Hearings

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security will hold a hearing on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. titled, “The U.S. Aviation Industry and Jobs: Keeping American Manufacturing Competitive.” The hearing will examine actions the United States can take to maintain its leadership in the aviation sector as global competitors make advances. The hearing will also address critical competition issues facing the industry, such as trade and competitive barriers, workforce development, regulatory issues, and infrastructure modernization.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard will hold a hearing on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. titled, “North Pacific Perspectives on Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization”. This hearing is the fourth in a series of regionally-focused hearings regarding the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The hearing will examine progress made to-date, and the ongoing challenges faced in sustainable fisheries management in the North Pacific, since the Act was last reauthorized in 2007. Testimony from managers, fishermen, academics, and other stakeholders is expected to address impacts of the most recent reauthorization on U.S. fisheries, and the communities that rely on them, and explore potential legislative changes to the law.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. to examine the growth of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as “drones”, in the United States, including the potential economic benefits of drone operations, and the progress of steps taken to facilitate the development of the industry through the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95). The hearing will include consideration of safety and privacy issues surrounding the operation of drones in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. to examine the data broker industry and how industry practices may impact consumers. The hearing comes after a yearlong Commerce Committee examination of how data brokers collect, compile, and sell consumer information for marketing purposes. In October 2012, Rockefeller launched an investigation into the data broker industry to give consumers a better understanding of how their personal information is handled, issuing information requests to nine representative data brokers. Rockefeller sent an additional set of inquiries in September 2013 to twelve popular personal finance, health, and family-focused websites to further explore data broker information collection practices, and further expanded the investigation in October 2013 by requesting that Experian provide specific information about the company’s customer vetting practices following news reports alleging that an Experian subsidiary sold data to an identity theft scheme.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. to examine the issues surrounding implementation of the voluntary incentive auction of broadcast television spectrum, which is being conducted by the Federal Communications Commission as required by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. on aggressive business practices that some soldiers and their families face, as well as ways to protect service members from abusive behavior.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. on how to strengthen U.S. innovation and manufacturing.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today announced the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance will hold a hearing on Thursday, November 7, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. to examine the impact of demand letters — sent by patent assertion entities (PAEs) or “patent trolls” — on small businesses, consumers, and innovators. The hearing will consider whether legislation is needed to provide increased protection for these individuals and groups.