Latest news with #andTransportationCommittee
Saba Yemen
3 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Trump will soon announce replacement for NASA administrator
Washington - (Saba): The White House announced that US President Donald Trump will soon announce a replacement for tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk, as NASA administrator. The White House said in a statement: "It is essential that the next NASA administrator be fully aligned with President Trump's 'America First' agenda, and President Trump will announce his replacement immediately and shortly." Previously, US media outlets reported, citing sources, that Trump intends to withdraw Isaacman's nomination due to his past donations to prominent Democratic figures. In late April, the US Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee recommended Isaacman's confirmation for the position. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Newsweek
19-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Sens. Blackburn and Blumenthal: Big Tech Puts Profit Over Children's Safety. Our Bipartisan Legislation Would Hold Them Accountable
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. For years, Big Tech companies have knowingly sold American children as the product on their platforms, exposing them to appalling harms, including bullying, lethal drugs, and sexual exploitation. The reason for this negligence is as simple as it is reprehensible: Investing in children's safety would cut into their profits. So they don't—bringing tragic consequences. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission revealed that in 2019, Meta-owned Instagram encouraged users whom the company identified as potential child predators to connect with minors, who made up 27 percent of their follow recommendations. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) listen to testimony from head of Instagram Adam Mosseri during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled, "Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young... Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) listen to testimony from head of Instagram Adam Mosseri during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled, "Protecting Kids Online: Instagram and Reforms for Young Users on Capitol Hill," on December 8, 2021, in Washington, D.C. MoreAfter receiving evidence that his platform was endangering children, however, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to bolster the platform's safety teams. Six years later and Meta's platforms are just as dangerous for minors. On Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, AI chatbots have engaged in romantic role play and fantasies with underage users, often devolving into explicit discussions of sexual acts, The Wall Street Journal reported last month. In one case, a chatbot emulating an adult man told a test user identifying as a 14-year-old girl that it would "cherish [her] innocence," adding: "I want you, but I need to know you're ready." Even as Meta employees warned that the feature could sexualize children, Zuckerberg reportedly pushed for fewer safeguards for the chatbots to attract as many users as possible. While Meta is among the worst offenders when it comes to children's safety, they are far from alone. Chinese-owned TikTok pushed content that glorifies suicide to teenagers and developed addictive algorithms that harm their mental health. On Discord, pedophiles have targeted minors with sextortion and lured them into abductions. Drug dealers have used platforms from YouTube to Telegram to sell lethal drugs like fentanyl to teenagers, fueling our nation's drug epidemic. And the list goes on. For years, we have heard from parents across the country who have lost children to online harms—and we have heard excuse after excuse from Big Tech CEOs about why these tragedies are continuing to happen every single day. No more. In the U.S. Senate, we recently introduced the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would hold Big Tech accountable and provide parents with tools, safeguards, and transparency to protect their children. Among its provisions, the legislation would create a duty of care for online platforms to prevent specific threats to minors, including sexual abuse, illicit drugs, and the promotion of suicide and eating disorders. This duty of care would only apply to product features like algorithms— not content—meaning KOSA would safeguard free speech while protecting children. In many ways, KOSA addresses a glaring discrepancy in our nation's laws. There are many protections for children in the physical world. Yet if children are unable to buy alcohol or go to the strip club in the physical space, why should we let them be pushed into these harms in the virtual space? Parents know that there are just as many dangers lurking online as in the real world, which is why 86 percent of voters support KOSA. It should come as no surprise that the legislation enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support, passing through the Senate last year with a vote of 91-3. It has also received endorsements from stakeholders across the board, including child safety advocates, pediatricians, and tech companies like X, Microsoft, Snap, and Apple, which announced its support on May 14. KOSA's broad support reflects the reality that it is far past time that Congress took action to protect children online. In the weeks ahead, we will work with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that this vital legislation reaches President Donald Trump's desk. When it does, the president will have a generational opportunity to secure a brighter future for children across the country whose lives depend on our ability to act. Senator Marsha Blackburn is a United States senator from Tennessee. Senator Richard Blumenthal is a United States senator from Connecticut. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Billionaire spacewalker highlights Mars trip for astronauts in his bid to become NASA's next chief
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee gathered in Washington for the nomination hearing. Besides Isaacman, nine other experienced space travelers were in the audience, including NASA's next moon crew and passengers who flew on private spaceflights with him. Isaacman assured the senators that he would not give up on the moon and wants the US to beat China in landing astronauts there. Advertisement 'I didn't say we shouldn't go to the moon,' he said. 'What's taking so long to get back to the moon and why does it cost so much money? I absolutely want to see us return to the moon.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Moon and Mars expeditions can be developed in parallel. 'I don't think these are either-or,' he added. NASA can afford both under current funding, he said, without elaborating. Isaacman, 42, has already flown in space twice, buying his own trips with SpaceX, and performed the world's first private spacewalk last September. An experienced jet pilot, he made his fortune with a payment processing company he started as a high school dropout in his parents' basement, now called Shift4. Advertisement He acknowledged in his testimony that he is not 'a typical nominee for this position.' 'I have been relatively apolitical; I am not a scientist and I never worked at NASA,' he said. 'I do not think these are weaknesses.' The space agency and others were anxious to hear Isaacman's stand on the moon and Mars for human exploration, given his close association with SpaceX's Elon Musk. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, the committee's chairman, urged the need to 'stay the course' with NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon. 'An extreme shift in priorities at this stage would almost certainly mean a red moon, ceding ground to China for generations to come,' Cruz said. NASA has been pitching the moon as the next logical step for astronauts for years. The Artemis program aims to send a crew around the moon next year and land astronauts near the moon's south pole as early as 2027. Lunar bases are also planned this time around, not just quick visits like the ones during NASA's Apollo missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Artemis has been slow going and expensive, especially for NASA's Space Launch System rocket. It has only blasted off once so far — in 2022 without a crew. Musk favors Mars as a destination as he ramps up more test flights out of Texas for Starship, the world's biggest and most powerful rocket. By making Starship reusable, he intends to dramatically lower costs of getting people and equipment to the red planet. NASA has chosen Starship for its first two astronaut landings on the moon under Artemis, named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology. Advertisement When asked if Musk has contacted him since his nomination about how to manage NASA, Isaacman replied, 'not at all.' Isaacman then was questioned about how he would protect against undue influence from Musk, given SpaceX's billions of dollars' worth of contracts with NASA. 'I absolutely want to be clear,' Isaacman said. 'My loyalty is to this nation, the space agency, and their world-changing mission.' Isaacman said he supports continuing the International Space Station through 2030, as currently planned by NASA. Musk suggested earlier this year that the space station should be dumped as soon as possible in order to focus on Mars. When pressed by senators again before the hearing ended, Isaacman said the space station should keep going until it is replaced by private outposts in orbit.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Howard Lutnick confirmed as Trump's commerce secretary
The Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick on Tuesday to serve as President Donald Trump's secretary of commerce. The Republican-controlled Senate voted to confirm Lutnick on Tuesday, less than a week after senators voted to invoke cloture on his nomination. He needed a simple majority for a full Senate confirmation, getting confirmed on a 51- 45 tally on Tuesday. Lutnick passed his procedural vote last week after the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted 16-12 to motion for cloture on Feb. 5. Lutnick said he aligns with Trump's "trade and tariff agenda," which seeks to remedy trade imbalances by imposing reciprocal tariffs. His confirmation indicates a milestone for Trump's America First policy agenda. Us Will Be 'Flooded With Jobs' As Foreign Nations Avoid Tariffs, Trump Says Lutnick, chair and CEO of investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is one of the wealthiest people to serve in a presidential administration. Lutnick vowed to divest his financial interests upon confirmation to remain impartial. Read On The Fox News App Trump's Billionaire Commerce Secretary Pick Vows To Sell All His Business Interests If Confirmed "My plan is to only serve the American people. So I will divest, meaning I will sell all of my interests, all of my business interests, all of my assets, everything," Lutnick said. "I've worked together with the Office of Government Ethics, and we've reached agreement on how to do that, and I will be divesting within 90 days upon my confirmation." During his confirmation hearing on Jan. 29, Lutnick said he would sell his businesses and elect someone else to lead them once confirmed. Lutnick aligned closely with Trump's trade and tariff policies during the hearing. He said it's "nonsense" that tariffs create inflation and advocated for reciprocity. "We are treated horribly by the global trading environment. They all have higher tariffs, non-tariff trade barriers and subsidies. They treat us poorly. We need to be treated better. We can use tariffs to create reciprocity," Lutnick said. Trump last week directed federal agencies to explore the implementation of reciprocal tariffs to remedy tariff imbalances imposed by countries that sell American products. The presidential memorandum directed Lutnick to study reciprocal trade relations within 180 days. Lutnick said Thursday he will have the report ready by April 1. Trump also announced last week a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from all countries, adding up to a 35% tariff for Chinese steel and aluminum imports. The tariffs are set to begin March 12. Trump nominated Lutnick to serve as commerce secretary two weeks after he was elected. Lutnick was a co-chair of Trump's 2024 presidential transition team. "I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative," Trump said in the announcement. Trump praised Lutnick's leadership during the presidential transition and said he "created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen."Original article source: Howard Lutnick confirmed as Trump's commerce secretary
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill aims to improve telecommunications near New Mexico's southern border
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A bill to improve telecommunications in border communities has cleared its first legislative hurdle. SB 51 would set aside $3 million to build cell and radio towers in Luna, Hidalgo, and Doña Ana counties. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte), said those areas struggle with reliable service even during emergencies. Senate Finance Committee weighs proposed behavioral health package One rancher described a recent challenge he had after he found a border crosser passed out along a highway. 'We came up to the group and we were unable to call out and get any medical help for this person. So we actually had to backtrack several miles to our house to get on a landline so we could get some aid to this person.' The Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee approved the bill on Tuesday. It now heads to the Senate Finance Committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
