▶ 0:22:55>> good morning. I apologize if my gavel is a little vigorous. I think I startled roger awake this morning. The senate committee on commerce, science and transportation will come to order. We will consider a coast or promotion, two nominations and 16 bills. We will begin with jared isaacman, the nominee for nasa administrator.
▶ 0:23:27A successful entrepreneur with a bold vision for space exploration. As we heard at his hearing earlier this month, "nasa was built to do the near impossible." I agree. Nasa's plans for space must be grounded in reality and in line with our strategic interests. Existing law directs nasa to establish a sustained human presence in space or on the moon.
▶ 0:23:57Federal law explicitly calls the moon a steppingstone to reaching mars. In other words, our pastor predominance -- our path to predominance in space begins with the artemis mission. Mr. isaacman acknowledges this.
▶ 0:24:19As he told us, "I am committed to following the law and I would like nothing more than to see lunar operations become continuous, enduring and routine." for Mr. isaacman, nasa can pursue objectives absolutely but these should not distract from the objective of returning to the moon first.
▶ 0:24:51Given this explicit commitment, I support Mr. isaacman's confirmation. I also support the confirmation of olivia trusty to the federal communications commission, the fcc. A former staffer for senator wicker, Ms. trusty is an expert in telecommunications policy and someone who understands the need for a spectrum pipeline to free up beds for commercial use -- bands for commercial use.
▶ 0:25:20I look forward to working with her as we restore the fcc's commercial option authority. Let me highlight a few of the bills. The sunshine protection act led by senator scott of florida is bipartisan legislation to end the destructive practice of switching our clocks twice per year.
▶ 0:25:41As we heard earlier this month, a shift to either permanent daylight savings time or permanent standard time if the state chooses to adopt that instead would boost economic activity and improve public health. We will also shine some light on the activities of our competitors and adversaries.
▶ 0:26:04The fighting foreign illegal seafood harvest or fish act would crack on illegal fishing in united states waters by russia and others. United states research protection act introduced by my fellow texan senator cornyn and senator curtis will safeguard taxpayer-funded research from exploitation by adversarial nations.
▶ 0:26:31Senator peters combating ccp labor abuses act will keep the commerce department employee is informed about the human rights abuses of the chinese communist party, including those perpetrated against the weaker population.
▶ 0:26:50In keeping with our efforts to stay ahead of global competitors, I want to recognize senator moreno and senator blunt rochester for their deploying american black chains act which would direct the commerce department to support continued U.S. leadership in distributed ledger technology. We should shine a light on the workings of her own government too.
▶ 0:27:13My bill with senator duckworth, the comprehensive nasa reporting act will require nasa to send mandated reports to authorizing committees. This legislation will help our community -- committee work more effectively with Mr. isaacman if confirmed. Other bills aimed to protect citizens from environmental risks.
▶ 0:27:38Senator klobuchar and senator blackburn's enhancing first response act would improve emergency response by reclassifying emergency dispatchers as a protected service occupation and requiring fcc reports on disasters and 911 outages.
▶ 0:27:57Senator schatz tame extreme weather and wildfire act introduced with senator sheehy and senator lujan and senator welch would leverage the power of artificial intelligence for weather and wildfire forecast. And lulu's law from senator brit and senator capital will alert beachgoers of a potential shark attack.
▶ 0:28:23The fog observation and geographic forecasting act would require the national weather service to improve fog forecasting with the goals of increasing missile safety, helping the shipping industry and keeping commerce flowing in and out of U.S. sports -- U.S. ports. The nominations and bills we are voting on today represent a bipartisan vision for a secure, competitive and safe america. I call on my colleagues to join me in supporting them.
▶ 0:28:55Now I will turn to ranking member cantwell for opening remarks.
▶ 0:28:58Chair Cantwell: The committee meets today to consider two big nominations will promotion of coast guard officers and 17 bills to improve public safety, promote blockade technology, protect the nation against malign actors and better protect consumers from fraud, improve weather forecasting and conserve the environment. As we continue to work through these issues, I want to thank my colleagues. Today we will consider the sunshine act.
▶ 0:29:31Chair Cantwell: This legislation would end the practice of observing a temporary daylight savings time. While there are strong opinions on this issue whether daylight savings time or standard time, in washington we have adopted a daylight savings time log that would go into effect. I am supporting this legislation today. I think there are still some issues as the chairman and other issues were talking.
▶ 0:30:00Chair Cantwell: Just as we have advanced the bill in the past, I expect the bill to receive continued work on this policy we consider enhancing first response act by senator klobuchar, senator blackburn, which I also cosponsored. Very important legislation offered by my colleague senator klobuchar that finally recognizes the lifesaving work of 911 operators by reclassifying them as first responders.
▶ 0:30:27Chair Cantwell: Thank senator klobuchar for her work on this issue. Washington made this change permanent in 2022 so I am happy to see that 911 operators across the country will be recognized. We have laws by senator schatz and senator fischer ensuring that beachgoers are better informed of the risk by clarifying emergency alerts.
▶ 0:30:51Chair Cantwell: We are moving the national earthquake reauthorization act by senator padilla, a very important policy for the pacific northwest as well as many parts of the country. This important legislation will save lives, protect property. Today we are considering the deploying american watching act of 2025 by senator moreno and senator sheehy which passed out of this committee last year and was intended to strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
▶ 0:31:22Chair Cantwell: We will consider the ascent act from senator hickenlooper. Very important legislation that gives nasa the authority to procure remote-sensing data and imagery from commercial vendors. This is important policy that will help us grow important data information in the public sector. The foreign adversary community transparency act by senator fischer which would increase disclosure of those owned by foreign adversaries.
▶ 0:31:53Chair Cantwell: As the chairman mentioned, an important policy. The bill had bipartisan agreement last congress. I am supportive of it in this congress. As we have the united states research protection act of 2025 from senator cornyn and senator curtis which amends the chips and signs act to strengthen and clarify protection against malign foreign actors and recruitment including the countries of china, iran, north korea and russia.
▶ 0:32:23Chair Cantwell: We have two bills before us aimed to improve weather forecasting, the first by senator cruz, improve forecast of coastal marine fog. There is something that washington and texas agree on. We have the extreme weather wildfires act by senator schatz, senator sheehy and senator lujan which improves direction from noaa to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather, water and space forecasting.
▶ 0:32:52Chair Cantwell: The main event ticketing act which would better protect consumers by strengthening the active 2016 requiring reporting of a on ticket sellers. This is another attempt to try to help our consuming public afford very important venue events.
▶ 0:33:16Chair Cantwell: I appreciate the legislation by my colleague and myself being on the agenda, the northwest straits marine conservation initiative regulars -- reauthorization act, considering the vital work in the puget sound and one of the busiest waterways in the nation. Just happened to intersect with some of the most beautiful habitat and species in the nation as well. Having the straits commission continue to do their work is very important.
▶ 0:33:46Chair Cantwell: A second bill related to healthy communities by senator kaine and senator warner would prove it -- permit nasa to reimburse towns in virginia for costs directly associated. I want to thank senator sullivan and senator whitehouse for introducing the fish act which will strengthen the federal government's role in reducing illegal fishing. I want to thank them for accepting my amendment to reauthorize the vital sea grant program which is part of this legislation today.
▶ 0:34:15Chair Cantwell: I remain concerned about putting more requirements upon the national marine fisheries service at a time when the administration is cutting the budget by 30%. This is an issue that I hope we will have a committee hearing on and have discussion of because it is critically important for many of our fishing communities around the U.S. that are managed by fisheries science policy.
▶ 0:34:44Chair Cantwell: If you want to have good management, you have to have good science. You cannot have good budget cuts. We are considering also peters lummis curtis bill on china combating labor abuses of of 2025, an act that I appreciate.
▶ 0:35:09Chair Cantwell: With regard to the comprehensive noaa reporting act from senator cruz and senator duckworth, I wish we would apply the same issues that we are looking here from nasa for clarity so that we can do our oversight jobs for other agencies. I'm concerned that the committee by not having the oversight is literally taking the work of committee and letting the administration rearrange the chairs at a time when important issues are to be considered.
▶ 0:35:36Chair Cantwell: I will support this nasa bill today but we need to get onto other important work that this committee should be doing from an oversight role. Aviation safety, ai and quantum issues, the transportation act reauthorization and one of my favorite issues, shipping where I think the president and others have agreement that we should be doing more on shipbuilding in the united states. On the nominations, I plan to support Ms.
▶ 0:36:05Chair Cantwell: Trusty's nomination out of the committee. I have had conversations with senator thune about our ability to continue to move sec nominations so I will continue to support her as long as we continue to support democrat and republican nominees. I believe her testimony reflects her knowledge and experience on these important policy issues.
▶ 0:36:29Chair Cantwell: I may not always agree with her but as long as the leader plans to move nominees of both sides, I will continue to support her nomination. On the issacman nomination, he comes before us with a wealth of business and space experience. I think innovators at this time with a commitment to keeping onto the moon mission is the key requirement that we have to have in this position.
▶ 0:36:57Chair Cantwell: While it is not clear to me where the trump administration will ultimately end up on the nasa budget and I have concerns about some of their proposed cuts, Mr. isaacman seems to be committed to the current plan for both landing redundancies, spatial launch systems and returning to the moon as fast as possible. This is a very big competitive issue for the united states. That competitiveness is not just a goal.
▶ 0:37:25Chair Cantwell: It is a reality that someday we may wake up and find ourselves behind. Today I will support his nomination and hope we continue to get leadership out of the administration on clarification of supporting a robust nasa budget. Thank you.
▶ 0:37:44Sen. Cruz: Thank you very much. I recognize senator wicker.
▶ 0:37:53Sen. Wicker: I appreciate that. Mr. chairman, I move that pn 24.6 adn 24.7, nominations of olivia trusty to be a member of federal communications commission be favorably reported. I know Mr. chairman that the first one completes the term expiring on june 30 of 2025.
▶ 0:38:22Sen. Wicker: The second is from a term of five years from july 1.
▶ 0:38:29Sen. Cruz: Is there a second? The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. chairman, is their opportunity for us to make a comment?
▶ 0:38:39Sen. Cruz: Sure. >> I wanted to as well.
▶ 0:38:42Sen. Cruz: Senator rosen.
▶ 0:38:46Sen. Rosen: I would have planned to vote yes on Ms. trusty to serve on the fcc. I believe she is qualified but I am deeply concerned with the administration's threats to end commissions like the fcc as the president has illegally fired democratic commissioners of the ftc. I am supporting Ms. trusty for this position today.
▶ 0:39:09Sen. Rosen: I cannot commit to supporting her on the floor if there are not commitments from the white house that they will respect the independence of the fcc and this nomination is paired with the democratic nominee on the floor. Thank you.
▶ 0:39:28Sen. Kobluchar: I join senator rosen. I support advancing her nomination because of her experience but I do not believe she will have my vote on the floor if we have not advanced democratic nominee. Thank you.
▶ 0:39:43Sen. Cruz: Anyone else seeking to be recognized? The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. thune. Mr. wicker. Ms. fischer. Mr. sullivan. Ms. blackburn. Mr. young. Mr. budd. Mr. schmitt. Mr. curtis.
▶ 0:40:13Sen. Cruz: Mr. moreno. Ms. cantwell. Ms. klobuchar. Mr. schatz. Mr. markey. Mr. pierce. >> no. >> Ms. baldwin. >> aye by proxy. >> Ms. duckworth. >> no.
▶ 0:40:44Sen. Cruz: >> Mr. hickenlooper. >> aye by proxy. >> Ms. bowen rochester. >> no by proxy. >> ayes are 21. Nos are 7.
▶ 0:41:04Sen. Cruz: The motion is agreed to. I recognize senator moran.
▶ 0:41:13Sen. Moran: I move jared isaacman to be favorably reported.
▶ 0:41:22Sen. Cruz: Is there a second? Does anyone wish to be recognized for discussion? If not, the clerk will call the role. >> Mr. thune. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. wicker. >> aye. >> Ms. blackburn. Mr. young.
▶ 0:41:52Sen. Cruz: Mr. schmitt. Mr. curtis. Ms. lummis. Ms. cantwell. >> aye. >> Ms. klobuchar. Mr. schatz. Mr. markey. >> no by proxy. >> Ms. baldwin. >> aye by proxy.
▶ 0:42:23Sen. Cruz: >> Ms. duckworth. Ms. rosen. Mr. lujan. Mr. hickenlooper. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. kim. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. cruz. >> aye.
▶ 0:42:47Sen. Cruz: >> the motion is agreed to will be the motion is to be reported favorably. >> I move that s29 is amended and be favorably reported.
▶ 0:43:06Sen. Cruz: Is there a second? Is there any discussion? >> I have an amendment.
▶ 0:43:12Sen. Cruz: Senator young.
▶ 0:43:15Sen. Young: My amendment proposes making standard time permanent instead of the underlying push for permanent daylight saving time. Indiana has uniquely complex history with daylight saving time. Until 2006 most of our counties did not observe it while others did, leading to a widespread confusion and inconsistency across the state.
▶ 0:43:40Sen. Young: Under permanent daylight savings time is the underlying bill allowed, sunrise in central indiana would be delayed until after 9:00 a.m. During much of the winter months, forcing hoosiers to start their day in darkness. Supported by the american academy of sleep medicine, moving to permanent standard time is widely recognized as the healthiest option for promoting better sleep, alertness and overall well-being.
▶ 0:44:06Sen. Young: For this reason my amendment would also change the title of this bill to make america rested again act. After surveying constituents across indiana in recent weeks, it is clear there is no right way to approach the issue of time. In regional differences play an important factor in these decisions.
▶ 0:44:28Sen. Young: If there is consensus in congress to lock the clock, I think it is at least worth further debate and detailed analysis of whether it would be better to lock the clock on standard time as indiana observed until 2006 or daylight savings time. Mr. chairman?
▶ 0:44:47Sen. Cruz: Does senator young want to vote on this amendment?
▶ 0:44:53Sen. Young: Yes. I request a roll call vote. I withdraw the amendment your persuasive ability. [laughter]
▶ 0:45:11Sen. Cruz: The world's greatest deliberative body. Thank you.
▶ 0:45:21Sen. Young: That is probably the best speech I heard you deliver.
▶ 0:45:26Sen. Cruz: I cannot disagree. I will say this. Senator young's points are heartfelt and serious. The hearing we had on this there are times when you have a hearing on a bill and you are trying to move forward and you think there is a clear right answer. This is not one of those times. At least for me. The testimony we heard at the hearing was very interesting.
▶ 0:45:51Sen. Cruz: It persuaded me that we should lock the clock and that the practice of springing forward and falling back every year does not make sense and it has real negative consequences both in terms of safety, in terms of economic productivity so we should lock the clock. I think there were also serious arguments on both sides as to where to lock the clock.
▶ 0:46:16Sen. Cruz: We heard serious arguments in favor of daylight savings time from golf courses and other entertainment venues that having more daylight later in the day was beneficial. We heard serious testimony from physicians that having more daylight earlier in the day was beneficial. I think reasonable people can differ. That is one reason why I added an amendment to this which delays the effective date of the act by two years.
▶ 0:46:44Sen. Cruz: That is designed to give every state the ability to choose what is the right time to lock for your state. If indiana decides that standard time is the right time for indiana, that is a perfectly reasonable decision for the people of indiana make. In texas the state legislature is considering legislation to have a referendum and to have the voters of texas decide whether texas will be under standard time or daylight savings time.
▶ 0:47:14Sen. Cruz: I think that is a very reasonable way to decide. This bill does not report to decipher every state in the union one way or the other daylight savings time or standard time. Rather it gives every state the ability to make that choice. I think that is a reasonable decision. I hope in texas we see the referendum because I would like to see the voters decide. With that, I don't know if there is further discussion. If not, the clerk will call the role. >> Mr. thune.
▶ 0:47:45Sen. Cruz: >> no by proxy. >> Mr. wicker. >> we are voting on the final bill?
▶ 0:47:52Sen. Cruz: We are voting on the final bill which incorporates my amendment. This is the final bill itself. I do not need to anticipate a partial vote on this. There will be people reflecting the decisions of different states. Mr. thune is no by proxy. >> Mr. wicker. Ms. fischer. Mr. marin. Mr. sullivan. Ms. blackburn.
▶ 0:48:23Sen. Cruz: Mr. young. Mr. budd. Mr. schmitt. Mr. curtis. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. moreno. Mr. sheehy. Ms. lummis. Ms. cantwell Ms. klobuchar. Mr. schatz.
▶ 0:48:55Sen. Cruz: Mr. markey. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. peters. Ms. duckworth. Ms. rosen. Mr. lujan. Mr. hickenlooper. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. fetterman. >> aye by proxy. >> Mr. cruz.
▶ 0:49:26Sen. Cruz: Aye. >> the yes's are 16. The no's are 12.
▶ 0:49:36Sen. Cruz: The motion is agreed to. I recognize ranking member cantwell.
▶ 0:49:43Chair Cantwell: I move that the main event at as amended by blackburn, lujan, the national earthquake hazard reduction reauthorization act of 2025 as amended by the cruz substitute as modified. S. 580, s.
▶ 0:50:06Chair Cantwell: 606 contaminated wells relocation act. Fish act of 2025. Enhancing first responder act as amended by klobuchar, blackburn substitute. S. 769 united states research protection act of 2025. S. 1003 lulu's law.
▶ 0:50:40Chair Cantwell: S. 1278, fog observations and geographic forecasting act. S. 1378 tame extreme weather and wildfires act. S. 1433, northwest straits marine conservation initiative reauthorization act of 2025. S.
▶ 0:51:07Chair Cantwell: 1437, the ascend act as modified. S. 1492, the deploying american black teens act of 2025. -- block chains act of 2025.
▶ 0:51:28Sen. Cruz: Is there a second?
▶ 0:51:32Sen. Moran: I intend to vote no on s. 1081. I need to have it reported or have it withdrawn from the list of bills.
▶ 0:51:45Sen. Cruz: We will record you as voting no on the bill you specified. All those in favor say aye. Although supposed to say no. The bills will be reported favorably. The motion is agreed to. I recognize ranking member cantwell for another motion.
▶ 0:52:17Chair Cantwell: Mr. chairman, I move that pn 114 to be favorably reported.
▶ 0:52:29Sen. Cruz: Is there a second? All those in favor say aye. Those opposed to say no. The motion is agreed to.
▶ 0:52:44Chair Cantwell: I note that the sunshine protection act we did not have a sufficient number of members present voting in favor to advance the measure. There are only currently 10 ayes present.
▶ 0:53:02Sen. Cruz: Understood. We will address that at a later date when we have sufficient members present. 15 ayes present. We will move it to the next markup and hopefully have better attendance. I ask for unanimous consent that staff are authorized to make technical and conforming changes. Without objection, so ordered.
▶ 0:53:35Sen. Cruz: That concludes today's votes. Are there any members wishing to make remarks?
▶ 0:53:40Sen. Fischer: Thank you Mr. chairman for holding today's markup. I would like to speak on item four please. Earlier this year I was proud to introduce the foreign adversary communications transparency act. The fact act would provide essential transparency for communication services that are licensed or authorized for use within the united states.
▶ 0:54:08Sen. Fischer: The federal communications commission approves tens of thousands of equipment authorizations alone each year. These authorizations include network gear that supports critical infrastructure in our energy, agriculture, health and transportation sectors. They serve as a green light for the use of new wireless consumer devices that multiply by the day.
▶ 0:54:36Sen. Fischer: Meanwhile, foreign adversaries like china continue to look for quiet footholds in these devices and in our networks. Until now no law has required the disclosure of companies linked to foreign adversaries that are operating in the united states tech and communications markets. My bill does this by directing the fcc to assess and identify the foreign ownership details of communications licenses and authorizations.
▶ 0:55:08Sen. Fischer: Protecting our networks requires us to understand the threats and hold bad actors accountable. The fact act as a solution on both fronts by ensuring public awareness of the supply chain risks. I'm glad to have worked with senator rosen, senator cornyn and senator lujan on this legislation. Mr. chairman, I appreciate that you and ranking member cantwell have supported the fact act.
▶ 0:55:36Sen. Fischer: It is bipartisan and the advancement out of committee today is important. Just threat is urgent and I look forward to the bills with consideration by the senate. Thank you.
▶ 0:55:46Chairman Cruz: Are there other senators who want to be recognized?
▶ 0:55:50Sen. Sullivan: Thank you. I want to comment on the fish act that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is another measure in a long line of bipartisan comprehensive bills that senator whitehouse and I have been introducing and passing over the last several years. The save our seas act, the most comprehensive ocean cleanup legislation ever passed in congress.
▶ 0:56:21Sen. Sullivan: President trump has been a big supporter of the clean ocean legislation initiatives. Now we have the fish act which is focused on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing which is both a challenge globally, it is a challenge for our country and certainly a challenge in alaska.
▶ 0:56:45Sen. Sullivan: Globally iuu fishing makes up 20% of global seafood harvested, resulting in economic losses estimated between $10 billion and $23 billion through fisheries who fish illegally each year. Four alaska, it is a growing threat.
▶ 0:57:10Sen. Sullivan: It certainly is a major factor on very low commercial salmon harvest we have had the last few years. There are many reasons for a smaller cash in alaska but one of them clearly is foreign iuu fishing in the north pacific and parts outside of alaska's waters. At the same time, the geopolitics of the north pacific and the arctic are changing.
▶ 0:57:41Sen. Sullivan: Russia and china are increasing their presence in and near alaska's waters will be within our eez. Both have expansive arctic and north pacific ambitions and presence and they are some of the worst violators of iuu fishing.
▶ 0:58:01Sen. Sullivan: The chinese have their gray fleets that travel all over the world off the coast of africa, off the coast of latin america, ravaging the high seas fishing stocks. They are literally a cancer on global fishing and this bill goes after russian and chinese fishing fleets which use slave labor. They are a real cancer.
▶ 0:58:31Sen. Sullivan: Combating ccp abuses legislation we just passed also focuses on china's bad actions and this bill builds another legislation from this committee, particularly senator wicker's maritime safe act. We think this is a very important bill.
▶ 0:58:50Sen. Sullivan: It puts iuu fishing vessels on a black list, raises costs for iuu vessel owners, mostly chinese and importers and supports increased coast guard enforcement on the high seas to work with our partners and help some countries who are being ravaged by these iuu gray fleet chinese fleets that are some of the most ruinous operations for
▶ 0:59:20Sen. Sullivan: Sustainable fisheries around the world. Our bill penalizes these global bad actors in fishing and of course supports our american fisheries which are the most sustainable in the world. I want to thank my colleagues, senator cantwell and others, on passing the fish act.
▶ 0:59:39Sen. Sullivan: We look forward to bringing this to the floor soon will be on bipartisan healthy seas, oceans and fisheries bills we have been passing and getting signed into law over the last several years. Thank you.
▶ 0:59:53Chairman Cruz: I thank my friend from alaska and I will say in honor of the fish act that was expected to pass this morning, last night I had alaskan halibut for dinner and it was delicious. >> that is not surprising but I'm glad you are helping our economy. Thank you.
▶ 1:00:12Chairman Cruz: I asked unanimous consent that a letter from senator hickenlooper concerning the votes today be entered into the record without objection, so ordered. If there are no other senators wishing to be recognized, that concludes our markup for today. The executive session is adjourned.