[Senate Report 116-24]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 116-24
_______________________________________________________________________
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE
during the
ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Pursuant to
Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the
United States Senate
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
March 28, 2019.--Ordered to be printed
______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
89-010 WASHINGTON : 2019
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
One Hundred Sixteenth Congress
first session
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
ROY BLUNT, Missouri AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska TOM UDALL, New Mexico
CORY GARDNER, Colorado GARY PETERS, Michigan
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
MIKE LEE, Utah JON TESTER, Montana
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona
TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
RICK SCOTT, Florida
John P. Keast, Staff Director
Kim Lipsky, Minority Staff Director
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
One Hundred Fifteenth Congress
first session
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida
ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
TED CRUZ, Texas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DEAN HELLER, Nevada CORY A. BOOKER, New Jersey
JAMES INHOFE, Oklahoma TOM UDALL, New Mexico
MIKE LEE, Utah GARY PETERS, Michigan
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
CORY GARDNER, Colorado MARGARETWOODHASSAN,NewHampshire
TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada
Nick Rossi, Staff Director
Kim Lipsky, Minority Staff Director
----------
second session
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida
ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
TED CRUZ, Texas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DEAN HELLER, Nevada TOM UDALL, New Mexico
JAMES INHOFE, Oklahoma GARY PETERS, Michigan
MIKE LEE, Utah TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia MARGARETWOODHASSAN,NewHampshire
CORY GARDNER, Colorado CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, Nevada
TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana JON TESTER, Montana\1\
Nick Rossi, Staff Director
Kim Lipsky, Minority Staff Director
----------
\1\Senator Jon Tester joined the Committee on January 9, 2018,
following the departure of Senator Cory A. Booker, who served on the
Committee from October 31, 2013, until January 8, 2018.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Introduction:
Summary...................................................... 1
Jurisdiction................................................. 1
A. Legislation
Bills Referred to Committee.................................. 3
Resolutions Referred to Committee............................ 25
B. Nominations
Nominations by the Numbers................................... 27
Hearings..................................................... 28
C. Full Committee
Executive Sessions........................................... 32
Hearings..................................................... 39
D. Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
Activities................................................... 42
Hearings..................................................... 43
E. Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and
the Internet
Activities................................................... 44
Hearings..................................................... 46
F. Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety,
Insurance, and Data Security
Activities................................................... 48
Hearings..................................................... 49
G. Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
Activities................................................... 51
Hearings..................................................... 52
H. Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness
Activities................................................... 54
Hearings..................................................... 55
I. Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
Activities................................................... 56
Hearings..................................................... 58
J. Legislation and Oversight
Activities................................................... 60
116th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 116-24
======================================================================
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE,
AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE DURING THE 115TH
CONGRESS
_______
March 28, 2019.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Wicker,\2\ from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following:
REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Summary
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
conducted a legislative and oversight program during the 115th
Congress. A total of 356 bills, 28 resolutions, 1,133
nominations, including promotions, and 2,371 executive
communications were referred to the Committee for
consideration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\Senator John Thune served as Chairman of the Committee during
the 115th Congress. Chairman Thune began his tenure on January 8, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Committee and its subcommittees held a total of 124
public hearings, including 19 nominations hearings, during the
115th Congress. The Committee also held 15 Executive Sessions
and filed 69 Committee reports.
Action was completed on a broad range of oversight,
legislative, and executive matters. A total of 84 bills and 8
resolutions were reported or discharged by the Committee.
Notably, 21 of the reported or discharged bills were enacted as
stand-alone measures; 15 of the reported or discharged bills
were enacted, in whole or in part, as part of other
legislation; and 30 of the bills referred to the Committee were
considered and enacted, in whole or in part, as part of other
legislation. In addition, seven of the reported or discharged
resolutions were agreed to in the Senate.
Members and staff made individual trips abroad and
participated in conferences, further exercising the legislative
oversight responsibilities of the Committee.
Jurisdiction
Pursuant to Rule XXV(1)(f)(1) of the Standing Rules of the
United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages,
petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the
following subjects are
referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation:
1. Coast Guard.
2. Coastal zone management.
3. Communications.
4. Highway Safety.
5. Inland waterways, except construction.
6. Interstate commerce.
7. Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and
transportation, including navigational aspects of
deepwater ports.
8. Marine fisheries.
9. Merchant marine and navigation.
10. Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences.
11. Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities.
12. Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally,
except as provided in subparagraph (c) of Rule XXV(1).
13. Regulation of consumer products and services,
including testing related to toxic substances, other
than pesticides, and except for credit, financial
services, and housing.
14. Regulation of interstate common carriers, including
railroads, buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil
aviation.
15. Science, engineering, and technology research and
development and policy.
16. Sports.
17. Standards and measurement.
18. Transportation.
19. Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer
Continental Shelf lands.
A. Legislation
BILLS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Bills:
Referred to Committee......................................... 356
Original measures from Committee.............................. 0
______
Total..................................................... 356
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Reported/discharged (*)....................................... 84
Reported/discharged and enacted as stand-alone measure (**)... 21
Reported/discharged and enacted, in whole or in part, as part
of other legislation (* )................................... 16
Enacted, in whole or in part, as part of other legislation ( ) 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Title as introduced
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 200* To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to
provide flexibility for fishery managers and stability for fishermen,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 255** To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial
programs for women. (P.L. 115-6)
H.R. 276 To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure reliable air service in
American Samoa.
H.R. 288 To ensure that small business providers of broadband Internet access
service can devote resources to broadband deployment rather than
compliance with cumbersome regulatory requirements.
H.R. 290 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for greater
transparency and efficiency in the procedures followed by the Federal
Communications Commission, and for other purposes.
H.R. 321** To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and
outreach. (P.L. 115-7)
H.R. 423 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand and clarify the
prohibition on provision of misleading or inaccurate caller
identification information, and for other purposes.
H.R. 460 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the integrity of voice
communications and to prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination
among areas of the United States in the delivery of such communications.
H.R. 555 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to amend its rules so as
to prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land
use restrictions, and for other purposes.
H.R. 582** To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone
systems to have a configuration that permits users to directly initiate
a call to 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digit, code, prefix, or
post-fix, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-127)
H.R. 588 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a study on
network resiliency during times of emergency, and for other purposes.
H.R. 590* To foster civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy
technologies and enhance the licensing and commercial deployment of such
technologies.
H.R. 599 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting
obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve
congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.
H.R. 665 To modernize and enhance airport perimeter and access control security by
requiring updated risk assessments and the development of security
strategies, and for other purposes.
H.R. 876 To reform programs of the Transportation Security Administration, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 1093 To require the Federal Railroad Administration to provide appropriate
congressional notice of comprehensive safety assessments conducted with
respect to intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation.
H.R. 1309 To streamline the office and term of the Administrator of the
Transportation Security Administration, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1353 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require certain additional
information to be submitted to Congress regarding the strategic 5-year
technology investment plan of the Transportation Security
Administration.
H.R. 1726 To amend title 14, United States Code, to improve the organization of
such title and to incorporate certain transfers and modifications into
such title, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2083 To allow for the taking of pinnipeds on the Columbia River and its
tributaries to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon and
other nonlisted fish species.
H.R. 2105 To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to disseminate guidance to help reduce small business
cybersecurity risks, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2132 To require the implementation of a redress process and review of the
Transportation Security Administration's intelligence-based screening
rules for aviation security, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2258 To require that certain standards for commercial driver's licenses
applicable to former members of the armed services or reserves also
apply to current members of the armed services or reserves.
H.R. 2547 To expand the Department of Veterans Affairs medical professionals who
may qualify to perform physical examinations on eligible veterans and
issue medical certificates required for operation of a commercial motor
vehicle, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2809 To amend title 51, United States Code, to provide for the authorization
and supervision of nongovernmental space activities, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 2910 To provide for Federal and State agency coordination in the approval of
certain authorizations under the Natural Gas Act, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 3101 To enhance cybersecurity information sharing and coordination at ports in
the United States, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3328 To require a study regarding security measures and equipment at Cuba's
airports, require the standardization of Federal Air Marshal Service
agreements, require efforts to raise international aviation security
standards, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3388 To amend title 49, United States Code, regarding the authority of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over highly automated
vehicles, to provide safety measures for such vehicles, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 3397 To direct the National Science Foundation to support STEM education
research focused on early childhood.
H.R. 3669 To improve and streamline security procedures related to general aviation
and commercial charter air carrier utilizing risk-based security
standards, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3994 To establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 4176 To strengthen air cargo security, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4254** To amend the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to
strengthen the aerospace workforce pipeline by the promotion of Robert
Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and National Aeronautics and Space
Administration internship and fellowship opportunities to women, and for
other purposes. (P.L. 115-303)
H.R. 4323* To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
scientific research, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4375 To provide for a study on broadening participation in certain National
Science Foundation research and education programs, to collect data on
Federal research grants to science agencies, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4467* To require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize risk-based
strategies, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4559* To conduct a global aviation security review, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4561 To provide for third party testing of transportation security screening
technology, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4577 To establish a working group to determine ways to develop a domestic
canine breeding network to produce high quality explosives detection
canines, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4881 To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task
force for reviewing the connectivity and technology needs of precision
agriculture in the United States.
H.R. 4921** To require the Surface Board of Transportation to implement certain
recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department of
Transportation. (P.L. 115-269)
H.R. 4925 To require the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to
implement certain recommendations for management and collection of
railroad safety data.
H.R. 4986 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reauthorize appropriations for
the Federal Communications Commission, to provide for certain procedural
changes to the rules of the Commission to maximize opportunities for
public participation and efficient decisionmaking, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 5081 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the
Transportation Security Administration the Surface Transportation
Security Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5086 To require the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop an
I-Corps course to support commercialization-ready innovation companies,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 5089 To improve threat information sharing, integrated operations, and law
enforcement training for transportation security, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 5131 To improve the effectiveness of Federal efforts to identify and address
homeland security risks to surface transportation, secure against
vehicle-based attacks, and conduct a feasibility assessment of
introducing new security technologies and measures, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 5345 To designate the Marshall Space Flight Center of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration to provide leadership for the U.S. rocket
propulsion industrial base, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5346 To amend title 51, United States Code, to provide for licenses and
experimental permits for space support vehicles, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5509** To direct the National Science Foundation to provide grants for research
about STEM education approaches and the STEM-related workforce, and for
other purposes. (P.L. 115-402)
H.R. 5709 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for enhanced penalties
for pirate radio, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5730 To require testing and evaluation of advanced transportation security
screening technologies related to the mission of the Transportation
Security Administration, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5766 To improve the security of public areas of transportation facilities, and
for other purposes.
H.R. 6227 To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum
research and development for the economic and national security of the
United States. (P.L. 115-368)
H.R. 6229 To authorize the programs of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6265 To ensure that only travelers who are members of a trusted traveler
program use Transportation Security Administration security screening
lanes designated for trusted travelers, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6459 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require a strategy to
diversify the technology stakeholder marketplace regarding the
acquisition by the Transportation Security Administration of security
screening technologies, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6461 To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish in the Transportation
Security Administration a National Deployment Office, and for other
purposes.
S. 3 To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to prohibit pyramid promotional
schemes to ensure that compensation is not based upon recruitment of
participants into a plan or operation, but instead based primarily on
sales to individuals who use, resell, or consume the products or
services sold, protect participants, prohibit inventory loading, and for
other purposes.
S. 7** To amend title 51, United States Code, to extend the authority of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration to enter into leases of
non-excess property of the Administration. (P.L. 115-403)
S. 19* To provide opportunities for broadband investment, and for other
purposes. (P.L. 115-141)
S. 42 To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and
outreach.
S. 53 To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning,
research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and for other purposes.
S. 61* To remove the sunset provision of section 203 of Public Law 105-384 and
for other purposes. (P.L. 115-384)
S. 74 To improve the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Coast Guard, and coastal States to sustain healthy
ocean and coastal ecosystems by maintaining and sustaining their
capabilities relating to oil spill preparedness, prevention, response,
and for other purposes.
S. 81* To establish an advisory office within the Bureau of Consumer Protection
of the Federal Trade Commission to prevent fraud targeting seniors, and
for other purposes.
S. 83 To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial
programs for women.
S. 88* To ensure appropriate spectrum planning and interagency coordination to
support the Internet of Things.
S. 89* To amend title 46, United States Code, to exempt old vessels that only
operate within inland waterways from the fire-retardant materials
requirement if the owners of such vessels make annual structural
alterations to at least 10 percent of the areas of the vessels that are
not constructed of fire-retardant materials and for other purposes.
S. 96** To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure the integrity of voice
communications and to prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination
among areas of the United States in the delivery of such communications.
(P.L. 115-129)
S. 102* To direct the Federal Communications Commission to commence proceedings
related to the resiliency of critical communications networks during
times of emergency, and for other purposes.
S. 110* To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to establish a
constituent-driven program to provide a digital information platform
capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support
tools, training, and best practices and to support collection of
priority coastal geospatial data to inform and improve local, State,
regional, and Federal capacities to manage the coastal region, and for
other purposes.
S. 118* To make exclusive the authority of the Federal Government to regulate the
labeling of products made in the United States and introduced in
interstate or foreign commerce, and for other purposes.
S. 123* To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require multi-line telephone
systems to have a default configuration that permits users to directly
initiate a call to 9-1-1 without dialing any additional digit, code,
prefix, or post-fix, and for other purposes.
S. 129* To reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and
for other purposes.
S. 134* To expand the prohibition on misleading or inaccurate caller
identification information, and for other purposes.
S. 141* To improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for
other purposes.
S. 153 To ensure reliable observation of hurricanes.
S. 161 To improve hurricane forecasting and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-25)
S. 168* To amend and enhance certain maritime programs of the Department of
Transportation. (P.L. 115-282)
S. 171* To reauthorize and amend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, to reauthorize
the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, and for other
purposes. (P.L. 115-282)
S. 174* To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to consolidate the reporting
obligations of the Federal Communications Commission in order to improve
congressional oversight and reduce reporting burdens.
S. 212 To provide for the development of a United States strategy for greater
human space exploration, and for other purposes.
S. 228 To ensure that small business providers of broadband Internet access
service can devote resources to broadband deployment rather than
compliance with cumbersome regulatory requirements, and for other
purposes.
S. 272 To enhance the security operations of the Transportation Security
Administration and the stability of the transportation security
workforce by applying a unified personnel system under title 5, United
States Code, to employees of the Transportation Security Administration
who are responsible for screening passengers and property, and for other
purposes.
S. 277 To establish a Rural Telecommunications and Broadband Advisory Committee
within the Federal Communications Commission.
S. 320 To require the Federal Aviation Administration to establish annual
performance objectives and to hold the Chief NextGen Officer accountable
for meeting such objectives.
S. 338 To protect scientific integrity in Federal research and policymaking, and
for other purposes.
S. 374* To enable concrete masonry products manufacturers to establish, finance,
and carry out a coordinated program of research, education, and
promotion to improve, maintain, and develop markets for concrete masonry
products.
S. 396* To make technical amendments to certain marine fish conservation
statutes, and for other purposes.
S. 399 To establish the United States Chief Manufacturing Officer in the
Executive Office of the President with the responsibility of developing
a national manufacturing strategy to revitalize the manufacturing
sector, spur economic growth, and expand United States competitiveness,
and for other purposes.
S. 421 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect low-income Lifeline
subscribers by mandating a continuing role for States in designating
eligible telecommunications carriers for participation in the Universal
Service program, and for other purposes.
S. 471 To preserve State authority to regulate air carriers providing air
ambulance service.
S. 515 To require the Secretary of Labor to maintain a publicly available list
of all employers that relocate a call center overseas, to make such
companies ineligible for Federal grants or guaranteed loans, and to
require disclosure of the physical location of business agents engaging
in customer service communications, and for other purposes.
S. 547 To prevent mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors in
the United States, to promote efforts to increase public awareness of
the enormous impact that mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud have on
seniors, to educate the public, seniors, their families, and their
caregivers about how to identify and combat fraudulent activity, and for
other purposes.
S. 564 To repeal debt collection amendments made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of
2015, and for other purposes.
S. 570 To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather
research through a focused program of investment on affordable and
attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling
capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting
and prediction of high impact weather events, to expand commercial
opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes.
(P.L. 115-25)
S. 572 To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the
Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to
develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather
detection and forecasting, and for other purposes.
S. 596 To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
prescribe regulations establishing minimum standards for space for
passengers on passenger aircraft, and for other purposes.
S. 631 To amend the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to provide guidance
and limitations regarding the integration of unmanned aircraft systems
into United States airspace, and for other purposes.
S. 645* To require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and
analysis of the effects of broadband deployment and adoption on the
economy of the United States, and for other purposes.
S. 679 To require the disclosure of information relating to cyberattacks on
aircraft systems and maintenance and ground support systems for
aircraft, to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the
United States commercial aviation system, and for other purposes.
S. 680 To protect consumers from security and privacy threats to their motor
vehicles, and for other purposes.
S. 698 To establish a national program to identify and reduce losses from
landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, and for
other purposes.
S. 701 To improve the competitiveness of United States manufacturing by
designating and supporting manufacturing communities.
S. 742 To promote competition, to preserve the ability of local governments to
provide broadband capability and services, and for other purposes.
S. 754* To support meeting our Nation's growing cybersecurity workforce needs by
expanding the cybersecurity education pipeline. (P.L. 115-91)
S. 755 To amend the Pilot's Bill of Rights to facilitate appeals, to limit the
reexamination of airman certificates, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
254)
S. 756** To reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international
action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-391)
S. 763* To improve surface and maritime transportation security.
S. 770** To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to disseminate resources to help reduce small business
cybersecurity risks, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-236)
S. 793* To prohibit sale of shark fins, and for other purposes.
S. 875* To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a
study and submit a report on filing requirements under the Universal
Service Fund programs.
S. 878 To establish privacy protections for customers of broadband Internet
access service and other telecommunications services.
S. 911 To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
issue an order with respect to secondary cockpit barriers, and for other
purposes.
S. 928 To prohibit, as an unfair or deceptive act or practice, commercial sexual
orientation conversion therapy, and for other purposes.
S. 947 To protect passengers on flights in air transportation from being denied
boarding involuntarily, and for other purposes.
S. 958 To authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for
innovation or adaptation management development relating to coral reef
ecosystems, and for other purposes.
S. 964 To protect broadband users from unfair or deceptive practices relating to
privacy or data security, and for other purposes.
S. 965 To improve passenger vessel security and safety, and for other purposes.
S. 993 To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying
broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications service and
from imposing certain regulations on providers of such service.
S. 1015* To require the Federal Communications Commission to study the feasibility
of designating a simple, easy-to-remember dialing code to be used for a
national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system.
S. 1037 To prohibit air carriers from imposing fees that are not reasonable and
proportional to the costs incurred by the air carriers, and for other
purposes.
S. 1057* To amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of
1998 to address harmful algal blooms, and for other purposes.
S. 1092* To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives
interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions.
S. 1096* To amend and enhance certain maritime programs of the Department of
Transportation, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-91)
S. 1100 To amend title 46, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for
the program to provide assistance for small shipyards and maritime
communities through fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes.
S. 1104 To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a
methodology for the collection by the Commission of information about
commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service, and for
other purposes.
S. 1110 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for private lactation
areas in the terminals of large and medium hub airports, and for other
purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1119 To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 for the
Federal Maritime Commission, and for other purposes.
S. 1129* To authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard, and for other purposes.
(P.L. 115-282)
S. 1164 To protect consumers from deceptive practices with respect to online
booking of hotel reservations, and for other purposes.
S. 1167 To require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
evaluate and consider revising regulations relating to emergency medical
equipment requirements for passenger aircraft. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1186 To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to designate certain
entities as centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce
training and education, and for other purposes.
S. 1213 To require the Secretary of Transportation to post a copy of the most
recent response plan for each onshore oil pipeline on a publicly
accessible website.
S. 1233 To improve the efficiency and reliability of rail transportation by
reforming the Surface Transportation Board, and for other purposes.
S. 1244 To extend the authorization of appropriations for additional funds for
the essential air service program.
S. 1253 To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data.
S. 1269 To require the Office of Pipeline Safety to consult with the
Environmental Protection Agency or the Coast Guard in the event the
Federal on-scene coordinator has concerns about the ability of a
pipeline operator to respond to a worst case discharge.
S. 1272 To preserve State, local, and tribal authorities and private property
rights with respect to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other
purposes.
S. 1273 To amend chapter 329 of title 49, United States Code, relating to average
fuel economy standards for automobiles.
S. 1314 To amend the Natural Gas Act to bolster fairness and transparency in
consideration of interstate natural gas pipelines, to provide for
greater public input opportunities, and for other purposes.
S. 1318 To protect the rights of passengers with disabilities in air
transportation, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1320 To reform apportionments to general aviation airports under the airport
improvement program, to improve project delivery at certain airports,
and to designate certain airports as disaster relief airports, and for
other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1322* To establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the
awarding of fisheries research and development grants, and for other
purposes.
S. 1323 To preserve United States fishing heritage through a national program
dedicated to training and assisting the next generation of commercial
fishermen, and for other purposes.
S. 1345 To enhance interstate commerce by creating a national hiring standard for
motor carriers, and for other purposes.
S. 1373 To designate the Gulf of Mexico Alliance as a Regional Coordination
Partnership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and
for other purposes.
S. 1377 To remove the limitation on certain amounts for which large non-rural
hospitals may be reimbursed under the Healthcare Connect Fund of the
Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes.
S. 1393** To streamline the process by which active duty military, reservists, and
veterans receive commercial driver's licenses. (P.L. 115-105)
S. 1394 To apply the medical certification standards of the Federal Aviation
Administration to operators of air balloons.
S. 1396 To require that certain standards for commercial driver's licenses
applicable to former members of the armed services or reserves also
apply to current members of the armed services or reserves.
S. 1405* To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for
the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
254)
S. 1410 To further the development of unmanned aircraft system technology through
investing in additional research, building a trained workforce, and
establishing working groups to address near-term and long-term
challenges, and for other purposes.
S. 1418 To establish protections for passengers in air transportation, and for
other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1423 To require the Secretary of Transportation to modify the final rule
relating to flightcrew member duty and rest requirements for passenger
operations of air carriers to apply to all-cargo operations of air
carriers, and for other purposes.
S. 1425* To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of
2009, and for other purposes.
S. 1426* To amend the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to expand the
purposes of the corporation, to designate the United States Center for
Safe Sport, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-126)
S. 1432 To prevent the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Registry Office
from closing during a Government shutdown.
S. 1442 To establish United States policy for the Arctic region for the next 10
years, and for other purposes.
S. 1450 To prohibit cell phone voice communications during passenger flights.
S. 1451 To facilitate and promote innovative approaches to railroad safety, and
for other purposes.
S. 1475 To provide for the identification and documentation of best practices for
cyber hygiene by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and
for other purposes.
S. 1502 To improve passenger vessel security and safety, and for other purposes.
S. 1506 To improve the handling of instances of sexual harassment, dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking at the United
States Merchant Marine Academy, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-232)
S. 1520** To expand recreational fishing opportunities through enhanced marine
fishery conservation and management, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
405)
S. 1532** To disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an
individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony
involving human trafficking. P(P.L. 115-106)
S. 1534 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to amend its rules so as
to prohibit the application to amateur stations of certain private land
use restrictions, and for other purposes.
S. 1536** To designate a human trafficking prevention coordinator and to expand the
scope of activities authorized under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration's outreach and education program to include human
trafficking prevention activities, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-99)
S. 1561 To repeal the Jones Act restrictions on coastwise trade, and for other
purposes.
S. 1586* To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update
periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of
the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.
S. 1605 To improve the response to sexual assault and sexual harassment on board
aircraft operated in passenger air transportation, and for other
purposes.
S. 1621* To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a
methodology for the collection by the Commission of information about
commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service, and for
other purposes.
S. 1623 To increase the maximum penalty for unfair and deceptive practices
relating to advertising of the costs of air transportation.
S. 1626 To improve the safety of the air supply on commercial aircraft, and for
other purposes.
S. 1632 To establish an additional fund in the Treasury to meet existing
statutory obligations to reimburse costs reasonably incurred as a result
of the reorganization of broadcast television spectrum, and for other
purposes.
S. 1634 To require auto dealers to fix outstanding safety recalls before selling
or leasing a used passenger motor vehicle.
S. 1666 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring all
new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with a child safety alert
system, and for other purposes.
S. 1668** To rename a waterway in the State of New York as the ``Joseph Sanford Jr.
Channel''. (P.L. 115-260)
S. 1682 To facilitate a national pipeline of spectrum for commercial use, and for
other purposes.
S. 1684 To establish a position of Science Laureate of the United States, and for
other purposes.
S. 1686 To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to
provide for management of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, and for
other purposes.
S. 1693* To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify that section 230 of
that Act does not prohibit the enforcement against providers and users
of interactive computer services of Federal and State criminal and civil
law relating to sex trafficking. (P.L. 115-164)
S. 1702 To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation by
sea lions on endangered Columbia River salmon and other species not
listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.
S. 1733 To require the Secretary of Transportation to revise regulations relating
to oversold flights to prohibit the forcible removal of passengers from
such flights, and for other purposes.
S. 1747 To authorize research and recovery activities to provide for the
protection, conservation, and recovery of the Florida manatee, and for
other purposes.
S. 1748 To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to
promote sustainable conservation and management for the Gulf of Mexico
and South Atlantic fisheries and the communities that rely on them, and
for other purposes.
S. 1768** To reauthorize and amend the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-307)
S. 1779 To repeal certain provisions of the Federal Switchblade Act to allow
domestic manufacturers to ship and sell their products to buyers located
in other States and to permit the importation of certain knife parts.
S. 1785 To prohibit the implementation of a policy change to permit small, non-
locking knives on passenger aircraft.
S. 1809 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Strengthening
Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Challenge Grant
Program to promote technological innovation in our Nation's cities.
S. 1815 To require data brokers to establish procedures to ensure the accuracy of
collected personal information, and for other purposes.
S. 1872* To authorize the programs of the Transportation Security Administration
relating to transportation security, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
254)
S. 1883 To require the Secretary of Transportation to publish a final rule to
provide for the screening, testing, and treatment for sleep disorders of
individuals operating commercial vehicles.
S. 1885* To support the development of highly automated vehicle safety
technologies, and for other purposes.
S. 1896* To amend section 8331 of title 5, United States Code, and the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 to clarify the treatment of availability pay for
Federal air marshals and criminal investigators of the Transportation
Security Administration, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 1900 To require all persons who acquire, maintain, or use personal information
to have in effect reasonable cybersecurity protections and practices
whenever acquiring, maintaining, or using personal information in
commerce, and for other purposes.
S. 1904 To promote the use of smart technologies and systems in communities, and
for other purposes.
S. 1915 To provide for the development and use of technology for personalized
handguns, to require that all handguns manufactured or sold in, or
imported into, the United States incorporate such technology, and for
other purposes.
S. 1950 To require the Federal Communications Commission to submit to Congress a
report on promoting broadband Internet access service for veterans.
S. 1965* To amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to protect the cultural
practices and livelihoods of producers of Alaska Native handicrafts and
traditional mammoth ivory products, and for other purposes.
S. 1968 To direct the National Science Foundation to award grants to encourage
young girls to participate in computer science and other STEM
activities, and for other purposes.
S. 1971 To provide air carriers with access to information about applicants to be
pilots from the National Driver Register, and for other purposes. (P.L.
115-254)
S. 2020* To establish a voluntary program to identify and promote Internet-
connected products that meet industry-leading cybersecurity and data
security standards, guidelines, best practices, methodologies,
procedures, and processes.
S. 2023 To require a study regarding security measures and equipment at Cuba's
airports, require the standardization of Federal Air Marshal Service
agreements, require efforts to raise international aviation security
standards, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 2061 To further deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 services to enhance and
upgrade the Nation's 9-1-1 systems, and for other purposes.
S. 2083 To enhance cybersecurity information sharing and coordination at ports in
the United States, and for other purposes.
S. 2100 To prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to individuals
under the age of 21.
S. 2128 To improve the coordination and use of geospatial data. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 2150 To improve requirements for entering into commerce of imitation firearms,
and for other purposes.
S. 2179 To protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and
procedures to protect data containing personal information, and to
provide for nationwide notice in the event of a breach of security.
S. 2187 To establish a regulatory framework for the comprehensive protection of
personal data for individuals under the aegis of the Federal Trade
Commission, to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of
1998 to improve provisions relating to collection, use, and disclosure
of personal information of children, and for other purposes.
S. 2200** To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and
for other purposes. (P.L. 115-423)
S. 2202* To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for
the National Transportation Safety Board, and for other purposes. (P.L.
115-254)
S. 2210 To ensure the Chief Information Office of the Federal Communications
Commission has a significant role in decisions related to information
technology, and for other purposes.
S. 2217 To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Federal Advisory
Committee on the Development and Implementation of Artificial
Intelligence, and for other purposes.
S. 2219 To reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries caused by
underride crashes, to improve motor carrier and passenger motor vehicle
safety, and for other purposes.
S. 2220 To provide for the development, construction and operation of a backup to
the Global Positioning System, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-282)
S. 2229 To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to conduct coastal
community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, and
for other purposes.
S. 2234 To require the Federal Trade Commission to develop cybersecurity
resources for consumer education and awareness regarding the purchase
and use of devices that are part of the Internet of Things, and for
other purposes.
S. 2242* To amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to clarify the
authority of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration with respect to post-storm assessments, and for other
purposes.
S. 2244 To create opportunities for women in the aviation industry. (P.L. 115-
254)
S. 2264 To amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to
add Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and for
other purposes.
S. 2331 To extend the period during which vessels that are shorter than 79 feet
in length and fishing vessels are not required to have a permit for
discharges incidental to the normal operation of the vessel.
S. 2343* To require the Federal Communications Commission to establish a task
force for meeting the connectivity and technology needs of precision
agriculture in the United States.
S. 2348 To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure reliable air service in
American Samoa. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 2360 To provide for the minimum size of crews of freight trains, and for other
purposes.
S. 2369* To authorize aboriginal subsistence whaling pursuant to the regulations
of the International Whaling Commission, and for other purposes.
S. 2418* To direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations
that establish a national standard for determining whether mobile and
broadband services available in rural areas are reasonably comparable to
those services provided in urban areas.
S. 2422 To require a study on the health impacts of air traffic noise and
pollution.
S. 2472 To reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and for other
purposes.
S. 2506 To establish an aviation maintenance workforce development pilot program.
(P.L. 115-254)
S. 2510 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to
prohibit blocking of lawful content, applications, services, and non-
harmful devices, to prohibit impairment or degradation of lawful
Internet traffic, to limit the authority of the Federal Communications
Commission and to preempt State law with respect to Internet openness
obligations, to provide that broadband Internet access service shall be
considered to be an information service, and for other purposes.
S. 2511** To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to
carry out a program on coordinating the assessment and acquisition by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime
systems, to make available to the public data collected by the
Administration using such systems, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
394)
S. 2520 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal
Communications Commission to ensure just and reasonable charges for
inmate telephone and advanced communications services.
S. 2536 To make daylight savings time permanent for the State of Florida, and for
other purposes.
S. 2537 To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.
S. 2556 To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to
promulgate regulations to prohibit the storage of live animals in
overhead compartments of airplanes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 2576 To require the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a proceeding
to determine whether certain activities by licensees of the Commission
are undertakings under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United
States Code, or major Federal actions under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969.
S. 2612 To provide for the establishment of clean technology consortia to enhance
the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by
promoting domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of clean
technologies, and for other purposes.
S. 2623 To require the Secretary of Transportation to modify hours of service
requirements to include all fish in the definition of ``agricultural
commodity'', and for other purposes.
S. 2639 To require the Federal Trade Commission to establish privacy protections
for customers of online edge providers, and for other purposes.
S. 2640 To require operators that provide online and similar services to
educational agencies, institutions, or programs to protect the privacy
and security of personally identifiable information, and for other
purposes.
S. 2650 To amend title 49, United States Code, to add definitions for the terms
``common carrier'' and ``personal operator'', and for other purposes.
S. 2651 To promote competition and help consumers save money by giving them the
freedom to choose where they buy prescription pet medications, and for
other purposes.
S. 2666 To improve assistance provided by the Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership to small manufacturers in the defense industrial supply
chain on matters relating to cybersecurity, and for other purposes.
S. 2694 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to lengthen the statute of
limitations for enforcing robocall violations, and for other purposes.
S. 2705 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to expand and clarify the
prohibition on inaccurate caller identification information and to
require providers of telephone service to offer technology to
subscribers to reduce the incidence of unwanted telephone calls and text
messages, and for other purposes.
S. 2717* To reauthorize provisions relating to the Maritime Administration. (P.L.
115-232)
S. 2728 To protect the privacy of users of social media and other online
platforms.
S. 2738 To amend title 49, United States Code, to require air carrier passengers
with service animals to adhere to a standard of service animal behavior
training.
S. 2740 To authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
establish a Climate Change Education Program, and for other purposes.
S. 2764* To amend and enhance the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection
Act to improve the conservation of sharks, and for other purposes.
S. 2773* To improve the management of driftnet fishing.
S. 2783 To improve the resilience of the built and natural environment to natural
disasters and climate change using, among other measures, natural and
nature-based features, and for other purposes.
S. 2792 To modernize training programs at aviation maintenance technician
schools. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 2806 To establish the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence,
and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-232)
S. 2812 To improve consumer protections for customers of air ambulance operators,
and for other purposes.
S. 2842* To prohibit the marketing of bogus opioid treatment programs or products.
S. 2844* To require the Surface Transportation Board to implement certain
recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department of
Transportation.
S. 2848* To improve Department of Transportation controlled substances and alcohol
testing, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-271)
S. 2853 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure Internet openness, to
prohibit blocking lawful content and non-harmful devices, to prohibit
throttling data, to prohibit paid prioritization, to require
transparency of network management practices, to provide that broadband
shall be considered to be an information service, and to prohibit the
Commission or a State commission from relying on section 706 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 as a grant of authority.
S. 2859 To provide for the use of passenger facility charge revenue to enhance
security at airports and to make projects for the installation of
security cameras eligible for the airport improvement program.
S. 2861* To prosecute, as a Federal crime, the assault or intimidation of a
passenger train crew member to the same extent as such actions against
aircraft crew members are prosecuted.
S. 2932 To strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and
disclosure of personal information of children and minors, and for other
purposes.
S. 2935 To prioritize and support the Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS)
program for flight crewmembers and the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol
Program (FADAP) for flight attendants, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-
254)
S. 2938 To require the Secretary of Transportation to modify provisions relating
to hours of service requirements with respect to transportation of
livestock and insects, and for other purposes.
S. 2941* To improve the Cooperative Observer Program of the National Weather
Service, and for other purposes.
S. 2951 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program
for projects to strengthen and protect vulnerable infrastructure used
during mass evacuations, and for other purposes.
S. 2955 To reform the Mobility Fund Phase II challenge process conducted by the
Federal Communications Commission.
S. 2957 To amend the Horse Protection Act to designate additional unlawful acts
under the Act, strengthen penalties for violations of the Act, improve
Department of Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for other
purposes.
S. 2958 To require the Federal Communications Commission to make the provision of
Wi-Fi access on school buses eligible for E-rate support.
S. 2959 To direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish the Office
of Rural Broadband, and for other purposes.
S. 2965 To amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to give
Americans the option to delete personal information collected by
internet operators as a result of the person's internet activity prior
to age 13.
S. 2973 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require providers of a covered
service to provide location information concerning the
telecommunications device of a user of such service to an investigative
or law enforcement officer or an employee or other agent of a public
safety answering point in an emergency situation involving risk of death
or serious physical harm or in order to respond to the user's call for
emergency services.
S. 2977 To secure the technological edge of the United States in civil and
military aviation.
S. 2983 To amend title 49, United States Code, to improve the essential air
service program.
S. 2992 To require the Secretary of Transportation to publish a notice of
proposed rulemaking concerning seat belts on school buses, and for other
purposes.
S. 3010 To amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Organization Act to provide for necessary payments from the Spectrum
Relocation Fund for costs of spectrum research and development and
planning activities.
S. 3019 To amend the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act to require that Federal and
State mandated information declarations and labeling requirements
applicable to the chemical composition of, and radiation emitted by,
consumer products meet minimum scientific standards to deliver accurate
and clear information, and for other purposes.
S. 3026 To amend title 49, United States Code, to require air carriers to
disclose the date and location of the most recent aircraft maintenance.
S. 3037 To require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to
establish a premise plumbing research laboratory, and for other
purposes.
S. 3038 To assist in the conservation of the North Atlantic right whale by
supporting and providing financial resources for North Atlantic right
whale conservation programs and projects of persons with expertise
required for the conservation of North Atlantic right whales.
S. 3051 To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group
to study regulatory and legislative improvements for the livestock,
insect, and agricultural commodities transport industries, and for other
purposes.
S. 3078 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify the prohibitions on
making robocalls, and for other purposes.
S. 3087 To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to make grants to State and local governments and
nonprofit organizations for purposes of carrying out shoreline
stabilization projects utilizing natural materials that support natural
habitats and ecosystem functions, and for other purposes.
S. 3094* To restrict the department in which the Coast Guard is operating from
implementing any rule requiring the use of biometric readers for
biometric transportation security cards until after submission to
Congress of the results of an assessment of the effectiveness of the
transportation security card program.
S. 3096 To allow the Coast Guard to issue a certificate of documentation with a
coastwise endorsement for the vessel OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, and for other
purposes.
S. 3119** To allow for the taking of sea lions on the Columbia River and its
tributaries to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon and
other nonlisted fish species. (P.L. 115-329)
S. 3126 To allow State manufacturing extension partnerships to award grants to
small and medium sized manufacturers for the purpose of training new
workers to replace departing experienced workers.
S. 3127 To protect the right of the American public under the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States to receive news and information
from disparate sources by regulating the use of automated software
programs intended to impersonate or replicate human activity on social
media.
S. 3138 To establish a regulatory system for marine aquaculture in the United
States exclusive economic zone, and for other purposes.
S. 3143* To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum
research and development for the economic and national security of the
United States. (P.L. 115-368)
S. 3144 To require the Federal Air Marshal Service to utilize risk-based
strategies, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3146 To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to allow the District of
Columbia to receive Federal funding under such Act, and for other
purposes.
S. 3149 To modify the penalties for violations of the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act of 1993.
S. 3156 To protect airline consumers in the case of cancelled flights.
S. 3157 To streamline siting processes for small cell deployment.
S. 3183 To require large ticket agents to adopt minimum customer service
standards for the purchase of air fares and related passenger air
transportation services. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3232 To amend the Communications Act of 1934 and title 17, United States Code,
to provide greater access to in-State television broadcast programming
for cable and satellite subscribers in certain counties.
S. 3238* To improve oversight by the Federal Communications Commission of the
wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.
S. 3255 To prohibit the President or a Federal agency from constructing,
operating, or offering wholesale or retail services on broadband
networks without authorization from Congress, and for other purposes.
S. 3264 To protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives
interstate, notwithstanding a patchwork of local and State prohibitions,
and to repeal Federal provisions related to switchblade knives which
burden citizens.
S. 3265* To require the Secretary of Commerce to undertake certain activities to
support waterfront community revitalization and resiliency, and for
other purposes.
S. 3270 To address the need for pilot development and encourage more individuals
to enter the field of aviation, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3273* To improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of
goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports, and for other
purposes.
S. 3277* To reduce regulatory burdens and streamline processes related to
commercial space activities, and for other purposes.
S. 3293 To provide for the use of unleaded aviation gasoline. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3296 To provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable
chemistry, and for other purposes.
S. 3301 To implement recommendations related to the safety of amphibious
passenger vessels, and for other purposes.
S. 3315 To allow for the taking of pinnipeds on the Columbia River and its
tributaries to protect endangered and threatened species of salmon and
other nonlisted fish species.
S. 3322 To establish a pilot program to provide flight training services to
veterans.
S. 3331 To provide for an equitable management of summer flounder based on
geographic, scientific, and economic data and for other purposes.
S. 3344 To enhance the early warning reporting requirements for motor vehicle
manufacturers, and for other purposes.
S. 3346 To establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, and for
other purposes.
S. 3347 To repeal the section of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012 that requires the Federal Communications Commission to
reallocate and auction the T-Band spectrum.
S. 3348 To establish the obligations of certain large business entities in the
United States, and for other purposes.
S. 3352 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations relating
to commercial motor vehicle drivers under the age of 21, and for other
purposes.
S. 3367** To amend certain transportation-related reporting requirements to improve
congressional oversight, reduce reporting burdens, and promote
transparency, and for other purposes. (P.L. 115-420)
S. 3374 To require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and
Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other
purposes.
S. 3389** To redesignate a facility of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. (P.L. 115-309)
S. 3395 To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
scientific research, and for other purposes.
S. 3400 To address the threat to national security from illegal, unreported, and
unregulated fishing and associated illegal activity, to prevent the
illegal trade of seafood and seafood products, and for other purposes.
S. 3418 To amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected
from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the
costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a
portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in
the general fund of the Treasury.
S. 3430 To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for the treatment of
certain seasonal airports. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3432 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules requiring the
inclusion of new safety equipment in school buses, and for other
purposes.
S. 3440 To require the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce
to provide estimates relating to the distribution of aggregate economic
growth across specific percentile groups of income.
S. 3441 To improve the program providing for private screening companies to
conduct security screening at airports, and for other purposes. (P.L.
115-254)
S. 3471 To direct the National Science Foundation to support STEM education
research focused on early childhood.
S. 3475 To require a report on multiagency use of airspace and environmental
review. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3491 To require the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a pilot program
to develop and provide to States and transportation planning
organizations accessibility data sets, and for other purposes.
S. 3511 To broaden unmanned aircraft systems safety awareness, and for other
purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3512 To amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize grants from the small
airport fund for the construction or improvement of a nonapproach
control tower.
S. 3513 To establish a deadline for the establishment of a process to allow
applicants to petition the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration to prohibit or restrict the operation of an unmanned
aircraft in close proximity to a fixed site facility. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3514 To amend title 49, United States Code, to encourage the use of zero-
emission vehicles and technology at public-use airports, and for other
purposes. (P.L. 115-254)
S. 3522 To establish a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council.
S. 3524 To provide for the carriage of certain television broadcast stations, and
for other purposes.
S. 3551 To adopt a certain California flammability standard as a Federal
flammability standard to protect against the risk of upholstered
furniture flammability, and for other purposes.
S. 3583 To direct the National Science Foundation to provide grants for research
about STEM education approaches and the STEM-related workforce, and for
other purposes.
S. 3603 To require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to implement a
national employer notification service.
S. 3617 To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
to determine the value of electromagnetic spectrum assigned or otherwise
allocated to Federal entities.
S. 3632 To provide that the special service obligations of a licensee under
section 331(a) of the Communications Act of 1934 shall continue to apply
even if the licensee changes from a very high frequency station to an
ultra high frequency station.
S. 3639 To prohibit the circumvention of control measures used by Internet
retailers to ensure equitable consumer access to products, and for other
purposes.
S. 3655 To deter criminal robocall violations and improve enforcement of section
227(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, and for other purposes.
S. 3668 To amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to eliminate the common carrier
exemption for telecommunications companies.
S. 3720 To authorize the Secretary of Transportation to provide loans for the
acquisition of electric buses and related infrastructure.
S. 3739 To amend the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 to modify the
membership of the Arctic Research Commission, to establish an Arctic
Executive Steering Committee, and for other purposes.
S. 3740 To establish a congressionally chartered seaway development corporation
in the Arctic, consistent with customary international law, with the
intention of uniting Arctic nations in a cooperative Arctic shipping
union, where voluntary collective maritime shipping fees will help fund
the infrastructural and environmental demands of safe and reliable
shipping in the region.
S. 3744 To establish duties for online service providers with respect to end user
data that such providers collect and use.
S. 3765 To require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, to help facilitate the
adoption of composite technology in infrastructure in the United States,
and for other purposes.
S. 3773 To require review and approval for future research on nonhuman primates,
and for other purposes.
S. 3778 To allow State manufacturing extension partnerships to award grants to
small- and medium-sized manufacturers for the purpose of training new
workers to replace departing experienced workers.
S. 3790 To impose criminal sanctions on certain persons involved in international
doping fraud conspiracies, to provide restitution for victims of such
conspiracies, and to require sharing of information with the United
States Anti-Doping Agency to assist its fight against doping, and for
other purposes.
S. 3799 To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and for other purposes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Resolutions:
Referred to Committee......................................... 28
Original measures from Committee.............................. 1
______
Total..................................................... 29
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Reported/discharged (*)....................................... 8
Reported/discharged and agreed to in the Senate (**).......... 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number Title as introduced
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Con. Res. 111 Recognizing and supporting the efforts of the United Bid Committee to
bring the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
World Cup competition to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
S.J. Res. 34** Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications
Commission relating to ``Protecting the Privacy of Customers of
Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services''. (P.L. 115-22)
S.J. Res. 52* Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5,
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications
Commission relating to ``Restoring Internet Freedom''.
S. Con. Res. 6 Supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.
S. Con. Res. 38 Recognizing and supporting the efforts of the United Bid Committee to
bring the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)
World Cup competition to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
S. Con. Res. 39 Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and the
significant contributions of the Skunk Works to the national security of
the United States.
S. Con. Res. 53 Honoring the 75th anniversary of the All-American Girls Professional
Baseball League.
S. Res. 20 Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
S. Res. 59 Expressing support for the designation of February 12, 2017, as ``Darwin
Day'' and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of
humanity.
S. Res. 124 Expressing the sense of the Senate that the National Sea Grant College
Program is a valuable program that protects and enhances the coastal
communities and economy of the United States.
S. Res. 132** Congratulating the Ashland University women's basketball team for winning
the 2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association division II
championship.
S. Res. 133** Congratulating the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team
for winning the 2016-2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association men's
basketball national championship.
S. Res. 134 Congratulating the University of South Carolina women's basketball team
for winning the 2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I
Women's Basketball Tournament Championship.
S. Res. 137** Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.
S. Res. 227** Recognizing ``National Youth Sports Week'' and the efforts by parents,
volunteers, and national organizations in their efforts to promote
healthy living and youth development.
S. Res. 242 Expressing the sense of the Senate about a strategy to deploy fifth
generation mobile networks (5G networks) and next-generation wireless
and wired technologies to promote economic development and digital
innovation throughout the United States.
S. Res. 294 Congratulating the Minnesota Lynx women's basketball team on winning the
2017 Women's National Basketball Association championship.
S. Res. 311 Honoring the Portland Thorns FC as the champion of the National Women's
Soccer League in 2017.
S. Res. 318** Honoring the Portland Thorns FC as the champion of the National Women's
Soccer League in 2017.
S. Res. 374 Expressing support for the designation of February 12, 2018, as ``Darwin
Day'' and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of
humanity.
S. Res. 392 Commemorating the success of the United States Olympic and Paralympic
Teams in the past 23 Olympic Winter Games and 11 Paralympic Winter Games
and supporting the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams in the
2018 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games.
S. Res. 395 Expressing the sense of the Senate that ambush marketing adversely
affects the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams.
S. Res. 411 Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the first 9-1-1 call in the United
States.
S. Res. 417 Congratulating the Minnesotans who competed on Team USA at the 2018
Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
S. Res. 523 Encouraging companies to apply privacy protections included in the
General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union to citizens of
the United States.
S. Res. 573 Expressing the sense of the Senate that climate change is real and that
the National Science Foundation should engage on the communication of
sound climate change science to the public.
S. Res. 660 Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 23
through September 29, 2018, as Rail Safety Week in the United States,
and supporting the goals and ideals of Rail Safety Week to reduce rail-
related accidents, fatalities, and injuries.
S. Res. 677 Congratulating the Seattle Storm women's basketball team on winning the
2018 Women's National Basketball Association championship.
S. Res. 687** Congratulating the Boston Red Sox on winning the 2018 World Series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Nominations
NOMINATIONS BY THE NUMBERS
There were 1,133 presidential nominations, including
promotions, referred to the Committee during the 115th
Congress.
Referred.......................................................... 1,133
Confirmed......................................................... 1,106
Renominations (returned to the President upon recess of Congress,
subsequently renominated)..................................... 0
Returned to the President upon adjournment of Congress............ 23
Withdrawn by the President........................................ 4
Amtrak [Board of Directors]:
Member........................................................ 4
______
Total..................................................... 4
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Chairman...................................................... 2
Commissioner.................................................. 6
______
Total..................................................... 8
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Corporation for Public Broadcasting [Board of Directors]:
Member........................................................ 8
______
Total..................................................... 8
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Department of Commerce:
Secretary of Commerce......................................... 1
Deputy Secretary of Commerce.................................. 2
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and
Information................................................. 1
Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs.............. 1
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the
United States and Foreign Commercial Service................ 1
General Counsel of the Department of Commerce................. 1
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere..... 1
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology...... 1
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere......... 2
Assistant Secretary of Commerce............................... 2
______
Total..................................................... 13
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Department of Homeland Security:
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security...................... 1
______
Total..................................................... 1
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Coast Guard:
Admiral....................................................... 2
Vice Admiral.................................................. 4
Rear Admiral, lower half...................................... 15
Captain....................................................... 144
Commander..................................................... 337
Lieutenant Commander.......................................... 527
Lieutenant.................................................... 1
______
Total..................................................... 1,030
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Coast Guard Reserve:
Rear Admiral, lower half...................................... 9
Captain....................................................... 22
______
Total..................................................... 31
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Department of Transportation:
Secretary of Transportation................................... 1
Deputy Secretary of Transportation............................ 1
Assistant Secretary of Transportation......................... 3
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy.................. 1
General Counsel of the Department of Transportation........... 1
Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration.............................................. 1
Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.......... 1
Administrator of the Maritime Administration.................. 1
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.............................................. 1
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration.............................................. 1
______
Total..................................................... 12
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Federal Communications Commission:
Member........................................................ 7
______
Total..................................................... 7
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Federal Trade Commission:
Commissioner.................................................. 6
______
Total..................................................... 6
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Metropolitan Washington Area Transit Authority [Board of
Directors]:
Member........................................................ 1
______
Total..................................................... 1
=================================================================
________________________________________________
National Aeronautics and Space Administration:
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.............................................. 2
Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.............................................. 1
______
Total..................................................... 3
=================================================================
________________________________________________
National Transportation Safety Board:
Chairman...................................................... 1
Member........................................................ 3
______
Total..................................................... 4
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Office of Science and Technology Policy:
Director...................................................... 1
______
Total..................................................... 1
=================================================================
________________________________________________
Surface Transportation Board:
Member........................................................ 4
______
Total..................................................... 4
=================================================================
________________________________________________
HEARINGS
The Committee held 19 nominations hearings during the 115th
Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 11, 2017* Nomination of Hon. Elaine L. Chao, to be Secretary of the
Department of Transportation (S.Hrg. 115-32)
January 18, 2017* Nomination of Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., to be Secretary of the
Department of Commerce (S.Hrg. 115-33)
March 29, 2017* Nomination of Jeffrey A. Rosen, to be Deputy Secretary of the
Department of Transportation (S.Hrg. 115-217)
June 8, 2017* Nominations of:
Derek Kan, of California, to be Under Secretary of Transportation
for Policy
David J. Redl, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for
Communications and Information, Department of Commerce
Robert L. Sumwalt, III, of South Carolina, to be Member of the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for a 5-year term
expiring December 16, 2021, and to be designated Vice Chairman for
a term of 2 years (S.Hrg. 115-222)
June 21, 2017* Nomination of Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske, to be Assistant
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (S.Hrg. 115-223)
June 28, 2017* Nominations of:
Steven Gill Bradbury, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the
Department of Transportation
Elizabeth Erin Walsh, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant
Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States
and Foreign Commercial Service (S.Hrg. 115-281)
July 19, 2017* Nominations of:
Ajit Varadaraj Pai, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Federal
Communications Commission (Reappointment)
Jessica Rosenworcel, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Federal
Communications Commission (Reappointment)
Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal
Communications Commission (S.Hrg. 115-478)
July 26, 2017* Nominations of:
Ronald L. Batory, of New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Federal
Railroad Administration
Mark Buzby, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Maritime
Administration
Peter B. Davidson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the
Department of Commerce
Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of
Commerce for Economic Affairs
September 27, 2017* Nominations of:
Hon. Ann Marie Buerkle, of New York, to be Chairman of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Timothy Gallaudet, of California, to be
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Howard R. Elliott, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the Pipeline
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Department of
Transportation
Dr. Walter G. Copan, of Colorado, to be Under Secretary of Commerce
for Standards and Technology
October 31, 2017* Nominations of:
Hon. Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to be a Director of the
Amtrak Board of Directors
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of
Transportation for Research and Technology
Bruce Landsberg, of South Carolina, to be a Member of the National
Transportation Safety Board
Raymond Martinez, of New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration
November 1, 2017* Nominations of:
Hon. James Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, to be Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Dana Baiocco, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product
Safety Commission
Dr. Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary of
Commerce, Environmental Observation and Prediction
Nazakhtar Nikakhtar of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of
Commerce, Industry and Analysis
November 29, 2017* Nomination of Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to be Under
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
February 14, 2018* Nominations of:
Joseph Simons, of Virginia, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner,
Chairman Designate
Rohit Chopra, of New York, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
Noah Joshua Phillips, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade
Commissioner
Christine S. Wilson, of Virginia, to be a Federal Trade
Commissioner
April 11, 2018* Nominations of:
Patrick J. Fuchs, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the Surface
Transportation Board
Michelle A. Schultz, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Surface
Transportation Board
Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade
Commissioner
April 17, 2018* Nomination of Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz to be promoted to
Admiral and to be Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
May 16, 2018* Nominations of:
Joseph Gruters, of Florida, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of
Directors
Jennifer Homendy, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National
Transportation Safety Board
Heidi King, of California, to be Administrator of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration
June 20, 2018* Nominations of:
Geoffrey Adam Starks, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Federal
Communications Commission
Peter Aaron Feldman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of
the Consumer Product Safety Commission
July 26, 2018* Nominations of:
Rick A. Dearborn, of Oklahoma, to be a Director of the Amtrak Board
of Directors
Martin J. Oberman, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Surface
Transportation Board
August 23, 2018* Nominations of:
Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, of Oklahoma, to be the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy
James ``Jim'' Morhard, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Joel Szabat, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation
and International Affairs at the Department of Transportation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
C. Full Committee
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
The Committee held 15 Executive Sessions during the 115th
Congress. Dates and agendas are below.
January 24, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
Rules Governing the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
Budget Resolution for the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
S. 19, MOBILE Now Act (Senate Report 115-4)
S. 81, Senior Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 (Senate
Report 115-141)
S. 88, Developing Innovation and Growing the
Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act (Senate Report 115-
90)
S. 89, A bill to amend title 46, United States
Code (Delta Queen bill) (Senate Report 115-5)
S. 96, Improving Rural Call Quality and
Reliability Act (Senate Report 115-6)
S. 102, Securing Access to Networks in Disasters
(SANDY) Act (Senate Report 115-24)
S. 110, Digital Coast Act (Senate Report 115-14)
S. 123, Kari's Law Act (Senate Report 115-124)
S. 129, National Sea Grant College Program
Amendments Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-15)
S. 134, Spoofing Prevention Act (Senate Report
115-91)
S. 141, Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act
(Senate Report 115-21)
S. 168, Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act
(Senate Report 115-16)
S. 171, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Amendments and Hydrographic Services Improvement
Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2017
(Senate Report 115-181)
S. 174, Federal Communications Commission
Consolidated Reporting Act (Senate Report 115-61)
H.R. 255, Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act
(waived Senate Report)
H.R. 321, Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers,
Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE)
Women Act (waived Senate Report)
Nomination of Elaine Chao, of Kentucky, to be
Secretary, Department of Transportation (Confirmed
January 31, 2017)
Nomination of Wilbur Ross, of Florida, to be
Secretary, Department of Commerce (Confirmed
February 27, 2017)
April 5, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 763, Surface and Maritime Transportation
Security Act (Senate Report 115-178)
S. 61, A bill to remove the sunset provision of
section 203 of Public Law 105-384 and for other
purposes (Senate Report 115-88)
S. 701, Made in America Manufacturing Communities
Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-204)
S. 756, Save Our Seas Act of 2017 (Senate Report
115-135)
S. 770, Making Available Information Now to
Strengthen Trust and Resilience and Enhance
Enterprise Technology (MAIN STREET) Cybersecurity
Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-153)
Nomination of Jeffrey A. Rosen, of Virginia, to be
Deputy Secretary of Transportation (Confirmed May
16, 2017)
May 18, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1129, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017
(Senate Report 115-89)
S. 118, Reinforcing American-Made Products Act of
2017 (Senate Report 115-203)
S. 396, A bill to make technical amendments to
certain marine fish conservation statutes, and for
other purposes (Senate Report 115-160)
S. 793, Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act of 2017
(Senate Report 115-388)
S. 1057, Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research
and Control Amendments Act of 2017 (Senate Report
115-145)
S. 1096, Maritime Administration Authorization and
Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Senate Report
115-136)
June 29, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1405, Federal Aviation Administration
Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-243)
S. 875, To require the Comptroller General of the
United States to conduct a study and submit a
report on filing requirements under the Universal
Service Fund programs (Senate Report 115-192)
S. 1426, United States Center for Safe Sport
Authorization Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-443)
S. 1393, Jobs for Our Heroes Act (Senate Report
115-161)
Nomination of Vice Admiral David P. Pekoske, of
Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland
Security, Transportation Security Administration
(Confirmed August 3, 2017)
Nomination of Robert L. Sumwalt III, of South
Carolina, to be a Member of the National
Transportation Safety Board (Confirmed August 3,
2017)
Nomination of Derek Kan, of California, to be
Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy
(Confirmed November 13, 2017)
August 2, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 374, Concrete Masonry Products Research,
Education, and Promotion Act of 2017 (Senate Report
115-218)
S. 754, Cyber Scholarship Opportunities Act of
2017 (Senate Report 115-263)
S. 1322, American Fisheries Advisory Committee Act
(Senate Report 115-193)
S. 1425, Coordinated Ocean Monitoring and Research
Act (Senate Report 115-186)
S. 1532, No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act
(Senate Report 115-188)
S. 1536, Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial
Vehicles Act (Senate Report 115-177)
S. 1586, Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity
Index Act (Senate Report 115-180)
S. 1621, Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017 (Senate
Report 115-206)
Nomination of Ajit Varadaraj Pai, of Kansas, to be
a Member of the Federal Communications Commission
(Reappointment) (Confirmed October 2, 2017)
Nomination of Jessica Rosenworcel, of Connecticut,
to be a Member of the Federal Communications
Commission (Reappointment) (Confirmed August 3,
2017)
Nomination of Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a
Member of the Federal Communications Commission (to
complete a term and for a new term beginning July
1, 2018) (Confirmed August 3, 2017--first term)
Nomination of Peter B. Davidson, of Virginia, to
be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce
(Confirmed August 3, 2017)
Nomination of Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic
Affairs (Confirmed August 3, 2017)
Nomination of Elizabeth Erin Walsh, of the
District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of
Commerce and Director General of the United States
and Foreign Commercial Service (Confirmed August 3,
2017)
Nomination of Steven Gill Bradbury, of Virginia,
to be General Counsel of the Department of
Transportation (Confirmed November 14, 2017)
Nomination of Mark Buzby, of Virginia, to be
Administrator of the Maritime Administration
(Confirmed August 3, 2017)
Nomination of Ronald L. Batory, of New Jersey, to
be Administrator of the Federal Railroad
Administration (Confirmed February 13, 2018)
Nomination of Robert L. Sumwalt III, of South
Carolina, to be Chairman of the National
Transportation Safety Board (Confirmed August 3,
2017)
October 4, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1885, American Vision for Safer Transportation
through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies
(AV START) Act (Senate Report 115-187)
S. 1872, TSA Modernization Act (Senate Report 115-
266)
S. 1015, National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act
of 2017 (Senate Report 115-213)
Nomination of Ann Marie Buerkle, to be Chairman of
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and
to be a Commissioner of the CPSC for a term of
seven years (Returned to President under Senate
Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Walter G. Copan, of Colorado, to be
Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and
Technology (Confirmed October 5, 2017)
Nomination of Howard R. Elliott, of Indiana, to be
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration, Department of
Transportation (Confirmed October 5, 2017)
Nomination of Timothy Gallaudet, of California, to
be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere (Confirmed October 5, 2017)
Nomination of David J. Redl, of New York, to be
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
and Information (Confirmed November 7, 2017)
November 8, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1693, Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017
(Senate Report 115-199)
S. 1668, A bill to rename a waterway in the State
of New York as the ``Joseph Sanford Jr. Channel''
(Senate Report 115-221)
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 (Returned to President under Senate Rule
XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of James Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, to
be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (Returned to President under
Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Neil Jacobs, of North Carolina, to
be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Confirmed
February 15, 2018)
Nomination of Bruce Landsberg, of South Carolina,
to be a Member of the National Transportation
Safety Board for a term expiring December 31, 2022
(Confirmed July 24, 2018)
Nomination of Raymond Martinez, of New Jersey, to
be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (Confirmed February 13, 2018)
Nomination of Nazakhtar Nikakhtar, of Maryland, to
be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Confirmed
March 19, 2018)
Nomination of Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland,
to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation
(Returned to President under Senate Rule XXXI,
paragraph 6)
Nomination of Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to
be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for
a term of five years (Returned to President under
Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
December 13, 2017--Consider and approve the following:
S. 2202, National Transportation Safety Board
Reauthorization Act (Senate Report 115-293)
S. 2200, National Integrated Drought Information
System Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Senate Report
115-256)
S. 1768, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 (Senate Report
115-336)
Nomination of Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to
be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere (Returned to President under Senate Rule
XXXI, paragraph 6)
Coast Guard Promotions (PN474--Confirmed in first
part December 14, 2017, and second part February
14, 2018; PN1174--Confirmed December 14, 2017;
PN1175--Confirmed December 14, 2017; PN1176--
Confirmed December 14, 2017; PN1259--Confirmed
December 14, 2017; PN1260--Confirmed December 14,
2017; PN1261--Confirmed December 14, 2017; and
PN1277--Confirmed December 14, 2017)
January 18, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
Nomination of Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to
be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for
a term of five years (Returned to President under
Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to
be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere (Returned to President under Senate Rule
XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland,
to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation
(Returned to President under Senate Rule XXXI,
paragraph 6)
Nomination of Brendan Carr, of Virginia, to be a
Member of the Federal Communications Commission for
a term of five years from July 1, 2018 (Confirmed
January 2, 2019)
Nomination of Ann Marie Buerkle, to be Chairman of
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and
to be a Commissioner of the CPSC for a term of
seven years (Returned to President under Senate
Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of James Bridenstine, of Oklahoma, to
be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (Confirmed April 19, 2018)
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 (Confirmed May 22, 2018)
February 28, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1520, Modernizing Recreational Fisheries
Management Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-264)
Nomination of Joseph Simons, of Virginia, to be a
Federal Trade Commissioner, Chairman Designate
(Confirmed April 26, 2018)
Nomination of Noah Joshua Phillips, of Maryland,
to be a Federal Trade Commissioner (Confirmed April
26, 2018)
Nomination of Christine Wilson, of Virginia, to be
a Federal Trade Commissioner (Confirmed April 26,
2018)
Nomination of Rohit Chopra, of New York, to be a
Federal Trade Commissioner (Confirmed April 26,
2018)
April 25, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 2717, Maritime Authorization and Enhancement
Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Senate Report 115-292)
S. 2369, Whaling Convention Amendments Act of 2018
(Senate Report 115-425)
S. 2511, CENOTE Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-
291)
S. 2343, Precision Agriculture Connectivity Act of
2018 (Senate Report 115-342)
Nomination of Vice Adm. Karl L. Schultz to Admiral
and to be Commandant of the United States Coast
Guard (Confirmed May 9, 2018)
Nomination of Vice Adm. Charles W. Ray to be Vice
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
(Confirmed May 16, 2018)
Nomination of Patrick Fuchs, of Wisconsin, to be a
Member of the Surface Transportation Board
(Confirmed January 2, 2019)
Nomination of Michelle A. Schultz, of
Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Surface
Transportation Board (Returned to President under
Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, of
Maryland, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
(Confirmed April 26, 2018)
Nomination of Rubydee Calvert, of Wyoming, to be a
Member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,
as the Public TV Stations Representative (Confirmed
May 24, 2018)
Nomination of Laura Gore Ross, of New York, to be
a Member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(Confirmed May 24, 2018)
Nomination of Alan E. Cobb, of Kansas, to be a
Member of the Board of Directors of the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
(Returned to President under Senate Rule XXXI,
paragraph 6)
May 22, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 2848, Fighting Opioid Abuse in Transportation
Act (Senate Report 115-286)
S. 2842, Opioid Addiction Recovery Fraud
Prevention Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-285)
S. 2844, STB Information Security Improvement Act
(Senate Report 115-322)
S. 2764, Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act
of 2018 (Senate Report 115-442)
S. 2418, Rural Reasonable and Comparable Wireless
Access Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-345)
Nomination of Joseph Ryan Gruters, of Florida, to
be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors
(Returned to President under Senate Rule XXXI,
paragraph 6)
Nomination of Jennifer L. Homendy, of Virginia, to
be a Member of the National Transportation Safety
Board (Confirmed July 24, 2018)
Coast Guard Promotions (PN1883--Confirmed May 24,
2018; PN1882--Confirmed May 24, 2018; PN1881--
Confirmed May 24, 2018; PN1874--Confirmed May 24,
2018; PN1873--Confirmed May 24, 2018; PN1872--
Confirmed May 24, 2018; PN1871--Confirmed May 24,
2018; and PN1530--Confirmed May 24, 2018)
June 27, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 645, Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband
Act of 2017 (Senate Report 115-341)
S. 1092, Interstate Transport Act of 2017 (Senate
Report 115-327)
S. 1896, TSA LEAP Pay Reform Act of 2017 (waived
Senate Report)
S. 2941, Strengthening the Cooperative Observer
Program Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-357)
S. 3094, Transportation Worker Identification
Credential Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-305)
H.R. 4254, Women in Aerospace Education Act
(waived Senate Report)
H.R. 4467, Strengthening Aviation Security Act
(waived Senate Report)
H.R. 4559, Global Aviation System Security Reform
Act (waived Senate Report)
Nomination of Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce (Confirmed
November 28, 2018)
Nomination of Heidi R. King, of California, to be
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (Returned to President under
Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Geoffrey Adam Starks, of Kansas, to
be a Member of the Federal Communications
Commission (Confirmed January 2, 2019)
Nomination of Peter A. Feldman, of the District of
Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission (Confirmed September 25,
2018; 2d term September 26, 2018)
Promotion of Coast Guard Rear Admiral Andrew S.
McKinley (Confirmed July 18, 2018)
August 1, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 3277, Space Frontier Act of 2018 (Senate Report
115-397)
S. 2242, COASTAL Implementation Act of 2017
(Senate Report 115-347)
S. 2861, Passenger Rail Crew Protection Parity Act
(Senate Report 115-356)
S. 3119, Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention
Act (Senate Report 115-400)
S. 3143, National Quantum Initiative Act (Senate
Report 115-389)
S. 3265, Waterfront Community Revitalization and
Resiliency Act of 2018 (Senate Report 115-348)
S. 3273, Port Operations, Research, and Technology
Act (Senate Report 115-324)
Nomination of Martin Oberman, of Illinois, to be a
Member of the Surface Transportation Board
(Confirmed January 2, 2019)
September 5, 2018--Consider and approve the following:
S. 1965, Allowing Alaska IVORY Act (Senate Report
115-415)
S. 2773, Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch
Reduction Act (Senate Report 115-430)
S. 3367, Department of Transportation Reports
Harmonization Act (Senate Report 115-390)
H.R. 4323, Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act
(waived Senate Report)
Nomination of Rick Dearborn, of Oklahoma, to be a
Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors (Returned
to President under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6)
Nomination of Kelvin Droegemeier, of Oklahoma, to
be Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (Confirmed January 2, 2019)
Nomination of James Morhard, of Virginia, to be
Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (Confirmed October 11,
2018)
Nomination of Joel Szabat, of Maryland, to be an
Assistant Secretary of Transportation (Confirmed
January 2, 2019)
HEARINGS
The Committee held 47 full Committee hearings, including 9
field hearings and 1 joint hearing, during the 115th Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 1, 2017 A Growth Agenda: Reducing Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens (S.Hrg.
115-110)
February 8, 2017 A Look Ahead: Inspector General Recommendations for Improving
Federal Agencies (S.Hrg. 115-59)
March 1, 2017 Connecting America: Improving Access to Infrastructure for
Communities Across the Country (S.Hrg. 115-60)
March 8, 2017 Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (S.Hrg. 115-138)
March 15, 2017 Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Innovation, Integrations, Successes, and
Challenges (S.Hrg. 115-62)
March 22, 2017 The Promises and Perils of Emerging Technologies for Cybersecurity
(S.Hrg. 115-140)
March 29, 2017 Closing the Skills Gap and Boosting U.S. Competitiveness (S.Hrg.
115-152)
April 10, 2017* Extreme Weather and Coastal Flooding: What Is Happening Now, What
Is the Future Risk, and What Can We Do About It? (S.Hrg. 115-67)
May 3, 2017 Investing in America's Broadband Infrastructure: Exploring Ways to
Reduce Barriers to Deployment (S.Hrg. 115-153)
May 17, 2017 Current Issues in American Sports: Protecting the Health and Safety
of American Athletes (S.Hrg. 115-218)
June 7, 2017 FAA Reauthorization: Administration Perspectives (S.Hrg. 115-221)
June 14, 2017 Paving the Way for Self-Driving Vehicles (S.Hrg. 115-279)
July 12, 2017 Force Multipliers: How Transportation and Supply Chain Stakeholders
Are Combating Human Trafficking (S.Hrg. 115-282)
August 10, 2017* Threats Facing Florida's Tourism Driven Economy (S.Hrg. 115-226)
August 23, 2017* Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act: Oversight of Fisheries Management Successes and
Challenges (S.Hrg. 115-432)
September 6, 2017 Risk of Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Federal Communications
Commission's Lifeline Program
September 13, 2017 Transportation Innovation: Automated Trucks and Our Nation's
Highways (S.Hrg. 115-434)
September 19, 2017 S. 1693, The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017
October 13, 2017* Expanding Broadband Infrastructure in the Granite State
October 25, 2017 The Commercial Satellite Industry: What's Up and What's on the
Horizon
November 8, 2017 Protecting Consumers in the Era of Major Data Breaches
January 17, 2018 Terrorism and Social Media: #IsBigTechDoingEnough? (S.Hrg. 115-316)
January 24, 2018* Driving Automotive Innovation and Federal Policies
January 25, 2018 This Is Not a Drill: An Examination of Emergency Alert Systems
January 30, 2018 Growing the Future: Opportunities to Support Domestic Seafood
Through Aquaculture
January 30, 2018 One Year Later: The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act
March 1, 2018 Implementation of Positive Train Control
March 14, 2018 Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Administration Perspectives
March 20, 2018 Update on NHTSA and Automaker Efforts to Repair Defective Takata
Air Bag Inflators
April 5, 2018* Hawaii False Missile Alert: What Happened and What Should We Do
Next?
April 10, 2018 Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data
April 12, 2018 Are We Ready for the Next Hurricane Season? Status of Preparation
and Response Capabilities for 2018
April 18, 2018 Abusive Robocalls and How We Can Stop Them
June 13, 2018 Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
July 11, 2018 Complex Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Lessons Learned From Spectre
and Meltdown
July 18, 2018 SHARKS!
July 25, 2018 The Race to 5G: Exploring Spectrum Needs to Maintain U.S. Global
Leadership
August 16, 2018 Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
August 20, 2018* Pipeline Safety in the Great Lakes: Incident Prevention and
Response Efforts at the Straits of Mackinac
September 5, 2018 Keeping Our Skies Secure: Oversight of the Transportation Security
Administration
September 13, 2018 Transportation of Tomorrow: Emerging Technologies That Will Move
America
September 26, 2018 Examining Safeguards for Consumer Data Privacy
October 3, 2018 Implementation of Positive Train Control
October 4, 2018 Broadband: Opportunities and Challenges in Rural America
October 10, 2018 Consumer Data Privacy: Examining Lessons From the European Union's
General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer
Privacy Act
October 12, 2018* The Race to 5G: A View From the Field
November 26, 2018* Pipeline Safety in the Merrimack Valley: Incident Prevention and
Response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Field hearing.
Joint hearing with the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
D. Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS\3,\\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ In addition to the members listed for each individual
subcommittee, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the full Committee
serve as ex officio members of all subcommittees.
\4\ Senator Jon Tester joined the subcommittee on January 9, 2018,
following the departure of Senator Cory A. Booker, who served on the
subcommittee from October 31, 2013, until January 8, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Blunt (Chairman) Senator Cantwell (Ranking)
Senator Wicker Senator Klobuchar
Senator Cruz Senator Blumenthal
Senator Fischer Senator Schatz
Senator Moran Senator Markey
Senator Sullivan Senator Udall
Senator Heller Senator Peters
Senator Inhofe Senator Baldwin
Senator Lee Senator Duckworth
Senator Capito Senator Hassan
Senator Gardner Senator Tester
Senator Young
The Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and
Security dedicated itself to advancing legislation to make
aviation safer and more secure for the flying public.
Following a comprehensive series of hearings to examine the
wide-ranging issues for consideration in the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) reauthorization, the subcommittee
developed and considered the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017
(S. 1405). In parallel to the drafting of that safety and
infrastructure legislation, the subcommittee also held hearings
on improving aviation security and on oversight of the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that informed the
development of the TSA Modernization Act (S. 1872).
After extensive bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, key
features of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017 and the TSA
Modernization Act were included in H.R. 302, the legislative
vehicle for the FAA and TSA reauthorizations. Key provisions of
the Committee-passed S. 1405 that were included as part of H.R.
302 address airline safety, funding for airport infrastructure,
the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into
the National Airspace System, rural access to the aviation
network, and improving consumer protections for the traveling
public. Similarly, security provisions from the TSA
Modernization Act that reform the TSA's organizational
structure, advance deployment of improved screening
technologies and explosive detection canines, promote security
in public areas, and mitigate airport security delays were also
included within H.R. 302.
The Senate approved H.R. 302 by a vote of 93-to-6, and the
bill became Public Law 115-254.
The subcommittee also assisted in the development of the
Preventing Emerging Threats Act, which provides certain UAS-
mitigation authorities to the Departments of Homeland Security
and Justice, and the National Transportation Safety Board
Reauthorization Act (S. 2202), both of which were enacted as
divisions of Public Law 115-254.
HEARINGS
This subcommittee held 9 hearings during the 115th
Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 16, 2017 Stakeholder Perspectives on Improving TSA for the Security of the
Traveling Public (S.Hrg. 115-42)
March 15, 2017* Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Innovation, Integrations, Successes, and
Challenges (S.Hrg. 115-62)
March 23, 2017 FAA Reauthorization: Perspectives on Improving Airport
Infrastructure and Aviation Manufacturing (S.Hrg. 115-64)
April 6, 2017 FAA Reauthorization: Perspectives on Rural Air Service and the
General Aviation Community (S.Hrg. 115-66)
May 4, 2017 Questions, Answers, and Perspectives on the Current State of
Airline Travel (S.Hrg. 115-154)
June 7, 2017* FAA Reauthorization: Administration Perspectives (S.Hrg. 115-221)
September 28, 2017 TSA Modernization: Improvements to Aviation Security (S.Hrg. 115-
436)
May 8, 2018 Keeping Pace With Innovation--Update on the Safe Integration of
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Into the Airspace
September 5, 2018* Keeping Our Skies Secure: Oversight of the Transportation Security
Administration
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
E. Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the
Internet
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS\5\
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Wicker (Chairman) Senator Schatz (Ranking)
Senator Blunt Senator Cantwell
Senator Cruz Senator Klobuchar
Senator Fischer Senator Blumenthal
Senator Moran Senator Markey
Senator Sullivan Senator Udall
Senator Heller Senator Peters
Senator Inhofe Senator Baldwin
Senator Lee Senator Duckworth
Senator Johnson Senator Hassan
Senator Capito Senator Cortez Masto
Senator Gardner Senator Tester
Senator Young
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Senator Jon Tester joined the subcommittee on January 9, 2018,
following the departure of Senator Cory A. Booker, who served on the
subcommittee from October 31, 2013, until January 8, 2018.
The Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation,
and the Internet worked on legislative items to advance next-
generation broadband services, reauthorize the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) for the first time in nearly 30
years, and protect individuals by cracking down on the use of
websites for illegal sex trafficking.
With the passage of MOBILE NOW (S. 19) as part of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141), the
Committee made a down payment on the spectrum and
infrastructure needs essential to securing American leadership
in the race for 5G. MOBILE NOW streamlines deployment on
Federal lands, encourages more efficient deployment in rights
of way, promotes availability of mid-band spectrum for both
licensed and unlicensed use, and prepares for mobile use of
high-band spectrum. MOBILE NOW requires that the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration and the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) identify a total of at
least 255 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal spectrum for
mobile and fixed wireless broadband use, securing spectrum for
both licensed and unlicensed use.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 reauthorizes the
FCC for the first time in 28 years, a long-overdue step in
exercising oversight of this important agency.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 contains a number
of additional provisions designed to do the following: give law
enforcement and the FCC additional authority to stop fraudulent
telephone calls from persons using false caller identification
information; speed the recovery of communications
infrastructure after natural disasters; require the FCC to
standardize its wireless coverage data; and provide support
necessary to ensure successful completion of the broadcast
incentive auction spectrum repack.
Kari's Law (P.L. 115-127), signed into law in February
2018, requires that most new multi-line phone systems, such as
those commonly found in hotels, schools, and hospitals, allow
direct dialing to 9-1-1. This is designed to allow immediate
access to emergency services in circumstances where callers may
not be familiar with requirements to dial some prefix, as is
often the case with multi-line systems.
With enactment of the Improving Rural Call Quality and
Reliability Act (P.L. 115-129), the Committee has given Federal
regulators powerful new tools to address the problems of poor
call quality and dropped calls in rural America, a problem
threatening the safety and economic well-being of America's
rural communities.
The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex
Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA) was signed into law on April
11, 2018 (P.L. 115-164), and includes the text of the Stop
Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (S. 1693; SESTA). The Act creates
new accountability for websites hosting ads posted by sex
traffickers, allows State attorneys general to prosecute
websites that knowingly facilitate trafficking, and enhances
criminal penalties for traffickers. Prior to the law's
enactment, the Committee held a legislative hearing on SESTA on
September 19, 2017, that examined efforts to protect children
and other vulnerable individuals from criminal exploitation
involving online platforms as well as potential impacts on the
operation of the Internet.
The National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act of 2017 (P.L.
115-233), signed into law on August 14, 2018, will assess if
implementing a nationwide, dedicated, three-digit dialing code
for suicide prevention and mental health (akin to 911 and 411)
would be beneficial in preventing suicides. It requires the
FCC, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Mental
Health and Substance Use at the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), to
conduct a study to explore the effects of using a three-digit
dialing code, similar to 911, for a national suicide prevention
and mental health crisis line. It will examine the
effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline, including how well it addresses the needs of
veterans.
The Committee had before it the Streamlining The Rapid
Evolution And Modernization of Leading-edge Infrastructure
Necessary to Enhance Small Cell Deployment Act (S. 3157) or the
STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act. The STREAMLINE Small Cell
Deployment Act represents the critical next step to ensuring
America retains leadership in next-generation
telecommunications. It seeks to eliminate bureaucratic red tape
and excessive government fees unnecessarily slowing the
deployment of small cell networks while preserving important
local authority over safety and aesthetics and ensuring
localities can seek compensation for direct and reasonable
costs.
As part of the full Committee's oversight responsibilities,
the subcommittee led a hearing to examine policy issues before
the FCC and review the Commission's ongoing duties and
responsibilities. The subcommittee convened a hearing entitled
``There's an App for That: Trends in Mobile Technologies'' that
allowed members to discuss the state of the mobile app economy
and its role in fostering job creation, innovation, and
technology investment in the United States.
International Internet policies impacting the
competitiveness and investment of U.S. businesses domestically
and abroad in the global digital economy were discussed during
the subcommittee's hearing entitled ``The Internet and Digital
Communications: Examining the Impact of Global Internet
Governance.'' The subcommittee also held a hearing entitled
``Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Investing in Next
Generation Broadband'' that reviewed lessons learned from past
programs to advance telecommunication capabilities while
looking forward to future initiatives to help close the digital
divide.
HEARINGS
This subcommittee held 22 hearings, including 3 field
hearings, during the 115th Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2, 2017 Exploring the Value of Spectrum to the U.S. Economy (S.Hrg. 115-90)
March 8, 2017* Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (S.Hrg. 115-138)
May 3, 2017* Investing in America's Broadband Infrastructure: Exploring Ways to
Reduce Barriers to Deployment (S.Hrg. 115-153)
June 20, 2017 The Universal Service Fund and Rural Broadband Investment (S.Hrg.
115-280)
July 20, 2017 An Update on FirstNet (S.Hrg. 115-479)
September 6, 2017* Risk of Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Federal Communications
Commission's Lifeline Program
September 19, 2017* S. 1693, The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017
October 13, 2017* Expanding Broadband Infrastructure in the Granite State
October 25, 2017* The Commercial Satellite Industry: What's Up and What's on the
Horizon
November 7, 2017 Advancing the Internet of Things in Rural America
December 12, 2017 Digital Decision-Making: The Building Blocks of Machine Learning
and Artificial Intelligence
January 25, 2018* This Is Not a Drill: An Examination of Emergency Alert Systems
March 13, 2018 Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Investing in Next Generation
Broadband
April 5, 2018* Hawaii False Missile Alert: What Happened and What Should We Do
Next?
April 18, 2018* Abusive Robocalls and How We Can Stop Them
May 15, 2018 There's an App for That: Trends in Mobile Technologies
June 13, 2018* Oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration
July 25, 2018* The Race to 5G: Exploring Spectrum Needs to Maintain U.S. Global
Leadership
July 31, 2018 The Internet and Digital Communications: Examining the Impact of
Global Internet Governance
August 16, 2018* Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
October 4, 2018* Broadband: Opportunities and Challenges in Rural America
October 12, 2018* The Race to 5G: A View From the Field
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
Field hearing.
F. Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and
Data Security
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS\6\
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Moran (Chairman) Senator Blumenthal (Ranking)
Senator Blunt Senator Klobuchar
Senator Cruz Senator Markey
Senator Fischer Senator Udall
Senator Heller Senator Duckworth
Senator Inhofe Senator Hassan
Senator Lee Senator Cortez Masto
Senator Capito Senator Schatz
Senator Young
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Senator Brian Schatz joined the subcommittee on January 9,
2018, following the departure of Senator Cory A. Booker, who served on
the subcommittee from October 31, 2013, until January 8, 2018.
The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety,
Insurance, and Data Security worked to protect consumers from
unfair and deceptive practices by, among other things,
investigating and exposing a ``robocall mastermind'' who was
contributing to the scourge of unsolicited robocalls, holding
firms accountable for failing to protect consumer privacy, and
legislating and conducting oversight in response to troubling
revelations about sexual abuse in Olympic and amateur sports.
The United States Center for Safe Sport Authorization Act
(S. 1426) was referred to the Committee under the
subcommittee's jurisdiction and ultimately became part of
Public Law 115-126 after being merged with S. 534, a bill
introduced by Senator Feinstein. The Act addresses the response
to and prevention of sexual abuse of minors and amateur
athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to
law enforcement and authorizing the United States Center for
Safe Sport to serve as an independent entity to safeguard
amateur athletes against abuse, including emotional, physical
and sexual abuse in sports.
Other legislation reported favorably out of Committee that
falls within the subcommittee's jurisdiction includes: S. 118,
the Reinforcing American Made Products Act; S. 374, the
Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion
Act; and S. 2842, the Opioid Addiction Recovery Fraud
Prevention Act.
In addition to legislation, the subcommittee was
particularly active with respect to oversight of Olympic and
amateur sports in the aftermath of the conviction of Dr. Larry
Nasser, a former physician for the U.S.A. Gymnastics team, on
Federal child pornography charges, and allegations of sexual
abuse of hundreds of child athletes over decades. The
subcommittee held three oversight hearings on the matter, at
one point subpoenaing the appearance of the former chief
executive officer of U.S.A. Gymnastics (who ultimately asserted
his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination) and the
former president of Michigan State University, where Dr. Nasser
was an assistant professor and team physician.
The subcommittee also has diligently worked to enhance
driver safety by reporting favorably S. 1885, the American
Vision for Safer Transportation Through Advancement of
Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act. This bill is
intended to advance the development and deployment of highly
automated vehicles in a safe and responsible manner, while
avoiding unreasonable restrictions on the introduction of the
technology into interstate commerce.
As part of its oversight responsibilities, the subcommittee
contributed significantly to a joint Commerce Committee and
Judiciary Committee hearing with Facebook chief executive
officer Mark Zuckerberg entitled ``Facebook, Social Media
Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data'' held on April 10,
2018. The subcommittee also convened a follow-on hearing
entitled ``Cambridge Analytica and Other Facebook Partners:
Examining Data Privacy Risks.'' In addition to these hearings,
the subcommittee also contributed significantly to a full
committee hearing entitled ``Protecting Consumers in the Era of
Major Data Breaches'' that featured testimony from the current
and former chief executive officers of Equifax and Yahoo!
regarding the data breaches affecting hundreds of millions of
consumers. The subcommittee also convened a hearing entitled
``Data Security and Bug Bounty Programs: Lessons Learned from
the Uber Breach and Security Researchers.'' These hearings
represented a part of the Committee's efforts to hold firms
accountable for failing to protect consumer privacy.
The subcommittee also substantially contributed to the full
committee hearing entitled, ``Abusive Robocalls and How We Can
Stop Them,'' that featured a subpoenaed witness who faced $120
million in penalties from the FCC.
HEARINGS
This subcommittee held 23 hearings, including 1 field
hearing and 1 joint hearing, during the 115th Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 21, 2017 Staying A Step Ahead: Fighting Back Against Scams Used to Defraud
Americans (S.Hrg. 115-139)
March 22, 2017* The Promises and Perils of Emerging Technologies for Cybersecurity
(S.Hrg. 115-140)
May 17, 2017* Current Issues in American Sports: Protecting the Health and Safety
of American Athletes (S.Hrg. 115-218)
May 24, 2017 Pool Safety: The Tenth Anniversary of the Virginia Graeme Baker
Pool and Spa Safety Act (S.Hrg. 115-220)
June 14, 2017* Paving the Way for Self-Driving Vehicles (S.Hrg. 115-279)
August 3, 2017 Insurance Fraud in America: Current Issues Facing Industry and
Consumers (S.Hrg. 115-431)
September 26, 2017 FTC Stakeholder Perspectives: Reform Proposals to Improve Fairness,
Innovation, and Consumer Welfare
November 8, 2017* Protecting Consumers in the Era of Major Data Breaches
November 14, 2017 Technology in Agriculture: Data-Driven Farming
January 17, 2018* Terrorism and Social Media: #IsBigTechDoingEnough? (S.Hrg. 115-316)
January 24, 2018* Driving Automotive Innovation and Federal Policies
February 6, 2018 Data Security and Bug Bounty Programs: Lessons Learned From the
Uber Breach and Security Researchers
March 20, 2018* Update on NHTSA and Automaker Efforts to Repair Defective Takata
Air Bag Inflators
April 10, 2018* Facebook, Social Media Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data
April 18, 2018 Olympic Abuse: The Role of National Governing Bodies in Protecting
Our Athletes
June 5, 2018 Preventing Abuse in Olympic and Amateur Athletics: Ensuring a Safe
and Secure Environment for Our Athletes
June 19, 2018 Cambridge Analytica and Other Face
July 11, 2018* Complex Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Lessons Learned From Spectre
and Meltdown
July 24, 2018 Strengthening and Empowering U.S. Amateur Athletes: Moving Forward
With Solutions
September 26, 2018* Examining Safeguards for Consumer Data Privacy
October 3, 2018 Protecting U.S. Amateur Athletes: Examining Abuse Prevention
Efforts Across the Olympic Movement
October 10, 2018* Consumer Data Privacy: Examining Lessons From the European Union's
General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer
Privacy Act
November 27, 2018 Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
Field hearing.
Joint hearing with the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
G. Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\H.R. 6452, a bill to implement the Convention on the
Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the
North Pacific Ocean, to implement the Convention on the Conservation
and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific
Ocean, and for other purposes, was not referred to the Committee, but
became Public Law 114-327.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS\8,\\9\
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Sullivan (Chairman) Senator Baldwin (Ranking)
Senator Wicker Senator Cantwell
Senator Fischer Senator Blumenthal
Senator Inhofe Senator Schatz
Senator Lee Senator Markey
Senator Johnson Senator Peters
Senator Gardner
Senator Young
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\Senator Tammy Baldwin became the ranking member on the
subcommittee for the 115th Congress on January 9, 2018, following
Senator Gary Peters, who served as the ranking member on the
subcommittee for the 115th Congress until January 8, 2018.
\9\Senator Cory A. Booker served on the subcommittee for the 115th
Congress until January 8, 2018.
The Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and
Coast Guard passed legislation in all areas of the
subcommittee's jurisdiction. Major legislation improving the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's weather
prediction and Coast Guard's regulation of ballast water were
priorities, but bills addressing issues as diverse as harmful
algal blooms and recreational fisheries were also enacted into
law.
WEATHER
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
(P.L. 115-25) was enacted on April 18, 2018. This comprehensive
legislation directs the National Weather Service to improve
seasonal to subseasonal weather forecasting, which will allow
farmers and ranchers to make more informed business decisions.
It also authorizes funding for weather research, provides
programmatic direction for the National Weather Service,
improves forecast communication for severe weather, and
improves the current watch and warning system. The legislation
was developed over several Congresses with over 100 stakeholder
meetings, several hearings, and multiple bills earlier
contributing to Public Law 115-25.
The National Integrated Drought Information System
Reauthorization Act of 2018 was enacted on January 7, 2019
(P.L. 115-423), and authorizes funding for the National
Integrated Drought Information System. It also requires the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to
develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture
monitoring.
FISH
H.R. 4528, a bill to make technical amendments that clarify
an exemption in the Billfish Conservation Act of 2012 (16
U.S.C. 1827a; Act of 2012), was enacted as Public Law 115-228
on August 2, 2018. The Act corrects a drafting error in the Act
of 2012 and specifies that billfish can only be landed and
retained in Hawaii, thus ensuring billfish are not routed
through Hawaii and sold to the U.S. mainland.
COAST GUARD
The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018
was enacted on December 4, 2018 (P.L. 115-282). This
comprehensive legislation authorizes funding for the Coast
Guard's operating expenses, procurements, and other major
accounts, as well as an end-of-year strength for Active Duty
personnel, for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. The Act contains
over 20 legislative requests from the Coast Guard, several of
which give Coast Guard parity with the other military services,
including hiring and contracting authority and defense against
unmanned aerial systems. The Act also provides the Coast Guard
enhanced maritime law enforcement and national defense
authorities to protect U.S. vessels and critical assets from
surface and airborne threats.
VIDA
The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) was enacted on
December 4, 2018, as part of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-282). This Act provides a
nationwide uniform standard for vessel discharges and ballast
water standards. It replaces an inconsistent and unmanageable
patchwork of standards for each State or port. National
standards provide predictability for the maritime industry and
technology providers that will encourage investment in
innovative systems that both ease commerce and improve
environmental protection.
HEARINGS
This subcommittee held 23 hearings, including 4 field
hearings, during the 115th Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 22, 2017 State of the Coast Guard: Ensuring Military, National Security, and
Enforcement Capability and Readiness (S.Hrg. 115-63)
April 10, 2017* Extreme Weather and Coastal Flooding: What Is Happening Now What Is
the Future Risk, and What Can We Do About It? (S.Hrg. 115-67)
June 27, 2017 Marine Sanctuaries: Fisheries, Access, the Environment, and
Maritime Heritage (S.Hrg. 115-224)
July 25, 2017 Efforts on Marine Debris in the Oceans and Great Lakes (S.Hrg. 115-
225)
August 1, 2017 Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act: NOAA and Council Perspectives
August 10, 2017* Threats Facing Florida's Tourism Driven Economy (S.Hrg. 115-226)
August 23, 2017* Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act: Oversight of Fisheries Management Successes and
Challenges (S.Hrg. 115-432)
September 12, 2017 Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act: Oversight of Fisheries Management Successes and
Challenges (S.Hrg. 115-433)
October 24, 2017 Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act: Fisheries Science
October 31, 2017 Exploring Native American Subsistence Rights and International
Treaties
November 16, 2017 Coast Guard Readiness: How Far Can We Stretch Our Nation's Only
Multi-Mission, Military Force?
December 12, 2017 National Ocean Policy: Stakeholder Perspectives
January 30, 2018* Growing the Future: Opportunities to Support Domestic Seafood
Through Aquaculture
April 12, 2018* Are We Ready for the Next Hurricane Season? Status of Preparation
and Response Capabilities for 2018
April 25, 2018 Enhancing the Marine Mammal Protection Act
June 5, 2018 A Decade of the Digital Coast Partnership Program: Successes and
Opportunities
July 18, 2018* SHARKS!
July 24, 2018 NOAA's Blue Economy Initiative: Supporting Commerce in American
Oceans and Great Lakes
August 28, 2018 Harmful Algal Blooms: The Impact on Our Nation's Waters
September 18, 2018 Fish Fights: An Examination of Conflicts Over Ocean Resources
October 11, 2018 The Future of the Fleets: Coast Guard and NOAA Ship
Recapitalization
October 20, 2018 The State of Our Salmon
December 6, 2018 Preparing for Maritime Transportation in a Changing Arctic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
Field hearing.
H. Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Cruz (Chairman) Senator Markey (Ranking)
Senator Moran Senator Schatz
Senator Sullivan Senator Udall
Senator Lee Senator Peters
Senator Johnson Senator Baldwin
Senator Capito Senator Hassan
Senator Gardner
The Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness
held hearings setting the stage for legislation directing
policies and streamlining regulations developed by the agencies
under its jurisdiction. The subcommittee has been especially
active on civil space issues this Congress and spent much time
devoted to understanding the regulatory barriers that affect
U.S. companies' abilities to compete globally in the commercial
space sector. Building on the hearing record and oversight
efforts, Subcommittee Chairman Cruz, Subcommittee Ranking
Member Markey, along with full Committee Ranking Member Nelson,
introduced S. 3277, the Space Frontier Act of 2018, on July 25,
2018. Seen as supplemental to the U.S. Commercial Space Launch
Competitiveness Act (P.L. 114-90), S. 3277 would streamline and
reform the regulatory framework for commercial space launch and
reentry operations, Earth observation operations, and sustain
the utilization of the International Space Station (ISS). An
amended version of S. 3277 passed the Senate by unanimous
consent on December 20, 2018.
Building off the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2017
(P.L. 115-10), which was signed into law at the beginning of
the 115th Congress, the subcommittee spent time examining
NASA's plans for the future, with a heightened focus on the
role of the ISS and NASA's plans for human exploration of our
solar system. These efforts informed S. 3799, the NASA
Authorization Act of 2018, which the subcommittee introduced on
December 19, 2018.
The subcommittee also met with numerous stakeholders to
inform the development of legislation prioritizing quantum
information science. S. 3143, the National Quantum Initiative
Act, was introduced by Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson
on June 26, 2018, and a House companion, H.R. 6227, was enacted
on December 21, 2018 (P.L. 115-368). S. 3143 would prioritize
and coordinate Federal quantum research, facilitate development
of quantum standards and measures, create a stronger workforce
pipeline to maintain U.S. economic and national security, and
ultimately give the United States a competitive advantage in
key emerging technologies. The bill was ordered to be reported
on August 1, 2018.
Finally, the subcommittee refined and facilitated the mark-
up of cybersecurity legislation at the full Committee, leading
to enactment of both S. 754, the Cyber Scholarship
Opportunities Act, and S. 770, the MAIN STREET Cybersecurity
Act, in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2018 (P.L. 115-91) and John S. McCain National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232).
HEARINGS
The subcommittee held 10 hearings during the 115th
Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 29, 2017* Closing the Skills Gap and Boosting U.S. Competitiveness (S.Hrg.
115-152)
April 26, 2017 Reopening the American Frontier: Reducing Regulatory Barriers and
Expanding American Free Enterprise in Space (S.Hrg. 115-68)
May 23, 2017 Reopening the American Frontier: Exploring How the Outer Space
Treaty Will Impact American Commerce and Settlement in Space
(S.Hrg. 115-219)
July 13, 2017 Reopening the American Frontier: Promoting Partnerships Between
Commercial Space and the U.S. Government to Advance Exploration
and Settlement (S.Hrg. 115-283)
January 30, 2018* One Year Later: The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act
May 16, 2018 Examining the Future of the International Space Station:
Administration Perspectives
June 6, 2018 Examining the Future of the International Space Station:
Stakeholder Perspectives
July 25, 2018 Destination Mars: Putting American Boots on the Surface of the Red
Planet
August 1, 2018 The Search for Life: Utilizing Science to Explore Our Solar System
and Make New Discoveries
September 26, 2018 Global Space Race: Ensuring the United States Remains the Leader in
Space
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
I. Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
Infrastructure, Safety and Security
MEMBERS DURING THE 115TH CONGRESS\10\
Republicans: Democrats:
Senator Fischer (Chairman) Senator Peters (Ranking)
Senator Wicker Senator Cantwell
Senator Blunt Senator Klobuchar
Senator Heller Senator Blumenthal
Senator Inhofe Senator Udall
Senator Johnson Senator Baldwin
Senator Capito Senator Duckworth
Senator Gardner Senator Hassan
Senator Young
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\Senator Gary Peters became the ranking member of the
subcommittee for the 115th Congress on January 9, 2018, following the
departure of Senator Cory A. Booker, who served as the ranking member
of the subcommittee for the 115th Congress until January 8, 2018.
The Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant
Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security contributed to the
enactment of several transportation-related bills in the 115th
Congress, as described below.
MARAD
Two reauthorizations of the Maritime Administration (MARAD)
became law. S. 1096, Maritime Administration Authorization and
Enhancement Act for Fiscal Year 2018, introduced by Senator
Fischer and co-sponsored by Senator Booker, strengthened sexual
assault and harassment prevention and response at the United
States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and provided the USMMA
with tools to improve operational flexibility and faculty
retention; it was enacted as part of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (P.L. 115-91). S. 2717,
Maritime Administration Authorization and Enhancement Act for
Fiscal Year 2019, introduced by Senator Fischer and co-
sponsored by Senator Peters, authorized the National Security
Multi-Mission Vessel Program, implemented Department of
Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General (OIG)
recommendations to improve protections and incident reporting
related to sexual assault and harassment, and improved merchant
mariner training; it was enacted as part of the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L.
115-232).
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
S. 1532, No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, introduced
by Senator Thune and cosponsored by Senators Klobuchar, Nelson,
Cornyn, Rubio, Blumenthal, and Heller, became law on January 8,
2018 (P.L. 115-106), and permanently disqualifies an individual
from operating a commercial motor vehicle who uses the vehicle
in committing a felony involving a severe form of human
trafficking. Furthermore, S. 1536, Combating Human Trafficking
in Commercial Vehicles Act, introduced by Senator Klobuchar and
cosponsored by Senators Thune, Nelson, Cornyn, Rubio,
Blumenthal, and Heller, passed into law on January 3, 2018
(P.L. 115-99), and designates a human trafficking prevention
coordinator at the DOT and increases outreach, education, and
reporting efforts at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration.
TRUCKING JOBS FOR VETERANS
S. 1393, Jobs for Our Heroes Act, introduced by Senator
Cornyn and cosponsored by Senators Warren, Tillis, Nelson,
Duckworth, Thune, Hassan, Inhofe, Shaheen, Sullivan,
Blumenthal, and King, became law on January 8, 2018 (P.L. 115-
105). Public Law 115-105 expands VA medical professionals who
may qualify to perform physical examinations on eligible
veterans and issue medical certificates required for operation
of a commercial motor vehicle as well as allow individuals who
are currently serving in either the armed services or reserve
components to use relevant military experience and training to
fulfill CDL requirements.
NTSB
S. 2202, National Transportation Board Reauthorization Act
of 2017, introduced by Senator Thune and co-sponsored by
Senators Nelson, Fischer, Booker, Blunt, and Cantwell, was
included in the FAA Reauthorization Act (H.R. 302) enacted into
law on October 5, 2018. Specifically, the Act increases
transparency by requiring the NTSB to disclose the methodology
underlying the selection of safety recommendations and by
requiring the NTSB to publish a report on the process it uses
to prioritize and select safety recommendations included in the
agency's biennial Most Wanted List. The Act also enhances
certain agency investigation authorities by adding still images
to existing law regarding the disclosure of transcripts and
written depictions of visual information.
PORT IMPROVEMENTS
S. 3273, Port Operations, Research, and Technology Act,
introduced by Senator Wicker and co-sponsored by Senator
Baldwin, sought to enhance a port infrastructure development
program by improving its project selection criteria, match
requirements, and project eligibilities; it was reported to the
Senate on August 20, 2018. In addition, the Federal Maritime
Commission Authorization Act of 2017 (S. 1119), introduced by
Senator Fischer, sought to enhance the authorities of the
Commission to ensure a competitive and reliable international
ocean transportation supply system; it was included in the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 (S. 1129) reported to the
Senate on June 5, 2017.
OPIOIDS
S. 2848, Fighting Opioid Abuse in Transportation Act,
introduced by Senator Thune, was included in the SUPPORT for
Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6) enacted into law on
October 24, 2018. Specifically, the Act improves drug and
alcohol testing requirements for transportation workers by:
extending testing requirements to rail mechanical employees;
setting a deadline for the issuance of oral fluid testing
guidelines; increasing the transparency of testing data;
promoting accountability for the issuance of regulatory actions
required by prior statutes; and requiring mandatory testing
guidelines to include fentanyl on the drug testing panel if
justified.
DOT REPORTS
S. 3367, DOT Reports Harmonization Act, introduced by
Senator Thune, became law on January 3, 2019. The Act amends
certain transportation-related reporting requirements to
improve congressional oversight, reduce reporting burdens, and
promote transparency. The Act ensures that the public has
greater access to information compiled by DOT by requiring the
agency to make certain reports publicly available. The Act also
helps save agency resources by setting sunset dates for certain
DOT-related Federal advisory councils and committees that are,
or will be, no longer active.
SURFACE AND MARITIME SECURITY
The Surface and Maritime Transportation Security Act was
enacted as part of the TSA Modernization Act (Division K of the
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, P.L. 115-254) on October 8,
2018. This Act addresses deficiencies in the Transportation
Security Administration's (TSA's) efforts to protect rail,
transit, highway, and maritime passenger and freight
transportation, including by requiring risk-based security
assessments that link threats with security strategy and
budgeting, as well as enhancing coordination between
Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard, and
addressing cybersecurity threats in ports.
KNIFE BILL
S. 1092, the InterState Transportation Act was passed by
the Senate on December 11, 2018. This measure would permit an
individual to transport a knife for any lawful purpose between
two places (e.g., States) where it is legal to possess and
carry such knife, as long as certain security requirements are
met. The measure also would prohibit the arrest or detention of
an individual for a knife violation unless there is probable
cause to believe the individual failed to comply with specified
requirements. An individual may assert compliance with this
bill's requirements as a claim or defense in any civil or
criminal action or proceeding.
HEARINGS
This subcommittee held 16 hearings, including 2 field
hearings, during the 115th Congress.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 15, 2017 Moving America: Stakeholder Perspectives on Our Multimodal
Transportation System (S.Hrg. 115-41)
March 1, 2017* Connecting America: Improving Access to Infrastructure for
Communities Across the Country (S.Hrg. 115-60)
March 14, 2017 Continuing to Improve Truck Safety on Our Nation's Highways (S.Hrg.
115-61)
April 4, 2017 Keeping Goods Moving: Continuing to Enhance Multimodal Freight
Policy and Infrastructure (S.Hrg. 115-65)
May 9, 2017 Maritime Transportation: Opportunities and Challenges for the
Maritime Administration and Federal Maritime Commission (S.Hrg.
115-155)
July 12, 2017* Force Multipliers: How Transportation and Supply Chain Stakeholders
Are Combating Human Trafficking (S.Hrg. 115-282)
September 13, 2017* Transportation Innovation: Automated Trucks and Our Nation's
Highways (S.Hrg. 115-434)
January 23, 2018 Surface Transportation Security: Addressing Current and Emerging
Threats
March 1, 2018* Implementation of Positive Train Control
March 13, 2018 Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: State and Local
Transportation Needs
March 14, 2018* Rebuilding Infrastructure in America: Administration Perspectives
April, 24, 2018 Maritime Transportation: Opportunities and Challenges
August 20, 2018* Pipeline Safety in the Great Lakes: Incident Prevention and
Response Efforts at the Straits of Mackinac
September 13, 2018* Transportation of Tomorrow: Emerging Technologies That Will Move
America
October 3, 2018* Implementation of Positive Train Control
November 26, 2018* Pipeline Safety in the Merrimack Valley: Incident Prevention and
Response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Full Committee hearing.
Field hearing.
J. Legislation and Oversight
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate conducted a variety of oversight activities, ranging
from investigations of alleged data misuse by social media and
other technology firms, to an investigation of Olympic and
amateur sports in the aftermath of the conviction of Dr. Larry
Nasser, a former physician for the U.S.A. Gymnastics team, on
Federal child pornography charges, and allegations of sexual
abuse of hundreds of child athletes over decades.
At the beginning of each year, Committee staff meet with
the inspector general of each agency under the Committee's
jurisdiction to review the previous year and to receive a
briefing on plans for the year ahead. In addition, the
Committee sent over a dozen oversight letters to a variety of
government and private sector entities.
OLYMPICS
On March 2, 2017, Chairman Thune and Subcommittee Chairman
Moran sent a letter to the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC)
raising questions about USOC's handling of sexual abuse
allegations in taekwondo, gymnastics, speedskating, swimming,
and cycling. Soon thereafter, on May 17, 2017, Chairman Thune
convened a full committee hearing entitled ``Current Issues in
American Sports: Protecting the Health and Safety of American
Athletes'' to explore a number of issues affecting the health,
safety, and well-being of American athletes. At that hearing,
Safesport president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shellie
Pfohl testified about her work to prevent sexual misconduct in
the Olympic movement and the establishment of her organization
in 2017 to serve as an independent entity to investigate and
adjudicate allegations of sexual misconduct within the National
Governing Bodies.
On January 25, 2018, Subcommittee Chairman Moran and
Ranking Member Blumenthal sent letters to USA Gymnastics
(USAG), USOC, and Michigan State University (MSU) requesting
written responses and documents regarding systemic failures to
protect athletes from sexual abuse. After receiving responses
from each of these entities, Senator Moran conducted three
oversight hearings. For one of these hearings, Chairman Thune
issued a subpoena for the appearance of the former chief
executive officer of USAG (who ultimately asserted his Fifth
Amendment right against self-incrimination) and the former
president of Michigan State University, where Dr. Nasser was an
assistant professor and team physician.
EQUIFAX
On September 8, 2017, the Committee sent an investigation
letter to Equifax CEO Richard Smith, regarding the data
security incident Equifax disclosed on September 7, 2017, when
the firm announced that it had identified a ``cybersecurity
incident potentially impacting approximately 143 million U.S.
consumers'' and that the information accessed includes
sensitive personal information such as names, Social Security
numbers, birth dates, addresses, and some driver's license
numbers. Equifax also announced that ``credit card numbers for
approximately 209,000 U.S. consumers, and certain dispute
documents with personal identifying information for
approximately 182,000 U.S. consumers, were accessed.'' Equifax
provided a staff briefing on September 20, 2017, and submitted
a written response on September 25, 2017.
On November 8, 2017, the Committee held a hearing entitled
``Protecting Consumers in the Era of Major Data Breaches,''
where the interim CEO for Equifax testified, as well as the
former Equifax CEO, Richard Smith. Of note, former Yahoo! CEO
Marissa Mayer also testified under subpoena at the same hearing
to discuss multiple data breaches affecting over 3 billion user
accounts. While the Yahoo! breaches are larger in terms of
affected consumers, the Equifax breach is much more severe
given the sensitive nature of the consumer information
compromised.
ROBOCALLS
October 10, 2017, the Committee sent an investigation
letter and request for documents to Adrian Abramovich regarding
the Federal Communications Commission's Notice of Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture, which found Mr. Abramovich apparently
liable for $120 million in penalties for perpetrating one of
the largest spoofed robocall campaigns the FCC had ever
investigated. A response was requested by October 24, 2017, but
Mr. Abramovich failed to respond. On November 3, 2017, Mr.
Abramovich, through his counsel, informed the Committee that he
would not be responding.
On March 14, 2018, the Committee sent an invitation letter
to Mr. Abramovich requesting his voluntary appearance at a
hearing scheduled for April 18, 2018. On March 19, 2018, Mr.
Abramovich, through his counsel, declined the invitation. On
March 28, 2018, the Committee subpoenaed Mr. Abramovich,
requiring his appearance before the Committee on April 18,
2018.
On April 18, 2018, the Committee convened a hearing
entitled ``Abusive Robocalls and How We Can Stop Them'' where
Mr. Abramovich sought to assert his Fifth Amendment right to
refuse to testify on the grounds that he might incriminate
himself, while also providing several pages of written
testimony and at times answering questions posed at the hearing
to such an extent that he may have waived his Fifth Amendment
privilege.
UBER
On November 21, 2017, Uber disclosed publicly that it
learned in November 2016 that it had suffered a data security
incident that began on October 13, 2016, and ended no later
than November 15, 2016. On November 27, 2017, the Committee
sent a letter to Uber requesting information regarding the
nature of the data breach. The incident involved archived
copies of Uber databases and files located on Uber's private
cloud data storage environment on Amazon Web Services.
Information pertaining to approximately 57 million users (both
riders and drivers) worldwide, was compromised. Uber's security
team contacted the outside actors responsible for the incident
and agreed to pay the money demanded by these individuals via
Uber's ``bug bounty'' program in exchange for an agreement to
delete the data. Uber failed to disclose the incident to the
appropriate parties. Uber responded to the Committee's letter
on December 11, 2017.
On February 6, 2018, the Subcommittee on Consumer
Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security held a
hearing entitled ``Data Security and Bug Bounty Programs:
Lessons Learned from the Uber Breach and Security
Researchers.'' Uber's Chief Information Security Officer, John
Flynn, testified at the hearing to discuss the October 2016
Uber data breach and the allegations of impermissible payments
by Uber to conceal the security incident.
APPLE
On January 9, 2018, the Committee sent a letter to the CEO
of Apple, Inc. regarding Apple's acknowledgment that it took
steps to slow the processing performance of older iPhones,
prompting concerns among consumers about ``planned
obsolescence'' of these devices. Apple provided a response on
February 2, 2018, and also provided a staff briefing.
MELTDOWN/SPECTRE COMPUTER CHIP VULNERABILITY
On February 15, 2018, the Committee sent investigation
letters to a dozen companies (AMD, ARM, Apple, Google, IBM,
Intel, Lenovo, NVIDIA, Cisco, Microsoft, Amazon, and Huawei)
seeking information concerning their response to the Spectre
and Meltdown vulnerabilities publicly disclosed in January
2018. These side channel vulnerabilities could allow
sophisticated hackers access to stored passwords, encryption
keys, and other highly sensitive information. Except for
Huawei, which never responded, each of the companies supplied
written responses by March 7, 2018. On July 11, 2018, the
Committee held a hearing on this matter entitled ``Complex
Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Lessons Learned from Spectre and
Meltdown.''
FACEBOOK
On March 19, 2018, the Committee sent an investigation
letter to Mark Zuckerberg, the Chairman and CEO of Facebook,
Inc., regarding Facebook's user privacy policies and the extent
of the company's efforts to enforce those policies with
entities accessing user data. This occurred in the context of
media revelations regarding alleged misuse of Facebook user
data by Cambridge Analytica and Strategic Communications
Laboratories. Facebook provided a staff briefing on March 22,
2018, and a written response on April 2, 2018. Subsequently, a
joint Commerce Committee and Judiciary Committee hearing with
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg entitled ``Facebook, Social Media
Privacy, and the Use and Abuse of Data'' was held on April 10,
2018. The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety,
Insurance, and Data Security also convened a follow-on hearing
on June 19, 2018, entitled ``Cambridge Analytica and Other
Facebook Partners: Examining Data Privacy Risks,'' which
included Aleksandr Kogan, a Cambridge University academic who
was a central figure in the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook
controversy, as a witness.
On June 4, 2018, the Committee sent an investigation letter
to Facebook regarding a New York Times report that, over the
previous decade, Facebook established partnerships with dozens
of mobile device manufacturers that granted them access to
large amounts of user data, including information on users'
friends. Facebook provided a written response on June 27, 2018,
and a revised response on June 29, 2018.
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES (SCL)/CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA
On March 19, 2018, the Committee sent a letter to Nigel
Oakes, the CEO of SCL, the parent company of Cambridge
Analytica, requesting a staff briefing and a written response
regarding the firm's alleged misuse of Facebook user data. SCL/
Cambridge Analytica submitted its written response to the
Committee on April 5, 2018, but went into bankruptcy
proceedings before providing a staff briefing. This has
resulted in the unique situation where the Committee appears as
a creditor in Cambridge Analytica's bankruptcy proceeding
because the firm still owes the Committee a briefing.
GOOGLE
On July 10, 2018, the Committee sent an investigation
letter to Alphabet CEO Larry Page regarding the use of Gmail
users' personal data by third party email application (``app'')
developers. The Wall Street Journal reported that hundreds of
third party app developers with access to users' Gmail accounts
use email contents for a variety of purposes of which users may
not be aware. These purposes include scanning email contents
for travel and package information as well as marketing
information to provide targeted ads (a practice Google itself
abandoned over a year ago). The report also revealed that third
party app developers may be giving access to personal emails to
their employees. Google provided a written response on July 22,
2018. While the response was not entirely satisfactory, the
Committee had an opportunity to ask follow-up questions to
Google's chief privacy officer at the September 26, 2018
hearing entitled ``Examining Safeguards for Consumer Data
Privacy,'' and to submit questions for the record to Google
related to the Committee's original July 10th letter with
written responses expected on October 30, 2018.
On October 11, 2018, the Committee sent another
investigation letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai regarding a
Wall Street Journal report that in March 2018, Google
discovered a vulnerability in its Google+ social network
platform that potentially left the private profile information
of 500,000 users exposed to app developers since 2015. Google
reportedly opted not to disclose the existence of the issue at
the time due, in part, to an inability to determine whether the
vulnerability had in fact been exploited by any app developer
to access private user data or which users were affected. In
addition, according to an internal memo cited in the media
report, a factor in Google's decision not to disclose the
vulnerability was fear that doing so would draw ``immediate
regulatory interest,'' bring Google ``into the spotlight
alongside or even instead of Facebook despite having stayed
under the radar throughout the Cambridge Analytica scandal,''
and ``almost [guarantee] Sundar will testify before Congress.''
A staff briefing was requested, and a written response was
requested by no later than October 30, 2018.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
On July 13, 2018, the Committee sent a letter to the
Inspector General of the Department of Commerce requesting an
independent review of the conclusion reached by the Commerce
Department's Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) that
errors Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross made in his efforts to
comply with his Ethics Agreement did not result in a violation
of conflict of interest law. In a letter to Secretary Ross
dated July 12, 2018, Acting Director and General Counsel of the
Office of Government Ethics (OGE) David J. Apol recounted
instances in which Secretary Ross is alleged to have divested
from his assets in a manner inconsistent with the Ethics
Agreement he signed during the nomination process. OGE's letter
states that Secretary Ross completed divestitures of Invesco
Ltd. stock in December 2017, despite representing in his
November 1, 2017, Certification of Ethics Agreement Compliance
that he had completed such divestitures. OGE indicated that
Secretary Ross apparently neglected to consult with the
Commerce Department's DAEO or other ethics staff prior to the
sale of Invesco Ltd. stock.
[all]