Hearings to examine the nominations of Ryan McCormack, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Policy, Daniel Edwards, of North Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of Transportation, and Trent Morse, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for a term expiring May 30, 2030.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
2025-11-05
Source: Congress.gov
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Good morning. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order. Today, we will hear from three nominees. John DeLue, nominee to serve as a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Richard Kloster, nominee to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board. And Michelle Schultz, nominee to continue to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board. Congratulations to each of you. Before I introduce the nominees, I want to spend a moment reflecting on the unprecedented impacts the continued government shutdown is having on Americans' lives. Almost a month ago, CNN quoted a senior Democratic aide as saying that Senate Democrats wouldn't reopen the government short of, quote, planes falling out of the sky, given the tragic accident we saw this week. Sadly, Senate Democrats seem to want to put that theory to test. Yesterday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Brian Bedford announced that beginning tomorrow morning, there will be a 10% mandatory reduction in flights at 40 airports across the nation. The safety data that the FAA relies on to keep the system safe was blinking red. There's too many key staffers calling out because they're not getting paid and having to save every penny and find ways to make ends meet. Tens of thousands of Americans will have their flights canceled every single day, due entirely to Senate Democrats, with a few notable exceptions, virtually all of whom have voted now 14 times to keep the government shut down, and they have taken the government and the air traffic control system hostage.
Air traffic controllers are unpaid, they are frustrated, and they are fatigued. A plane crashed in Louisville this week, and the NTSB investigators on scene aren't getting paid. The impacts of this shutdown are real, and becoming dangerous. And understand, the reason there's a 10 percent reduction in flights is the FAA said they could not maintain the airspace safely at full load. That is the consequence of this shutdown, and the Schumer shutdown needs to end. It is the longest shutdown in the history of the United States of America. And enough is enough. Now is a time for responsible leadership. Now I'll turn to today's nominees. Let's begin with John DeLue, a proud Texan of nearly 40 years. Mr. DeLue is an accomplished safety professional and airline captain who began his aviation career in the Air Force flying C-130 Hercules planes, supporting combat missions in Desert Storm. After his military service, Mr. DeLue joined American Airlines as a line captain and first officer in 1991. After 20-plus years of flying for American, he then led the airline's safety initiatives for more than a decade. He also served as chairman of the American Pilots Association's National Safety Committee, and he teaches aviation safety courses at the University of Southern California. As I have seen from the investigation into the crash of the flight 5342 near DCA, The NTSB needs knowledgeable and experienced members to keep our transportation system safe. Mr. DeLue will draw on his extensive aviation safety background to investigate accidents and propose recommendations to prevent future harm.
He is, without a doubt, one of the most decorated and qualified individuals to come before us. His resume is a perfect match for the NTSB. We are also joined today by NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who is such a regular in this committee that we may have to find her a seat on the dais. I appreciate her being here. As she said about Mr. DeLue's nomination back in September, John has an extensive background in aviation safety and has worked alongside the NTSB for decades. He often uses lessons learned to improve safety throughout transportation, including oil and pipelines and maritime. John will be an excellent addition to the board, if confirmed. Next, we have Richard Kloster to serve on the STB. Mr. Kloster is a seasoned railroad and transportation logistics professional with over four decades of private sector experience. He has worked for several railroads, including the Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company and the Indiana Railroad Company. Mr. Kloster also founded his own transportation consulting firm and served as a board member of the Railway Supply Institute. If confirmed, Mr. Kloster will use his extensive knowledge of the rail industry, as well as his experience working for railroads, suppliers, and shippers, to advance the STB's economic oversight of freight railroads. Lastly, President Trump has renominated Michelle Schultz to continue to serve on the STB. Ms. Schultz's decades of legal and transportation experience have served her well on the STB. Prior to joining STB in January 2021, she spent 14 years leading legislative affairs and legal strategy at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the nation's sixth largest public transportation system.
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