Business meeting to consider S.233, to amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 to modify the authority of the Office of National Drug Control Policy with respect to the World Anti-Doping Agency, S.254, to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to protect the cultural practices and livelihoods of producers of Alaska Native handicrafts and marine mammal ivory products, S.434, to establish the Commercial Space Activity Advisory Committee, S.836, to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, S.1872, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on the feasibility of manufacturing in the United States products for critical infrastructure sectors, and the nominations of Bryan Bedford, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and routine lists in the Coast Guard.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

2025-06-25

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting focused on the consideration of Brian Bedford's nomination to be the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), alongside five legislative bills and several Coast Guard promotions [ 00:28:28-00:28:28 ] . Members expressed both strong support and significant concerns regarding the FAA nomination, while demonstrating broad bipartisan agreement on most of the proposed legislation .

Themes

Nomination of Brian Bedford for FAA Administrator

Senator Jerry Moran strongly advocated for Brian Bedford's nomination, citing his 25 years of experience at Republic Airways, his commitment to aviation safety, and his personal background as a pilot . Moran emphasized Bedford's practical understanding of aviation challenges, contrasting him with previous nominees perceived as less qualified . He highlighted the critical need for an experienced leader to oversee the FAA, especially following recent tragic accidents and upcoming air traffic control system overhauls .

Conversely, Senator Maria Cantwell voiced her opposition, stating that the FAA requires a "strong cop on the beat" to address current safety gaps and staffing shortages . She criticized Mr. Bedford for not clearly committing to upholding the 1,500-hour pilot rule, which she considers a cornerstone of modern aviation safety . The nomination was ultimately reported favorably by a vote of 15-13 .

Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0)

This legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Markey and Cruz, aims to enhance online privacy protections for minors aged 13 to 16, expanding upon the original 1998 COPPA . Senator Cruz detailed that the bill bans targeted advertising to children and teens, provides them with an "eraser button" for personal information, and closes loopholes that allow companies to avoid accountability for minors using their platforms . He stressed that these measures are crucial for addressing the current youth mental health crisis . The bill received strong bipartisan support, with Google endorsing it and the committee unanimously advancing it .

Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act

Introduced by Senators Blackburn and Lujan, this bill addresses issues with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), particularly concerning instances where athletes who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs were allowed to compete without repercussions . Senator Blackburn highlighted WADA's alleged cover-up of wrongdoing by a "communist regime" and its attempts to stonewall U.S. authorities, despite the U.S. being its largest financial contributor . The legislation seeks to ensure fairness for American athletes by mandating accountability and independence for WADA, and by allowing the U.S. to withhold dues if reforms are not implemented .

Other Legislative Actions

The committee favorably reported several other bills:

  • The , which establishes a 15-member federal advisory committee to provide industry input on space activities .
  • The , designed to support the domestic capacity for manufacturing critical infrastructure materials .
  • The , proposed by Senator Sullivan, which clarifies the legality of selling Alaska Native handcrafted items made from marine mammal ivory outside of Alaska, thereby supporting economic opportunities for Native Alaskan families . This bill passed unanimously .
  • A proposed was mentioned by Senator Cantwell and Cruz, aiming to provide transit funding for host cities of major international events like the World Cup and Olympics, though it did not pass during this markup . Additionally, several Coast Guard promotions were favorably reported .

Tone of the Meeting

The overall tone of the meeting was serious and focused, reflecting the gravity of the issues discussed, particularly regarding aviation safety and the well-being of children online . There was a noticeable partisan divide concerning the FAA administrator nomination, with strong arguments presented for and against the candidate . However, for most legislative items, particularly COPPA 2.0 and the Artists Act, there was a strong sense of bipartisan collaboration and agreement, indicating a shared commitment to addressing those specific challenges .

Participants

Transcript

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Unknown
Thank you.
Today, we'll consider the nomination of Brian Bedford to be administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as five bills and a few Coast Guard promotions.  Brian Bedford is ready to be FAA administrator.  Over his 25-year tenure at Republic Airways, he has demonstrated a laudable commitment to aviation safety.  He has grown Republic Airways to be one of the safest and largest, with over 200 aircraft in the fleet, regional airlines in the country.   Mr. Bedford doesn't just have an exemplary safety record at Republic.  He's also a pilot himself, and he understands the challenges of the job.  He's familiar with the stress, the endless medical requirements, and how various air spaces work.  He's just as familiar with aviation safety as previous nominees, if not more so.  Recall that one of President Biden's FAA nominees was asked pointed questions about aviation safety.   What airspace requires ADS-B transponders?  What typically causes an aircraft to spin or to stall?  What caused the MAX crashes?  Democrats at the time criticized these questions, crying hatchet job and smear campaign, all while hailing the nominee's experience managing buses and trains.   Whenever the nominee was asked about a complicated aviation question, he responded with answers like, I'm not a pilot.  I don't know.  I would lean on our career employees.  Well, Brian Bedford is a pilot.  He knows aviation.  And when he listens to FAA employees, he'll actually understand what they're talking about.   I would hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who were prepared to support the least qualified nominee for FAA administrator ever, would be excited to support the very qualified Mr. Bedford today.  This committee understands how important it is to have an FAA administrator with actual experience.
As we all know, in January, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, killing 67 people.   It was the deadliest accident in the United States in more than 15 years.  Family members of some of the victims are here today.  I want to thank them for their continued advocacy.  As the FAA prepares to overhaul the air traffic control system for the 21st century, the agency needs a steady leader with executive experience.   We are preparing to invest more than $12 billion in air traffic control.  This investment in new radar, telecommunications, facilities, runway safety, and other technologies will improve the safety and reliability of the system.  It is a sorely needed investment, and it will take a proven manager to make the most of it.  Brian Bedford will modernize the FAA to meet today's challenges.  Now, we're also considering five pieces of legislation today.   Many of these bills will help ensure U.S.  leadership in the global arena.  For instance, the Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency of 2025 by Senators Blackburn, Capito, Wicker, Blunt, Rochester, and Lujan underscores the importance of fair play in international sports.   As noted at a Commerce Subcommittee hearing last week, WADA allowed Chinese athletes who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs to compete in the Olympics without consequence.  This bill addresses that.  Other bills will strengthen key industries.  Senator Peters and Wicker's Space Commerce Advisory Committee will ensure that key stakeholders have a seat at the table to shape the nascent commercial space industry.   The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act by Senators Ernst and Blunt Rochester will support the development of our domestic capacity in critical manufacturing.  Perhaps the most consequential bill we are voting on today is Senator Markey's Children and Teen Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0.
Today's teens are growing up in a phone-based world fraught with new online challenges.  This bill updates data and privacy protections from the original COPPA enacted in 1998 to cover minors between the ages of 13 and 16.  This bill has strong support from members on and off this committee, and I urge my colleagues to support both the nominee and the legislation we are considering.   Now, we have just gotten a quorum, and we have several members who need to go.  So with my ranking members' indulgence.
I'd like to make a statement, Mr. Chairman.  I'll make it fast.
Okay.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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