Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is in line to chair the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in the new Congress, has made it clear that he intends to move quickly to approve President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for lead the US Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce.
Trump’s pick to lead DOT is Sean Duffy, a former congressman and former Wisconsin county prosecutor, and Fox Business host. The president-elect’s pick for Commerce secretary is Howard W. Lutnick, chairman and CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald LP and chairman of commercial real estate firm Newmark Group.
Speaking on December 12 at the committee’s last voting session on 118th In Congress, Cruz called the two cabinet picks “stellar nominees.”
He said the committee would “thoroughly scrutinize” the selections and “quickly confirm them.” He added that he would “work to quickly relocate qualified and competent candidates.”
Cruz also indicated that he may aim to hold confirmation hearings for Duffy and Lutnick before Trump is sworn in as president on Jan. 20.
Perhaps the committee’s best infrastructure achievement in the current Congress was passage of the bipartisan five-year reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The measure, which was enacted May 16, provided $19.7 billion over five years for the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program grants. Of that, $3.35 billion was for fiscal year 2024 and the rest was $4 billion annually through fiscal 2028.
This $4 billion amount represents a 19% increase over the amount in the final year of the previous FAA authorization bill.
Speaking to outgoing committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-washed.)Cruz said: “I can commit to you that we will continue to have a productive bipartisan relationship,” adding “It is my intention to adhere to many of the customs and practices that you have established regarding minority rights on this committee. .”
Cantwell interjected, “Which ones?”, prompting laughter from the audience. Cantwell quickly added, “I’m just kidding.”
Cruz said, “I was sure you’d notice that word ‘many,'” then added, “and it’s definitely going to be a longer conversation.”
