WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after meeting this afternoon with President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen.

"Once confirmed, Kirstjen Nielsen will provide leadership and direction on critical transportation, cyber, and border security initiatives where the department frankly needs to improve performance. As the chairman of a committee with jurisdiction covering key areas and agencies within the department, this afternoon we discussed legislative reforms underway in Congress to aid the department’s important mission as well as the need for department employees to remain vigilant. I look forward to working with her and know her experience working on cybersecurity, at TSA, and at the White House will be invaluable to our nation’s security.”

The Commerce Committee exercises legislative jurisdiction over the United States Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which are components of the Department of Homeland Security.  The Committee also exercises jurisdiction over efforts to set standards for cybersecurity.