[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4441-S4442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Nomination of Arielle Roth

  Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, I rise in support of the nomination of 
Arielle Roth to serve as Administrator of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA.
  Having worked closely with Arielle, I can attest personally that 
there is no one better to lead the NTIA and to advise the President on 
telecommunications issues. As the telecommunications policy director to 
the Senate Commerce Committee, Arielle led my legislative and oversight 
efforts on communications and broadband policy with integrity, 
creativity, and dedication. I am not sure I have ever met someone as 
passionate about telecommunications law and policy as Arielle. Her work 
ethic is indefatigable, only rivaled by her dedication to public 
service. President Trump's administration and the American people are 
blessed to be getting her talents in this new role.
  Arielle will play an integral role in the management of the Federal 
Government's use of electromagnetic spectrum. She will work closely 
with Federal Agencies to protect critical uses of spectrum, whether for 
national defense, weather forecasting, or transportation, while 
identifying opportunities to free up spectrum for commercial use. As I 
have stated before, American leadership in spectrum is vital to the 
security of global telecommunications networks, to our own national 
security, and to our economic success.
  NTIA also plays a crucial role in administering billions of dollars 
for Federal broadband programs, including the $42 billion BEAD program. 
President Trump and Secretary Lutnick have charted a new course from 
the prior administration's inaction and ideological hand-wringing. With 
Arielle at the helm of NTIA, I have no doubt that BEAD will succeed in 
its mission of connecting Americans to the internet as expeditiously 
and efficiently as possible.
  Arielle's qualifications show that she is the right person for this 
job. Her telecommunications experience dates back to her time as a 
legal fellow at the Hudson Institute's Center for Economics of the 
Internet. Then, for 4 years, Ms. Roth served at the Federal 
Communications Commission as the Wireline Advisor for then-Commissioner 
Michael O'Rielly. She next turned to Congress, where she worked on 
telecommunications policy at the House Energy and Commerce Committee 
and, later, as legislative counsel to our former colleague Senator Roy 
Blunt, a long-serving member of the Senate Commerce Committee.
  Arielle has been a tireless and expert advocate in defending and 
promoting key conservative values. She has consistently fought to 
defend the taxpayer, to defend free speech, with particular passion to 
defending kids online. Arielle was key in delivering policy victories 
many said were impossible.
  Simply put, her experience both in Congress and at the FCC makes her 
ideally suited to lead NTIA. Arielle will serve President Trump and 
Secretary Lutnick well in their mission to advance government 
efficiency, economic growth, and innovation. The American people will 
benefit enormously from her service.

[[Page S4442]]

  I strongly urge my colleagues to support Arielle Roth's nomination to 
be NTIA Administrator. She was voted out of the Commerce Committee with 
bipartisan support, and my hope is that she will be confirmed on this 
floor with bipartisan support.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHMITT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to start this 
vote early.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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