Hearings to examine the nominations of Stephen Carmel, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Laura DiBella, of Florida, and Robert Harvey, of Florida, both to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, and Timothy Petty, of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

2025-10-22

Summary

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened to consider four nominations for critical roles in U.S. maritime and atmospheric agencies [ 00:21:07-00:21:32 ] . Nominees included Stephen Carmel for Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, Laura DiBella and Robert Harvey for Commissioners of the Federal Maritime Commission, and Timothy Petty for Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator of NOAA [ 00:21:15-00:21:26 ] . The hearing featured opening statements from committee members and nominees, followed by questions covering their qualifications, industry challenges, and policy priorities .

Nominees' Professional Backgrounds and Expertise

Stephen Carmel, nominated for Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, brings decades of experience as a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate, deck officer, shipmaster, and executive at Maersk Line Limited [ 00:22:45-00:22:58 ]

. Laura DiBella, a nominee for the Federal Maritime Commission, has served as port director, executive director of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, and Florida's Secretary of Commerce [ 00:22:26 ] . Robert Harvey, also nominated for the Federal Maritime Commission, is an attorney with experience as a U.S. Navy JAG officer and in promoting economic development in Florida, including venture capital and finance [ 00:22:34-00:22:39 ] . Timothy Petty, nominated for Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator of NOAA, is a geoscientist and engineer with over two decades on Capitol Hill, having previously served as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science in the Department of the Interior [ 00:21:39-00:22:11 ] . He is particularly noted for his expertise in water policy and legislative experience, including work on the Columbia River Treaty .

Challenges and Future of U.S. Maritime Industry

A significant concern expressed was the decline of the U.S. maritime industrial base, which is currently dwarfed by countries like China [ 00:23:11-00:23:20 ]

. The U.S. merchant fleet consists of only about 80 ships flying the U.S. flag in international commerce, compared to China's 5,500 . Nominees and committee members emphasized the urgent need for a robust maritime strategy, focusing on attracting capital, removing regulatory barriers, and fostering innovation rather than "picking winners and losers" [ 00:23:28-00:23:40 ] . There was bipartisan support for American shipbuilding, recognizing it as crucial for national defense, economic growth, and supply chain resilience . Stephen Carmel highlighted that the U.S. is a formidable naval power but "not a true maritime power," with industrial capacity having declined to near irrelevance . Concerns were also raised about the archaic nature of U.S. ports compared to foreign counterparts, with calls for technology adoption to enhance productivity without displacing jobs . The SHIPS Act was discussed as a critical bipartisan legislative effort to restore American maritime dominance by addressing financial structures, demand generation, workforce development, and innovation .

Federal Maritime Commission's Role in Fair Trade

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) was highlighted for its crucial role in ensuring a competitive ocean transportation system and protecting U.S. consumers, exporters, and importers from unfair practices . Commissioners were urged to maintain the independence of the FMC despite past administrative efforts to undermine it . Nominees DiBella and Harvey committed to upholding the statutory directives of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) of 2022, ensuring fair conditions for all U.S. shipping and vigorously enforcing its provisions [ 01:02:17-01:35:49 ]

. They emphasized the importance of reviewing agreements for fairness, preventing anti-competitive practices, and using enforcement actions when necessary [ 01:02:24-01:02:37 ] . The need for increased transparency in carrier relationships and addressing issues like detention and demurrage charges through comprehensive, systematic analysis was also discussed [ 01:15:59 ] . The importance of supporting inland waterways, such as the Great Lakes shipping industry, was underscored to ensure that federal policies benefit all regions, not just coastal areas [ 01:21:15-01:21:37 ] .

NOAA's Scientific Missions and Staffing Challenges

Timothy Petty's nomination to NOAA prompted discussions on its vital missions, including fisheries management, habitat protection, and climate resilience . Committee members expressed strong concerns about NOAA's budget cuts and significant reductions in fishery staff, which have led to canceled stock assessments and potential overfishing issues . Dr. Petty committed to prioritizing stock assessments, ensuring timely renewal of incidental take regulations for offshore activities, and streamlining environmental permitting through interagency collaboration , [ 01:00:40-01:00:56 ]

, . The role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in natural disaster and climate forecasting, as well as water management, was highlighted as critical, with Dr. Petty affirming their importance . He also committed to supporting regional climate centers and investing in research for sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasting , . Calls were made for him to be an aggressive advocate for sufficient staffing and funding at NOAA to meet its diverse and critical functions, including addressing harmful algal blooms and approving fishery disaster funds , .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a largely respectful and professional tone [ 00:21:09 ] . While there was evident bipartisan consensus on the importance of the agencies and the qualifications of the nominees, some committee members also expressed firm concerns and criticisms regarding past or current administrative policies, particularly concerning NOAA budget cuts, permitting delays, and specific grant cancellations , , . Nominees generally responded cautiously to policy-specific questions, often stating a need to be confirmed and gain full understanding of internal operations before making definitive commitments on complex issues , , . The overall atmosphere was one of serious engagement with critical national security and economic issues.