• Bill Nelson
  Read statement

  Bill Nelson

  Mr. Chairman, let me also extend my warm welcome to the three nominees we have here today for positions on two critical independent agencies.

  Last month, we had a hearing for four of the nominees to the Federal Trade Commission, and I am pleased that we finally have the fifth nominee to the agency – Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. Ms. Slaughter gave birth to a daughter, Pippa, not nine days ago.

  The FTC is a small agency with a critical mandate – protecting consumers from “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.” 

  They go after robocallers that harass consumers and boiler room scams that try to rip off seniors.

  In addition, they make sure that multi-billion-dollar tech companies protect personal data and ensure that they follow their privacy policies regarding the sharing of that data.

  Sadly, as we heard at yesterday’s hearing with Facebook, protecting privacy does not always happen.  And the consequences of that can be grave.

  Thankfully, we have a nominee here today that is up to addressing this herculean task.

  Ms. Slaughter currently serves as chief counsel to Minority Leader Schumer.  In that position, she has served as his trusted advisor on antitrust, technology, privacy and consumer protection issues.

  The Surface Transportation Board is also a vital independent agency that helps ensure we have a strong and efficient rail network to move freight throughout the United States.

  This sixty billion industry dollar that generates more than two hundred thousand jobs moves more freight than any other freight rail system in the world.

  As we know all too well in the state of Florida, the railroad industry is an important part of our economy.

  Without reliable and cost-effective rail service, my state and our nation would not be able to compete in the global market. 

  Our rail network also serves an important role by providing passenger rail service. Such service requires good on-time performance so that people can get to where they need to be when they need to be there.

  In Florida, we are striving to restore passenger service along the Gulf Coast. Since Hurricane Katrina, there has been no passenger rail service along the coast.

  This critical service would improve accessibility for more than two million residents between Louisiana and Florida that includes a growing senior population.

  It also would benefit tourism and the economy for towns and cities along the Florida Panhandle.

  At some point, the Surface Transportation Board may need to weigh in on Gulf Coast passenger service, and I hope the witnesses today recognize the importance of that rail service.

  To both the nominees for the Surface Transportation Board, I appreciate your willingness to serve in these critical transportation positions.

  I particularly want to thank Patrick Fuchs for his work on Chairman Thune’s side of the Commerce Committee.

  Mr. Fuchs has been an important partner in helping to establish bipartisan freight and passenger rail legislation. His questionnaire notes that his nickname is TACO.

  His assistance during the FAST Act helped to establish the first passenger rail reauthorization in a surface transportation bill.

  And I now look forward to hearing from the witnesses and our Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Majority Statement

• Chairman John Thune
  Read statement

  Majority Statement

  Chairman John Thune

  Good morning. Today we welcome three well-qualified nominees to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee.

  The nominees before us today have been nominated to two important independent agencies, Becca Slaughter to be a Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission, and Michelle Schultz and Patrick Fuchs, to be Members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

  Thank you Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Shultz, and Mr. Fuchs for your willingness to serve, and thank you to your families for your presence today. I also want to congratulate Ms. Slaughter on the most recent addition to her family, a little girl who was born only last week.

  The FTC oversees competition and consumer protection across large segments of the U.S. economy. Congress originally created the FTC as an independent agency in 1914 to address the problem of monopolies and trusts, but its role has evolved to include its modern day consumer protection mission, a mission that will likely continue to grow, as new technologies emerge in the 21st century the marketplace.

  Ms. Slaughter has been nominated to become a Commissioner at the FTC. She is a graduate of Yale College as well as Yale Law School, and the majority of her career has been right here on Capitol Hill working for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Throughout her time on Capitol Hill she has developed a reputation as a talented staffer with an ability to work across the aisle. This will serve her well at the FTC.

  The STB is responsible for the regulatory oversight of our nation’s freight rail network. In states like South Dakota, where farmers and businesses depend on rail service to get their products to market, the STB plays a critical role in ensuring access to reliable and efficient rail service for large and small shippers alike.

  Ms. Shultz is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee for the STB, having worked at the Southern Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, for the past 11 years.

  She currently serves as Deputy General Counsel and, in that role, is responsible for advising SEPTA on complex regulatory, statutory, and administrative law matters at the local, state, and federal level. Relevant to this Committee, Ms. Shultz provided guidance to the U.S. Senate on compliance issues involving the federal mandate for Positive Train Control implementation for public passenger transportation.

  Finally, Patrick Fuchs has served an invaluable role as a Senior Professional Staff Member for me on this Committee for over three years.

  His extensive knowledge of the transportation industry, especially with respect to rail operations, as well as his insight into the legislative process, has been instrumental to the Committee’s work.

  During his time serving this Committee, Patrick drafted and played a critical role in the successful passage of the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act, the first reauthorization of the Board since its creation.

  The bill included important changes for agricultural producers and businesses, establishing the STB as a fully independent agency, directing the STB to set shorter timelines for reviewing rate cases, and providing the agency with the ability to proactively resolve problems before they escalate into larger disputes by conducting investigations on the agency's own initiative. The Act also sought to promote collaboration among the Board Members by allowing them to discuss agency matters with one another with proper disclosure.

  Patrick was also instrumental in drafting many other important pieces of legislation, including the FAST Act and the first passenger rail reauthorization in over seven years. Prior to working on the Committee, Patrick served as a policy analyst on transportation and security matters at the Office of Management and Budget.

  Those of us who have had the opportunity to work with Patrick have seen first-hand how incredibly capable and talented he is.

  I am confident that the Surface Transportation Board will be extremely well-served by Patrick’s experience, expertise, and dedication, and, while we will certainly miss his hard work on the Commerce Committee, I know he is looking forward to serving on the STB.

  As I’ve noted, all three of these nominees are exceptionally well-qualified to serve the nation in the positions to which they have been nominated. They have all demonstrated their dedication to working on the important issues facing our country, and I look forward to their swift confirmation.

  Once again, I would like to thank you all for testifying today and for your willingness to fill these important posts.

  I will now turn to Ranking Member Nelson for any opening remarks.

Minority Statement

• Bill Nelson
  Read statement

  Minority Statement

  Bill Nelson

  Mr. Chairman, let me also extend my warm welcome to the three nominees we have here today for positions on two critical independent agencies.

  Last month, we had a hearing for four of the nominees to the Federal Trade Commission, and I am pleased that we finally have the fifth nominee to the agency – Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. Ms. Slaughter gave birth to a daughter, Pippa, not nine days ago. 

  The FTC is a small agency with a critical mandate – protecting consumers from “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.”  

  They go after robocallers that harass consumers and boiler room scams that try to rip off seniors.

  In addition, they make sure that multi-billion-dollar tech companies protect personal data and ensure that they follow their privacy policies regarding the sharing of that data.

  Sadly, as we heard at yesterday’s hearing with Facebook, protecting privacy does not always happen.  And the consequences of that can be grave.

  Thankfully, we have a nominee here today that is up to addressing this herculean task.

  Ms. Slaughter currently serves as chief counsel to Minority Leader Schumer.  In that position, she has served as his trusted advisor on antitrust, technology, privacy and consumer protection issues.

  The Surface Transportation Board is also a vital independent agency that helps ensure we have a strong and efficient rail network to move freight throughout the United States.

  This sixty billion industry dollar that generates more than two hundred thousand jobs moves more freight than any other freight rail system in the world. 

  As we know all too well in the state of Florida, the railroad industry is an important part of our economy. 

  Without reliable and cost-effective rail service, my state and our nation would not be able to compete in the global market.  

  Our rail network also serves an important role by providing passenger rail service. Such service requires good on-time performance so that people can get to where they need to be when they need to be there. 

  In Florida, we are striving to restore passenger service along the Gulf Coast. Since Hurricane Katrina, there has been no passenger rail service along the coast. 

  This critical service would improve accessibility for more than two million residents between Louisiana and Florida that includes a growing senior population. 

  It also would benefit tourism and the economy for towns and cities along the Florida Panhandle.

  At some point, the Surface Transportation Board may need to weigh in on Gulf Coast passenger service, and I hope the witnesses today recognize the importance of that rail service. 

  To both the nominees for the Surface Transportation Board, I appreciate your willingness to serve in these critical transportation positions. 

  I particularly want to thank Patrick Fuchs for his work on Chairman Thune’s side of the Commerce Committee.

  Mr. Fuchs has been an important partner in helping to establish bipartisan freight and passenger rail legislation. His questionnaire notes that his nickname is Paco. 

  His assistance during the FAST Act helped to establish the first passenger rail reauthorization in a surface transportation bill.

  And I now look forward to hearing from the witnesses and our Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Testimony

• Mr. Patrick Fuchs
  Download Testimony (118.38 KB)

  Download Testimony (17.66 KB)

• Ms. Michelle A. Schultz
  Download Testimony (75.48 KB)

• Ms. Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
  Download Testimony (11.53 KB)