Hearings

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, will convene a hearing titled, “Shot of Truth: Communicating Trusted Vaccine Information,” at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The hearing will examine the ways in which media is disseminating vaccine safety and COVID-health related information to encourage Americans, particularly those in rural areas and in communities of color, to get vaccinated. It also will explore what more can be done to encourage media outlets, including television, radio, and online platforms, to promote reliable and trustworthy vaccine information.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chair of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion, will convene a hearing titled, “The State of Travel and Tourism During COVID,” at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. This hearing will examine the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, with a particular focus on the hotels, conventions, and the broader hospitality industry. It will also review regional impacts of COVID on tourism-heavy economies and those communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic's resulting economic downturn. Witnesses will have the opportunity to provide their insights surrounding these critical issues, as well as discuss solutions for supporting and revitalizing the travel and tourism industry moving forward.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled “Recent Federal Actions to Expand Broadband: Are We Making Progress?” at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The hearing will review recent federal actions to expand broadband coverage, including the Federal Communications Commission’s actions on the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), the Re-Connect program, and moves to enhance federal coordination among these existing programs. It also will consider the measures directed at broadband expansion adopted by Congress in response to the pandemic, like the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) broadband grant programs for Tribes, unserved areas, and minority-serving institutions. Witnesses will have the opportunity to discuss the effectiveness of these programs in delivering connectivity to unserved and underserved Americans throughout the country.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 to consider the presidential nomination of Polly Trottenberg to be Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at 10:00 am in Dirksen Senate Office Building G50 to consider the following agenda:

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. in Russell Senate Office Building 325 to consider the following nomination:

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2021 to consider the presidential nomination of Peter Buttigieg to be Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., chairman of the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, will convene a hearing titled, “Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on the Live Event Entertainment Industry,” at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The hearing will examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the live event entertainment industry and the challenges faced by artists and venues, as well as supporting industries such as lighting and transportation. The hearing will also examine proposals for legislative relief, unemployment compensation, and healthcare subsidies.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “The Invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield and the Future of Transatlantic Data Flows,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9. The hearing will explore policy issues that led to the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, one of the key mechanisms for allowing the transfer of personal data from the European Union to the United States.