Minority News

Press Releases

Press Releases 05/21/2025
Commerce Committee Advances Eight Bills, Four Nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved eight bills and four nominations for nominees of the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak Board of Directors, and the Department of Commerce. The Committee also voted to promote more than 250 Coast Guardsmen. The approved legislation covers a wide sweep of the Committee’s jurisdiction, including scientific research, transportation, telecommunications, consumer protection, weather forecasting, and disaster preparedness.
Press Releases 05/19/2025
Sen. Cruz Applauds Presidential Signing of the TAKE IT DOWN Act Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement after his bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act was signed into law by President Trump. The TAKE IT DOWN Act was authored by Sen. Cruz and co-led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
Press Releases 05/15/2025
Sen. Cruz: Americans Want Energy That Is Affordable, Reliable, and Transported Safely
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety hearing titled “Pipeline Safety Reauthorization: Ensuring the Safe and Efficient Movement of American Energy,” Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed the critical role of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in overseeing the safe transportation of oil, natural gas, and other hazardous liquids by pipelines across the U.S. Sen. Cruz emphasized how the hearing will help inform discussions for a pipeline safety reauthorization bill to ensure Americans have access to inexpensive, dependable, and safely transported energy.
Press Releases 05/15/2025
WADA Shame: Swimming in Denial Over Chinese Doping
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy, will convene a subcommittee hearing titled “WADA Shame: Swimming in Denial Over Chinese Doping” on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 10:00 am EST. This hearing will examine if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is effective in its mission of ensuring international events are free from doping and other performance enhancements, which put U.S. athletes at risk. The hearing will also investigate how WADA’s inconsistent enforcement has resulted in unfair competitions impacting American athletes, especially ahead of the LA Games in 2028 and Salt Lake City Games in 2034.
Press Releases 05/14/2025
Sen. Cruz: Bold Thinking Needed to Set FAA Up for Long-Term Success
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “FAA Reauthorization One Year Later: Aviation Safety, Air Traffic, and Next Generation Technology,” Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emphasized the urgent need to modernize the national airspace system following recent aviation tragedies. Nearly a year after the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law, Sen. Cruz explained that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) ongoing struggles to use better technology and hire sufficient air traffic controllers were symptoms of its current bureaucratic setup.
Press Releases 05/14/2025
Commerce Deputy Secretary Nominee Paul Dabbar Advances Out of Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), cleared President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Paul Dabbar, for consideration by the full Senate. Mr. Dabbar’s nomination passed the committee by a vote of 17 yeas and 11 nays.
Press Releases 05/13/2025
Sen. Cruz: Nominees Will Champion Regulatory Clarity and Strategic Investment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee nominations hearing, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) voiced his support for David Fink (Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration), David Fogel (Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service), Pierre Gentin (General Counsel of the Department of Commerce), and Robert Gleason (Amtrak Board of Directors). Sen. Cruz highlighted the nominees’ experience and priorities, which include attracting foreign direct investment, reducing trade barriers for U.S. exports, and improving the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the nation’s rail system.
Press Releases 05/8/2025
Senate Passes Cruz-Led Measure to Scrap Illegal Biden FCC Rule over Child Online Safety Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) celebrated the Senate passage of his resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which would repeal an unlawful Biden-era Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule bankrolling kids’ unsupervised internet access, undermining parental rights, and threatening to raise taxes on American families.
Press Releases 05/8/2025
Sen. Cruz: Adopting Europe’s Approach on Regulation Will Cause China to Win the AI Race
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing, titled “Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,” Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emphasized the need to secure American leadership in AI innovation and adoption. He highlighted AI’s vast potential to improve quality of life, create high-skilled jobs, and bolster U.S. global competitiveness.
Press Releases 05/7/2025
FAA Reauthorization One Year Later: Aviation Safety, Air Traffic, and Next Generation Technology
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 “FAA Reauthorization One Year Later: Aviation Safety, Air Traffic, and Next Generation Technology” on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST. This hearing will examine both the progress achieved and any delays encountered in implementing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024.

Speeches

Speeches 08/4/2021
Wicker Urges Need to Restore NTIA Protections in Infrastructure Bill
Speeches 06/15/2021
Wicker Speaks on USCG Act
Speeches 11/19/2019
Wicker Speaks on Upcoming STELAR Deadline
Speeches 07/17/2019
Wicker Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
Speeches 05/23/2019
Wicker Remarks on TRACED Act
Speeches 01/16/2019
Wicker Convenes First Committee Meeting of the 116th Congress
Speeches 12/12/2018
Thune Remarks on Sen. Nelson’s Time in the U.S. Senate
Speeches 10/2/2018
Thune Speaks on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
Speeches 09/28/2018
VIDEO: Thune Speaks at White House 5G Summit
Speeches 03/20/2018
VIDEO: Thune Calls on Colleagues to Support and Pass the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act

Op-Eds

Opinion Editorials 09/30/2021
Wicker in Washington Examiner: FTC must leave privacy legislating to Congress
Opinion Editorials 08/23/2021
Wicker in Defense News: The US Coast Guard urgently needs help
Opinion Editorials 01/27/2021
Wicker in The Washington Times: Protecting consumer data during the pandemic and beyond
Opinion Editorials 12/20/2020
Wicker in SpaceNews: Protecting our assets from space debris
Opinion Editorials 10/19/2020
Wicker and Sullivan in Defense News: Polar icebreakers are key to America’s national interest
Opinion Editorials 01/15/2020
Wicker and Sinema in USA Today: We need to prepare for internet of the future. Here's how Congress can help.
Opinion Editorials 12/3/2019
Wicker in the Sun Herald: Getting Stennis Space Center Ready for Liftoff
Opinion Editorials 12/3/2019
Wicker in The Hill: Pay America’s Coast Guard
Opinion Editorials 09/25/2018
Thune in The Hill: Protect and Innovate Online Privacy
Opinion Editorials 07/26/2018
Sen. John Thune and Rep. Lamar Smith in Dallas News: U.S. Must Win the Race Against China and Europe on Quantum Computing