Senate Commerce Committee favorably reports Coast Guard promotion and Bradbury nomination after contested roll call

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation met in executive session to consider two personnel matters and voted to advance both to the full Senate.

The committee voted by voice to favorably report the promotion of Coast Guard Lieutenant Samuel B. Hafenstiner to lieutenant commander (PN10). The committee then voted to favorably report the nomination of Stephen Bradbury to be deputy secretary of transportation (PN13-2) by roll call; the clerk recorded 15 yeas and 13 nays and the nomination was ordered reported favorably to the full Senate.

The nomination of Stephen Bradbury drew objections from the committee's ranking member, who recounted past disagreements with Bradbury’s tenure at the Department of Transportation, including allegations that he withheld documents requested in the committee’s investigation of the Boeing MAX crashes and that he rolled back or delayed safety-related rules. "I urge my colleagues to oppose Mr. Bradbury's nomination," the ranking member told the committee during opening remarks. The chairman responded that Bradbury’s experience as a former Department counsel would help the department identify and remedy systemic safety problems.

Committee procedure: Senator Cantwell moved to report PN10 (Hafenstiner) favorably; the motion was agreed to by voice vote with no numerical tally recorded on the transcript. Senator Wicker moved to report PN13-2 (Bradbury) favorably; the motion was seconded and decided by roll call. The clerk read a roll call where multiple senators answered "aye" or "no" and some votes were cast by proxy; the committee announced the yeses were 15 and the noes were 13.

The committee concluded its executive session after the vote and proceeded to an immediately following subcommittee hearing.

Action on these nominations sends both items to the Senate calendar for consideration by the full Senate.