U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, serving as the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered an opening statement at a hearing concerning three nominees for positions within the Department of Transportation (DOT). The nominees under consideration were Gregory Zerzan for General Counsel, Michael Rutherford for Assistant Secretary for the Office of Multimodal Freight Infrastructure and Policy, and Seval Oz for Assistant Secretary for the Office of Research and Technology.
During her remarks, Sen. Cantwell highlighted the importance of these roles in advancing safety and infrastructure investment. She emphasized that leaders within the DOT must ensure adherence to safety standards and consumer protections.
Addressing Mr. Zerzan's nomination, Sen. Cantwell expressed concerns regarding recent procedural changes at the DOT that could potentially allow regulated entities to influence enforcement actions against safety inspectors. She referred to past issues with Boeing’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) process as an example where such conflicts had significant consequences.
Senator Cantwell also discussed workforce reductions in federal transportation agencies and their impact on project implementation efficiency. She expressed interest in how Mr. Rutherford plans to address these challenges if confirmed.
In her dialogue with Sen. Cruz, she clarified her involvement in establishing a federal freight policy aimed at prioritizing transportation investments linked to economic development.
Regarding Ms. Oz's nomination, Sen. Cantwell underscored the significance of research programs within DOT to enhance safety and efficiency through technology. She pointed out ongoing concerns about spectrum interference affecting aviation systems like radio altimeters.
The full transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is available online.
