▶ 0:20:47Chair Cruz: Chair cruz: good morning. The senate committee on commerce, science, and transportation will come to order. We begin with good news. It turns up subpoenas work. It turns out even the threat of subpoenas works. This committee noticed a vote on authorizing three different subpoenas, authorizing subpoenas on montero, on new point strategies, and on mass port authority, which runs the local airport.
▶ 0:21:15Chair Cruz: After we noticed a vote on the authorization of subpoenas, two of those involved immediately reached out to the kid -- the committee and agreed to comply and provide the t did -- provided details requested. Massport, which housed illegal aliens at logan airport during the biden years, refused to cooperate at all.
▶ 0:21:43Chair Cruz: Unlike the operators of jfk and o'hare airport, both of whom also housed illegal aliens, massport refused to respond to inquiries I had made as the committee's ranking member last year, and with the vote scheduled today at the 11th hour massport has decided to comply. So we will withdraw the subpoena motion.
▶ 0:22:08Chair Cruz: This is a win for the federal taxpayers and for airline passengers who thought their money was going to pay for services at logan but instead financed a dormitory for illegal aliens. I also hope this is a message to other airports that when congress has serious oversight questions you should answer them.
▶ 0:22:29Chair Cruz: And if you refuse this committee will exercise all the authorities it has to ensure we can engage in full and rigorous oversight. Now, the committee today will consider more than a dozen bills and two nominations.
▶ 0:22:48Chair Cruz: Michael kratsios to lead the office of science and technology policy and mark matter -- mark meador to be a commissioner on the federal trade commission. We need leaders who will unleash innovation. Mr. kratsios, who served during the first trump administration, has a track record of ensuring america leads in emerging technologies like ai and quantum. Mr.
▶ 0:23:14Chair Cruz: Meador's experience working at the ftc, at the department of justice, and in the senate serve him well as commissioner. He has a keen understanding of consumer protection, antitrust, and administrative law. I know he will help chairman andrew ferguson restore integrity and effectiveness following years of unfortunate mismanagement.
▶ 0:23:42Chair Cruz: I call on my colleagues to support both nominations as well as the legislation we are considering today. Let me briefly highlight a few key bills. First, space. Space is and will remain a major priority for this committee. I am proud today to advance the astronaut ground travel support act, which I introduced along with senator peters.
▶ 0:24:04Chair Cruz: This bill eliminates an unnecessary requirement for nasa to report to congress whenever returning astronauts who are not medically cleared to drive receive official transportation. We are considering the bipartisan safe orbit act to address growing congestion in low-earth orbit. Next, oceans. The recently introduced modernizing access to our public oceans act.
▶ 0:24:35Chair Cruz: This bill standardized commit digitizes, and maps fishing restrictions in federal waters. It is modeled after a successful act which require the federal government to digitize maps for hunting and fishing on federal lands. We will take up the sea turtle rescue assistance and rehabilitation act. Finally, we will vote on bills that address new challenges at the intersection of tech and national security.
▶ 0:25:04Chair Cruz: The informing consumers about smart devices act requires disclosure of hidden cameras or microphones in smart household appliances. The raptors act directs the secretary of commerce to study national security risks posed by comprised routers and motors and the securing semiconductor supply chains act tackles the shortage of semi conductors, which are central to the digital economy and our national security.
▶ 0:25:33Chair Cruz: That is a snapshot of the important work the committee is doing this week and I will now turn to the ranking member for her opening remarks.
▶ 0:25:41Sen. Cantwell: If I could take a moment, later today and ash not colonel from spokane, washington will launch to the international space station. A proud spokane native and gonzaga prep graduate, she embodies the adventurous spirit and determination the defines america's astronaut corps.
▶ 0:26:05Sen. Cantwell: Her return to space as commander continues washington's rich contribution to our nation's space program. As commander mclean is often said herself, if you want to go far, go together. I think it is a philosophy that perfectly captures the collaborative nature of space exploration and scientific progress. Now today's markup.
▶ 0:26:38Sen. Cantwell: I thank you, chairman cruz, for working with us and considering nominations on bills covering economic development and science and technology policy. Several bills on the agenda are once the committee considered in the last congress, so I am pleased to support them again. Many deal technology and security issues and will boost america's competitiveness. The securing semi conductor supply chains directs the U.S.
▶ 0:27:07Sen. Cantwell: To investigate state efforts to attract foreign investment for semi conductor manufacturing, which continues on the work we did in the chips and science act. The manufacturing advisory council act I senator peters and blackburn also creates a forum for manufacturers to raise the challenges they face.
▶ 0:27:26Sen. Cantwell: I am excited about this as it relates to fusion technology since we have rate fusion companies in the state of washington and we co-chair a fusion council looking at how the united states not only cracks through on this but make sure we have supply chains for the future. It also includes the safe orbit act.
▶ 0:27:52Sen. Cantwell: Which addresses the growing challenges of space debris and satellite congestion in orbit, also something the pacific northwest is continuing to lead in with a lot of space companies and moving satellites. We are excited about something called the otter pup.
▶ 0:28:15Sen. Cantwell: Senator cruz and senator peters cosponsored the astronaut ground travel support act, enables nasa to provide transportation for astronauts, protecting consumers from dangerous products. That should be a priority for the committee. I'm pleased to be moving again the youth prevention act. And the setting consumer standards for lithium-ion batteries.
▶ 0:28:45Sen. Cantwell: The committee also should focus on protecting consumers from scams and the ftc consumers report shows 1.1 billion consumers lost -- that cannot be right. According to the ftc, consumers lost 1.1 4 billion to romance scams in 2023 alone.
▶ 0:29:13Sen. Cantwell: With a median loss of $2000 per person, this is the highest of any imposter scam. The romance scam prevention act introduced by senators blackburn and hickenlooper will help prevent these staggering losses. I'm also pleased to cosponsor the inform consumers about smart devices with chairman cruz, which we call the spy fridge bill.
▶ 0:29:37Sen. Cantwell: It requires that any device capable of recording audio or video be labeled so consumers know what they are bringing into their homes. The ants for mental health services act requires major digital advertising platforms to report on their public service announcements related to mental health, given the growing mental health crisis in our country a believe this is transparency that is important to know how people are contributing to public awareness.
▶ 0:30:07Sen. Cantwell: The sea turtle rescue act establishes a grant program for sea turtle rescue. It modernizes access to public oceans, which requires noaa to create a website to show where fishing is permitted in federal waters.
▶ 0:30:29Sen. Cantwell: Finally, the improving flood and agricultural forecasts act expands the national program in the state of washington we have seen terrible floods and worsening wildfires. The bill would improve environment old data for accurate forecasting, critical for emergency management and saving lives. I think the senator from hawaii for his leadership on this legislation.
▶ 0:30:51Sen. Cantwell: Turn to telecom bills, the raptors act addresses security risks from network equipment made in china, north korea, and russia and the plan for broadbent act introduced by senator wicker would require in tia to develop a strategy to close the digital divide.
▶ 0:31:09Sen. Cantwell: I want to thank both of them for working with me on various aspects of the legislation, including making sure tribal areas unreal areas get the resources they need to get that right. Turning to the nominees, I want to say Mr.
▶ 0:31:27Sen. Cantwell: Kratsios is nominated to be at the office of science and technology policy director and is not new to the job and is not new to the trump administration, having worked in first the trump administration I believes -- I believe he understands the national security imperative related to technology investment and I believe in his commitment to this committee to work on the national quantum initiative, a
▶ 0:31:57Sen. Cantwell: Very important to the state of washington, that he will continue to make the investments that we need and recognize the importance of the chips and science act. On the other hand, I have concerns about Mr. meador's nomination to the ftc. When ion several colleagues asked whether he would refuse to carry out illegal orders from the president, he hedged. The answer from any nominee should simply be no, but he hedged and I think -- I just do not believe today that Mr.
▶ 0:32:30Sen. Cantwell: Meador is the right person for the ftc. We need somebody who believes they are not just a rubberstamp for the president but have responsibilities and duties to carry out. Then q, Mr. chairman. Thanks for working on these important bills and I look forward to continuing to work with you on other important priorities.
▶ 0:32:49Chair Cruz: Thank you. We are still a couple bodies light to have a quorum, so I suggest we move further down in the agenda and address bills that we have.
▶ 0:33:06Sen. Cantwell: We can do Mr. kratsios.
▶ 0:33:08Chair Cruz: We can do Mr. kratsios? All right. Ok. That I recognized senator wicker for a motion.
▶ 0:33:22Sen. Wicker: I move that the nomination of michael kratsios to be director of the office of science and technology policy be favorably reported.
▶ 0:33:34Chair Cruz: Is there a second?
▶ 0:33:37Sen. Cantwell: Second.
▶ 0:33:39Chair Cruz: Do this by voice?
▶ 0:33:50Sen. Cantwell: Let's have a roll call.
▶ 0:33:51Chair Cruz: The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. wicker. Mrs. fisher. Mr. moran. Mr. sullivan.
▶ 0:34:06Chair Cruz: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. budd. Mr. schmitt. Mr. curtis. Mr. marino -- moreno. This is capital -- Mrs. capito.
▶ 0:34:37Chair Cruz: Mr. schatz. Mr. peters. Ms. baldwin. Ms. duckworth.
▶ 0:34:46Sen. Cantwell: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. lujan. Mr. hickenlooper.
▶ 0:34:56Sen. Cantwell: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. fetterman.
▶ 0:35:01Sen. Cantwell: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. kim. Mr. cruz.
▶ 0:35:11Chair Cruz: Aye. The motion is agreed to and the nomination's order to be reported favorably. If it is alright, why don't we move to the pending legislation? I recognize ranking member cantwell for a motion.
▶ 0:35:29Sen. Cantwell: Mr. chairman, I move that as 28 -- s 28 amended as 289 youth poisoning prevention act, plan for broadbent act as modified by wicker, three hundred 89,
▶ 0:36:01Sen. Cantwell: Setting consumer standard for that the on iron -- ion batteries act, and the ads for mental health services act as amended by sullivan as modified, the safe orbit act as amended by cantwell one and the astronaut ground travel support act, improving agricultural forecast
▶ 0:36:32Sen. Cantwell: Act of 2025, the modernizing access to our public oceans act as amended by the cruz substitute, the romance scam prevention act as modified, and the sea turtle rescue assistance act -- and rehabilitation act of 2025 all be favorably. >> is there a second?
▶ 0:37:02Sen. Cantwell: >> I would like to look at that motion. I do not believe s 97 was included. I'm trying to make sure.
▶ 0:37:37Sen. Cantwell: The motion to include s 97 and s as modified -- I want to make sure. Thank you.
▶ 0:37:54Chair Cruz: Sure. I guess there was a second. All those in favor? Those opposed? Emotion is agreed to on the bills are ordered to be reported favorably. I think we are still short of a quorum, so are their members wishing to speak? I know senator blackburn had one.
▶ 0:38:17Sen. Blackburn: I am pleased that today we passed out the romance scam prevention act which will require online dating services to notify users who have interacted with scammers that are banned from the platform. Americans and especially senior citizens are losing close to $1.3 billion a year on these romance scams. Some lose their entire life savings.
▶ 0:38:46Sen. Blackburn: For some, the emotional toll has caused anxiety, depression, and has even led some to take their own lives. The scam artists are not amateurs. In fact, they are often part of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations that traffic individuals in developing countries with the promise of high-paying jobs.
▶ 0:39:11Sen. Blackburn: The victims of human trafficking are transported to what is called fraud dens. Their passports are taken. They are forced to pay back their debt. By working overtime to defraud our seniors that are here in the U.S.. The scams are well-financed. They are sophisticated. They use ai and other technology to manipulate american consumers.
▶ 0:39:41Sen. Blackburn: These online eating platforms have the ability and responsibility to notify their users when they are interacting with a bad actor. By taking this simple step, this legislation would protect our seniors from fraud and strike at the heart of one of the most lucrative financial streams for some of the most heinous criminal networks on the face of the earth.
▶ 0:40:11Sen. Blackburn: I want to recognize a survivor of this heinous crime. She drove nine hours to be here in the audience with us today and her advocacy has made a difference in the lives of others. The legislation was the result of bipartisan, bicameral, good-faith negotiation.
▶ 0:40:39Sen. Blackburn: I want to thank senator hickenlooper along with senator cruz and senator cantwell for their partnership on the legislation. I look forward and getting this to the president's desk.
▶ 0:40:54Chair Cruz: We now have the votes to proceed and then we will open up to other members who wish to speak. But I recognize senator wicker for a motion. >> I move that the nomination of mark matter to be a federal trade commission or favorably reported.
▶ 0:41:14Chair Cruz: The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. thune. .
▶ 0:41:21Chair Cruz: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. sullivan.
▶ 0:41:27Chair Cruz: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. young. Mr. budd. Mr. schmitt. Mr. curtis. Mr. moreno. Ms. lummis. Ms. cantwell. Ms. klobuchar.
▶ 0:41:49Sen. Cantwell: Aye by proxy. >> Mr. schatz. Mr. markey.
▶ 0:41:59Sen. Cantwell: No by proxy. >> Mr. peters. >> no. >> Ms. baldwin. Ms. duckworth.
▶ 0:42:08Sen. Cantwell: No by proxy. >> Mr. lujan. Mr. hickenlooper. Mr. federman -- fetterman. Mr. cruz.
▶ 0:42:31Chair Cruz: Aye. >> the ayes are 20.
▶ 0:42:39Chair Cruz: The nomination is ordered reported favorably. Are there other senators seeking recognition? >> thank you for holding today's markup. I did not call out my men meant on s 28, but I would like to speak on the one to that bill. This amendment is the text of my bill, the foreign adversary communications transparency act.
▶ 0:43:07Chair Cruz: It will provide needed transparency for companies that hold fcc authorizations and licenses with ownership ties to foreign adversarial governments. The first step in defending our security is understanding that threat. My bill does this by requiring the fcc to publicly disclose a full accounting of these details.
▶ 0:43:36Chair Cruz: Under the act, companies with foreign ties will no longer be able to cooperate -- operate in secrecy. They will no longer be able to conceal financial backers or true loyalties. This threat is urgent. Allowing china to secure a silent foothold in our communications networks puts our country at risk.
▶ 0:44:01Chair Cruz: This legislation has bipartisan leadership in the senate. I'm glad to have senators on board. I appreciate that you cannot Mr. chairman, and the ranking member signed off on this exact language in the end of year negotiations. Just like the act also on the markup.
▶ 0:44:29Chair Cruz: It received robust technical assistance from the fcc as well, including in the mmn to see filed. Mr. chairman, I hope you will commit to working with me to get this on the next committee markup. Thank you. .
▶ 0:44:42Chair Cruz: Thank you, senator fischer. I'm happy to work with you on the bill.
▶ 0:44:49Sen. Blackburn: I am pleased we have approved the routers act. It directs the to partner commerce to assess the national security risk posed by consumer routers and modems developed or manufactured in adversarial nations china, iran, north korea, russia.
▶ 0:45:12Sen. Blackburn: This legislation will provide much-needed clarity on the vulnerability these devices may introduce, empowering us to take more decisive action to protect our networks from cyber threats and espionage.
▶ 0:45:26Sen. Blackburn: By strengthening our defenses and addressing potential weak points in our communications system, including modems and routers, we can prevent future cyber attacks and better safeguard our small businesses, our households, and our critical infrastructure. I want to thank senator lujan for his partnership and commitment on the issue. Thank you cannot Mr.
▶ 0:45:53Sen. Blackburn: Chairman -- thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:45:58Chair Cruz: I asked reno's consent that staff are authorized to make technical and conforming changes. Without objection, so ordered. This concludes our markup for today. The executive session is adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]