Republican News

Press Releases 06/23/2020
Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Traffic Safety and NHTSA Grant Programs
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, will convene a hearing titled, “Safety on Our Roads: Overview of Traffic Safety and NHTSA Grant Programs,” at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The hearing will examine the implementation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) highway safety grant programs, as well as key highway traffic safety issues.
Press Releases 06/22/2020
Wicker, Capito, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Accelerate Deployment of Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Broadband Networks
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., today released the following statements upon introduction of the Accelerating Broadband Connectivity (ABC) Act of 2020. This legislation would expedite the deployment of broadband service by creating a fund to be used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to incentivize winning bidders of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction to complete their buildout obligations on a shorter timeline.
Press Releases 06/18/2020
Wicker, Walden Release Broadband Connectivity and Digital Equity Framework
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today released principles for a legislative framework to expand broadband access and digital opportunity and close the digital divide. This framework would serve as a foundation for legislative efforts related to the COVID-19 economic recovery, modernize the nation’s communications infrastructure, allow all Americans to participate in the digital economy, and enhance U.S. network security, reliability, and resiliency.
Press Releases 06/17/2020
Committee Announces FCC Oversight Hearing
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The hearing will provide members an opportunity to examine policy issues before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and review the agency’s ongoing activities and proceedings.
Press Releases 06/16/2020
Wicker, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Aviation Safety Legislation
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, today released the following statements upon introduction of the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation would implement provisions to improve aviation safety based on lessons learned from the tragic Boeing 737 MAX crashes, including addressing human factors to accurately assess pilot responses to cockpit alerts.
Press Releases 06/15/2020
Wicker, Thune Encourage FCC Action on C-Band Spectrum
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and John Thune, R-S.D., chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai encouraging the agency to move swiftly to clear C-Band spectrum to meet its planned auction timeline on December 8, 2020.
Press Releases 06/12/2020
Wicker, Inhofe, Cantwell, Reed Spectrum Bill Included in Armed Services Committee-Approved NDAA
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, today released the following statements upon inclusion of their bipartisan bill, S. 3717, the Spectrum IT Modernization Act, in the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Press Releases 06/11/2020
Wicker Introduces MARAD Reauthorization Bill
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, yesterday introduced S. 3930, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act. The legislation would authorize funding for programs associated with the United States Merchant Marine, ensure military sealift capacity for national security, improve port infrastructure, and promote the use of marine transportation infrastructure. The bill would also reauthorize the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998.
Press Releases 06/10/2020
Committee Announces Third Aviation Safety Hearing
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a hearing titled, “Examining the Federal Aviation Administration’s Oversight of Aircraft Certification,” at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. The hearing will provide an opportunity to review issues associated with the design, development, certification, and operation of the Boeing 737 MAX following two international accidents in the past two years. The hearing will also consider potential opportunities to reform the certification process for transport-category aircraft.
Press Releases 06/9/2020
Committee Announces Nominations Hearing
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a nominations hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. The hearing will consider presidential nominations to the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission.