GOOD MORNING THE COMMERCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR WITNESSES FOR JOINING US TODAY. TODAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT HEARING DATE. WE ARE GOING TO BE JOINED BY, OBVIOUSLY WELCOMING BACK OUR COLLEAGUE AND FORMER COLLEAGUES BOTH SENATOR NELSON IN HIS POSITION TO BE NOMINATED AS NASA DIRECTOR AND OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE SENATOR HUTCHINSON, WHO I THINK IS GOING TO JOIN US VIR DHUL VIRTUALLY, I CAN'T THINK OF TWO MORE ACTIVE RANKINGS MEMBERS ON THE PAST IN THIS COMMITTEE SO WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THEM AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE OUR FORMER COMMERCE SECRETARY WHO'S GOING TO BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY. SO WE -- IT'S A VERY BIG COMMERCE DAY FOR THOSE OF US IN THE COMMERCE FAMILY AND LONG-STANDING MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO SEE OUR COLLEAGUES AND PEOPLE WE WORKED WITH ON SO MANY POLICY ISSUES AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM BY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO JOIN IN SUPPORT OF THESE NOMINATIONS. SO WE'LL BE JOINED BY A VARIETY OF SENATORS HERE, SENATOR RUBIO WHO IS WITH US ALREADY. SO I WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO THE FAMILIES, TO GRACE AND ANN, TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO DISCUSS TODAY'S NOMINEES. WE'RE COVERING EVERYTHING FROM THE DIGITAL AND NATURAL TO THE COMMERCIAL WORLDS AND INTO SPACE TODAY. SO VERY BROAD TOPIC AREA. AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT INNOVATION. FIRST I'M PLEASED TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF A DEAR FRIEND, BILL NELSON, TO BE NASA ADMINISTRATOR. I WELCOME YOU AND YOUR WIFE GRACE AND DAUGHTER ANN, YOU WILL BE INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RUBIO AND SENATOR AND AMBASSADOR HUTCHINSON. FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. SENATOR NELSON HAS BEEN A LEADER IN SPACE POLICY AND DRIVER OF NASA'S STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR DECADES HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND PASSION FOR SPACE POLICY HAS BEEN LONG KNOWN AND MAKES HIM AN INCREDIBLE CHOICE FOR THIS IMPORTANT ROLE. HE HAS A WELL RESPECTED LEGACY ON SPACE POLICY AND THAT HAS I THINK LED TO AN ENDORSEMENT BY A LITANY OF OFFICIALS INCLUDING SENATOR RUBIO, SENATOR HUTCHINSON AND MANY OTHERS. HIS REPUTATION AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE SPACE PROGRAM IS WELL DESERVED. AT THIS MOMENT NASA NEEDS SOMEONE WE CAN BE CONFIDENT IN. WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS AN EVENTUAL CRUDE MISSION TO MARS WHERE NO NATION HAS GONE BEFORE AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED CERTAINTY, IT'S PARAMOUNT FOR THE AGENCY. WE NEED STEADY, THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP AND UNDOUBTEDLY I THINK YOU WILL FIT THAT ROLE WELL. I HAVE TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED LAST WEEK ABOUT THE HUMAN LANDING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT BUT I'LL ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. AND I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE REDUCE RISK MANAGEMENT IN GENERAL AT NASA. ALSO IMPORTANT IN INNOVATION AND A LEADER, I BELIEVE, ARE IMPORTANT THINGS ON THE ENDLESS TECHNOLOGICAL POSSIBILITIES THAT WE SEE AT NASA. I HAVE TO SAY AS A SENATOR FROM A STATE THAT HAS NOW BEEN DUBBED THE SILICONE VALLEY OF SPACE, I WELCOME YOU TO VISIT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AND I ALSO WOULD SAY, WHILE YOU'RE THERE CAN LOOK AT THE VARIOUS AERONAUTICS ISSUES AS WELL. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE NASA MISSION. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS ON ALL OF THOSE ISSUES AND I HOPE WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE IMPORTANT MISSIONS. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM LINA KAHN. I UNDERSTAND YOUR HUSBAND AND PARENTS ARE HERE. VERY MUCH WELCOME YOU, IF YOU'RE -- THERE, THANK YOU. YOU LOOK TOO YOUNG TO BE PARENTS. SHE WILL BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BLUMENTHAL BUT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT HER DEDICATION AND QUALIFICATIONS IN THIS IMPORTANT ROLE THAT SHE WILL BE NOMINATED TO FILL. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT LAW AT COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL, HER SCHOLARSHIP HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS SWB BE PUBLISHED BY HARVARD, YALE, COLUMBIA, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW E ARE VIEW. REVIEW, SERVED AS COMMISSIONER TO THE HOUSE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE. AS COMMISSIONER OF THE FTC MS. KAHN WILL SERVE AS ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADSING ANTITRUST OFFICIALS AND CONSUMER ADVOCATES. ONE OF THE KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE FTC IS I BELIEVE HOW DO YOU FULFILL THE MISSION THAT THE FTC HAS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS IN THE INFORMATION AGE. A VERY BIG CHALLENGE. WE KNOW THAT SECTION 5 OF THE FTC ON UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES FOR COMPETITION AND INFORMATION AGE HOW MUCH THAT'S BEEN CHALLENGE PD P SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXACTLY HOW YOU CAN HELP US KEEP ON TRACK ON THIS IMPORTANT MISSION. IN 2011, JOHN PERRY BAR LOW OBSERVED AS WE WATCHED GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK ESTABLISH DOMINANCE, IF YOU'RE NOT PAYING FOR IT, YOU'RE THE PRODUCT. WE HAVE TO ABSORB WHAT THAT HAS MEANT FOR ALL OF US OVER THE LAST DECADE. I BELIEVE IN THE PROMISE OF THE INTERNET AND THE INFORMATION AGE, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A POLICEMAN OR IN THIS CASE A POLICEWOMAN ON THE BEAT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THESE MARKETS FUNCTION AND FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND WHAT IS A MAJOR ROLE OF THE FTC IS, OBVIOUSLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOJ. LINA KHAN HAS BEEN FOLLOWING ANTI-MONOPOLY RESEARCH FOR YEARS AND IS ONE OF THE LEADING EXPERTS ON THESE ISSUES. I THINK IT WOULD DO ALL OF US A GREAT DEAL OF GOOD TO HAVE HER ON THE FTC. I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST. ...

I'M PLEASED TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION OF LESLIE KIERNAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. SHE'S ACCOMPANIED BY HER HUSBAND. WELCOME. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE. MS. KIERNAN HAS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE REPRESENTING AND PROVIDING COUNSEL FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES BIG AND SMALL. IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SHE SERVED AS DEPUTITY COUNSEL WHERE SHE SERVED ON A WIDE RAGE OF ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO HR GOVERNMENT SERVICE SHE HAS WORKED FOR 20 YEARS AS A LITIGATION PARTNER IN A LAW FIRM AND SITS ON THE BOARD OF THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HERE IN D.C. HER CONFIRMATION COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS UNDERTAKING A VERY BIG TASK AS IT RELATES TO OUR COMPETITIVE AVENUES WITH THE PRESIDENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN AND WITH THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF AN INFORMATION AGE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY RESPONDING TO A COVID PANDEMIC. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE BIG CROSS CURRENTS. SO WHETHER IT'S PROVIDING COVID-19 RELIEF, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL AND CHARTER AND TRIBAL FISHERMEN ISSUES IS ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, OR ADMINISTERING AND BOLSTERING THE NEW BROADBAND PROGRAM, THE MINORITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OR MANY OTHER ROLES THAT COMMERCE MIGHT BE GIVEN IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, THIS WOULD BE A BIG CHALLENGE. WE NEED THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IN OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY TO BE AS ROBUST AS POSSIBLE AND I'M CONFIDENT YOUR NOMINATION WILL DO THAT. AS GENERAL COUNSEL YOUR MOST IMPORTANT JOB WILL BE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR AGENCIES TO KEEP POLITICS OUT OF SCIENCE AND DECISION MAKING AND KEEP MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON SCIENCE. SCIENCE IS WHAT HOLDS ALL OF US TOGETHER WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. SO YOU HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE HERE, DECADES OF INTERPRETING THESE LAWS AND ANALYSIS SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE ISSUES AND I MIGHT NOTE THE OVERSIGHT OF THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT THERE ARE A LOT OF SCIENCE AND LEGAL ISSUES. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INPUT AND OVERSIGHT OF THAT. WITH THAT I'LL TURN TO MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR WICKER, WHO'S JOINING US REMOTELY TODAY. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR CANTWELL FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING ON OUR FRIEND BILL NELSON, PROFESSOR LINA KAHN, AND MS. LESLIE KIERNAN KIERNAN. I WANT TO WELCOME EACH OF THEM TO TODAY'S HEARING BUT ESPECIALLY SENATOR NELSON WHO PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS RANKING MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE FORMER SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON TO INTRODUCE SENATOR NELSON. THEY BOTH SET A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR US BY LEADING THE EFFORT TO PASS BIPARTISAN, NASA AUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION. A TRADITION THAT I HOPE OUR COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE THIS CONGRESS. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE OUR COLLEAGUE, SENATOR MARCO RUBIO TO PROVIDE ANOTHER INTRODUCTION FOR SENATOR NELSON SINCE THE TWO OF THEM REPRESENTED THE STATE OF FLORIDA TOGETHER IN THE SENATE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. FINALLY, IT'S GOOD TO HAVE MY FRIEND, FORMER COMMERCE SECRETARY, PENNY PRITZKER. MY CONSTITUENTS AND I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT MAKING SURE NASA HAS STRONG AND CAPABLE LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW THE SPACE CENTER IS IN MY HOME STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. SENATOR NELSON HAS EXPERIENCE IN SETTING GOALS AND PRIORITY POLICIES FOR NASA BEGINNING WITH THE SUB COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE, SPACE AND SCIENCE COMMITTEE, A POST HE HELD FOR SIX YEARS. HE FLEW ON THE 24th FLIGHT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE, PARTICIPATING IN SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS AND OTHER WORK WHILE IN ORBIT. SENATOR NELSON ALSO SERVED AS THE CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE, SPACE AND SCIENCE SUBCOMMITTEE. AS I PREVIOUSLY NOTED HE WAS ALSO RANKING MEMBER. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SHEPHERDING THE PASSAGE OF NUMEROUS AUTHORIZATION BILLS. I KNOW HE WILL BE AN IMPORTANT VOICE AS WE WORK TOWARDS PASSAGE OF THE NEXT ONE. PROFESSOR KHAN HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO FILL THE POSITION OF THE FTC. YESTERDAY WE HELD AN OVERSIGHT WITH THE FOUR CURRENT COMMISSIONERS OF THE FTC, WE DISCUSSED DISCUSSED THE COMMISSION'S ROLE IN REINING IN BIG TECH, TO RETAIN MONETARY REGRESS AND THE ROLE THE FTC HAS IN COLLEGE NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS RULES. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MS. KHAN'S VIEWS ON THESE TOPICS TODAY. MS. LESLIE KIERNAN IS TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF THE COMMERCE. HER EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE A STRONG ASSET FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT HAS A BROAD PORTFOLIO AND OVERSEES NUMEROUS SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMIES, INCLUDING FISHERIES, WEATHER FASTING. WE NEED AN ACCOMPLISHED GENERAL COUNCIL AT THE DEPARTMENT WHO CAN PROVIDE SOUND LEGAL ADVICE AND DIRECTION IN ALL OF THESE AREAS. I APPRECIATE THAT ALL OF TODAY'S NOMINEES ARE WILLING TO SERVE IN THESE POSTS AND EAGER TO HEAR THEIR TESTIMONY AND RESPONSES. THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR WICKER. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A CHANCE TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE FORMAL INTRODUCTIONS OF ALL OF THE NOMINEES TO MAKE THOSE INTRODUCTIONS. AND SO, WE WILL GO TO SENATOR RUBIO AND THEN SENATOR HUTCHINSON, SENATOR GLOBE KLOBUCHAR. SENATOR RUBIO WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE. WE KNOW YOU COME FROM AN OCEAN STATE AND CONTINUE TO COUNT ON YOU TO WORK ON A LOT OF POLICIES FOR US, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ...

WE'RE SURROUNDED BY AN OCEAN. SO I APPRECIATE THAT, MADAME CHAIRWOMAN AND RANKING MEMBER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M GOING TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE OUR NOMINEE FOR NASA ADMINISTRATE IS NO STRANGER. WE KNOW WELL HIS PASSION FOR THE SPACE PROGRAM IS UNPARALLELED. IT'S A PASSION THAT BEGAN WHEN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND CONTINUED DURING HIS TIME HERE IN THE SENATE. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE, BILL NELSON WAS ALWAYS AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE SPACE PROGRAM. I DON'T NEED TO TELL MY COLLEAGUES THAT, YOU ALL EXPERIENCED IT FIRSTHAND. HE'S NO STRANGER AS WELL. NO BETTER ADVOCATE FOR ARGUING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM WHAT IT MEANS TO AMERICA'S INDUSTRIAL BASE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO INSPIRE A NATION. GREAT NATIONS DO GREAT THINGS, IT'S IN SPACE WHERE AMERICA HAS MADE ITS MARK, CERTAINLY MORE THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD AND WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO LEAD AND NO ONE IS A BETTER ADVOCATE FOR THAT, NO ONE CAN DESCRIBE IT BETTER, NO ONE HAS LIVED IT MORE THAN HE HAS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, OFTENTIMES WHEN WE SIT IN DIFFERENT COMMITTEES YOU GET THE NOMINEES AND HEAR GREAT THINGS ABOUT THEM, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THEM. EVERYONE KNOWS SENATOR NELSON, YOU SERVED ALONGSIDE HIM. SO THAT IS NOT A QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED AT ALL. I THINK THIS IS AN INSPIRED CHOICE I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER AMERICAN ALIVE TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. I'M A FAN OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL AND EVERY YEAR PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME MEETS. AND WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERY -- ALL 32 TEAMS HAVE THE -- USUALLY THE SENIOR BEAT WRITER IS THE PERSON WHO IS IN CHARGE OF VOTING ON THE HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE. WHEN THE NOMINEE AS A COACH OR PLAYER IS SOMEONE WHO PLAYED IN THAT MARKET, THAT PERSON IS IN CHARGE OF STANDING UP AND FORWARDING THE NOMINATION AND MAKE A PRESENTATION, USUALLY A FIVE MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT THE PLAYER'S PLAYING CAREER. EVERY NOW AND THEN, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO SUCH PROCESS. THE PERSON, I RECALL ONE IN PARTICULAR, THAT IS DON SCHULER, THE WINNINGEST COACH IN NFL HISTORY. WHEN HE WAS PRESENTED TO THE HALL OF FAME A YEAR OR TWO AFTER HIS RETIREMENT. THE SENIOR BEAT WRITER DIDN'T HAVE A VIDEO PRNGS PRESENTATION, FIVE MINUTE TESTIMONY, HE STOOD UP AND SAID LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DON SHULA AND SAT DOWN. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS COMMITTEE, BILL NELSON. THANK YOU. ...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SENATOR RUBIO. WE'LL TURN TO OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, SO PLEASED SHE CAN JOIN US, RANKING MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE, LONG STANDING, CONTRIBUTED TO MANY POLICIES FOR THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE, AMBASSADOR HUTCHINSON. ...

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY FRIENDS. CHAIR CANTWELL. RANKING MEMBER WICKER. I LOVED MY TIME ON THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE AS RANKING MEMBER AND I SO APPRECIATE BEING ASKED TO COME BACK BECAUSE I WORKED SO LONG WITH BILL NELSON. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TOP WHAT MARCO RUBIO HAS JUST SAID, THAT WAS A GREAT INTRODUCTION AND APT RECOGNITION OF WHAT BILL HAS DONE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. SO I AM HERE TO SAY HOW MUCH I ENDORSE THE NOMINATION OF THE PRESIDENT FOR BILL NELSON FOR THIS IMPORTANT JOB. AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM ON ALL OF THE NASA AUTHORIZATION BILLS THAT WERE DURING OUR TIME. AND I KNOW, AS A COLLEAGUE AND A FRIEND, THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS CHOSEN THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD THIS AGENCY. IN 2005, BILL AND I JOINED FORCES TO AUTHOR THE NASA AUTHORIZATION BILL OF 2005. WHICH AUTHORIZED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE USE OF COMMERCIAL CARGO AND CREW CAPABILITIES AND THAT BILL SET FORTH AN OFFICIAL POLICY OF NASA THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE COMMERCIAL USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. FIVE YEARS LATER, WE AGAIN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO CO-AUTHOR THE NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010. WHILE THE 2005 ACT LAID THE FRAMEWORK FOR INCREASED COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS, THERE WERE STILL MANY WHO WERE SKEPTICAL ABOUT NASA RELYING ON A COMMERCIAL SPACE INDUSTRY. BILL WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CONVINCE LAWMAKERS, BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THAT COMMERCIAL COMPANIES COULD TAKE OVER TRANSPORTATION FOR CREW AND CARGO IN LOW EARTH ORBIT, WHILE NASA WAS PUSHING IN THE DEEP SPACE AREA. HIS WORK PAID OFF. BILL AND I UNITED OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE AND GAINED SUPPORT FOR THE 2010 AUTHORIZATION BILL, WHICH INVESTED IN BOTH COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND ALSO NASA'S OWN DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES WHICH WE WERE PUSHING FORWARD TO DO. IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE PATH CHARTERED IN 2010 THAT IS BEING BORNE OUT TODAY. ONE OF BOTH COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIP AND CONTINUED INVESTMENTMENT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT IN OUR NATION'S SPACE EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES. VERY SOON NASA AND SPACEX DRAGON CAPSULE WILL TAKE OFF FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, THE CREW TWO WILL MARK THE THIRD COMMERCIAL CREW FLIGHT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND NASA WILL DO THE SAME THING WITH BOEING AND ITS STAR LINER SPACECRAFT. IT WAS A COMPETITION THAT WE SET UP FOR THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY IN THAT 2010 BILL. WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, NASA WILL LAUNCH THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ANDO ORIEN THEY WERE AUTHORIZED IN 2010 TO RETURN ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON. BUT THE CHALLENGES AREN'T IN THE REAR VIEW AS NASA EMBARKS ON THE ARTIMUS PROGRAM THE AGENCY NEEDS A LEADER WHO NOT ONLY HAS A LONG STANDING UNDERSTANDING OF NASA'S GOALS AND MISSIONS BUT SOMEONE WITH POLITICAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS WHO CAN BUILD A CENSUS AND CHART A BOLD PATH FORWARD FOR NASA AND OUR COUNTRY. BILL HAS THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF ACTUALLY FLYING IN SPACE AND AN UNSURPASSED RECORD OF SUPPORTING AND REFORMING THE AGENCY, KEEPING IT VITAL THROUGH THE BOLD POLICY PRIORITIES INCLUDING CRITICAL SCIENCE, EXPLORATION, AVIATION, AND TECHNOLOGY MISSIONS. BILL IS THE LEADER THAT NASA NEEDS NOW. I HOPE THE COMMITTEE WILL ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY AND FAVORABLY ON HIS NOMINATION TO GET OUR PROGRAMS UP AND GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS GREAT AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE BACK WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SERVING TODAY, THANKS FOR THIS WELCOME. ...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU AMBASSADOR HUTCHINSON. AGAIN I THINK IT SPEAKS HIGHLY OF SENATOR NELSON, OF YOUR NOMINATION THAT TWO OF YOUR FORMER REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE HERE TO JOIN US AND OBVIOUSLY SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DID ON THIS SPECIFIC POLICY AREA. WE'LL NOW TURN TO MORE FORMAL INTRODUCTION OF THE LINA KANHN AND I'LL TURN TO SENATOR KLOBUCHAR TO MAKE HER REMARKS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NOMINEES, INCLUDING SENATOR NELSON AND I SEE HIS FAMILY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AND TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING PROFESSOR LINA KHAN AS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NOMINEE TO BE A COMMISSIONER AT THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. SHE IS JOINED BY HER HUSBAND, DR. SHA ALI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND HER PARENTS MR. AND MRS. KHAN. I'M HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY AND YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR DAUGHTER. LINA KAHN CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN SHE WAS TEN YEARS OLD AND SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A JOURNALIST. HER EXPERIENCE DIGGING DEEP, ANALYZING BUSINESSES AND SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH BROUGHT HER TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AS HE INVESTIGATED AND WROTE ABOUT HARMS THAT MOWNOPOLYIES THAT INFLICT ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS SO I THINK JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE IS A GOOD THING. AFTER HER CAREER AS A JOURNALIST, SHE MOVED ON TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF PUBLIC SERVICE AS AN ADVISER IN THE A OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER CHOPRA WHO WE SAW YESTERDAY IN THE HEARING WE HAD IN THIS VERY ROOM. THERE PROFESSOR KAHN DRAFTED POLICY AND CASES FROM THE INSIDE. THEN, AS THE LEGAL DIRECTOR AT THE OPEN MARKETS INSTITUTE SHE SOUGHT TO REFRESH DECADES OLD ANTI-TRUST LAW FOR THE MODERN DIGITAL ERA, PIONEERING NEW THINKING ABOUT HOW COMPETITION POLICY IMPACTS THE TECH GIANTS OF OUR DAY AND WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LINA WENT ONTO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE SHE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR GROUND BREAKING GATE KEEPERS REPORT. AS PART OF THAT JOB SHE ALSO HELPED TO OVERSEE THE FTC, AN AGENCY WHERE WITH THE COMMITTEE'S SUPPORT SHE CAN SOON BE PART OF. FINALLY, PROFESSOR KAHN BRINGS SERIOUS LEGAL CHOPS TO THE COMPETITION TABLE. SHE'S AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF LAW AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND HER WORK HAS BEEN PUBLISHED -- WELL, JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE. HER ARTICLE ON AMAZON, WHICH SHE WROTE WHILE STILL IN LAW SCHOOL WENT VIRAL, AND NOT MANY LAW REVIEW ARTICLES DO THAT AND WAS DESCRIBED BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AS REFRAMING DECADES OF MONOPOLY LAW. GIVEN THE INTEREST OF THIS COMMITTEE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, LIBERAL TO CONSERVATIVE, IN TAKING ON ANTI-TRUST AND PRIVACY ISSUES, I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE QUALIFIED PERSON TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE FTC. LINA KAHN IS IN SHORT AN OUT OF THE BOX THINKER, A PIONEER IN COMPETITION POLICY WHO IS ALREADY A NOTED EXPERT IN HER FIELD. HER DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MARKETS INFLUENCE OUR LIVES AND HOW THE LAW SHOULD FUNCTION IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AT THE FTC. WHILE THE FTC HAS DONE SOME REMARKABLE WORK, INCLUDING THE RECENT FILING OF THE MAJOR CASE AGAINST FACEBOOK, FOR TOO LONG MERGERS HAVE GONE UNCHALLENGED AND DOMINANT FIRMS HAVE ACCUMULATED LEVELS OF MARKET POWER WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A CENTURY. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES OF OUR DAY. THEY ARE COMPLICATED. AND LINA KHAN WILL BRING A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE TO THE FTC. SHE'S COMMITTED TO USING THE AGENCY'S AUTHORITY TO HELP SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS AND SHE'S COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS WE CAN SEE THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. I HOPE BOTH COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER ON ENSURING THAT CONSUMERS GET THE BENEFIT OF FREE AND FAIR COMPETITION THAT OUR INNOVATIVE SPIRIT IN THIS COUNTRY BRINGS NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO MARKET THAT WE CONTINUALLY REJUVENATE CAPITALISM AND AMERICANS ARE PROTECTED WHEN THEY BUY THEIR GROCERIES, GO TO A HEALTH CLINIC, BUY MEDICINES AND YES, GO ON FACEBOOK. WE NEED LINA KHAN AT THE FTC AND I YOU URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR AND WE'VE HAD A STATEMENT BY SENATOR BLUMENTHAL.

THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR. THANK YOU TO THE NOMINEES TODAY. PARTICULAR WELCOME TO OUR COLLEAGUE, BILL NELSON, WHO IS ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATING HIS EXTRAORDINARY JUDGMENT AND WISDOM BY INVITING HIS BEAUTIFUL AND ACCOMPLISHED FAMILY TO BE WITH HIM TODAY. WE WELCOME YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I HAVE THE TREMENDOUS HONOR TO INTRODUCE LINA KAHN WHO I LONG ADMIRED AND WANT TO THANK YOU HER FAMILY AS WELL FOR THEIR SUPPORT. YOUR STORY IS SO INSPIRING, AN IMMIGRANT STORY, AN AMERICAN STORY ABOUT EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT ALSO GIVING BACK TO AMERICA IN SUCH WONDERFULLY IMPORTANT AND LIFE CHANGING WAYS. YOU'VE ALREADY HELPED COUNTLESS PEOPLE THROUGH YOUR INSIGHTS AND EXPERTISE. YOUR AMAZING WRITINGS AND SO MANY ACADEMIC JOURNALS BUT ALSO YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN THIS CONGRESS, IN BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE. SO YOU HAVE DEEP EXPERTISE AND INSIGHT, TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE, AND FRANKLY, THE GUTS AND GRIT THAT YOU DEMONSTRATED ALREADY TO STAND UP TO POWERFUL CORPORATIONS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT NOW THREATEN COMPETITION IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THE FACT IS THAT OUR NATION IS IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. WE NEED TO REVIVE OUR ECONOMY. BUT WE NEED TO DO IT IN IF A WAY THAT PROTECTS CONSUMERS. AND, IN FACT, CONSUMERS HAVE SUFFERED DEEPLY AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC. THE FRAUDS AND THE DECEPTION THAT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY OF THE SCHEMES WE SEE ON THE INTERNET RIGHT NOW. AND THE NATION IS ALSO IN A PRIVACY CRISIS. WE'VE SEEN THE INTRUSIONS AND THE BREACHES OF DATA THAT HAVE OCCURRED. WE'RE IN A COMPETITION CRISIS. NO ONE HAS DESCRIBED IT BETTER THAN YOU HAVE. AND WE THANK YOU FOR CALLING ATTENTION TO THE AFFECTS OF UNCHECKED CONSOLIDATION AND MOW MONOPOLIES THAT HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED DURING THE PANDEMIC. SO WE ARE AT A UNIQUE MOMENT FOR OUR NATION'S ECONOMY, ONE OF RECOVERY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME SEEKING GREATER EQUITY. AND COMPETITION THAT BENEFIT CONSUMERS ALL THE CONSUMERS ULTIMATELY. AND YOU ARE, INDEED, THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS AGENCY RIGHT NOW AS THE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THIS COMMITTEE AND A MEMBER OF THE ANTI-TRUST COMMITTEE O JUDICIARY LED BY SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON ALL OF THESE AREAS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU WILL BRING TO PROTECTING CONSUMERS IN COMPETITION AS A MEMBER OF THE FTC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIRWOMAN. ...

THANK YOU SENATOR BLUMMENBLUMENTHAL. AND OUR FORMER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, SECRETARY PITSZKER. WE MISS YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIRWOMAN AND RANKING MEMBER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR OFFERING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT ABOUT MY GOOD FRIEND LESLIE KIERNAN. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE OTHER NOMINEES AS WELL INCLUDING MY FRIEND BILL NELSON AND LINA KAHN. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT SERVING AS OUR NATION'S 38th U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE WAS THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THIS COMMITTEE FOR GIVING ME THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ON THE CRITICAL WORK TO BUILD A STRONGER ECONOMY FOR ALL AMERICANS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR OVERSIGHT ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. SO AGAIN, I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE, LESLIE KIERNAN WITH WHOM I SERVED IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. SHE'S SOMEONE I HAVE SUCH GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. WITHOUT HESITATION, I 100% SUPPORT HER NOMINATION AND KNOW SHE WILL BE, IF CONFIRMED, A STELLAR GENERAL COUNCIL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. LESLIE IS A PERSON OF UNQUESTIONED INTEGRITY, DEEP, DEEP LEGAL EXPERTISE, AND A LOT TRACK RECORD OF PROVEN RESULTS DEMONSTRATED OVER THE COURSE OF HER DIVERSE CAREER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE NONPROFIT WORLDS. SHE'S ALSO SOMEONE WHO'S QUITE ADEPT AT DEALING WITH HIGH PRESSURE SITUATIONS AND MULTITASKING, GIVEN THAT SHE'S THE MOTHER OF FOUR WONDERFUL CHILDREN. FUNDAMENTALLY LESLIE IS A LEADER WHO HAS ROBUST EXPERIENCE IN A BROAD RANGE OF COMPLEX LEGAL ISSUES THAT WILL SERVE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WELL. HER EXPERTISE RANGES FROM DATA PROTECTION AND CYBER SECURITY TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, JUST TO NAME A FEW AREAS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, LESLIE IS A LAWYER'S LAWYER. SHE'S HIRED BY HER CLIENTS FOR HER ASTUTE EXPERTISE AND SOUND JUDGMENT. AND I KNOW SHE WILL APPLY THE SAME SHREWD COMMAND OF THE LAW AND JUDGMENT TO THE ROLE OF GENERAL COUNSEL. OVER THE COURSE OF HER CAREER, LESLIE HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO BIPARTISAN, THOUGHTFULLY REPRESENTING BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. SHE'S DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE, PROFICIENCY, AND DISCIPLINE. FRANKLY, SHE'S JUST A DARN GOOD LAWYER. SO IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT SHE'S BEING NOMINATED TO SUCH A CRUCIAL ROLE. IF CONFIRMED, LESLIE WILL WORK ALONGSIDE THOUSANDS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WHO I ADMIRE AND RESPECT. TOGETHER I'M CONFIDENT THEY WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO FULFILL THE AGENCY'S CRITICAL MISSION TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION FOR MORE AMERICANS. PUT SIMPLY, I AM VERY PROUD TO KNOW LESLIE KKIERNAN, I TRUST HER JUDGMENT AND AM GRATEFUL FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO ONCE AGAIN SERVE OUR COUNTRY. THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S SUCCESS AS SO MANY OF YOU HAVE SAID TODAY IS OUR COUNTRY'S SUCCESS. IN MY OPINION, LESLIE WILL SERVE BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND SECRETARY ROMANDO WITH DISTINCTION. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN YOU TODAY AND FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK ALL OF YOU DO ON ON BEHALF OF OUR NATION. I'M DELIGHTED TO INTRODUCE TO THE COMMITTEE, LESLIE KIERNAN AND I ENDORSE HER SWIFT NOMINATION. ...

THANK YOU, SECRETARY PRITZKER AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GETS A STRONG TEAM WORKING WITH THEM. NOW WE'RE GOING TO TURN TO THE NOMINEES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. WE'LL START WITH YOU SENATOR NELSON. WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE, AND GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO ASSUME, HOPEFULLY, THIS ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY. ...

THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIRMAN. IF I MAY SUBMIT MY TESTIMONY IN WRITING FOR THE RECORD AND IF THEI MAY, MADAME CHAIR JUST ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE DIRECTLY....

YES.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY SPOUSE OF GOING ON 50 YEARS, GRACE, OUR NAN ELLEN AND JOINING US FROM ORLANDO OUR SON, BILL JR. I WANT TO THANK THE CO-PANELISTS HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND EVERYTHING THAT THE TWO OF YOU, MS. KHAN, MS. KIERNAN, THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED. IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE. THANKS TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUES. THERE'S A CATCH IN MY THROAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE WONDERFUL TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD WITH YOU ALL. AND THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BRED OVER THE 18 YEARS THAT I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SERVE HERE. AND SO, YOUR COMMENTS ARE JUST SO GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. BUT NOW WE HAVE A BIG TASK AHEAD OF US. AND IF YOU ALL DECIDE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONFIRM ME, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS WITH GUSTO. AND WITH ENTHUSIASM. THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT GOING ON IN NASA RIGHT NOW, AND YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IT. YOU'VE SEEN IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WITH THE FLIGHT OF DID LITTLE HELICOPTER ON A CELESTIAL BODY SOME 80 TO 100 MILLION MILES AWAY, DEPENDING ON THE ORBITS THAT EARTH AND MARS ARE IN. YOU'VE SEEN IT AS STATED BY THE CHAIRMAN AND THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE RETURN OF AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS LAUNCHING ON AMERICAN VEHICLES FROM AMERICAN SOIL. LATER THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT IN THE LAUNCH OF THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE, A $9 BILLION INSTRUMENT ON TOP OF A ROCKET SITUATED AT THE EQUATOR AT THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY'S LAUNCH CENTER. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT TELESCOPE REPLACING THE HUBBELL THAT IS ALREADY OPENED UP SO MANY NEW THINGS TO US IN THE UNIVERSE AND IT'S GOING TO LOOK BACK IN TIME ALMOST TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SOURCE OF LIFE, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF LIGHT YEARS AWAY. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME. AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, PERHAPS EARLY NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LARGEST ROCKET EVER, MOST POWERFUL, LAUNCHED THAT IS GOING TO BE THE WORKHORSE ON THE PROGRAM OF GOING BACK TO THE MOON AND THEN ONTO MARS, WHICH WAS A MULTI-ADMINISTRATION PROJECT. THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT ONE ADMINISTRATION. THEY'RE MANY. IT'S LIKE BUILDING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER, YOU START IT AND IT'LL TAKE YOU YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. IT AND HAS TO BE CONTINUED REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN THE MAJORITY, REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN THE PRESIDENCY. AND SO TOO ARE WE SEEING THIS. WE'LL SEE THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE PROGRAMS. SO IF YOU ASK ME, WHAT IS MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF NASA, IT IS TO CONTINUE FOR US TO EXPLORE THE HEAVENS WITH HUMANS AND WITH MACHINES. AND THERE IS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. NOW, COROLLARY TO THAT IS THE FACT OF LOOK AT WHAT IN DEVELOPING MACHINES THAT CAN TAKE HUMANS AND ROBOTS OUT TO EXPLORE, LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING DEVELOPED IN TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SPIN OFF OF A GENERATION OF NEWLY EDUCATED YOUNG PEOPLE. THINK BACK TO THE APOLLO PROGRAM AND THINK ABOUT HOW THAT RIPPLED THROUGH SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN S.T.E.M. THAT MADE US TECHNOLOGICALLY THE MOST ADVANCED OF ALL THE NATIONS ON THE PLANET. THAT CAN BE HAPPENING AGAIN. AND PRESSING THE ENVELOPE ON THE EDGES OF SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY, LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING. THINK OF THE SPINOFFS THAT IS COMING OUT OF THIS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. I HAVE TO REACH INTO MY POCKET HERE AND TELL YOU JUST RECENTLY I WAS REMINDED OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SPINOFFS, IT'S THE CAMERA IN HERE. NOW USED BY BILLIONS OF PEOPLE ON THE PLANET, THIS CAMERA WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES THAT NASA HAS BUILT AND HAS OPERATED. AND I COULD GO THROUGH SO MANY OF THE THINGS, THE CANADIAN ARM, FIRST ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND THEN ON -- NOW ON THE SPACE STATION. THOSE ROBOTICS THINK OF THE ROBOTIC SURGERY THAT I VENTURE TO SAY SOME MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE MAY HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED, INCLUDING YOUR WITNESS. THAT HAS ALL BEEN A SPINOUT OUT OF NASA TECHNOLOGY. MADAME CHAIR, I AM MINDFUL OF YOUR TIME. I COULD KEEP GOING ON AND ON, AND IT'S HOPEFULLY IN PRINT IN MY OPENING STATEMENT THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED TO YOU. I'M GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE. I WANT TO HEAR FROM THESE OTHER DISTINGUISHED FOLKS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE, I WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING. I THINK THE FACT THAT MARCO AND KAY WOULD MAKE A STATEMENT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT NASA. HOPEFULLY IT TELLS YOU SOMETHING ABOUT ME. IN TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, TO BUILD CONSENSUS IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING DONE. I WANT TO THANK JIM BRIDENSTEIN, THE FORMER ADMINISTRATOR WHO DID A REMARKABLE JOB UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND AS A RESULT HE BECAME VERY POPULAR IN NASA. I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP, HIS VERY GRACIOUS COMMENTS TO ME. SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF NASA, TO KEEP US GOING IN A BIPARTISAN, INDEED NON-PARTISAN WAY. IN THIS REGARD, NASA IS LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THERE SHOULD BE NO PARTNERSHIP AS WE VENTURE FORTH -- NO PARTISANSHIP AS WE VENTURE FORTH EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE. ...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION. WE FEEL IT AND THINK IT WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE. WE'LL TURN TO MS. KAHN FOR HER STATEMENT. WELCOME, WELCOME TO YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. ...

FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH ESTEEMED PANELISTS. I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO SERVE AS A COMMISSIONER OF THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, MEANNTORS AND STUDENTS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY PARENTS, BROTHER AND HUSBAND WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY AND MY OTHER BROTHER, PARENTS IN LAW WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE. I HAVE FOCUSED ON INVESTIGATING AND STUDYING MARKETS ACROSS OUR ECONOMY AND EXAMINING LAWS THAT ENABLE HONEST AND FAIR COMPETITION. I STARTED THE WORK AS A JOURNALIST AND POLICY ANALYST WHERE MY JOB WAS TO DOCUMENT THE STATE OF COMPETITION ACROSS INDUSTRIES. I SPENT YEARS STUDYING MARKETS RANGING FROM CHICKEN FARMING TO AIRLINES TO ALUMINUM AND BOOK PUBLISHERS. THIS WORK TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF FAIR COMPETITION AND THE CRITICAL ROLE THE ANTI-TRUST LAWS PLAY IN ENCOURAGING BUSINESS AND PROMOTING WIDESPREAD PROSPERITY. I HAVE BUILT ON THIS WORK AS A LEGAL SCHOLAR WHERE MY FOCUS HAS BEEN TO EXAMINE THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S ANTI-MONOPOLY LAWS THIS HISTORY REVEALS OUR LONG TRADITION OF SAFEGUARDING CORE LIBERTIES OF COMPETITIVE MARKETS AND THE TOOLS WE HAVE USED TO PROTECT OUR ECONOMY AND DEMOCRACY FROM UNCHECKED MONOPOLY POWER. THE STUDYING THIS TRADITION LETS US MINE OUR PAST FOR LESSONS WE CAN APPLY WHEN NAVIGATING CHALLENGES TODAY. I HAVE THIS THE CHANCE TO WORK THROUGH GOVERNMENT SERVICE FIRST THROUGH THE TRADE COMMISSION AND RECENTLY THROUGH THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ANTI-TRUST AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. I HELPED LEAD A 16 MONTH BIPARTISAN INVESTIGATION INTO DIGITAL MARKETS. PURSUING THIS INVESTIGATION UNDER SCORED THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT ENFORCERS AND LAWMAKERS MUST DO TO ENSURE THAT LONG STANDING LAWS ARE KEEPING PACE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND REFLECTING CURRENT BUSINESS REALITIES. CONGRESS CREATED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO SERVE AS A GUARDIAN OF FAIR COMPETITION AND TO PROTECT CONSUMERS, WORKERS AND HONEST BUSINESSES FROM UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES. IF CONFIRMED, I LOOK TOWARD TO WORKING WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, CAREER STAFF, THIS COMMITTEE AND THE BROADER PUBLIC TO PURSUE THE AGENCY'S MISSION WITH VIGOR AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. ...

THANK YOU, MS. KAHN. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. MS. KIERNAN, BEGUN AGAIN THANK YOU, WELCOME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR REMARKS. ...

CHAIR CANTWELL AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I'M HONORED TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY AS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NOMINEE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR AND HUMBLED BY THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SECRETARY ROMANDO HAVE PLACED IN ME. IF CONFIRMED I WILL WORK HARD TO JUSTIFY THAT TRUST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERING MY NOMINATION NOMINATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY I'VE HAD TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF BEFORE THIS HEARING. I WANT TO THANK SECRETARY PRITZKER FOR THE GRACIOUS REF REMARKS. I APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT AND VALUE HER FRIENDSHIP. I WANT TO THANK MY HUSBAND AND OUR FOUR CHILDREN FOR THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000 EMPLOYEES WORKING ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF OFFICES AND BUREAUS. THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING ON COMMUNICATIONS POLICY, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, WEATHER, FISHERIES AND PATENTS. THEY HELP FOSTER INNOVATION BY SETTING STANDARDS AND KULKTINGCONDUCTING RESEARCH. THEY THEIR WORK TOUCHES THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN PROBABLY EVERY DAY. THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS MISSION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS THE COUNTRY SEEKS TO RECOVER FROM THE ECONOMIC DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC AND TO PROTECT AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS FROM THE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES OF CHINA AND OTHER NATIONS. TOGETHER, WITH MORE THAN 300 CAREER LAWYERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO MAKE UP THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, THE GENERAL COUNSEL PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ADVANCING THE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION BY PROVIDE PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, LEGAL ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO THE SECRETARY AND OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. AS THE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER THE GENERAL COUNSEL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THE LAWS CONGRESS HAS ENACTED ARE FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED. THE GENERAL COUNSEL REPRESENTS THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE OTHER AGENCIES WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PROVIDES LEADERSHIP, GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE MANY TALENTED AND COMMITTED LAWYERS WHO WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE MY EXPERCHSIENCE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS POSITION AND GIVEN ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. I WORKED FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE AND IN GOVERNMENT. EARLY IN MY CAREER I WORKED ON THE STAFF OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BANKING FINANCE AND URBAN AFFAIRS. I HAVE PRIVATE PRACTICE AND GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE IN A WIDE RANGE OF LEGAL MATTERS. / I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS DEPUTY COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT IN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WHERE I PROVIDED ADVICE ON A VARIETY OF LEGAL, POLICY AND OVERSIGHT ISSUES AND WORKED CLOSELY OTHER SENIOR LAWYERS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE GOVERNMENT. I HAVE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT AGENCIES WORK TOGETHER AND THAT EVERYONE IS GUIDED BY DOING WHAT THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRE. RIGOROUS LEGAL ANALYSIS AND GOOD LAWYERING ARE ESSENTIAL IF GOVERNMENT IS TO WORK BEST FOR THE PEOPLE. THROUGH MY EXPERIENCES IN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT LEADERSHIP, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION. I'M A STRONG BELIEVER IN TEAM WORK AND IF CONFIRMED PLEDGE TO SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND TO BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING TIME TO WORK IN THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AMERICANS AN BUSINESSES. THE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES AND DESERVES THE BEST POSSIBLE LEGAL ADVICE AS IT NAVIGATES THE CHALLENGES IT FACES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT IS PRESENTED. IF CONFIRMED, I COMMIT TO YOU THAT I WILL DO MY BEST TO PROVIDE THAT ADVICE AND COUNSEL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. ...

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR PERSEVERING. I THINK SOME AIR SYSTEM WENT ON IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TESTIMONY SO IF EVERYBODY HEARS A LOW HUM, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THIS. SO THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT. I'M SURE IT'S NOT GREAT FOR BROADCAST ENTITIES THAT ARE HERE. IT'S A LITTLE LOWER. WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT. NOW WE'LL TURN TO QUESTIONS AND OBVIOUSLY IF THE WITNESSES COULD HELP US OUT HERE SINCE THERE'S THREE OF YOU. SENATOR NELSON, I WANTED TO START WITH YOU. OBVIOUSLY, NASA HAS A BIG TRADITION OF ENSURING RESILIENCY IN COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS BY USING MULTIPLE COMPETITORS AND MAINTAINING WHAT'S CALLED DISSIMILAR REDUNDANCY. SO I WANT TO KNOW THAT YOU'LL COMMIT TO RAPIDLY PROVIDING CONGRESS WITH A PLAN FOR ASSURING THAT KIND OF RESILIENCY OUT OF THE HUMAN LANDER PROGRAM. ...

I DO.

THANK YOU.

COMPETITION IS ALWAYS GOOD.

THANK YOU. AND ON THE WORKFORCE ISSUE, ARTEMIS IS A GREAT MISSION. NOW THERE ARE 18 ASTRONAUTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR THAT. THERE ARE A FEW FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM. BUT I THINK IMPORTANTLY IT SHOWS THAT IN 2019 WOMEN ONLY MADE UP ONE-THIRD OF NASA'S WORKFORCE AND 16% OF THE SENIOR SCIENTIFIC WORKFORCE. IF CONFIRMED WILL YOU PROMOTE DIVERSITY OF ROLES FOR WOMEN IN TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP ROLES THROUGHOUT NASA? ...

YES, MA'AM, AND ALREADY HAVE. AND I STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THE DEPUTY BE A WOMAN WHO IS EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED AND INDEED I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE PERSON THAT WAS ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, HAM HAM MELROY, A FORMER ASTRONAUT COMMANDER, BEFORE THAT SHE WAS AN AIR FORCE COLONEL, TEST PILOT. AFTER NASA SHE WENT TO THE FAA AND THEN TO DARPA. SO SHE IS AN INCREDIBLY PREPARED PERSON AS WELL AS BEING A DELIGHTFUL PERSON. AND SHE AND I WILL OPERATE AS A TEAM ALTHOUGH THE WHITE HOUSE HASN'T ANNOUNCED YET. I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE THIRD PERSON IN NASA, AND YOU ONLY SENATE CONFIRMED THREE, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHOM WE HAVE RECOMMENDED, ALSO A WOMAN. ...

THANK YOU. MISS KHAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE AS RANKING MEMBER WE DID WAS ISSUE A REPORT ON JOURNALISM AND THE MARKET IMPACTS THAT LOCAL JOURNALISM HAS FACED IN THE TRANSFORMATION TO THE INFORMATION AGE. GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK PLAY DOMINANT ROLES AS POR TAMTALS TO NEWS AND MEDIA. I THINK YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE SECTORS HAVE FACED GIVEN THIS -- GIVEN THIS LEVEL OF ACTIVITY. DO YOU THINK THAT THE FTC SHOULD REVIEW GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK'S USE OF JOURNALISTIC CONTENT WITHOUT COMPENSATION UNDER THE UNFAIRNESS STANDARD THAT THE FTC HAS? ...

YOU WANT TO --

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR SUCH AN INCISIVE REPORT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE ON THE TABLE. OBVIOUSLY LOCAL JOURNALISM IS IN CRISIS AND I THINK THE CURRENT COVID MOMENT HAS REALLY UNDERSCORED THE DEEP DEMOCRATIC EMERGENCY THAT IS RESULTING WHEN WE DON'T HAVE RELIABLE SOURCES OF LOCAL NEWS. SO ABSOLUTELY THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HOPE TO FOCUS ON AT THE COMMISSION. ...

WHAT UNCOMPETITIVE PRACTICES DO YOU SEE GOING ON?

SO I THINK THERE ARE TWO MAJOR FACTORS, ONE OF WHICH IS IS FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, INCREASINGLY NEWS PUBLISHERS ARE DEPENDENT ON A FEW GATEKEEPERS TO DISSEMINATE THEIR NEWS AND TO DISSEMINATE THEIR INFORMATION. SO A SINGLE CHANGE IN AN ALGORITHM CAN PLUMMET RIEDERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR ANY PUBLISHER SO I THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS GENERALLY THERE ABOUT THE ARBITRARY WHIMS AND THE ARBITRARY POWER THESE FIRMS CAN EXERCISE. I THINK THERE ARE ALSO SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT CONCENTRATION WITHIN THE DIGITAL AD MARKET AS WELL AS VERTICAL INTEGRATION THAT HAS POTENTIALLY CREATED SOME CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. SOME OF THE LAWSUITS THAT WERE FILED LAST YEAR I THINK UNDERSCORE THESE ISSUES AS WELL AS POTENTIAL, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AS WELL. I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE SEEING HOW THOSE LAWSUITS PLAY OUT AS WELL. ...

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR WORK HERE BECAUSE WE THINK -- YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE IN THE MODEL THAT OUR MARKETS, OUR ECONOMY NEEDS PERFECT INFORMATION. THAT'S WHAT BASICALLY GENERATES TRUE DATA. BUT IF YOU THINK THAT MARKETS NEED PERFECT INFORMATION, WELL, IF YOU HAVE SUCH A DECLINE IN JOURNALISM, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET PERFECT INFORMATION. WE DEFINITELY WANT THE A DIVERSITY OF VOICES AND HOLDING PEOPLE CASUALTIABLE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THANK YOU. MISS KERNAN, ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH -- WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH NOAA OR OTHER ASPECTS OF COMMERCE IS RESPONSIBILITIES GIVEN TO TORSION IN TIMELY ALLOCATION OF THOSE RESOURCES. SO I COULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, TRIBAL BROADBAND MONEY OR NOAA DISASTER COMMERCIAL ASSISTANCE. WILL YOU COMMIT TO MAKING SURE THE AGENCY WORKS CLOSELY WITH ALL OF US ON TIMELY DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES? OBVIOUSLY ACCURATE DISTRIBUTION, BUT TIMELY BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE REPRESENT VERY SMALL ENTITIES WHO ARE COUNTING ON THESE RESOURCES. ...

YES, SENATOR, ABSOLUTELY.

AND WILL YOU COMMIT -- I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE DORIAN, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOUND THAT THE FORMER ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL INTERFERED WITH SCIENCE, EVEN GOING AS FAR TO DRAFT PUBLIC STATEMENTS REBUKING CAREER SCIENTISTS AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. IF CONFIRMED, WILL YOU ENSURE THAT THE OFFICE OF YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL OFFICE ALWAYS FOLLOWS SCIENCE? ...

YES, SENATOR.

THANK YOU. SENATOR WICKER.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. AND SENATOR NELSON, I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE BOTH YOU AND SENATOR HUTCHISON BEFORE THE COMMITTEE -- BACK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY. AND IT SPEAKS VOLUMES THAT HAVING COMPLETED HER INTRODUCTION, SHE REMAINS ON THE CALL REMOTELY AS A SUPPORTER. SO WELCOME BACK TO BOTH OF YOU. LET ME ASK ABOUT THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM. I WAS -- I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF A LUNAR LANDING IN 2024 AND A MARS LANDING IN 2029. THAT TIMETABLE HAS SLIPPED. COULD YOU DISCUSS THAT JUST BRIEFLY AND DISCUSS HOW WE MOVE QUICKLY BUT SAFE LYLY AND PREVENT THE TIMETABLE FROM SLIPPING EVEN FURTHER? ...

YES, SIR. UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WON'T LET ME GET INTO THE INNARDS BECAUSE I STILL CAN'T TALK TO NASA UNTIL YOU ALL MAY DECIDE TO CONFIRM ME. HOWEVER, THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE DECIDING AUTHORITY ON THE COMPETITION FOR THE FIRST LANDING, HUMAN LANDING, CREW LANDING ON THE MOON, AS IT WAS EXPLAINED BY THE NASA OFFICIAL MAKING THAT DETERMINATION, THE TIMETABLE FOR 2024 IS STILL THERE WITH THE AWARDEE. AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT SPACE IS HARD, AND IT'S AN AMBITIOUS TIMETABLE, BUT THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN STATED. NOW, COMING AFTER THAT, THIS IS THE DEMONSTRATION OF LANDING A CREW ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON AND RETURNING THEM SAFELY. AFTER THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT CAN GO ON BEFORE WE EVENTUALLY CREATE THE SPACECRAFT THAT WILL GO TO MARS. AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE FUTURE COMPETITIONS THAT -- THE CHAIR ASKED ABOUT COMPETITIONS. AND THOSE COMPETITIONS WILL BE THERE AS ARTICULATED BY THE DECIDING AUTHORITY ON THIS COMPETITION. SO I THINK YOU MAY BE PLEASED THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT TIMETABLE TRY TO BE ADHERED TO BUT RECOGNIZE THAT WITH SOME SOBERING REALITY THAT SPACE IS HARD. ...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR. AND I HOPE THAT OPTIMISTIC ANSWER TURNS OUT TO IN FACT BE ACCURATE. AND I WANT TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP IT BE ACCURATE. LET ME TURN QUICKLY TO LINA KHAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. YOU WROTE AN INTERESTING PAPER ENTITLED "AMAZON'S INTEREST PARADOX," WHERE YOU DISCUSS A PLAIN COMMON CARRIER REGULATIONS TO BIG TECH. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH JUSTICE THOMAS' RECENT PUBLICATION WITH REGARD TO THAT? AND DO YOU THINK COMMON CARRIER REGULATIONS WILL BE APPLIED TO SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES LIKE TWIT, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE? AND PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY OR WHY NOT. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR. YES, I DID GET A CHANCE TO READ JUSTICE THOMAS' COMMENTS THE OTHER WEEK. I THINK IT PROMPTED A LOT OF INTERESTING DISCUSSION. IN THE AMAZON ARTICLE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY IDENTIFIED TO POTENTIAL PATHWAYS FORWARD WHEN THINKING ABOUT THESE DOMINANT DIGITAL PLATFORMS. ONE IS ENFORCING COMPETITION LAWS AND ENSURING THAT THESE MARKETS ARE COMPETITIVE. AND THE OTHER IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE INSTEAD RECOGNIZE THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE CERTAIN ECONOMIES OF SCALE, NETWORK EXTERNAL NALIES THAT WILL LEAD NIES MARKETS TO STAY DOMINANT BY A VERY FEW NUMBER OF COMPANIES WE NEED A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES. WE HAVE A LONG LEGAL TRADITION THINKING ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF CHECKS CAN BE APPLIED WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONCENTRATION AND COMMON CARRIAGE IS ONE OF THOSE TOOLS. FUNDAMENTALLY WE NEED TO CHOOSE ONE OF THESE PARADIGMS AND PROCEED ACCORDINGLY. ...

BUT IN YOUR VIEW, ONE OR THE OTHER IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO FIX THE BROKEN SYSTEM. IS THAT CORRECT?

YES. AND I SHOULD CLARIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE FIRMS ARE NOW INTEGRATED IN SO MANY MARKETS THAT YOU MAY REACH FOR A DIFFERENT SET OF TOOLS DEPENDING ON WHICH SPECIFIC MARKET YOU'RE LOOKING AT. SOY THINK WE NEED TO BE A BIT MARKET SPECIFIC, BUT YES, OVERALL, I THINK WE NEED TO CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER. ...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

SENATOR KLOBUCAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL START WITH YOU, MISS KHAN. SENATOR CANTWELL WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS FOR NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS AND NEWS IN GENERAL. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN AUSTRALIA WHERE LITERALLY GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK TRIED TO HOLD A WHOLE COUNTRY HOSTAGE. DIDN'T WORK, BUT THEY TRIED. AND SO ARE YOU AWARE OF THE BILL THAT SENATOR KENNEDY AND I HAVE WITH THE COMPANION WITH REPRESENTATIVE CICILLINE AND REPRESENTATIVE BUCK WHICH SENATOR McCONNELL WAS ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS LAST YEAR THAT ALLOWS THE NEWSPAPERS AND THE OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO COMBINE THEIR NEGOTIATING POWER TO BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER CONTENT RATE? JUST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT. ...

YES. I AM FAMILIAR WITH IT, AND I SHOULD SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GENEROUS INTRODUCTION EARLIER. I THINK THESE TYPES OF EXEMPTIONS THAT ALLOW COORDINATION HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN USED BY CONGRESS IN INSTANCE WHERE YOU HAVE DEEP ASYMMETRIES IN THE MARKET. CONGRESS PASSED ANTITRUST EXEMPTION FOR WORKERS ALLOWING THEM TO COORDINATE. SIMILAR WITH AD CO-OPS. INSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE DEEP DIVISIONS OF POWER. THIS IS A MARKET WE SEE THAT ASYMMETRY, IT COULD BE ONE STEP FORWARD CERTAINLY. ...

I LIKED YOUR ANSWER TO SENATOR WICKER ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT MARKETS AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY. WE'RE HAVING A HEARING THIS AFTERNOON WITH SENATOR BLUMENTHAL AND LEE AND OTHERS ON OUR ANTITRUST SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE APP STORE, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF CITIZENS WOULD BE STUNNED TO KNOW THAT, WHICH I KNOW YOU KNOW, THAT FOR A LOT OF COMPANIES THAT DECIDE THEY WANT TO AND NEED TO BE ON EITHER GOOGLE OR APPLE'S APP STORE MARKET, IT'S 30% OFF THE TOP, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15% AND 30% THAT GOES OUT OF THE POCKETS OF REALLY CONSUMERS AND TO THESE APP STORES -- TO THESE COMPANIES. AND IT'S ALSO KIND OF STUNNING TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE BANNED, COMPANIES THAT ADVERTISE ON ONE OF THOSE APP STORES, ARE BANNED FROM TELLING THEIR CUSTOMERS THEY CAN GET A BETTER DEAL ON THEIR WEBSITE. AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ARGUMENT YOU CAN MAKE FOR THAT. SO DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SENATOR BLUMENTHAL AND I HEAD TO THIS HEARING THIS AFTERNOON? ...

CERTAINLY. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND AS YOU NOTED THE SOURCE OF THE POWER IS THE FACT YOU HAVE BASICALLY THESE TWO MAIN OPTIONS, RIGHT, AND SO THAT GIVES THESE COMPANIES THE POWER TO REALLY SET THE TERMS IN THIS MARKET IN SOME CASES. I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS REALLY LACK ANY TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, BENEFICIAL JUSTIFICATION AND SO I THINK IN THOSE CASES WE NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY SKEPTICAL AND REALLY LOOK CLOSELY. ...

AND THEN FINALLY, SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY RELEVANT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS DONE QUICKLY, SENATOR GRASSLEY AND I HAVE JOINED FORCES AND HAVE A BILL THAT RESTRUCTURES THE FEES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE SINCE THE MEGAMERGERS AND REDUCES THEM ON SMALLER MERGERS THAT ARE PAID IN ORDER TO GIVE RESOURCES TO THE FTC AND DOJ ANTITRUST, XHR SHADOWS OF THEIR FORMER SELVES FROM. ...

Efan:EN THE REAGAN ERA. THIS WAS SUPPORTED BY THE TRACE, THIS BILL, AT THE VERY END OF LAST YEAR'S -- CHIEF OF STAFF MEADOWS WAS TRYING TO HELP UZ GET IT DONE AS WELL AS CHAIR SIMONS, FORMER CHAIR OF THE FTC, AS WELL AS MANY BASICALLY GOTTEN THROUGH THE SENATE IMPROMPTU. TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR RESOURCES TO TAKE ON THE BIGGEST COMPANIES THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER DMOENKNOWN. ...

AS YOU WELL NOTED, THE RESOURCES OF THE COMMISSION HAVE NOT REALLY KEPT PACE WITH THE INCREASING SIZE OF THE ECONOMY AS WELL AS THE INCREASING SIZE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE DEALS THAT THE COMMISSION IS REVIEWING. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, MEASURES LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE DISCUSSING COULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO HELP OUT. ...

VERY GOOD. I'LL TURN TO YOU, MISS KERNAN. TRAVEL AND TOURISM, ONE OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF THAT CAUCUS, AND JUST BRIEFLY BECAUSE I WANT TO END WITH SENATOR NELSON, THE BRAND USA. TALK ABOUT THAT, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT FOR PROMOTING OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS. SOMETHING SENATOR BLUNT AND I HAVE WORKED ON EXTENSIVELY. ...

SENATOR, I THINK HELPING THE TOURISM AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY RECOVER FROM THE DAMAGES OF THE PANDEMIC IS A PRIORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THAT EFFORT, AND IN PARTICULAR, IF THERE ARE LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARE IMPACTING OR DELAYING OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES PROMPTLY, I WOULD CERTAINLY COMMIT TO MAKING SOLVING THOSE A PRIORITY. ...

THANK YOU. LAST, SENATOR NELSON, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU AND I ON THE PHONE TALKED ABOUT YOUR DEVOTION TO MAKING SURE MORE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR GET INTO SCIENCE. AND NASA IS SUCH A GREAT VEHICLE, AN ASPIRING VEHICLE FOR THAT PURPOSE. AND SO THEY'RE NO LONGER HIDDEN FIGURES. THE TITLE OF THAT WONDERFUL MOVIE. COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY EXPLAIN HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO YOU? ...

WELL, IT IS. AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, HE WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO REFLECT AMERICA, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT AT NASA, AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A GOOD START. I'D JUST POINT OUT ONE THING THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW. WAY BACK AT THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, ALL THE ASTRONAUTS WERE TEST PILOTS, THEY WERE ALL MEN, THEY WERE WHITE MEN, THEY HAD TO BE A CERTAIN SIZE. THAT WAS COMING OUT OF MERCURY, JIM AND I, AND APOLLO. BUT WHEN THEY GOT TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE, THERE WAS A LADY NAMED NICHELLE NICHOLLS, WHO HAD BECOME A TREMENDOUS SYMBOL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE PLAYED LIEUTENANT AHURA ON "STAR TREK." AND SHE AND NASA GOT TOGETHER, AND SHE REACHED OUT BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WOULD EVER BE SELECTED IN THE APPLICATION FOR AN ASTRONAUT, WHETHER IT BE A PILOT ASTRONAUT OR THE MISSION SPECIALIST. AND BECAUSE SHE REACHED OUT AFFIRMATIVELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO GET, SO IN THAT FIRST CLASS OF SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUTS, THERE WERE QUITE A FEW WOMEN AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE OF COLOR. VERY SUCCESSFULLY. SO THAT WHEN I WAS PRIVILEGED TO FLY IN THE EARLY PART OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM, SITTING IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MARINE COLONEL, LATER A GENERAL, CHARLIE BOLDEN, WHO LATER BECAME ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA. AND OUR CAPCOM WAS FRED GREGORY, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASTRONAUT TO FLY AS A PILOT ASTRONAUT. SO -- BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION IN THE FUTURE, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT. ...

THANK YOU SO MUCH. SENATOR?

THANK YOU, CHAIR CANTWELL, AND THANKS TO ALL OF OUR NOMINEES. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NOMINATIONS. SENATOR NELSON, WELCOME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE EVEN IF IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAIS. WE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL DURING OUR TIME AS CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE DUE IN LARGE PART TO OUR EXCELLENT WORK GING RELATIONSHIP AND EVEN WHEN WE DID DISAGREE, I KNEW I COULD COUNT ON YOU TO WORK IN A FAIR AND STRAIGHTFORWARD MANNER TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES AND TO CARRY ON OUR COMMITTEE'S BUSINESS. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PLEASED I WAS TO HEAR THE NEWS THAT THE PRESIDENT NOMINATED YOU FOR THIS POSITION. YOU'RE THE PERFECT PERSON, SUPREMELY QUALIFIED, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF WORKING WITH YOU IN THIS NEW ROLE. AND NICE TO SEE GRACE. WELCOME BACK. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE AS WELL. AND I'M APPRECIATIVE, TOO, OF THE FACT THAT YOU WERE WILLING TO COME TO SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WE TOOK YOU SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET UNDERGROUND TO LOOK AT SOME WORK THAT'S BEING DONE OUT THERE IN THE BLACK HILLS. AND OF COURSE I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH YOU TO THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES. I DON'T KNOW -- CAN YOU GET THAT PHOTO UP OR NOT? THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE A PHOTO OF OUR TRIP DOWN THERE, AND WHEN THEY GET THAT UP WE'LL COME BACK TO IT. OH, THERE IT IS. OKAY. ...

OH, MY GOSH. OKAY.

YEAH. YEAH.

I MIGHT SAY WHEN THAT SNAKE TURNED AROUND AND STARTED LOOKING AT JOHN, HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO TURN IT OVER TO THE OTHERS.

YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. THE INSTINCTS KICK IN. ANYWAY, GREAT TRIP. I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT YOUR STATE. SENATOR NELSON, AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, NASA HAS INSPIRED THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE STIM CAREERS SO BECOMING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTIST AND ENGINEERS TO PROPEL THE NATION'S SPACE PROGRAM FORWARD, NOT TO MENTION THE NUMEROUS OTHER SOCIETAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH SPACE EXPLORATION. SOUTH DAKOTA DOESN'T HAVE A DIRECT NASA PRESENCE, BUT THE STATE PARTICIPATES IN BOTH THE SPACE GRANT PROJECT AND NASA'S EPSCORPS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN NASA PROJECTS. THEY PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION TOOLS THAT BENEFIT REGIONAL ECONOMIES AND ADVANCE THE U.S. RESEARCH ENTERPRISE PARTICULARLY IN RURAL STATE WHERE IS SUCH SYSTEMS CAN BE OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE. IF CONFIRMED, HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE NASA'S STEM ENGAGEMENT? ...

TO DO, SENATOR, EXACTLY WHAT WE DID TOGETHER IN THE PAST. THE STEM GRANT PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNIVERSITIES IN EVERY STATE, WHETHER THAT STATE HAS A NASA FACILITY OR A CENTER OR NOT. THE STEM PROGRAM IS JUST INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, AND MATHEMATICS. ALSO YOU MENTIONED THE ESCORPS PROGRAM. THAT IS A RECOGNITION THAT SOME STATES DON'T GET AS MUCH IN FEDERAL SPENDING AS OTHER STATES. AND SO IT GIVES A NOD TO THOSE STATES IN THE KIND OF FEDERAL SPENDING THAT WOULD COME IN, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IN THOSE TECHNOLOGY STEM FIELDS. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT WITH YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO SOUTH DAKOTA WITH YOU YOU. AND TAKE ME DOWN INTO THAT ABANDONED GOLD MINE AGAIN. ONE MILE UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH. ...

THAT'S QUITE A PLACE. LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK. AS YOU KNOW, NASA WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH INDUSTRY TO DELIVER PAYLOADS AND CREWS TO LOW EARTH ORBIT AND EVENTUALLY BEYOND. AS A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL OPERATORS AND THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR MISSIONS GROW, COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW IF CONFIRMED YOU WOULD WORK TO MAKE SURE NASA PLAYS A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN A COHESIVE AND FOCUSED VISION ACROSS GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED AND COMMERCIAL MISSIONS? ...

AND THAT IS BUILDING ON THE LAW THAT SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON DESCRIBED A WHILE AGO THAT WE HAD PASSED BACK IN 2020, WHICH IS THE DUAL COURSE. IT SETS NASA ON THAT COURSE 11 YEARS AGO FOR THE FUTURE, AND THAT IS ONE COURSE IS THE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS INSTEAD OF EVERYTHING BEING DONE BY NASA, HAVE THOSE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE JUST IN LOW EARTH ORBIT SUCH AS THE DELIVERY OF CARGO AND CREW BY COMMERCIAL OPERATORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WHICH IS NOW AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT. WITH SPACEX JUST ABOUT IN A FEW DAYS TO LAUNCH A CREW AGAIN AND LATER IN THE YEAR BOEING DOING THE SAME. OTHERS ARE SUPPLYING CARGO. BUT HAVING DONE THAT WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS, GET NASA OUT OF LOW-EARTH ORBIT AND LET NASA GO EXPLORE. AND THEN THE QUESTIONING IS THE LANDER. THIS IS A LANDING OF HUMANS ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. AND NASA JUST ANNOUNCED IT'S DOWN SELECT ON A CONTRACT ON A DEMONSTRATION OF LANDING ON THE MOON WITH A CREW AND BRINGING THEM BACK SAFELY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A FEW MINUTES AGO AS DESCRIBED BY NASA IN THEIR PRESS CONFERENCE, THAT IT WILL BE IN 2024. AND THEN THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS TO COME AFTER THAT DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE PREPARATION TO GO TO MARS. MARS IS THE GOAL IN THE DECADE OF THE 2030s. AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS DUAL ACTIVITY CONTINUE AS SET BY LAW IN THE 2010 BILL. ...