WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee executive session, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reiterated his support for Arielle Roth’s nomination to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Sen. Cruz highlighted how Ms. Roth’s current role as the telecommunication policy director for the Senate Commerce Committee Majority staff, as well as her previous work at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and across Congress, make her an exceptionally qualified candidate for NTIA Administrator. 

During Ms. Roth’s hearing, she promised to pursue spectrum policy that builds a joint advantage for commercial and national security interests, protect children from online harms, and revamp the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which has notoriously failed to connect a single American household to high-speed internet after almost four years. Sen. Cruz praised Ms. Roth as a knowledgeable, thoughtful, and fair public servant and urged his colleagues to join him in supporting her nomination.

Ms. Roth’s nomination advanced out of committee with 16 yeas and 12 nays.

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as delivered:

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

“Today, we will consider the nomination of Arielle Roth to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  Arielle is an exceptional candidate for this position, and, if I may say so, an exceptional person.

“Arielle is currently the policy director for telecommunications on the Commerce Committee majority staff.  As I’ve directly observed, Arielle knows telecommunications law and policy as well as anyone else in this town.  She has served as the wireline advisor to former FCC commissioner Michael O’Rielly; as a detailee to the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and here in the Senate as legislative counsel to former Senator and Committee member Roy Blunt.

“She’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to NTIA, where she will pursue a win-win solution on spectrum that addresses both commercial and national security concerns.  Now I know the question many of you are wondering, has the baby come? And the answer is yes. As of 12:10am, Arielle gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who is seven pounds, 10 ounces, and she joins her three sisters and two brothers. I have to commend Arielle's timing of getting birth on the day of the voting committee on a confirmation. I don't know if her daughter has been named yet, but I'm sure that little BEAD will be a beautiful young girl. And I’m going to get in trouble with Arielle for that one.

“During her confirmation hearing, she promised to administer the BEAD program ‘to the benefit of the American people, not any single individual or company.’  BEAD desperately needs a revamp.  The program has yet to connect a single American to high-speed internet after 1,241 days.  A major barrier is its laborious 14-step process, which writer Ezra Klein painstakingly outlined to a nonplussed Jon Stewart the other week.  To quote: ‘I’m speechless, Ezra. . . . Honestly, it’s far worse than I could have imagined.’

“Arielle fully understands these challenges and knows what it takes to ‘finish the job.’  That’s why she has the backing of dozens of stakeholders from across the country.

“To my Democrat colleagues, while you may have strenuous objections to the direction of the Trump administration, know that Arielle is thoughtful, honest, and as receptive to the concerns of your side of the aisle as any nominee we’ll have before us.  We all know the importance of knowing a person in the executive branch whom we can call on and trust to listen to our views.  So, on the day of the birth of her sixth child, I hope you will join me in supporting Arielle in a strong bipartisan showing at her home committee.”

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