Senate Commerce Markup Delayed, Likely to Jan. 26

The Senate Commerce Committee is “shooting for” its next executive session to happen Jan. 26, a panel aide told us Friday. A “hiccup with scheduling” prevented the committee from holding the meeting next week as Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., previously hoped (see 201050056), the aide said. FCC nominee Gigi Sohn and FTC nominee Alvaro Bedoya are still likely to be included on the agenda, lobbyists told us. Bedoya and Sohn “have the political savvy and depth of legal and technical knowledge to take on the many challenges before them at both agencies,” said Free Press co-CEO Craig Aaron. “Further delay is unacceptable. We’re deeply disappointed to have no notice of a committee vote before the Senate goes home for its mid-month recess.” Commerce ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss., “and a few of his” GOP colleagues “have succeeded with cynical delay tactics, but the committee must call the votes before the end of this month to let these stellar public servants fill their roles,” Aaron said.