott, R-Fla., Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., Angus King, I-Maine, and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., today released the following statements after the committee approved the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021. The legislation includes provisions to study the impacts of COVID-19 on the travel and tourism industry, elevate travel and tourism matters at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and facilitate international travel and set visitation goals for international travelers to the U.S.

Commerce Committee Approves Bill to Address Sexual Misconduct in the Merchant Marine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Susan Collins, R-Maine, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., today released the following statements after the committee approved the Improving Protections for Midshipmen Act. The legislation would strengthen Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (SASH) prevention, response, investigation, and accountability in the maritime industry and provide additional safeguards for the midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA).

Committee Leaders Question FCC After Findings Reveal Fraudulent Enrollment in Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and John Thune, R- S.D., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, along with Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R- Wash., ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Robert Latta, R-Ohio, ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, today sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel seeking information about the agency’s response after the FCC Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that broadband providers have been fraudulently enrolling households in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program.

Commerce Committee Releases Aviation Safety Whistleblower Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today called on Steve Dickson, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to review and act upon concerns raised by whistleblowers in a newly released Committee report, which illustrate a troubling erosion of safety oversight in the aviation manufacturing process.

Cantwell Calls on FTC to Investigate Allegations Facebook Misled Advertising Customers, Public on Platform Safety, Ad Reach

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, wrote Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to urge the FTC to investigate allegations Meta/Facebook misled its advertising customers and the public in its claims about ensuring brand safety and the reach of its advertisements, in violation of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce.

Wicker Challenges Administration’s Claimed Supply Chain Wins

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today expressed concerns over the Biden Administration’s efforts to address the ongoing supply chain challenges during the subcommittee hearing on the ocean shipping supply chain disruptions.

Committee Members Request Briefing from Biden Administration on Supply Chain Crisis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Todd Young, R-Ind., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today sent a letter to President Joseph Biden requesting officials from the Administration, including members of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, come before the Commerce Committee for a closed briefing to discuss the challenges and opportunities currently facing our transportation supply chain.

Commerce Committee Advances Four Biden Nominations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced four Biden Administration nominations and (487) Coast Guard Officer Promotions. All are subject to approval by the full Senate.