Hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - Opening Statement of Sen. Thune, Executive Session -- Multiple Agenda Items

Hearing

"Good morning. While we await our quorum, I'd like to highlight some of the items on today's agenda.

"First, however, I would note that Senator Nelson and I have just come from the initial meeting of the conference committee on the Surface Transportation bill. I am encouraged by the progress we have already made during preliminary discussions with our House counterparts, and I anticipate that the Senate will be in a position to approve a consensus, multi-year bill very soon.

"Before we turn to the agenda items, I would also note that the Committee was originally scheduled to take up the MOBILE NOW Act today, a bill that will help secure our nation's wireless future. But Ranking Member Nelson and I both thought it best to take a little more time to work through the constructive feedback we have received, including from the Administration.

"We hope to mark up MOBILE NOW after Thanksgiving, so we ask everyone to work with our staffs on any additions or amendments you would like to see included in the bill.

"We have also temporarily postponed consideration of S. 1886, the Coordinated Ocean Monitoring and Research Act, to allow for continued negotiations on some discrete issues. This bill enjoys bipartisan support, and I expect it will be on our December markup agenda.

"Today we have a bipartisan slate of bills that reflect the breadth of our Committee's jurisdiction -- from Senator Cantwell's bill on the management of the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery to legislation sponsored by Senators Wicker and Blumenthal to ensure regulatory parity for amateur radio operators.

"I am especially glad that we'll be considering the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act, S. 1916, a bill I introduced with Senators Klobuchar, Fischer, and Hoeven.

"Throughout the country, skilled nursing facilities are providing critical care for elderly and convalescing Americans in rural communities. These essential providers are an important part of the rural health care system, yet they are not currently eligible for support from the Universal Service Fund's Rural Health Care Program.

"Passing S. 1916 today is the first step toward ensuring rural skilled nursing facilities will have the communications connectivity they need to take care of our seniors.

"Today we will also consider the Consumer Review Freedom Act, S. 2044, which would ban so-called "gag clauses" that prevent consumers from providing truthful reviews to help other consumers.

"Earlier this month, the Committee held a hearing on consumer gag clauses and received compelling testimony about how this practice decreases consumer power and negatively impacts the Internet ecosystem. The record in that hearing clearly demonstrated the need for targeted legislation like S. 2044 to bring an end to clauses that stifle free and honest speech.

"I thank Senators Schatz and Moran for introducing this important consumer protection legislation with me, and thank Ranking Member Nelson and Senators Daines, Blumenthal, McCaskill, and Booker for their co-sponsorship. The legislation also has bipartisan backing in the House, where a similar bill has been introduced by Representative Issa.

"I would also like to thank Senator Sullivan and Senator Schatz for their work on S. 2206, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act.

"Prompted by whistleblower complaints regarding NOAA's lack of response to allegations of sexual harassment, this bill outlines clear and uniform procedures to help prevent the occurrence of -- and improve the Administration's response to -- sexual assault and harassment.  

"As an agency with a unique workforce, often serving in remote areas and at sea, NOAA needs a tailored system that its employees can depend upon. "This bill will also reauthorize the NOAA Corps, a uniformed service whose members operate NOAA's fleet of ships and aircraft. Their combination of scientific and operational expertise, as well as their flexibility and deploy-ability, allow them to support nearly all of NOAA's programs and missions.

"Our agenda today also includes S.1518, a bill introduced by Senator Lee to ensure consistency in the labeling of products as "Made in America." Senator Fischer is an original cosponsor of this measure, and she has asked that her statement on the bill be included in the record. So, without objection, it will be.

"Last, but certainly not least, we will be taking up S. 571, Senator Inhofe's Pilot's Bill of Rights 2, which would make several reforms to the third-class medical certification process to benefit recreational general aviation pilots.

"Senator Manchin is the lead cosponsor of this bill, which has attracted an impressive total of 68 bipartisan cosponsors, including all of the members on my side of the Committee dais. Notwithstanding this support, however, some concerns have been expressed about the bill -- as reflected in the nearly two dozen amendments filed by the Ranking Member.

"An amendment in the nature of a substitute filed by Senator Manchin reflects months of negotiations between the prime sponsors of the bill and the Committee, and makes several improvements to the bill.

"It is my hope that, following today's markup, we will continue to work toward consensus on these issues, so the reforms can ultimately be included in the FAA reauthorization bill the Committee will produce early next year.

"With that, I will turn to the Ranking Member for any opening remarks he would like to make."

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