Sen. Cruz: We Remain Focused on Improving the Lives of the American People
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee executive session, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) urged his colleagues to support Howard Lutnick’s nomination to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce and highlighted the importance of advancing the bipartisan legislation being considered by the committee.
Business Community Unites Behind Lutnick for Commerce Department Leader
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the Senate Commerce Committee markup of the nomination for Howard Lutnick to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce, dozens of organizations and companies from across the technology, space exploration, energy, and communications sectors have expressed support for Mr. Lutnick and enthusiasm for his leadership at the Department of Commerce.
Sen. Cruz: Howard Lutnick Will Help to Unleash America’s Full Economic Potential
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reaffirmed his support for Howard Lutnick. Sen. Cruz discussed how Mr. Lutnick’s entrepreneurial experience will be valuable in guiding investments in emerging technology, bolstering America’s leadership in AI innovation and commercial space regulation, and expanding job opportunities across multiple industries.
Wicker, Grassley Urge DOJ Inspector General to Investigate Abuses at the Commerce Department
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, yesterday sent a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz requesting that he lead a “root cause analysis” in furtherance of the Commerce Committee’s initial investigation into abuses at the Department of Commerce’s Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS). The Commerce Committee’s investigation uncovered a failure of the DOJ, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to exercise appropriate oversight of ITMS activities, particularly the use of “special deputation” of ITMS employees by the Marshals Service, which enabled many ITMS abuses.
Wicker, Fischer Introduce TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Deb Fischer, R-Neb., ranking member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, today introduced the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act. The legislation would help reduce the burden on workers applying for two or more of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), hazardous materials endorsement (HME), or TSA PreCheck programs by standardizing the enrollment and renewal systems administered by TSA.
Wicker, McMorris Rodgers Raise Concern Over Secretary Raimondo’s Statement on BEAD Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo regarding her disconcerting statement that areas already committed to receive federal broadband funding could be eligible for additional funds during yesterday’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing.
Wicker Statement at Department of Commerce Budget Priorities Hearing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today participated in a hearing to consider the Department of Commerce budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which featured testimony from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Wicker Inquires on DOT Data Sharing Initiative for Freight Transportation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today sent a letter to Secretary Pete Buttigieg seeking information about the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) initiative recently announced by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Wicker urged DOT to incorporate feedback from a broad array of stakeholders in the development of the program, which seeks to enhance information sharing to increase efficiency in the freight transportation system.
Senate Passes Wicker’s FREIGHT Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released the following statement regarding the Senate’s unanimous passage of Senators Klobuchar and Thune’s Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which includes Ranking Member Wicker’s Facilitating Relief for Efficient Intermodal Gateways to Handle Transportation (FREIGHT) Act.
ICYMI: Wicker Opposes Alvaro M. Bedoya for Federal Trade Commission
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, yesterday delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor ahead of a Senate vote on a motion to discharge the nomination of Alvaro M. Bedoya for Federal Trade Commissioner (FTC).