Lutnick testifies throughout a Senate Commerce Committee listening to Jan. 29. (Rod Lamkey Jr./Related Press)
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 5 gave near-partisan approval to the nomination of Howard Lutnick to develop into President Donald Trump’s secretary of commerce.
The panel with jurisdiction over freight coverage voted 16-12 to report Lutnick’s nomination to the Republican-led Senate. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) joined Republicans in supporting the nominee. Republican leaders intend to schedule a vote to verify as early as this month.
Responding to questions from Democrats on the panel, Lutnick pledged his dedication to securing provide chains and selling home manufacturing and semiconductor markets.
As he put it, “Reshoring and nearshoring semiconductor manufacturing is essential to our financial and nationwide safety. Making certain that the USA has sturdy home manufacturing capability and provide chains to help the manufacturing of semiconductors is a prime precedence for me. Upon affirmation, I plan to make sure that the division is delivering these aims in the best approach attainable.”
Trump speaks within the Oval Workplace Feb. 3 whereas making ready to signal an govt order. Lutnick listens. (Evan Vucci/Related Press)
Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led Lutnick’s favorable nomination course of. Previous to the vote, he supplied robust help for the nominee. “He’ll method the job thoughtfully, contemplating all of the related pursuits, as evidenced by the 44 stakeholder teams supporting him. I urge my colleagues to help his affirmation as Commerce Secretary,” Cruz stated.
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the panel’s rating member, led the Democrats’ opposition. Considerations over potential funding reductions to Biden-era provide chain packages guided the Senate minority’s pushback. “We want a secretary that understands that these merchandise and these points want coalition constructing, not throwing down gauntlets that can lose jobs for my farmers.”
“Over the past 4 years,” Cantwell added, “there was a lot funding in infrastructure for manufacturing that this committee has supported: semiconductor growth, $450 billion proper right here in the USA, due to the [Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors] and Science Act. And Mr. Lutnick, in varied solutions to numerous members on the committee, didn’t give a full dedication to creating certain this cash continues to exit the door. These awards are essential to catalyzing home chip manufacturing states like Texas, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.”
Dozens of stakeholders representing small companies, producers, chemical suppliers and commodities endorsed the nominee. “It’s with nice privilege that we concern our help for the affirmation of Howard Lutnick as secretary of the U.S. Division of Commerce. The Division of Commerce endeavors to advertise financial development and alternative throughout our nation by means of its 13 bureaus that strengthen our nation by means of financial competitiveness, home trade and high quality jobs. The Division of Commerce performs a essential function in our financial system, and we’re assured in Mr. Lutnick’s potential to guide the company,” the American Petroleum Institute stated in a press release the committee offered.
Whereas Lutnick awaits a last vote, Trump’s Cupboard is rapidly assembling. This month, the Senate confirmed by a vote of 59-38 Chris Wright for the highest submit on the Division of Vitality. Wright was most just lately a fracking govt. His portfolio will embrace elements of the Trump administration’s proposals particular to vitality infrastructure and rising applied sciences.
Senate Vitality and Pure Sources Committee Chairman Mike Lee (R-Utah) applauded Wright’s affirmation. “For the final 4 years, when Individuals opened their vitality payments, they didn’t see ‘local weather plans’ — they noticed prices piling up and questions they couldn’t reply,” Lee stated Feb. 3. “With Chris Wright as secretary of Vitality, I’m assured that we are able to reverse the irresponsible insurance policies of the Biden administration and prioritize inexpensive and dependable vitality.”
The Senate Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee introduced a affirmation listening to Feb. 12 on the nomination of former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to develop into labor secretary. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has formally expressed his opposition to Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination. On X final month the senator shared, “I’m the nationwide spokesman and lead writer of the right-to-work invoice. Her help for the [Protecting the Right to Organize] Act, which might not solely oppose nationwide proper to work however would pre-empt state legislation on proper to work — I believe it’s not an excellent factor.”
I’m the nationwide spokesman and lead writer of the right-to-work invoice. Her help for the PRO Act, which might not solely oppose nationwide proper to work however would pre-empt state legislation on proper to work — I believe it’s not an excellent factor. https://t.co/DvLEvCgxnO
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 28, 2025
American Trucking Associations is amongst stakeholders elevating issues concerning the Labor nominee’s prior help of sure labor and impartial contractor payments and tips. “These anti-trucking insurance policies undermine our important workforce, threaten the correct of impartial truckers to decide on their very own profession path, and impede the effectivity of the provision chain,” ATA President Chris Spear stated in November. “The 8.5 million women and men who work in our trade are the heartbeat of the nation, and we reserve our help for Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination till we obtain better readability from her on these points which can be so important to our workforce.”
The PRO Act would replace provisions about organizing and collective bargaining in addition to proceed with sure revisions to the definitions of an worker, supervisor and employer.
