The Senate Commerce Committee holds a hearing on pending nominees and legislation.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good morning. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.
00:05We begin with some good news. It turns out subpoenas work, and it turns out even the threat of subpoenas works.
00:13This committee noticed a
00:16vote on authorizing three different subpoenas.
00:20Authorizing subpoenas on Bonterra,
00:23authorizing subpoenas on
00:25Newpoint Strategies, and
00:28authorizing subpoenas on Massport Authority, which runs the Logan Airport.
00:33After we noticed the vote on the authorization of subpoenas, two of those involved,
00:39Bonterra and Newpoint Strategies,
00:42immediately reached out to the committee and agreed to comply and to provide all of the materials that had been requested.
00:48Massport, however, behaved differently.
00:51Massport, which housed illegal aliens at Logan Airport during the Biden years,
00:58refused to cooperate at all.
01:00Unlike the operators of JFK and
01:03O'Hare Airports, both of whom also housed illegal aliens,
01:08Massport refused to respond to inquiries that I had made as this committee's ranking member last year.
01:14And yet, with the vote scheduled today at the 11th hour,
01:18Massport has decided to comply.
01:21So we will withdraw the subpoena motion.
01:25This is a win for the federal taxpayers and for airline passengers
01:30who thought their money was going to pay for services at Logan, but instead financed a dormitory for illegal aliens.
01:37I also hope this is a message to other entities that when Congress has serious oversight questions,
01:44you should answer them.
01:47And if you refuse,
01:49this committee will exercise all the authorities it has to ensure we can engage in full and rigorous
01:57oversight.
01:58Now,
02:00the committee today will consider more than a dozen bills and two nominations.
02:05Michael Kratios to lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and
02:10Mark Meador to be a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission.
02:14Now more than ever, we need leaders who will unleash American innovation.
02:19Mr. Kratios, who served at OSTP and DOD during the first Trump administration,
02:24has a track record of ensuring that America leads in emerging technologies like AI and quantum.
02:31Likewise, Mr. Meador's experience working at the FTC, at the Department of Justice, and here in the Senate,
02:38will serve him well as a commissioner. He has a keen understanding of consumer protection,
02:44antitrust, and administrative law.
02:46I know that he will help Chairman Andrew Ferguson restore integrity and effectiveness at the FTC
02:54following years of unfortunate mismanagement.
02:58I call on my colleagues to support both nominations as well as the legislation we're considering today.
03:05Let me briefly highlight a few key bills.
03:08First, space.
03:11Space is and will remain a major priority for this committee.
03:14I'm proud today to advance the Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act, which I introduced along with Senator Peters.
03:22This bill eliminates an unnecessary requirement for NASA to report to Congress
03:28whenever returning astronauts who aren't medically cleared to drive receive official transportation.
03:35We're also considering today the Bipartisan Safe Orbit Act to address growing congestion in low-Earth orbit.
03:43Next, oceans. I recently introduced the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans, the MAP Oceans Act,
03:50along with Senator King.
03:52This bill standardized, digitizes, and maps fishing restrictions in federal waters.
03:58It's modeled after the successful MAP Land Act,
04:02which required the federal government to digitize maps for hunting and fishing on federal lands.
04:08Additionally, we'll take up the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act.
04:13Finally, we'll vote on bills that address new challenges at the intersection of tech and national security.
04:20The Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act, the SPI fridge bill,
04:24requires disclosure of hidden cameras or microphones in smart household appliances.
04:30The Routers Act directs the Secretary of Commerce to study national security risks posed by compromised routers and modems.
04:39And the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act tackles the shortage
04:44of semiconductors, which are central to both the digital economy and our national security.
04:51That's just a snapshot of the important work the committee is doing this week.
04:55And I will now turn to Ranking Member Cantwell for her opening remarks.
04:58Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and if I could take a moment of personal
05:02privilege later today,
05:03Astronaut Colonel Anne McClain from Spokane, Washington, will launch to the International Space Station.
05:10A proud Spokane native,
05:131997 Gonzaga prep graduate,
05:16Ms. McClain embodies the adventurous spirit and determination that defines America's
05:21astronaut corps.
05:23Her return to space as commander of the Crew 10 continues Washington's
05:28rich contribution to our nation's space program.
05:32As
05:33Commander
05:34McClain has often said herself,
05:37quote, if you want to go far, go together. I think it's a philosophy that
05:42perfectly captures the collaborative nature of space exploration and scientific progress.
05:51Now to today's markup, I thank you, Chairman Cruz, for working with us and continuing to consider
05:57nominations and 15 bills covering economic development, consumer protection, and science
06:03and technology policy. Several bills on the agenda are ones the committee considered in the last Congress,
06:08so I'm very pleased to support them again.
06:11Many deal with technology and security issues and will boost America's competitiveness. The securing semiconductor supply chain by
06:19Senator Peters and Blackburn, which directs the U.S.
06:23Direct Select USA to investigate state efforts to attract foreign investment for semiconductor manufacturing,
06:29which continues on the work that we did in the Chips and Science Act.
06:33The Manufacturing
06:35Advisory Council Act by Senator Peters and Blackburn also creates a forum for manufacturers to raise concerns
06:41about the challenges they face.
06:43I know I'm particularly excited about this as it relates to fusion technology, since there are three fusion companies
06:50in the state of Washington, and Senator Risch and I co-chair a fusion
06:56council that is looking at how does the United States not only
07:00crack through on this, but make sure we have the supply chains for the future.
07:04It also includes the Safe Orbit Act by Senators Cornyn, Peters, Wicker, Blackburn, Hickenlooper, Schmidt,
07:08Lujan, and Kelly, which addresses the growing challenges of space debris and satellite congestion in orbit,
07:15also something the Pacific Northwest is
07:18continuing to lead in with a lot of space companies and moving satellites
07:24that, you know, we're very excited about something called the Otter Pup. You can all check it out.
07:31And Senators Cruz and Peters co-sponsor the Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act, which enables NASA to provide transportation for astronauts post
07:39mission medical needs, protecting consumers from dangerous products that should be a priority for the committee.
07:47I'm pleased to be
07:49we're moving again the Youth Poisoning Prevention Act introduced by Senators Duckworth, Curtis, Moreno,
07:55and the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries introduced by Senators Gillibrand, Blackburn, Fischer, and Schumer.
08:02The committee also should focus on protecting consumers from scams and
08:07the FTC consumers
08:10report shows that 1.1 billion
08:15consumers lost, I mean, that can't be right. According to the FTC, I have to read this again. According to the FTC, consumers lost
08:231.14 billion to romance scams in 2023 alone.
08:30With a medium loss of $2,000 per person,
08:32this is the highest of any imposter scam. The Romance Scam Prevention Act introduced by Senators Blackburn,
08:39thank you, Senator Blackburn, and Hickenlooper, thank you, Senator Herrick-Gillibrand, will help prevent these staggering
08:45losses. I'm also pleased to co-sponsor the Informed Consumers About Smart Devices with Chairman Cruz, which
08:53we call the Spy Fridge Bill.
08:55It requires that any device capable of recording audio or video
08:59be labeled so consumers know what they are bringing into their homes.
09:03The Ad for Mental Health Services Act from Senators Sullivan and Peters, which requires major
09:09digital advertising platforms to report on their public service announcements related to mental health.
09:14Given the growing mental health crisis in our country, I believe this is
09:18transparency that is important to know how
09:22people are
09:23contributing to public awareness. The Sea Turtle Rescue Act, led by Senator Markey, establishes a grant program for sea turtle rescue. The
09:30Modernization Access to Our Public Oceans, led by Senator Cruz, which requires NOAA to create a website where fishing is
09:38to show where fishing is permitted in federal waters. And finally, the Improving Flood and Agriculture
09:44Forecasting Act, led by Senator Schatz, which expands NOAA's
09:48National Mesonet Program. In the state of Washington,
09:52we have seen terrible floods and worsening wildfires. This bill would improve the environmental data for accurate forecasting and critical for
10:00emergency management and saving lives. And I thank the Senator from Hawaii for his leadership on this important legislation.
10:07Turning to telecom bills,
10:09the Routers Act from Senators Blackburn and Lujan, addressing security risks from network equipment made in China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
10:17And the Plan for Broadband Act, introduced by Senator Wicker and Lujan, which would require NTIA to develop a strategy
10:24to close the digital divide. I want to thank both of them for working with me on various
10:31aspects of this legislation, including making sure that tribal areas and rural areas
10:37get the resources they need, and to get that right.
10:41Now turning to the
10:44nominees, I want to say I believe
10:48Mr. Krasios, who's nominated to be the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director,
10:55isn't new to the job and isn't new to the Trump administration. Having worked in the first Trump administration,
11:00I believe he understands the national security imperative related to technology investment.
11:06And I believe that in his commitment to this committee to work on the National Quantum Initiative,
11:14very important to the state of Washington, that he will continue to make the investments that we need
11:20and recognize the importance of the Chips and Science Act.
11:24On the other hand, I do have concerns about Mr. Medder's nomination to the FTC,
11:28when I and several colleagues asked whether he would refuse to carry out illegal orders from the president,
11:35Mr. Medder hedged. The answer from any nominee should simply be no, but he hedged.
11:41And I think that I just don't believe today
11:45that
11:47Mr. Medder is the right person for the FTC.
11:50We need somebody who believes that they're not just a rubber stamp for the president, but have responsibilities and duties to carry out.
11:58So thank you, Mr. Chairman. And again, thanks for working on these important bills.
12:02And I look forward to continuing to work with you on other important priorities.
12:08Thank you, Madam Ranking Member. And we are still a couple of bodies light to have the
12:14quorum to vote out our nominees. So I suggest we move a little further down
12:19in the agenda and address the bills that we have on.
12:23We could do Cratsios. We can do Cratsios. Are we doing that by?
12:26Let's do Cratsios. We can do.
12:32All right.
12:34Okay, then I recognize Senator Wicker for a motion.
12:38Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that P.N.
12:4213-8,
12:44nomination of Michael Cratsios
12:47to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy be favorably reported.
12:53Is there a second? Second.
12:56Do this by voice or do you want a roll call?
12:59Who asked for a roll call?
13:07Let's have a roll call, I guess. The clerk will call the roll.
13:11Mr. Thune.
13:13Aye, by proxy. Mr. Wicker.
13:16Mrs. Fisher.
13:18Mr. Moran.
13:21Mr. Sullivan.
13:26Aye, by proxy. Mrs. Blackburn.
13:29Mr. Young.
13:31Aye, by proxy. Mr. Budd.
13:35Mr. Schmidt.
13:37Mr. Curtis.
13:39Mr. Moreno.
13:40Mr. Sheehy.
13:42Aye, by proxy. Mrs. Capito.
13:45Ms. Lummis.
13:47Ms. Cantwell. Aye.
13:49Ms. Klobuchar.
13:51Aye, by proxy. Mr. Schatz.
13:56Mr. Markey.
13:58No, by proxy. Mr. Peters.
14:01Ms. Baldwin.
14:04Ms. Duckworth.
14:06Aye, by proxy.
14:07Ms. Rosen.
14:09Aye, by proxy.
14:11Mr. Lujan.
14:13Mr. Hickenlooper.
14:16Aye, by proxy. Mr. Fetterman.
14:18Aye, by proxy.
14:20Mr. Kim. No.
14:23Ms. Blount-Rochester. No.
14:26Mr. Cruz. Aye.
14:30The ayes are 24, the noes are 4.
14:33Motion is agreed to and the nomination is ordered to be reported favorably.
14:38Uh, if it's all right, why don't we move to the pending legislation?
14:42Uh, number nine and I recognize Ranking Member Cantwell for a motion.
14:48Mr. Chairman, I move that S-28 Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act, S-97 Securing Semiconductor Supply Chain Act, S-244 Routers Act, amended by Lujan 1, S-289 Youth Poisoning Prevention Act, S-323 Plan for Broadband Act, as amended by Cantwell 1, as modified by Wicker 1, S-389s,
15:17Setting Consumer Standards from Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, S-414
15:23Ads for Mental Health Service Act, as amended by Sullivan Substitute, as modified,
15:29S-428, the Safe Orbit Act, as amended by Cantwell 1, as modified, S-433, the National Manufacturing Advisory Council Act,
15:38S-582, the Astronaut Ground Travel Support Act, S-613 Improving Flood and Agriculture
15:47Forest Agriculture Forecasts Act of 2025, S-759 Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act, as amended by the Cruz Substitute, S-841, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, as amended by the Blackburn Substitute, as modified, and S-843, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Act and Rehabilitation Act of 2025, all be favorably reported.
16:17Is there a second?
16:19All those in favor?
16:20Mr. Chair, I'd like to look at that motion.
16:24May I read?
16:25Sure.
16:39I note, I don't believe S-97 was included.
16:44And I'm just, I'm just trying to make sure.
16:51All right, so the motion included S-97 and S-323 as modified by Wicker 1.
17:06I just want to make sure that's true.
17:08Okay, thank you.
17:10Thanks for that inquiry.
17:11Sure.
17:13I guess there was a second.
17:15All those in favor, say aye.
17:16Aye.
17:17Those opposed?
17:19The motion is agreed to and the bills are ordered to be reported favorably.
17:23Now, I think we're still short of a quorum, I believe.
17:27So, are there members wishing to speak?
17:29I know Senator Blackburn had wanted to talk on her legislation.
17:33Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
17:34I am just so pleased that today we passed out the Romance Scam Prevention Act,
17:41which will require these online dating services to notify users
17:46who have interacted with scammers that are banned from their platform.
17:51Americans, and especially senior citizens, are losing close to
17:561.3 billion dollars a year on these romance scams.
18:01Some lose their entire life savings.
18:03For some, the emotional toll has caused anxiety, depression,
18:09and has even led some to take their own lives.
18:12The scam artists are not amateurs.
18:15In fact, they are often part of sophisticated transnational criminal organization networks
18:24that traffic individuals in developing countries with promise of high-paying jobs.
18:30The victims of human trafficking are transported to what is called fraud dens.
18:37Their passports are taken.
18:39They are forced to pay back their debt by working overtime to defraud our seniors
18:46that are here in the U.S.
18:48These scams are well financed.
18:50They're sophisticated.
18:51They use AI and other technology to manipulate American consumers.
18:58These online dating platforms have the ability and, indeed,
19:02the responsibility to notify their users when they're interacting with a bad actor.
19:10By taking this simple step, this legislation would protect our seniors from fraud
19:17and strike at the heart of one of the most lucrative financial streams
19:23for some of the most heinous criminal networks on the face of the earth.
19:28I do want to recognize Beth Hyland.
19:31She is a survivor of this heinous crime.
19:34She drove nine hours to be here in the audience with us today.
19:40And her advocacy has made a difference in the lives of others.
19:47The legislation was the result of bipartisan, bicameral,
19:51good-faith negotiations.
19:53I want to thank Senator Hickenlooper, Congressman Valadao,
19:58along with Senator Cruz and Senator Catwell for their partnership on the legislation.
20:05I look forward to getting this to the president's desk.
20:08Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
20:11Thank you, Senator Blackburn.
20:12We now have the votes to proceed, so we'll have the vote,
20:14and then we'll open it up to any other members who wish to speak.
20:18But I recognize Senator Wicker for a motion.
20:21Mr. Chairman, I move that P.N. 1229,
20:25nomination of Mark Medder to be a Federal Trade Commissioner, be favorably reported.
20:30Is there a second?
20:32Clerk will call the roll.
20:34Mr. Thune.
20:36I have a proxy.
20:38Mr. Wicker.
20:40Mrs. Fisher.
20:42Mr. Moran.
20:44Mr. Sullivan.
20:45I have a proxy.
20:47Mrs. Blackburn.
20:49Mr. Young.
20:52Mr. Budd.
20:53Mr. Schmidt.
20:55Mr. Curtis.
20:56Mr. Moreno.
20:58Mr. Sheehy.
21:00Mrs. Capito.
21:02Ms. Lummis.
21:03Ms. Cantwell.
21:05Ms. Klobuchar.
21:08I by proxy.
21:09Mr. Schatz.
21:16Mr. Markey.
21:17No by proxy.
21:19Mr. Peters.
21:22Ms. Baldwin.
21:25Ms. Duckworth.
21:27No by proxy.
21:29Ms. Rosen.
21:31Aye by proxy.
21:33Mr. Lujan.
21:35Mr. Hickenlooper.
21:37Aye by proxy.
21:38Mr. Fetterman.
21:40No by proxy.
21:42Mr. Kim.
21:45Ms. Blount-Rochester.
21:47No by proxy.
21:48Mr. Cruz.
21:50Aye.
21:51The ayes are 20, the noes are 8.
21:54The motion is agreed to and the nomination is ordered reported favorably.
21:59Are there any other senators seeking recognition to speak?
22:01Mr. Chairman.
22:02Senator Fischer.
22:04Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding today's markup.
22:08I did not call up my amendment on S-28,
22:11but I would like to speak on the Fischer-Rosen 1 to that bill.
22:16This amendment is the text of my bill,
22:19the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency Act, S-259.
22:25The FACT Act would provide much-needed transparency
22:29for companies that hold FCC authorizations and licenses
22:33with ownership ties to foreign adversarial governments.
22:37The first step in defending our security is understanding that threat.
22:44My bill does this by requiring the FCC to publicly disclose
22:49a full accounting of these details.
22:53Under the FACT Act, companies with foreign ties
22:56will no longer be able to cooperate or be able to operate in secrecy.
23:02They will no longer be able to conceal their financial backers or their true loyalties.
23:09This threat is urgent.
23:11Allowing regimes like China to secure a silent foothold in our communications networks
23:17puts our country at risk.
23:19This legislation has bicameral and bipartisan leadership.
23:24In the Senate, I am very glad to have Senators Rosen, Cornyn, and Lujan on board.
23:30I appreciate that you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Cantwell,
23:35signed off on this exact language in the end-of-year CR negotiations,
23:40just like the Routers Act, also on today's markup.
23:44The FACT Act received robust technical assistance from the FCC as well,
23:49included in the amendment you see filed.
23:52Mr. Chairman, I hope you will commit to working with me
23:55to get this on the next committee markup.
24:01Mr. Chairman.
24:02Thank you, Senator Fischer, and I'm happy to work with you on the bill.
24:05Senator Blackburn.
24:06Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
24:08I am so pleased that we have approved the Routers Act.
24:11It directs the Department of Commerce to assess the national security risk
24:16posed by consumer routers and modems that are developed or manufactured in adversarial nations
24:24like China, Iran, North Korea, Russia.
24:28This legislation will provide much-needed clarity on the vulnerabilities
24:33these devices may introduce, empowering us to take more decisive action
24:38to protect our networks from cyber threats and espionage.
24:43By strengthening our defenses and addressing potential weak points in our communications
24:49system, including modems and routers, we can prevent future cyber attacks
24:56and better safeguard our small businesses, our households, and our critical infrastructure.
25:03I do want to thank Senator Lujan for his partnership in his commitment on the issue.
25:09Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
25:14Are there any other senators wishing to be recognized?
25:17Okay.
25:17Then I ask for unanimous consent that staff are authorized to make technical and conforming
25:22changes without objection so ordered.
25:24This concludes our markup for today.
25:26The executive session is adjourned.