A Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously endorsed former Congressman Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) as President Trump's next presidential nominee for the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Duffy, a former five-term Republican congressman, was removed from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation by a 28-0 vote during a brief hearing.
“He will serve as a senator.” [Tammy] baldwin [D-Wisc.] He said both sides will work together to improve infrastructure and address challenges that will arise in the coming years. Most importantly, Congressman Duffy's personal experiences, his wife Rachel's head-on collision, and his dedication to raising a disabled daughter demonstrate that Congressman Duffy highly values the responsibility of the role. “We're showing that,” said panel chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Wednesday.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the committee's ranking member, said Wednesday that in her first meeting with Duffy since last week's confirmation hearing, she would “talk about things that are important to the state, not just my state. I had an opportunity.” The country has a strong and resilient transport network that allows it to compete in the global economy. ”
“I remain concerned about the current administration's Project 2025 in the fight against electric vehicles,” Cantwell said.
“I think the derogatory transportation language in Project 2025 raises some serious questions, but I am confident that this discussion will continue and that it will be passed at today’s hearing.” she said, referring to the right-wing policy framework developed by the Heritage Foundation.
She brought up this policy strategy during Duffy's hearing last week when discussing Essential Air Service, a program that Project 2025 called for elimination. Duffy said he has not read the framework and “doesn't know what it's about.”
Duffy told senators at a hearing last week that if confirmed as Transportation Secretary, he would work to improve aviation safety, highway safety, address the air traffic controller shortage and restore public trust in aircraft manufacturer Boeing. He said he would focus on that. Handled multiple cases during 2024.
The former Wisconsin lawmaker said he would work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress to “restore global confidence in Boeing and ensure the safety of our skies.”
“At one meeting, someone said they needed some tough love, but that's what they needed,” he said.
Duffy, a former lobbyist, also told lawmakers he would allow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to continue its investigation into Tesla over the car company's fully self-driving (FSD) software.
