Washington —Transportation secretary nominee Sean Duffy will “always focus on safety” amid technological advancements that have put the United States “in a global race” for transportation innovation, he told lawmakers during a Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.
Testifying for three hours before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, with favor from both sides of the aisle, Duffy added that, if confirmed, he’d lend support to multiple safety-sensitive issues.
In November, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Duffy to the position. A former congressman and TV host, Duffy represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District from January 2011 to September 2019. He previously served as the district attorney for Ashland County, WI, from 2002 to 2010.
Until his nomination, Duffy was a co-host of “The Bottom Line” on the Fox Business Network. He first emerged on the public radar in the late 1990s as a reality TV star.
“Whether driving, flying or traveling by train, no federal agency impacts Americans’ daily lives and their loved ones more than the Department of Transportation,” Duffy said in his opening remarks. “I am honored to have the trust of President Trump, and hopefully this body, to lead such an important segment of our economy. Transportation influences how long it takes to get home to loved ones, and improving its safety and efficiency directly enhances Americans’ lives.”
Wisconsin Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D) and Ron Johnson (R) introduced Duffy, whose wife, Rachel, was in attendance with eight of the couple’s nine children. Duffy spoke about his personal connection to transportation safety through his children, as well as his spouse’s survival of a head-on car crash. Duffy said that incident “profoundly reshaped her life.”
Baldwin said she’s “confident that Sean is the right person for this job in this upcoming administration.”
Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) closed the hearing by reminding committee members they have until close of business on Jan. 16 to submit questions for the record to Duffy, who must respond by end of day Jan. 19.
The committee will vote on a date to be determined on whether to advance Duffy’s nomination to the full Senate.
