The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has approved four nominations for key federal positions during an executive session held in Washington, D.C. The nominees will move forward to the full Senate for consideration, while four additional nominees from the agenda will be addressed at a later date.
Jared Isaacman of Pennsylvania was approved to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by a vote of 18-10. Senators voting in favor included Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.). Those opposed were Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).
Admiral Kevin E. Lunday was nominated to serve as Commandant of the United States Coast Guard with a vote of 23-5. Support came from both Republican and Democratic members, including Maria Cantwell and Amy Klobuchar among others. Five senators voted against his nomination: Ed Markey, Tammy Duckworth, Ben Ray Luján, John Hickenlooper, and Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Ryan McCormack of Virginia received approval as Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy with an 18-10 vote split along similar lines as Isaacman's nomination.
Michael Graham of Virginia was approved to become a member of the National Transportation Safety Board by a margin of 19-9.
The committee indicated that further action on the remaining four nominees would occur at a future session.
