A Senate panel on April 5 endorsed the nomination of President Donald Trump’s pick for the No. 2 spot at the U.S. Department of Transportation..
In a 15-12 vote largely along party lines, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee reported out to the full Senate the nomination of Jeffrey Rosen for deputy transportation secretary.
During his Senate nomination hearing March 29, Rosen, a Washington-based attorney and a former general counsel at the Department of Transportation, drew criticism for not fully answering Democratic senators who questioned him about the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grants.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), said at the April 5 hearing that he did not feel Rosen was committed to doing what is needed to repair the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
But committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.), who voted in favor of Rosen’s nomination, said it was not fair to blame a nominee for past inaction in repairing the nation’s roads and bridges.
“I just don’t think there is anything gained by simply not filling these positions with somebody who is a very capable public servant with a long record,” Thune said.
“I understand that nominees should not be to blame for our nation’s long-standing failure to invest in infrastructure,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a no vote for Rosen. “But his responses to my questions indicated a lack of passion and frankly, a lack of knowledge and familiarity with many of these problems.”
Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who voted against Rosen’s nomination, said, “Everybody’s giving lip service to our infrastructure, but they don’t want to pay for it.”
