WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today, by voice vote, approved S. 1693, Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017, with a Thune/Nelson/Blumenthal substitute amendment. The amendment addresses issues raised at the Commerce Committee’s September 19 legislative hearing. The committee also approved bipartisan legislation renaming a waterway in New York and eight nominees subject to Senate confirmation, including current Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) to lead NASA as its administrator. 

Bills and nominations considered are as follows (approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted):

1.    S. 1693, Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017, Sponsors: Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Shelley Capito (R-W.Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), along with 25 cosponsors.  

       a.    Thune/Nelson/Blumenthal Substitute

2.    S. 1668, A bill to rename a waterway in the State of New York as “Joseph Sanford Jr. Channel”, Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)

3.    Nomination of Dana Baiocco, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a term of seven years from October 27, 2017 (agreed by roll call vote: 14-13)

4.    Nomination of James Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (agreed by roll call vote: 14-13)

5.    Nomination of Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction

6.    Nomination of Bruce Landsberg, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2022

7.    Nomination of Raymond Martinez, of New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

8.    Nomination of Nazakhtar Nikakhtar, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis

9.    Nomination of Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology (agreed by roll call vote: 14-13)

10.  Nomination of Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years