▶ 0:19:38Chair Cruz: Good morning. The senate committee on commerce, science and transportation will come to order. Today we consider three bills, several coast guard promotions, and a slew of nominees, including neil jacobs to serve as under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere in several key dot model administrators.
▶ 0:20:04Chair Cruz: Weeks ago my home state of texas was hit with catastrophic flash flooding that claimed over 130 lives. It was a sobering reminder of man's fragility in the face of mother nature and of the need to prepare for the next storm. Just last night tsunami alerts were issued across the pacific following a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of russia.
▶ 0:20:33Chair Cruz: Employees of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration and the national weather service play a critical role in forecasting emergency notification for these rapid onset events. I believe Mr. jacobs and taylor jordan will also be reported out this morning for a top role at noaa will reprove -- will improve our systems to better respond to these disasters.
▶ 0:21:04Chair Cruz: Ranking member cantwell and I will soon introduce legislation to modernize the noaa weather radio warning systems and ensure every american, especially those in areas with poor cell service are not left in the dark when it matters the most. I would like to say a few things about the legislation.
▶ 0:21:29Chair Cruz: It is fitting that with the close of shark week in the 50th anniversary of jaws we are taking up the sharked act introduced by senator scott of florida and shots of hawaii this tackles shark depredation which occurs when sharks steal hoped or caught fish before anglers can reel them in.
▶ 0:21:51Chair Cruz: It would establish a tax force -- it would establish a task force to develop practical solutions to help fishermen get their catch before sharks beat them to it. The american manufacture strategy act introduced by senator blunt rochester and but will help us better compete with china and advanced manufacturing. The lines the U.S. manufacturing program with the national strategy for advanced manufacturing. Finally we are marking up the space exploration research act.
▶ 0:22:23Chair Cruz: This bill authorizes nasa centers to sign agreements with state's universities or nonprofits to develop unused facilities for space research. This helps not just johnson space center in texas but every nasa space center including new mexico's white sands test facility, mississippi's space center, ohio glenn research center and west virginia's katherine johnson facility.
▶ 0:22:51Chair Cruz: I think senator padilla, senator schiff, senator lujan, senator britt, and senator wicker for joining my bipartisan legislation. There are a few changes to today's markup agenda. We will no longer be moving the traveler privacy protection act from senators berkley and kennedy. This is designed to put guardrails on tsa and stop another government agency from potentially collecting sensitive personal information about american citizens.
▶ 0:23:21Chair Cruz: My understanding is some members want additional information about the bill so we will keep working on it later. I know many of you have other markups and appointments and we have a lot of roll call votes planned today. Given attendance I do not know if we will get through all the nominees so we will split this up. I expect we have time to get through six or seven of our nominees today. With that I will turn to ranking member cantwell.
▶ 0:23:46Sen. Cantwell: I want to first acknowledge this tsunami warnings and the magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of russia. Those warnings were made possible because of the incredible work of noaa employees and emergency responders and to make sure our coastal communities like the state of washington hawaii and alaska and california and oregon and other impacted areas were given warning safely in advance.
▶ 0:24:14Sen. Cantwell: We have this capability because of investments we've made in infrastructure. This includes the work of noaa's center for synonymy research in seattle working to improve the models to provide more accurate warning information. Today our community meets to consider seven nomination and the promotion of three cosmic -- three coast guard officers.
▶ 0:24:43Sen. Cantwell: We will consider the sharked interaction with fisheries, providing increased flexibility to nasa's leasing authority to allow on side research by outside entities. We consider the sharked act of 2025 reported.
▶ 0:25:00Sen. Cantwell: This bill creates a task force that will focus on reducing sharked interactions with fisheries and review partially and fully consumed fish before they can be landed by anglers to seek ways to reduce these interactions. The streamlining american manufacturing act by senator blunt rochester and senator budd includes timelines for updating the manufacturing usa strategic plan and the national strategy for advancing manufacturing to every four years on the same cycle.
▶ 0:25:31Sen. Cantwell: This ensures a clear set of goals and synchronize data and reduces bureaucracy for U.S. advanced manufacturing stakeholders. The research act bite you and senator -- the research act by you and other senators would allow nasa to root -- to lease its properties so they can build and expand research facilities with nonfederal funding sources.
▶ 0:26:01Sen. Cantwell: This purpose is to support activities related to space and aeronautic research and workforce training and education and public private technology partnership and I can tell you from the pacific northwest we have a very big space industry and we want to see it grow. I plan to support Dr. jacobs to serve as noaa administrator in the face of a increasing storm of wildfires.
▶ 0:26:28Sen. Cantwell: The noaa appointment cannot be more important and while we may have some issue with Dr. jacobs I believe he is in agreement with what noaa's priority should be like our long overdue mission to make sure we are continuing to invest in forecasting technology including the proposals I put forward and other pieces of legislation critical to noaa's future.
▶ 0:27:01Sen. Cantwell: Next paul roberti I will also be supporting him. I'm concerned about the decline in pipeline enforcement cases so far in the trump administration but I believe he is qualified to lead the agency and will work hard to reverse this alarming trend, specifically this issue of how foreign actors attack our pipeline system and what we need to do to work with other agencies to strengthen the resiliency of that system. Other people I will not be supporting.
▶ 0:27:32Sen. Cantwell: Mr. taylor to be assistant secretary of commerce and environmental observation. I have serious concerns about his views on climate and a variety of activities in the private sector. I do not plan to support derek barrs as the administrator of the federal motor carrier safety administration.
▶ 0:27:59Sen. Cantwell: The trucking industry is essential but must be operated safely and we have seen a decline in enforcement actions we had a chance to talk about this but I was not satisfied with his answers. Mr. morrison to be administrator.
▶ 0:28:18Sen. Cantwell: We want to see an administrator that will enforce and make sure the laws are upheld right and gregory zerzan, I am concerned that in the vacuum left by the deputy secretary bradberry the agenda for the trump administration for trying to get rid of aviation regulations when we have tons of aviation problems and we need to have good oversight. Mr.
▶ 0:28:42Sen. Cantwell: Rutherford to be assistant secretary of transportation -- why we had a great conversation and the committee about working for the priorities, he said he no longer supported increasing investments in these programs are will not support his nomination. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:29:04Chair Cruz: We still have to wait a few minutes to get attendance for the vote so it and would like to speak on any bills were nominations? -- any bills or nominations?
▶ 0:29:22Senator Sullivan: I want to speak on behalf of the postcard promotions. -- the coast guard promotions. We have done historic work on the one big beautiful bill act. I know not everyone here supported it my colleagues on both sides of the aisle hopefully support what was the biggest and most historic investment in the coast guard in U.S. history as part of that bill.
▶ 0:29:57Senator Sullivan: We are going to recapitalize the coast guard in terms of helicopters and icebreakers. Almost $26 billion in investing in our coast guard which we all need and we need to promote these men and women and confirm them. I want to commend you, Mr. chairman, and the work of this committee on historic investment in the united states coast guard .
▶ 0:30:23Senator Sullivan: It is not getting the attention in the media it deserves but it is something people will be talking about for decades and we get it right here out of this committee so thank you. Great work.
▶ 0:30:36Chair Cruz: Here, here. We still need additional attendance -- ok, we can move the coast guard promotions. >> I move that pn 127-2 and pn 424 b favorably reported.
▶ 0:31:09Chair Cruz: All those in favor say aye, although supposed say no. The motion is agreed to. I recognize ranking member cantwell for an additional motion.
▶ 0:31:22Sen. Cantwell: I move that the sharked act of 2025, streamlining american manufacturing strategy act as amended by senator blunt rochester and the space exploration research b favorably reported.
▶ 0:31:40Chair Cruz: Is there a second? All those in favor say aye, all supposed say no. The bill is agreed to and -- the motion is agreed to and the bills are reported favorably.
▶ 0:31:58Chair Cruz: I ask for unanimous consent of the staff are authorized to make conforming changes. Without objection so ordered. Are there any additional members wishing to make remarks? I move that pn 229, nomination of neil jacobs to be under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere to be favorably reported. Is there a second?
▶ 0:32:27Chair Cruz: All of those in favor say aye, all opposed say no. The ayes have it, the motion is agreed to come at the nomination is agreed to be reported favorably --, and the nomination is agreed to be reported -- the motion is agreed to, and the nomination is agreed to be reported favorably great we are one person short so I suggest everyone contemplate the place
▶ 0:32:57Chair Cruz: Of man in the universe. >> is there something wrong with the 9:00 hour? Just throwing it out there. Three committees are at the exact same time at 10:00. It strikes me that we could come in at 9:00 sometimes. Since you said to contemplate the universe. I see that the 9:00 hour is sacred.
▶ 0:33:23Chair Cruz: >> I would also like to point out that on june 20, 1975 jaws was released and I was born. The same day.
▶ 0:33:36Chair Cruz: Is there a causal connection? >> I don't know. My friends on the other side of the dais may have something to say about that but I am pointing out the symmetry in history.
▶ 0:33:49Chair Cruz: I will say for the record I think we need a bigger boat.
▶ 0:34:10Sen. Cantwell: Senator markey would like to be recorded as noaa on the jacobs nomination. -- as no on the jacobs nomination. Blunt rochester as well.
▶ 0:34:24Chair Cruz: She will be recorded know as well. -- he will be reported no as well. If we ask nicely the chairman of the armed services might regale us with a song from les miz.
▶ 0:34:43Chair Cruz: [laughter] that is not bad. One vote more.
▶ 0:35:23Sen. Cantwell: Mr. chairman. Mr. chairman, I move the nomination of Mr. roberti.
▶ 0:35:51Sen. Cantwell: Administrator of the pipeline and hazardous materials and safety administration.
▶ 0:35:54Chair Cruz: Is there a second? The clerk will call the role. [roll call]
▶ 0:37:10Chair Cruz: The ayes are 23 and the nos are 5.
▶ 0:37:15Chair Cruz: The motion is agreed to and the nomination is ordered reported favorably.
▶ 0:37:21Sen. Cantwell: The following members also like to be acknowledged no on the jacobs nomination.
▶ 0:37:30Chair Cruz: They will be so recorded.
▶ 0:40:00Sen. Cantwell: Mr. chairman, senator schatz would like to be reported no on the roberti nomination.
▶ 0:40:14Chair Cruz: He will be so recorded.
▶ 0:40:47Chair Cruz: We are here? And I trust that everyone now has a much more zen appreciation for man's place in the universe. I move the nomination of gregory zerzan to be general counsel of the department of transportation b favorably reported. Is there a second?
▶ 0:41:13Sen. Cantwell: I would like a roll call vote.
▶ 0:41:17Chair Cruz: The clerk will call the role. >> [roll call]
▶ 0:42:27Chair Cruz: The ayes are 15 and the nos are 13.
▶ 0:42:36Chair Cruz: The bill is agreed to and the motion is agreed to be reported favorably. I move the nomination of taylor jordan to be assistant secretary of commerce b favorably reported. All of those in favor say aye and all opposed say no. The clerk will call the role.
▶ 0:42:58Chair Cruz: >> [roll call] the
▶ 0:43:57Chair Cruz: Ayes are 15 the nos aer the ayes are 15 the nos ae43 the ayes are 15 the nos ae4re 13.
▶ 0:44:05Chair Cruz: The motion is agreed to in the nomination reported favorably. I move that the nomination of jonathan morrison to be the administrator of the national highway traffic safety transformation be -- administration b favorably reported.
▶ 0:44:20Sen. Cantwell: I would like a roll call vote.
▶ 0:44:28Chair Cruz: The clerk will call the role. >> [roll call]
▶ 0:45:19Chair Cruz: The ayes are 16 the nos are 12.
▶ 0:45:26Chair Cruz: The motion is agreed to and the nomination is reported favorably. I move the nomination of derek barrs to be administrator of the federal motor carrier safety transportation administration be reported. The clerk will call the role.
▶ 0:45:42Chair Cruz: >> [roll call] the
▶ 0:46:38Chair Cruz: Ayes are 15 and the nos are 13.
▶ 0:46:40Chair Cruz: The motion is agreed to and the nomination is ordered to be reported favorably. I move that the nomination of michael rutherford to be assistant secretary of transportation be reported favorably. Is there a second?
▶ 0:46:58Sen. Cantwell: I would like a roll call vote.
▶ 0:47:01Chair Cruz: The clerk will call the role. >> [roll call]
▶ 0:47:57Chair Cruz: The ayes are 15 and the nos are 13.
▶ 0:48:00Chair Cruz: The motion is agreed to in the nomination is ordered to be reported favorably. I know that many senators have other commitments and other committees. We will conclude our recorded votes for today and reconvene at a future time to report out the last couple of nominees. I will stay for any members wishing to make remarks but senators are free to work to part. -- senators are free to depart. Are there any senators wishing to make remarks?
▶ 0:48:30Sen. Curtis: I am very well aware I kept my colleagues waiting and I apologize. I have to make a decision between two markups and I'm wondering how we avoid these situations in the future? Can we stagger these, can we work with the chair people do not set up the situations where we are keeping our colleagues waiting?
▶ 0:48:52Chair Cruz: It remains a persistent challenge and we will try.
▶ 0:48:59Sen. Curtis: My a politics to my colleague -- my apologies to my colleagues.
▶ 0:49:04Chair Cruz: Hearing no additional comments, this hearing is adjourned.