Hearings

Hearings 03/7/2012
Priorities, Plans, and Progress of the Nation's Space Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee hearing on priorities, plans, and progress of the nation's space program.
Hearings 03/6/2012
Keeping America Competitive Through Investments in R&D
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space announces an upcoming hearing on keeping America competitive through investments in R&D.
Hearings 03/1/2012
Cruise Industry Oversight: Are Current Regulations Sufficient to Protect Passengers & Environment
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee hearing to review whether current cruise ship industry regulations sufficiently protect passengers and the environment.
Hearings 12/15/2011
Environmental Risks of Genetically Engineered Fish
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard announces a hearing on the environmental risks of genetically engineered (GE) fish. The hearing will examine the environmental safety issues surrounding genetically engineered fish, focusing on risks to wild fish stocks, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems should these fish escape into wild habitats. In their testimony, witnesses will address the potential environmental impacts from the escapement of AquAdvantage salmon and other GE fish; the information required for conducting a scientifically rigorous environmental risk assessment of GE fish; and what improvements can be made to the Federal government’s current review and compliance processes to minimize the environmental risks.
Hearings 12/14/2011
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that an executive session has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 2011 to consider pending transportation safety reauthorization bills. The Committee will also consider additional surface transportation reauthorization bills at the first markup in the next session of this Congress.
Hearings 12/8/2011
ICANN's Expansion of Top Level Domains
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today a full committee hearing on ICANN’s (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) expansion of top level domains. In January 2012, ICANN will begin allowing interested organizations and companies to apply for additional top level domains. This hearing will examine the merits and implications of this new program and ICANN’s continuing efforts to address concerns raised by the Internet community.
Hearings 12/8/2011
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that an executive session has been scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2011 following the first roll call vote on the Senate floor. Details on the exact time and place are forthcoming.
Hearings 12/7/2011
Turning the Investigation on the Science of Forensics
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today a full committee hearing on advancing the science of forensics. While the criminal justice system relies heavily on forensic science to identify and prosecute criminals, many forensic tests lack scientific validation. The hearing will examine the science of forensic disciplines, the need for scientific research and enforceable national standards, and other challenges faced by the forensic science community.
Hearings 12/6/2011
Contaminated Drywall: Current Health, Housing and Product Safety Issues Facing Homeowners
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance announced today a hearing to examine the current health, housing and product safety issues contaminated drywall poses for homeowners. Specifically, the hearing will review the Federal and local responses to the contaminated drywall problem and ongoing homeowner concerns since the Subcommittee’s initial drywall hearing in May 2009.
Hearings 11/30/2011
Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today a hearing to consider the nominations of Ms. Jessica Rosenworcel and Mr. Ajit Varadaraj Pai, to be Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Hearings 11/17/2011
Tourism in America: Moving Our Economy Forward
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion announces a hearing titled Tourism in America: Moving Our Economy Forward.
Hearings 11/17/2011
NASA's Human Space Exploration: Direction, Strategy, and Progress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space will hold a hearing on NASA's human space exploration.
Hearings 11/16/2011
Weathering Change: Need for Continued Innovation in Forecasting and Prediction
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard will hold a hearing on the need for continued innovation in weather forecasting and prediction. The hearing comes following a summer of extreme weather events across the United States and after a massive storm of “epic proportion” that recently hit the coastal communities in Alaska.
Hearings 11/15/2011
Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today announced a full committee hearing on the nominations of Jon Leibowitz and Maureen Ohlhausen, to be Federal Trade Commissioners. Mr. Leibowitz’s nomination is for reappointment.
Hearings 11/9/2011
Securing Our Nation's Transportation System: Oversight of TSA's Current Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today announced a hearing on current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) efforts to secure the Nation’s transportation system. Ten years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Nation still faces significant security threats, especially to the transportation system. The TSA has made progress in addressing these threats, but terrorists’ tactics and targets continue to change. The hearing will examine the progress of TSA’s programs and operations in adapting to evolving threats, and the extent to which the agency has implemented statutory mandates, including those from the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act.
Hearings 11/2/2011
Executive Session
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces an executive session scheduled for Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. in 253 Russell Senate Office Building.
Hearings 10/24/2011
The Aviation Workforce: Industry and Labor Perspectives on Training Needs and Challenges
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security announces a field hearing titled The Aviation Workforce: Industry and Labor Perspectives on Training Needs and Challenges.
Hearings 10/19/2011
Concussions and the Marketing of Sports Equipment
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today announced a full committee hearing to review the issue of concussions in sports and the marketing of “anti-concussion” or “concussion-reducing” sports equipment to athletes and their parents.
Hearings 10/18/2011
Pipeline Safety Since San Bruno and Other Recent Incidents
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security today announced a hearing on the state of pipeline safety since the San Bruno, California explosion and other recent pipeline incidents. The hearing will focus on the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the San Bruno accident and pending pipeline safety legislation.
Hearings 10/12/2011
Universal Service Reform-Bringing Broadband to All Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced a hearing on reforming the Universal Service Fund. This hearing will provide a forum for discussing efforts to reform the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service policy, in particular the high-cost universal service system.