Hearings

Hearings 03/23/2022
Developing Next Generation Technology for Innovation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Developing Next Generation Technology for Innovation” at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Hearings 03/22/2022
Executive Session
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an Executive Session at 10 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, to consider several pieces of legislation.
Hearings 03/3/2022
Executive Session and Ocean Shipping Reform Act Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an Executive Session at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2022, to consider several presidential nominations. Immediately following the Executive Session, the Committee will hold a full committee hearing on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act.
Hearings 02/9/2022
Subcommittee: NASA Accountability and Oversight
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Science will convene a hearing titled, “NASA Accountability and Oversight,” at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. This oversight hearing will examine NASA’s private sector partnerships to identify potential best practices, including programmatic risk management, cost and schedule control, and necessary oversight structures. Topics such as NASA’s multi-directorate approach to Artemis, International Space Station transition and low Earth orbit (“LEO”) commercialization, commercial Earth observation data buys, and other collaboration models will be considered.
Hearings 02/9/2022
Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today announced a full committee hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, to consider the following nomination:
Hearings 02/2/2022
Executive Session
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, to consider the following nominations:
Hearings 02/1/2022
Subcommittee: Stopping COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security will convene a hearing titled, “Stopping COVID-19 Fraud and Price Gouging,” at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February, 1, 2022. This hearing will examine the ongoing proliferation of scams and price gouging related to and enabled by the COVID-19 pandemic; highlight efforts to educate consumers about COVID-related scams; and explore proposals to strengthen FTC enforcement against unfair and deceptive practices.
Hearings 12/16/2021
Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021, to consider the presidential nominations of Rear Admiral (USN, Ret.) Ann Claire Phillips to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration; Dr. Steven Scott Cliff to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and John Edward Putnam to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation.
Hearings 12/15/2021
Oversight of the U.S. Airline Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled "Oversight of the U.S. Airline Industry" at 2:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. In response to severe impacts and disruptions to the U.S. airline industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress designed the Payroll Support Program (PSP) to protect the airline workforce, support the continuity of safe and essential travel, and ensure the industry’s ability to remain viable to meet future travel demand. This hearing will examine the impact of PSP funding issued to the commercial airline sector, including the effect on the airline industry’s workforce, and the effect of airline operational performance on American consumers.
Hearings 12/15/2021
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, to consider the following measures and nominations:
Hearings 12/9/2021
Subcommittee: Disrupting Dangerous Algorithms: Addressing the Harms of Persuasive Technology
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, “Disrupting Dangerous Algorithms: Addressing the Harms of Persuasive Technology,” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021. This hearing will consider legislative solutions that address the dangers of online platforms’ use of technology to manipulate user experiences. Witnesses will discuss the need for greater transparency of automated processes and artificial intelligence, as well as policies to make platforms accountable for their use of algorithms designed to optimize engagement over harm to users.
Hearings 12/8/2021
Subcommittee: Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young Users
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security will convene a hearing titled, “Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young Users,” at 2:30 pm on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. News reports, whistleblower revelations, and academic research are providing a clearer view of the impact of social media applications on children and teens, especially on their mental health and wellbeing. Parents are deeply concerned about the product designs and powerful algorithms that push content to kids and create addiction-like behaviors. This hearing will address what Instagram knows about its impacts on young users, its commitments to reform, and potential legislative solutions.
Hearings 12/7/2021
Subcommittee: Uncharted Waters: Challenges Posed by Ocean Shipping Supply Chains
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Gary Peters Blumenthal (D- MI), Chair of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports will convene a hearing titled, “Uncharted Waters: Challenges Posed by Ocean Shipping Supply Chains,” at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. This hearing will examine the impacts of COVID-19 on the ocean shipping supply chain that have led businesses and consumers across the country to experience major delays and price increases. While the underlying issues are multifaceted, this hearing would look at some of the most timely problems being faced today. Specifically, the hearing will examine the business and operational practices around ocean shipping that have contributed to these challenges.
Hearings 12/1/2021
Executive Session and Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 to consider the following nominations:
Hearings 11/30/2021
Subcommittee: Hidden Holiday Hazards: Product Safety During the Holiday Season
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security will convene a hearing titled, “Hidden Holiday Hazards: Product Safety During the Holiday Season,” at 10:00 am on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. This hearing will address product safety concerns that often arise around the holidays, such as counterfeit toys with small parts that can be accidentally ingested, and malfunctioning holiday decorations can cause fire hazards, and legislative solutions that can address these dangers.
Hearings 11/17/2021
Executive Session and Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 to consider the following measures:
Hearings 11/3/2021
Implementation of Aviation Safety Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “Implementation of Aviation Safety Reform” at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. This hearing will examine the urgency of implementing aviation safety, certification, and oversight reforms mandated by the Aircraft, Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (“ACSAA”) of 2020. The Committee will discuss the approach of the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) to effectuating ACSAA and its work to implement provisions of the legislation in accordance with congressionally-mandated timelines. Topics such as the FAA’s delegation and certification processes, safety culture, and systems oversight practices since the passage of ACSAA will be covered.
Hearings 10/26/2021
Subcommittee: Protecting Kids Online: Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security will convene a hearing titled “Protecting Kids Online: Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube” at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Children and teens face immense peer pressure to be on apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. While social media can provide entertainment and educational opportunities, these apps have also been misused to harm kids and promote destructive acts, such as vandalism in schools, deadly viral challenges, bullying, eating disorders, manipulative influencer marketing, and grooming. This hearing will examine how tech companies treat young audiences, including how algorithms and product design choices can amplify harms, addiction, and intrusions into privacy. The hearing will also explore needed improvements to our laws to protect children and teenagers online.
Hearings 10/21/2021
Subcommittee: International Collaboration and Competition in Space: Oversight of NASA’s Role and Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Space and Science, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “International Collaboration and Competition in Space: Oversight of NASA’s Role and Programs” at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 21, 2021. The United States has long been the global leader in space exploration and has benefitted from robust, peaceful international collaboration. This hearing will examine required actions, particularly at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to promote U.S. civil and commercial space sector competitiveness, attract and maintain strong global partnerships, and preserve U.S. space leadership in the wake of rising international competition. Topics such as International Space Station extension, commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) development, and requirements to execute NASA’s Artemis program, to include needed updates to authorizing legislation, will be considered.
Hearings 10/20/2021
Executive Session and Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 to consider the presidential nominations of Victoria Marie Wassmer, to be the Chief Financial Officer, DOT; Mohsin Raza Syed, to be Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs, DOT; Amitabha Bose, to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, DOT; Meera Joshi to be the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Mary Boyle, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and Rear Admiral Nancy Hann, to be Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. Immediately following the executive session, the Committee will hold a hearing to consider the presidential nominations of Max Vekich to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission; Christopher Coes to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, DOT; and Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, DOC.