WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee nominations hearing for Michael Kratsios, nominee to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Mark Meador, nominee to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) highlighted the importance of fostering of innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G technology to create new, high-paying jobs across the country.

In recounting Mr. Kratsios’s previous tenure as U.S. chief technology officer at OSTP, Chairman Cruz discussed how Kratsios’s efforts to advance emerging technologies helped to maintain the United States’s position as the world’s leading economy. For example, during the first Trump administration, OSTP assisted in developing a thorough and effective spectrum review process to make 100 MHz of underutilized spectrum held by the Defense Department available for American businesses and consumers, raising billions for taxpayers.

Sen. Cruz also highlighted that Mr. Meador’s knowledge of competition law, regulatory processes, and consumer protection would be useful in helping Chairman Andrew Ferguson restore integrity and focus to the FTC.

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“I want to congratulate each of the nominees here today: Michael Kratsios, who has been nominated to lead the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Mark Meador, who has been nominated to the Federal Trade Commission. 

“Congress has charged both the OSTP and FTC with duties that affect the lives of millions of Americans. 

“OSTP advises the President on federal science and technology policy. Michael Kratsios has a distinguished track record of ensuring America leads globally in emerging technologies. His previous tenure as U.S. Chief Technology Officer at OSTP during the first Trump administration was marked by efforts to advance artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G technology. 

“The story of the twenty-first century will be written by whichever nation can innovate the fastest. This generation’s Space Race is unfolding with technologies invisible to the naked eye where the winners and the losers will be separated by mere nanometers.  

“What was once science fiction is now crucial to maintaining the United States’s position as the world’s leading economy.  Technologies like this new chip I hold in the palm of my hand, the Majorana 1 quantum chip, are unlocking a new era of computing that will transform industries from healthcare to energy, solving problems that today's computers simply cannot.  

“This breakthrough is led by an American company and harnesses a new kind of matter to solve problems faster than ever before.  I’d like to thank Senator Blackburn, who is advancing a reauthorization of quantum computing research programs, for her leadership on this. Advancements in quantum computing, AI, and cybersecurity will drive innovation, protect the nation, and create new industries.   

“Now let me say a few words about the FTC, which protects American consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices and anti-competitive behavior. Mark Meador is well prepared to serve as Commissioner should he be confirmed. I look forward to hearing that he would pursue the FTC’s mission with impartiality and respect for the rule of law. 

“As former Director of the Office of Policy Planning at the FTC, I have deep respect for the dedicated professionals within the agency.   

“I saw firsthand how principled leadership and a shared commitment to statutory limits can benefit free enterprise and economic opportunity. 

“But I worry that today’s FTC is a far cry from the agency I once knew.  For four years under Lina Khan, the FTC prioritized activism over enforcement, disregarded statutory limits, and weaponized its authority in defiance of congressional intent.  Consider a few troubling examples.  The FTC has: 

• Abused its enforcement powers to target political opponents of the Biden administration; 
• Attempted to impose competition rulemakings across entire industries, exceeding its legal mandate; 
• Destroyed documents, obstructing both congressional oversight and potential litigation; 
• Collaborated with European regulators to apply foreign laws that put American tech companies at a competitive disadvantage; 
• Sought to regulate artificial intelligence in ways that could chill free speech; and 
• Attempted to impose sweeping data privacy and security mandates without congressional approval. 

“Each of these actions represents a departure from the FTC’s historical role as a nonpartisan enforcer of consumer protection and competition law. Former Commissioner Christine Wilson’s resignation underscored this crisis, as she cited former Chairwoman Khan’s disregard for legal precedent and due process as key factors in her decision to step down. 

“I think Chairman Andrew Ferguson will restore the FTC’s integrity and focus. I hope Mr. Meador can assist in that effort given his deep understanding of competition law, regulatory processes, and consumer protection. The FTC must enforce laws as Congress designed, not engage in ideological experiments. 

“I look forward to hearing from both of today’s nominees, learning about their perspectives, and understanding how they plan to advance the goals of their respective institutions.” 

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