
If confirmed as Department of Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy said the department will prioritize rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, innovation and safety.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held the former congressman’s nomination hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 15. President-elect Donald Trump announced this past November that he would nominate Duffy to lead the Department of Transportation.
“I am honored to have the trust of President Trump, and hopefully this body, to lead such an important segment of our economy,” Duffy wrote in his submitted testimony. “Transportation influences how long it takes to get home to loved ones, and improving its safety and efficiency directly enhances Americans’ lives.”
Duffy served in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. He also has served as a contributor to Fox News. The Republican from Wisconsin told the committee that he will take a non-partisan approach to his role with the DOT.
“I don’t think safety is a partisan issue,” Duffy said. “The projects that we have talked about in your offices and will talk about today aren’t partisan. Infrastructure is not partisan. I’m committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to make sure we are looking at the best projects and the safest record.”
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed in 2021. Duffy said that under the Trump administration, the DOT will continue to prioritize rebuilding the nation’s roads and bridges.
“President Trump is a builder,” Duffy wrote. “He has told me that this department is a top priority for him, and he wants to invest in rebuilding our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. He asked me to focus on big, durable projects that connect our country and people. If confirmed, I will work to reduce the red tape that slows critical infrastructure projects, ensuring funds are spent efficiently.”
Highway safety
The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show a 3% decrease in fatality crashes in the first half of 2024. However, the relatively small reduction follows large increases in 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021.
Duffy said the DOT will be committed to reducing the number of roadway fatalities.
“Safety is paramount,” Duffy wrote. “Every year, 40,000 lives are lost in roadway accidents. This hits close to home – my wife survived a deadly head-on car crash, which profoundly shaped her life. If confirmed, I will prioritize road safety, ensuring lives and families aren’t forever changed by preventable accidents.”
Autonomous trucking companies have touted the technology as a way to improve safety. However, concerns about the readiness of the technology and cybersecurity have been raised by safety groups, the trucking industry and others.
Duffy said he would encourage innovation but always prioritize safety.
“Transportation is entering an extraordinary new era,” Duffy said. “From eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), drones and autonomous vehicles to space travel, we are in a global race to out-innovate and out-compete the rest of the world. If confirmed, we will craft clear regulations that balance safety, innovation and cutting-edge technology. But I will always focus on safety.”
Support from trucking industry
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which represents small-business truckers, wrote a letter in support of Duffy’s confirmation in advance of the committee hearing.
“We are writing to express our strong support for Sean Duffy to be confirmed to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation,” OOIDA wrote in a letter signed by President Todd Spencer. “Mr. Duffy’s previous support for small-business truckers indicates to us that he will bring the right perspective to the role and work to ensure that DOT’s actions reflect the priorities of America’s professional drivers.”
When Duffy served in the House, he was one of 25 members who supported OOIDA’s request for qualified small-business truckers to be exempt from the electronic logging device mandate. Duffy signed a letter to FMCSA expressing his support for the OOIDA petition.
OOIDA said that Duffy’s support for the petition indicated that he recognizes that “regulations should not be one-size-fits-all, and more importantly, that Congress and federal regulators should provide relief to small businesses when regulations have significant costs with little to no benefits.”
The American Trucking Associations also supports Duffy’s confirmation.
“Rep. Duffy is a proven leader who recognizes that a resilient transportation network and modernized infrastructure are keys to a thriving economy, social and economic mobility and job creation,” ATA President Chris Spear said in a statement.
Next steps
The Senate committee will vote on whether to advance Duffy’s nomination to the full Senate for another vote.
Early signs indicate that Duffy should not have a problem being confirmed and that it will likely happen soon. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., for instance, said she would support Duffy’s confirmation.
The Senate will likely approve Duffy in the coming weeks. For a comparison, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was confirmed on Feb. 2, 2021. LL
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