The nominee to manage policy directives at the U.S. Department of Transportation will get a vote from the Senate Commerce Committee on June 29, the panel announced this week.
Lyft executive Derek Kan’s nomination for the undersecretary of Transportation for Policy is expected to advance to the full Senate ahead of the July 4 congressional recess. A vote by the full Senate is possible before the July break. Aides, however, say the vote to confirm is likely to occur as early as next month.
If confirmed, Kan said he would focus on enhancing the department’s oversight of autonomous vehicles, and the modernization of critical multimodal safety technology.
He also told the committee he would devote much of his time reaching a fair balance of federal resources for urban and rural transportation programs.
“Together, we can address these complex policy questions, rebuild our nation’s infrastructure, ensure the safety and security of our transportation system and usher in new technologies,” he said.
A member of Amtrak’s board of directors, Kan was a management consultant at Bain & Co. Prior to that, Kan served as policy adviser to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), as well as chief economist for the Senate Republican Policy Committee. McConnell is married to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
