WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his opening statement at today’s Senate Commerce Committee nominations hearing, Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) praised President Trump and Secretary Duffy for making safety the top priority at the Department of Transportation (DOT). He emphasized the need for strong leadership at DOT’s key safety agencies to keep Americans secure while ensuring efficient travel.

Sen. Cruz noted Mr. Derek Barrs’s strong qualifications that will help him modernize regulations at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). He also voiced his support for Mr. Jonathan Morrison to serve as Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), citing Mr. Morrison’s prior role as the agency’s chief counsel and experience in the tech sector as valuable assets to advance auto safety innovation. Sen. Cruz also highlighted Mr. Paul Roberti’s previous service as the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) chief counsel, making him the ideal candidate to lead the agency.

Sen. Cruz expressed his hope that he and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) can reach an agreement on an overdue PHMSA reauthorization.

Here are Sen. Cruz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Good morning.  The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.

“Today, we are considering the President’s nominees to lead three safety agencies within the Department of Transportation.  With us are Mr. Derek Barrs, nominee for Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Mr. Jonathan Morrison, nominee for Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Mr. Paul Roberti, nominee for Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

“Americans want a transportation system that is fast, convenient, and reliable—but above all—safe.  President Trump and Secretary Duffy have made safety the top priority at the Department of Transportation, and the three nominees before us today intend to make it theirs as well.

“As a young deputy sheriff in Florida, Mr. Barrs responded to a nighttime collision between a logging truck and a car full of young adults.  Ever since, he has spent his career working to improve large truck and motor carrier safety.  Mr. Barrs served for nearly three decades in law enforcement, rising from deputy sheriff to head of Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.  He is deeply familiar with FMCSA, having enforced federal motor vehicle regulations and managed FMCSA grants in the state.  As Administrator of FMCSA, he hopes to modernize the regulations governing the nation’s trucking and busing industries.

“Mr. Morrison is equally dedicated to the mission of NHTSA: ensuring that the cars on our roads are safe and reliable.  This won’t be his first time at the agency.  Mr. Morrison served as NHTSA’s Chief Counsel during the first Trump administration.  And having worked at a leading tech company over the past four years, he recognizes that NHTSA safety standards must keep up with automotive innovation.

“Our third nominee, Mr. Roberti, is ready to manage PHMSA, which oversees the transport of hazardous materials.  This includes the movement of oil, natural gas, and other critical American energy products over the three million miles of pipeline in this country.  That’s in addition to hazardous materials that move by truck, rail, water, or air.  I am hopeful Ranking Member Cantwell and I can broker an agreement on an overdue PHMSA reauthorization that can be implemented by a new PHMSA Administrator.

“Like Mr. Morrison, Mr. Roberti served during the first Trump administration as Chief Counsel at the agency to which he has been nominated.  He cleared a backlog of hundreds of enforcement matters at PHMSA.  And in various roles in Rhode Island state government, Mr. Roberti modernized the state’s pipelines, increased their safety, and shared what he learned with other states.  I am excited to hear what he can bring to the federal agency this time around.

“I look forward to hearing from all of our nominees today and now turn to Ranking Member Cantwell.”

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