Duffy’s confirmation hearing marked by bipartisanship, a promise to visit states devastated by Helene

Former Tail. Sean DuffyR-Wis., with both incumbent senators from Wisconsin in a bipartisan show of support to begin his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Duffy, who served five terms after flipping a seat held by Democrat David Obey for decades, he later moved to Fox News; he recently co-hosted “The Bottom Line” on FOX Business with Dagen McDowell.

“I am humbled by the fact that President Trump nominated me for this very important position,” Duffy said in his opening remarks.

He also introduced eight of his nine children in attendance – as well as his wife, “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy.

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He noted that his oldest son could not be in Washington on Wednesday because he and his wife recently had a baby and also live in southern California, which has been ravaged by wildfires.

“No federal agency impacts the daily lives of Americans and their loved ones like the Department of Transportation,” he said, adding that President-elect Donald Trump is a “builder” and knows the importance of maintaining and building critical infrastructure. He also noted that Campos-Duffy survived a fatal head-on car crash, which put highway safety at the forefront of his family’s life.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, DN.M., revealed that he, too, was involved in an accident with a drunk driver 30 years ago and doesn’t like to talk about it.

Lujan appeared to become briefly emotional as he addressed Campos-Duffy in relating their shared experience – and praised Duffy for his stated goal of being remembered as the secretary who improved transportation safety.

Later in the hearing, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., also stressed the importance of highway safety and revealed that he was hit by a car when he was 5 years old.

Duffy also promised to restore Americans’ confidence in the airline industry amid some recent incidents, including problems at Boeing. “We want the best and brightest air traffic controllers. We need to modernize our systems with cutting-edge technologies. I will work with Congress and FAA restore global confidence in Boeing and ensure our skies are safe,” he said.

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Similarly, Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan noted that the Last Frontier was not yet a state when President Dwight Eisenhower launched the federal interstate program—and that 251 communities in his state are still not connected by roads.

Duffy pledged support for a federal program that provides essential air service to remote communities in Alaska and other sparsely populated states.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Ted Budd, RN.C., noted the importance of making sure the victims of Hurricane Helena are “not forgotten.”

Blackburn noted Interstate 40 — a key transcontinental artery from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California — remains washed out across the Great Smoky Mountains.

During the September hurricane, a portion of the eastbound lanes in Haywood County, North Carolina, collapsed into the then-raging Pigeon River, disrupting regional commerce and access to mountain communities. In parts of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, long-term closures of major arteries continue and communities are trying to rebuild.

“We’re continuing to try to work through this process to get that rebuild done, but we need to know that this is going to be your focal point to be able to rebuild and reopen that interstate,” Duffy told Blackburn.

He promised that his first official trip as secretary would be to the area of ​​those states affected by Helena.

Speaking in support of alternative modes of transportation, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., noted at one point that the monthly cost of owning a car can be as high as $1,000, while taking public transit averages $100 a month.

Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said one problem the Department of Transportation needs to address is the lack of funds for electric vehicle drivers to pay into the highway fund. Currently, gasoline taxes are the main component of that revenue source.

Duffy responded that there should be a method for green vehicles to help fund the roads they drive on.

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In a brief moment during the hearing, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, mentioned Duffy’s potential visit to the Aloha State, prompting Speaker Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to joke that it could be a good get-together for the entire chamber.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., asked Duffy to draw attention to passenger rail service in the Heartland, noting that many times the primary focus has been on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional service — which runs between Newport News, Virginia, and Boston.

He mentioned the Southwest Chief, a key two-day drive between Chicago and Los Angeles, and how it is crucial to his state.

Additionally, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim discussed recent mysterious drone sightings in the Garden State, as well as regional transportation issues plaguing the New York suburbs.