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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Federal Agency Nominations (March 2020)

Original title: NOMINATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

January 1, 2023

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing is a required step in the federal confirmation process for three high-level officials who will oversee weather prediction, transportation policy, and internal agency investigations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Dr. Neil Jacobs

The nominee is seeking confirmation for a leadership role at NOAA.

Finch Fulton

The nominee is seeking confirmation for a policy role at the Department of Transportation.

John Chase Johnson

The nominee is seeking confirmation for the Inspector General role at the FCC.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2023.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing to consider three presidential nominations for key roles in the Department of Commerce, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Communications Commission. The committee reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of nominees for the positions of of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, and of the FCC.

Key Facts

  • The committee held a hearing on March 11, 2020, to consider three specific federal nominations.
  • Dr. Neil Jacobs was nominated for Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of NOAA.
  • Finch Fulton was nominated for Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of Transportation.
  • John Chase Johnson was nominated for Inspector General at the Federal Communications Commission.
  • The hearing included the submission of prepared statements and biographical information for all three nominees.
  • The committee record includes responses to written follow-up questions submitted by various senators to the nominees after the hearing.
  • The hearing took place in room SR-253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing allows the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to evaluate the qualifications of presidential nominees for specific federal agency positions.
Are these nominees confirmed?
The document records the hearing process; it does not contain the final confirmation vote results.

Why It Matters

This hearing is a required step in the federal confirmation process for three high-level officials who will oversee weather prediction, transportation policy, and internal agency investigations.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

60 Plus Association

2026

TAXATION/INTERNAL REVENUE CODEENVIRONMENT/SUPERFUNDCOPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARKHEALTH ISSUES

Signed a coalition letter opposing any efforts to raise the corporate tax rate above the 21% level set in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Signed a coalition in support of the Family Business Legacy Act, H.R. 6329. This legislation creates parity in the tax code between the estate and gift taxes by allowing an estate tax deduction for contributions to 501(c)(4), (c)(5), and (c)(6) organizations. Signed a coalition letter urging opposition to proposals that would raise taxes on carried interest investment income.The letter is urging Congress to reject the misnamed Carried Interest Fairness Act, legislation recently reintroduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and other progressive members of Congress. This legislation that would increase the tax rate on carried interest investment by 70%, from 23.8% to 40.8%. Signed a coalition letter in support of H.R.574 - ALIGN Act and highlight the 100% bonus depreciation provision's importance as the tax cut reauthorization efforts continue. Signed a coalition to support of repealing IRA's green new deal subsidies in reconciliation to pay for tax cuts. Signed a coalition letter regarding digital services taxes (DST) in an effort to stop Canadas imposition of a discriminatory digital services tax (DST) on U.S. firms and your efforts to include restrictions on the imposition of DSTs and other unfair digital policies in recently announced trade agreements-providing a model for future trade negotiations. Signed a coalition letter urging the President to index capital gains for inflation.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference100% confidence

Post-Hearing Question Record

The document includes an extensive appendix of written questions submitted by committee members to the nominees after the hearing, indicating a thorough vetting process.

Connected Entities

organizationSenate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationThe committee conducting the confirmation hearing.Map →
personJohn Chase JohnsonNominee for Inspector General at the Federal Communications Commission.Map →
personDr. Neil JacobsNominee for Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and AdministraMap →
personRoger WickerChairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Map →
personFinch FultonNominee for Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of TMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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