Commerce Committee poised to advance Howard Lutnick nomination and multiple Cruz-led bills in executive session

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee executive session, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) urged his colleagues to support Howard Lutnick’s nomination to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce and highlighted the importance of advancing the bipartisan legislation being considered by the committee.

Sen. Cruz praised Mr. Lutnick’s leadership experience, noting it will help advance the Department of Commerce’s mission of driving economic growth and ensuring America’s global competitiveness.

Additionally, Sen. Cruz discussed several pieces of bipartisan legislation he worked on to strengthen kids’ online safety, preserve AM radio in new vehicles, upgrade wildfire forecasting methods, and fight illegal fishing operations.

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

“Good morning. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.

“Before we begin this morning, I would like to take a moment to reflect on last week’s tragic mid-air collision above the Potomac. To the families of the 67 victims of this disaster—I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling right now. I speak for all my colleagues when I say you have our deepest sympathies.

“You know, we wake up each morning not knowing what the future holds, trusting in the systems designed to keep us safe. When Sean Duffy woke up on Wednesday—his first full day as Secretary of Transportation—he did not know it would be marked by the deadliest disaster in U.S. airspace in two decades.

“I imagine that’s how Howard Lutnick woke up on the morning of 9/11: unaware of the tragedy unfolding before him, unaware that his world—and ours—was about to change forever.

“But leadership is about rising to the occasion. That’s what we saw from Secretary Duffy last week. And it’s what we can expect to see—what his colleagues did see—from Howard Lutnick, who suffered the loss of his own brother and 657 other Cantor Fitzgerald employees on 9/11.

“Mr. Lutnick knows the kind of pain victims’ families are facing. His life story shows he is prepared to meet the gravest of challenges. And we need him to be. In a time of great power competition, we must, as Mr. Lutnick told us, ‘stay in the lead.’ America must ‘show the world what leadership is like, what a great economy is like.’

“That will require decisive action. I am pleased Mr. Lutnick will quickly direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reissue a biological opinion for offshore operations in the Gulf by May 21st. Yet I know he also will take the requisite time to listen and learn about the complexities of the Commerce Department.

“He will approach the job thoughtfully, considering all the relevant interests, as evidenced by the 44 stakeholder groups supporting him. I urge my colleagues to support his confirmation as Commerce Secretary.

“Even as my staff and I continue to investigate the cause of last Wednesday’s disaster, we remain focused on our primary responsibility: passing legislation to improve the lives of the American people.

“Consider the Kids Off Social Media Act, which I authored alongside Senator Schatz. Today’s families face a challenge previous generations did not: a rapidly changing digital environment. As social scientists like Jonathan Haidt have noted, the youth mental health crisis is correlated with the rise of the phone-based childhood. Every parent who has ever heard ‘But Sally has TikTok!’—or who is simply overwhelmed by the ubiquity of social media and the pernicious means by which it promotes harmful content in kids’ lives—is looking for a solution.

“Technology is made for persons, not persons for technology. Kids need time to be kids—to experience the real world, not get lost in the virtual one. KOSMA does this by two means. First, it codifies what Big Tech companies already claim to do: keep children under 13 off social media. And second, it removes social media distractions from schools.

“I am similarly proud to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with Senator Markey. AM radio is a haven for people to express differing viewpoints, allowing free speech and our robust democratic process to flourish.

“It also continues to be the most reliable form of emergency communication during severe weather and power outages. It’s not just entertainment; it’s critical to keeping us safe. No wonder this bill is supported by over half of this Committee.

“Safety is also at the heart of the bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act, which will improve forecasts needed to help fight wildfires. It’s a particularly timely piece of legislation from Senators Cantwell and Sheehy given the Los Angeles wildfires. This bill, which I am a cosponsor of, will establish a Fire Weather Services program at NOAA, equipping scientists and meteorologists with the resources they need to help prevent the next disaster.

“So much of the legislation we’re considering is simply about providing the right authorities with what they need to better protect our communities. We joked about fishing at Mr. Lutnick’s confirmation hearing last week, but the truth is that it’s vitally important to our constituents and the American economy. Cartels are poaching red snapper and tuna, selling it to unwitting American consumers, and using the proceeds to fund drug smuggling and human trafficking.

“My Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, which I worked on with Senator Schatz, will equip law enforcement with tools to crack down on poaching.

“I call on my colleagues to support all the bills before us today, as well as Mr. Lutnick’ s confirmation as Secretary of Commerce. I anticipate a strong showing of bipartisan support for both, and I look forward to continuing to work with you all throughout the Congress. Let’s get to work.”

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