Cantwell Delivers Remarks on Legislation to Boost America’s Competitiveness
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, February 2, about the importance of passing legislation to increase America’s investment in R&D, semiconductors, manufacturing, and our workforce to grow the economy and boost America’s competitiveness across the globe.
Cantwell Reacts to Alarming NOAA, NASA Climate Reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, underscored the need for the critical investments in mitigating and adapting to climate change that are included in the Build Back Better bill following release of separate analyses by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The analyses found that Earth’s global average surface temperature in 2021 was the sixth warmest on record (NASA analysis found 2021 tied for sixth with 2018) and collectively, the past eight years were the eight warmest since modern record keeping began in 1880.
Following Russian Anti-Satellite Test, Commerce Committee Urges Administration Action on Protecting Space Environment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Ranking Member Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Space and Science Subcommittee Chair Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Ranking Member Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), today sent letters to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and to Vice President Kamala Harris urging action to protect the space environment. The letters follow the destruction of an orbiting satellite by a Russian anti-satellite weapon that created more than 1,500 pieces of space debris, risking damage to U.S. civil, commercial, and national security satellites and threatened personnel on the International Space Station (ISS).
Cantwell Underscores Urgency to Pass NASA Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing in the Commerce Subcommittee on Space and Science yesterday, Sen. Maria Cantwell underscored the urgent need for Congress to pass long-lasting, bipartisan NASA authorization legislation. NASA was last authorized by Congress in 2017. The Senate passed an updated authorization as part of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) in June 2021.
Sen. Cantwell Discusses Space Traffic Management During Subcommittee Hearing
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today questioned Dr. Marcus Holzinger, Associate Professor of the Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department at the University of Colorado, Boulder regarding the role of universities in researching and developing systems to improve space situational awareness and effectively manage increasing space traffic and orbital debris.
At Hearing, Chair Cantwell Stresses Importance of Supporting American Supply Chains
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today held a hearing examining American supply chains, highlighting critical supply chains such as in the aerospace and semiconductor sectors. The hearing will inform Committee oversight as the Department of Commerce (DOC) executes new responsibilities for supply chain resiliency.
Chair Cantwell Statement on Senate Passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and NASA Authorization
The legislation marks a major commitment to investing in U.S. research, development, and innovation, with the core of the bill advancing out of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Full list of transcripts and videos of Cantwell’s Senate floor speeches below WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today released the following […]
Committee Approves Office of Science and Technology Policy Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Eric S. Lander to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) by voice vote. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the committee, spoke about the responsibilities and importance of this Cabinet role, and stressed […]
Chair Cantwell Statement on Commerce Committee Passage of The Endless Frontier Act, NASA Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation yesterday held an executive session that included passage of the “Endless Frontier Act,” NASA’s reauthorization as well as other important bills and nominees. Chair Cantwell released the following statement hailing the productive, bipartisan session: “America is at our best when we are innovating, competing and […]
Committee Approves Nine Bills, Including Endless Frontier Act, and Two Nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved nine bills and two nominations, which are now all subject to approval by the full Senate. Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) provided the following statement on committee approval of the Endless Frontier Act: “The reason why we’re moving ahead and working so diligently on […]