The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Tuesday held a confirmation hearing to consider the nomination of Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) to serve as Secretary of Commerce.
During opening remarks, Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) noted the importance of vital policy matters including growing the marine economy through the promotion of transportation, seafood, shipbuilding, and technological innovation and research. He added his belief that Gov. Raimondo, as leader of a maritime state, understands the need for effective ocean and fisheries policies, and said he hoped that she will be a strong advocate on those issues as Commerce Secretary.
In her opening statement, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) noted Raimondo’s understanding of oceans, fisheries, and science “will greatly help us at the Department of Commerce,” and that it “couldn’t come at a better time to have a Secretary of Commerce who really does understand fish issues.” Cantwell also said that “smart strategies” will be needed to address stock assessments, fishery management, salmon recovery, storm water and habitat investments, and the orca population in Puget Sound, specifically noting how commercial fishing provides food and supports seafood processors, shipbuilders, trade, and restaurant jobs and how recreational fishing supports the economy as well.
Additionally, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) noted Raimondo’s role in completing the nation’s first offshore wind power system, while Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said that Rhode Island became a national hub for offshore wind under her tenure as Governor and that she “solved the offshore wind dilemma” and “broke the logjam of offshore wind siting that had prevented any state in the United States from getting offshore wind turbines up.”
Whitehouse also said he is excited about her role as what he termed “Secretary of Oceans and Commerce,” citing “enormous bipartisan progress on oceans” and an “open lane on oceans for an energetic and bright Secretary to move issues forward in an almost unprecedented way.” Noting that the oceans “are in serious peril” and that NOAA “has long been overlooked and underfunded,” Whitehouse noted Raimondo’s experience in dealing with issues including storm surge, sea level rise, ocean plastics, pirate fishing, fisheries management, collaboration between wind developers and fishermen, coastal resiliency, and the Blue Economy, saying it would be “very exciting” to have an ocean state governor oversee NOAA’s work.
In her opening remarks, among other things Gov. Raimondo cited a “need to recognize that tackling climate change goes hand-in-hand with creating good-paying jobs,” noting that as governor she “expanded clean energy jobs, oversaw construction of the nation’s first offshore wind farm, and put Rhode Island on a path to 100% renewable power.” She added that she “know[s] the climate crisis poses an existential threat to our economic security, and we must meet this challenge by creating millions of good, union jobs that power a more sustainable economy,” stating that the Commerce Department “has the tools, data, and expertise to help communities and businesses address the climate crisis and become more resilient in the face of climate change.”
The Committee will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 3 to consider the nomination.
