Republican News

Press Releases 02/4/2025
Business Community Unites Behind Lutnick for Commerce Department Leader
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the Senate Commerce Committee markup of the nomination for Howard Lutnick to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce, dozens of organizations and companies from across the technology, space exploration, energy, and communications sectors have expressed support for Mr. Lutnick and enthusiasm for his leadership at the Department of Commerce.
Press Releases 02/3/2025
ICYMI: Senators Agree, Howard Lutnick Will Refocus Commerce Department on American Innovation and Light-Touch Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, shared his perspective on key challenges facing the Department of Commerce and pledged to work with Senators on many issues and priorities. During the hearing, Mr. Lutnick outlined his commitment to reducing regulatory burdens to support American innovation and manufacturing, particularly in sectors like spectrum, broadband deployment, semiconductor construction, and critical mineral extraction.
Press Releases 01/30/2025
Chairman Cruz and Senator Moran Announce Intent to Host Bipartisan Senate Commerce Committee Briefing with Key Federal Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation, today issued the following joint statement after receiving a briefing from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
Press Releases 01/29/2025
Sen. Cruz: Howard Lutnick Will Help to Unleash America’s Full Economic Potential
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reaffirmed his support for Howard Lutnick. Sen. Cruz discussed how Mr. Lutnick’s entrepreneurial experience will be valuable in guiding investments in emerging technology, bolstering America’s leadership in AI innovation and commercial space regulation, and expanding job opportunities across multiple industries.
Press Releases 01/28/2025
Sens. Cruz, Schatz, Murphy, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Keep Kids Safe, Healthy, and Off Social Media
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced bipartisan legislation to keep kids off social media and help protect them from its harmful impacts. The Kids Off Social Media Act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding algorithmically-targeted content to users under the age of 17. In addition to Schatz, Cruz, Murphy, and Britt, the Kids Off Social Media Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.)., Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and John Curtis (R-Utah).
Press Releases 01/28/2025
Senators Sound Alarm on Panama’s Treaty Violations, Corruption Allegations, Fee Manipulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the Panama Canal’s impact on U.S. trade and national security, Senate Republicans raised concerns about Panama’s management of the canal, citing allegations of corruption, including a no-bid port concession awarded to the Chinese firm Hutchison Ports PPC. The senators underscored longstanding concerns about China’s growing influence in Panama and argued that Panama is violating the Neutrality treaty signed when the U.S. turned over control of the canal.
Press Releases 01/28/2025
Cruz Applauds Strong Bipartisan Senate Support for Sean Duffy to Lead DOT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the Honorable Sean Duffy, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Transportation by a vote of 77 yeas and 22 nays.
Press Releases 01/28/2025
Sen. Cruz: Evidence Shows Panama May Be in Violation of Canal Treaty
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “Fees and Foreign Influence: Examining the Panama Canal and Its Impact on U.S. Trade and National Security,” Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stressed the importance of the Panama Canal for the American economy and voiced concerns over China’s growing influence in the region. The Panama Canal facilitates 40 percent of U.S. seaborne container traffic and six percent of all global trade, but China has exploited Panama’s institutional weakness to evade U.S. sanctions and impose unfair charges on U.S. commerce and Naval ships.
Press Releases 01/28/2025
Sens. Cruz, Schatz, Britt, and Tuberville Introduce Bill Targeting Illegal Fishing Operations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced the bipartisan Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States.
Press Releases 01/27/2025
Chairman Cruz Leads Senate Commerce GOP in Effort to Stop Biden FCC from Subsidizing Kids’ Unsupervised Internet Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led 13 Senate Commerce Republicans in introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that would nullify a partisan FCC order that violates federal law, creates major risks for kids’ online safety, harms parental rights, and will increase taxes on working families.