Executive Session and Nominations Hearing
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
October 20th, 2021 at 10 A.M. EDT
Witnesses:
● U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
● Max Vekich, to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission
● Christopher Coes, to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, DOT
● Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, DOC
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation met on October 20th, 2021 to hold an executive session and nominations hearing. The session sought to address Presidential nominations on a number of positions within the Department of Transportation, Coast Guard promotions, and other prominent roles.
Among those nominated included Victoria Marie Wassmer, to be the Chief Financial Officer, DOT; Mohsin Raza Syed, to be Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs, DOT; Amitabha Bose, to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, DOT; Meera Joshi to be the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Mary Boyle, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and Rear Admiral Nancy Hann, to be Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.
While the nominees were predominantly favorable, there was reluctance around supporting the nomination of Mary Boyle to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Concerns were raised by Ranking Member, Senator
Roger Wicker (R-MS), who noted administrative failures, including the improper disclosure of un-redacted consumer and manufacturer data, on the part of Ms. Boyle while serving as Executive Director of CPSC. As a result, all nominations were agreed to apart from Ms. Boyle whose nomination was not voted on.
As the session concluded, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) transitioned into the nominations hearing for Max Vekich to be a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission; Christopher Coes, to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, DOT; and Laurie E. Locascio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, DOC.
The hearing included remarks and questions from numerous committee members. Responses from the nominees were predominantly agreeable, and among questions were those proposed by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Senator Sullivan requested the nominee’s commitment to improve Alaskan infrastructure. Problems noted with Alaskan infrastructure included severe underfunding which has resulted in disproportionate deaths and the neglect of strategic ports, Anchorage and Tacoma.
All nominees vowed to work with the Senator to address the problems at hand. As part of his vow, Mr. Vekich strongly supported addressing supply congestion issues by focusing on the improvement of rural supporting ports.
The hearing concluded with closing remarks by Senator Maria Cantwell.
For a recording of the full committee hearing, please visit the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s hearings calendar.