Executive Session
10:15 AM
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold an executive session on Tuesday, January 24th at 10:15 a.m. to formally adopt the rules and budget resolution for the 115th Congress and consider the following legislative measures.
Agenda:
1. Rules Governing the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
2. Budget Resolution for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
3. S. 19, MOBILE Now Act, Sponsors: Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
4. S. 81, Senior Fraud Prevention Act of 2017, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine)
5. S. 88, Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, Sponsors: Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
6. S. 89, A bill to amend title 46, United States Code (Delta Queen bill), Sponsors: Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.)
7. S. 96, Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.)
8. S. 102, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters (SANDY) Act, Sponsors: Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
9. S. 110, the Digital Coast Act, Sponsors: Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
10. S. 123, Kari’s Law Act, Sponsors: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
11. S. 129, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2017, Sponsors: Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
12. S. 134, Spoofing Prevention Act, Sponsors: Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
13. S. 141, Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act, Sponsors: Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
14. S. 168, Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge (VIDA) Act, Sponsors: Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.)
15. S. 171, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments and Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017, Sponsors: Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
16. S.174, Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act, Sponsors: Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
17. H.R. 255, Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act, Sponsors: Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and 44 other representatives
18. H.R. 321, Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act, Sponsors: Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) and 68 other representatives
19. Elaine Chao, of Kentucky, to be Secretary, Department of Transportation
20. Wilbur Ross, of Florida, to be Secretary, Department of Commerce
NOTE: S. 118, Reinforcing American-Made Products Act of 2017 removed from the agenda on 1/23/17
Click here for results of the markup.
Executive Session Details:
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
10:15 a.m.
Full Committee Markup
Senate Russell Building 253
A live video of the markup and additional information will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov
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Majority Statement
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Chairman John Thune
Download Statement (301.77 KB)
Minority Statement
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Bill Nelson
Download Statement (703.03 KB)Download Statement (796.76 KB)Minority Statement
Bill Nelson
Thank you, Chairman Thune. I look forward to continuing to work together on the important issues facing us in the 115th Congress.
I’m delighted welcome our new committee members and to introduce our new Democratic – Senators Baldwin, Duckworth, Hassan, and Cortez Masto.
Senator Baldwin joins our committee focused on strengthening our manufacturing economy and investing in rural broadband. We’ll also be considering her Digital Coast Act as part of today’s agenda.
Senator Duckworth will be a valuable asset as we look toward FAA reauthorization this year, as a licensed pilot with direct experience having a drone fly off the nose of her aircraft.
Senator Hassan has a record of creating economic plans focused on technological innovation as the Governor of New Hampshire. I know she will continue her work in that space.
Senator Cortez Masto will draw upon her experience as Nevada’s Attorney General and focus on emerging transportation technology and travel and tourism. She will be a great addition to this committee.
Finally, a few announcements about ranking members.
•Senator Cantwell will continue to serve as Ranking Member for the Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee;
•Senator Schatz will continue to lead the Communication, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Subcommittee; and,
•Senator Blumenthal will remain as Ranking Member of the Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security Subcommittee.
I hope to announce the ranking members for the remaining three subcommittees soon.
Mr. Chairman, before we vote on Mr. Ross’ nomination, I’d like to bring up the topic of climate research and censorship of government scientists. There’s been much concern within the scientific community about the administration’s potential use of directives to prohibit climate scientists from speaking to the media about their research.
Following his nomination hearing last week, I sent Mr. Ross a follow-up letter asking him what he would do to ensure that the expert scientists at NOAA are protected from political interference like censorship and intimidation.
I received his response last night and I’m pleased to report that, if confirmed, he has committed to me that he intends to leave science to the scientists and to support their ability to disseminate peer-reviewed data to the public. He also assured me that the Department of Commerce, under his leadership, will continue to research, monitor, and report climate information to the public.
While I welcome his commitment, it’s my hope that the White House will not hamstring Mr. Ross in carrying out this pledge.
With that, I’d request that my letter, and Mr. Ross’ response, be entered into the record.
