Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Maria Cantwell - Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Official U.S. Senate headshot
In his opening statement at the Senate Commerce Committee nominations hearing, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed support for Lanhee Chen's nomination to the Amtrak Board of Directors. He also emphasized the roles of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in protecting consumers and promoting transportation safety.
Senator Cruz began by acknowledging Chair Cantwell and introduced the nominees: Lanhee Chen for the Amtrak Board, Carl Bentzel for a second term on the FMC, and Thomas Chapman for a second term on the NTSB.
"The nominee to the Amtrak Board is Lanhee Chen. Mr. Chen received his J.D. and PhD from Harvard and has deep experience in business, financial management, and policy," said Cruz. He highlighted Chen's previous service on various boards, including his confirmation to the Social Security Advisory Board in 2014.
Cruz noted that having someone with Chen's expertise is crucial as Amtrak considers service expansions and manages major capital projects. "I look forward to hearing more about his qualifications for this important post from Senator Romney, his former boss," he added.
Discussing Carl Bentzel's nomination for a second term on the FMC, Cruz stated that Bentzel would address progress on implementing legislation like the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. He pointed out that Bentzel’s confirmation comes at a critical time as potential port strikes loom.
"Let's be clear about the potential consequences of a strike: a JP Morgan analysis quoted in The New York Times yesterday projected that a port strike could cost the American economy five billion dollars per day," Cruz remarked.
Finally, addressing Thomas Chapman's nomination for another term on the NTSB, Cruz praised Chapman's work during his first term, particularly in roadway safety. "Mr. Chapman increased his attention on roadway safety and recommended several changes to traffic policy," said Cruz. He stressed that improving roadway safety without imposing burdensome regulations or reducing consumer choice is essential.
Cruz concluded by thanking Chair Cantwell before proceeding with further discussions involving each nominee.
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