Hearings

Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars

February 4, 2026
10:00 AM

Chairman Cruz Announces February 4th Hearing on Autonomous Vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars” on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST. In the race with China to lead the future of transportation technology, the federal government must establish a national safety standard and foster the growth of autonomous vehicles (AVs). The current patchwork of state laws and regulations governing AVs has slowed their adoption and created an inconsistent—and often conflicting—landscape that makes it difficult for companies to scale and operate across state lines, ultimately stifling innovation and undermining U.S. leadership.

Approximately 94 percent of all traffic crashes are attributed to human error. Fully autonomous vehicles have the potential to save lives by removing human error from driving. AVs could also significantly expand mobility and independence for people with disabilities who are unable to drive, improving access to employment, healthcare, and the community.

Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Cruz said:

“Every commuter has sat in traffic, staring at brake lights, wasting time they could be spending with their families or getting work done. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to change that—making traffic move faster, reducing distracted driving, and dramatically cutting car crashes. They also can bring meaningful independence for people with disabilities. But today, a confusing mix of federal and state laws makes it much more difficult to bring safer, more advanced autonomous vehicles to market. This hearing will examine how outdated regulations are holding back lifesaving technology—and what Congress can do to fix it.”

Witnesses:

  • Mr. Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Tesla 
  • Mr. Mauricio Peña, Chief Safety Officer, Waymo 
  • Mr. Jeff Farrah, Chief Executive Officer, Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association 

An additional witness may be announced at a later date.

Hearing Details:

WHAT: Full Committee Hearing titled “Hit the Road, Mac: The Future of Self-Driving Cars.”

DATE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM EST

LOCATION: Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

LIVESTREAM: The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.

MEDIA INFO: Reporters wanting to attend the committee should contact their respective media gallery to RSVP.

 

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