Republican News

Today, U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Reps. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Sam Graves, R-Mo., chairman and ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao to commend the agency’s continued efforts to improve the connectivity and safety of our nation’s transportation system through innovative technology by establishing the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council. The DOT recently published a Federal Register notice seeking comments on regulatory models and

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, this week introduced S. 2979, the Preventing Opioid and Drug Impairment in Transportation Act. The bill would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make improvements in drug testing for employees in safety-sensitive transportation positions, such as Amtrak locomotive engineers and conductors, pipeline operators, and truck drivers. The legislation would also initiate important research to combat impaired driving on our nation’s roads.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, supports Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to provide up to $9 billion to deploy advanced 5G mobile wireless services in rural America and set aside $1 billion for precision agriculture needs.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, chairman of the Subcommittee on Security, will convene a hearing titled, “Expanding Opportunities, Challenges, and Threats in the Arctic: A Focus on the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Strategic Outlook,” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The hearing will evaluate the Coast Guard’s presence in the Arctic, the 2019 Coast Guard Strategic Outlook, and the ability to meet existing and future challenges in the region.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nomination hearing on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 to consider the presidential nomination of Thomas Chapman to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The hearing will immediately follow the executive session in Dirksen Senate Office Building G50.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building G50 to consider the following legislative measures.

U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, will convene a hearing titled, “The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies: Implementing MOBILE NOW,” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2019. The hearing will examine the implementation of several mandates required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless Act (MOBILE NOW). Witnesses will discuss MOBILE NOW’s spectrum provisions and the streamlining of broadband infrastructure on federal lands, among other things.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Examining Legislative Proposals to Protect Consumer Data Privacy,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Members of the committee and witnesses will discuss how legislative proposals intend to provide consumers with more security, transparency, choice, and control over personal information both online and offline. Members will also discuss proposals that provide the Federal Trade Commission with more resources and authority to oversee business data practices in the marketplace.

Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed a bipartisan nominations package. Eight of the nominees confirmed fall under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. These confirmations include nominees for key administration positions appointed by President Donald J. Trump and promotions in the United States Coast Guard.

Today, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, spoke on the Senate floor about the need to extend the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELAR) before the end of the year to prevent more than 800,000 Americans from losing access to their local broadcast networks.