Republican News

Press Releases 06/3/2020
Wicker, Cantwell Seek Stakeholder Feedback Regarding Pandemic Impacts on Passenger Transportation Network
Press Releases 06/3/2020
Wicker Requests Information from FCC on Accelerating Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, this week sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai requesting information on accelerating the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I auction.
Press Releases 06/2/2020
Wicker Introduces Aviation Safety Bill
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today introduced the Aircraft Safety Improvement Act of 2020, which would improve aviation safety by codifying recommendations from a number of reviews and investigations related to the 737 MAX crashes. The legislation would mandate adoption of Safety Management Systems (SMS) for manufacturers, require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review its assumptions regarding pilot reaction time, and ensure a representative sample of pilots from around the world participate in flight testing. The bill would also reform the FAA’s certification processes to eliminate instances of undue pressure or “regulatory coziness” that could lead to lapses in safety protocols.
Press Releases 05/30/2020
Wicker Commends NASA on Milestone Launch of Demo-2 Mission
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and SpaceX launched two astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a flight to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley flew on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft powered by a Falcon 9 rocket and will spend several weeks on the ISS before returning to Earth and landing in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission represents the return of human spaceflight to the United States.
Press Releases 05/27/2020
Committee Announces Hearing on the Current State of Transportation and Critical Infrastructure
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “The State of Transportation and Critical Infrastructure: Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The hearing will examine the impact of COVID-19 on surface transportation and the supply chain. Witnesses will discuss how the surface transportation stakeholders have responded to the pandemic and how they have continued to provide critical services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Press Releases 05/21/2020
Wicker Introduces Rural Infrastructure Advancement Act
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today introduced the Rural Infrastructure Advancement Act. The legislation would establish a Rural Assistance Pilot Program to help rural communities and localities better utilize and leverage existing U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding and financing opportunities.
Press Releases 05/20/2020
Committee Approves Eight Bills, Seven Nominations
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement after the committee approved eight bills, seven nominations, and Coast Guard promotions, which are now all subject to approval by the full Senate
Press Releases 05/20/2020
Committee Approves Wicker Bill to Establish National Shipper Advisory Committee at the Federal Maritime Commission
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement after the committee approved S. 2894, the Federal Maritime Commission National Shipper Advisory Committee Act of 2019. The legislation would establish a committee to advise the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on policies related to the competitiveness, reliability, integrity, and fairness of the international ocean freight delivery system.
Press Releases 05/20/2020
Committee Approves Bill to Provide States Flexibility in Spending FMCSA Grant Funds
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, John Thune, R-S.D., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., today released the following statements after the committee approved S. 3729, the Motor Carrier Safety Grant Relief Act of 2020. The legislation would provide states flexibility in spending Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grant funds in light of COVID-19 impacts.
Press Releases 05/19/2020
Wicker Congratulates Coast Guard Academy Class of 2020
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, last week sent an open letter to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy congratulating the graduating Class of 2020. Today marks the commissioning of the largest and most diverse graduating class in the Academy’s history, representing cities in nearly every state in the country.