Thune Statement on Scheduled Nomination Markup

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement on the announced business meeting on Monday, June 10th, for the consideration of the nominations of Anthony Foxx for Secretary of Transportation and Penny Pritzker for Secretary of Commerce: “I appreciate Mayor […]

Thune Statement on Secretary of Commerce Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, delivered the following prepared remarks at today’s Secretary of Commerce confirmation hearing for Penny Pritzker: Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing on the nomination of Penny Pritzker to be the next Secretary of Commerce. […]

Thune Statement on Pritzker Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement after President Obama formally announced the nomination of Penny Pritzker to be the next Commerce Secretary: “I look forward to learning more about Ms. Pritzker’s background and meeting with her as the […]

Opening Statement of Ranking Member Thune On Cybersecurity Partnership Between Private Sector and Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation delivered the following prepared remarks at today’s “The Cybersecurity Partnership Between the Private Sector and Our Government: Protecting our National and Economic Security” hearing: Thank you, Chairman Rockefeller and Chairman Carper, for holding this joint hearing […]

Thune, Shuster, LoBiondo Critical of Administration’s Stance on Sequestration Impacts on Aviation

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), and House Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) released the following statements in response to the administration’s announcement regarding sequestration’s impact on the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. aviation: “We […]

Senator Hutchison Opening Statement atCommerce, FTC Nominations Hearing

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, made the following remarks today at the nominations hearing for Rebecca Blank, nominated to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Commerce, and two nominees for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Maureen Ohlhausen and Chairman Jon Leibowitz: […]

Hutchison Presses Commerce Department Nominee on Commitment to Jobs, Tax Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today pressed President Obama’s nominee for Secretary to the Department of Commerce, John Bryson, on his commitment to creating jobs and spurring economic growth in the nation’s economy.  The Administration’s pick for Deputy Secretary, Terry Garcia, was also […]

Sen. Hutchison Probes Top Transportation Security Officials on Threats to Rail Security

In a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) called for greater emphasis on rail security and pressed John Pistole, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Agency, as to whether sufficient resources were being made available to secure America’s rail system. After the recent killing of Osama Bin Laden, American intelligence officials have obtained information indicating Al Qaeda has considered possible attacks on U.S. rail systems.

Sen. Hutchison: System Needs to Catch Weaknesses in Air Traffic Control to Prevent Safety Lapses

During an Aviation Subcommittee hearing today on air traffic control safety, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, reiterated the need for Congress to approve a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Sen. Hutchison also raised concerns about the recent sleeping lapses and increase in operational errors among the air traffic controller workforce.