Senate Commerce Postpones Markup of Cantwell-Led Spectrum Bill

The Senate Commerce Committee is postponing markups of an amended version of the draft Spectrum and National Security Act and other bills that were set for consideration during a Wednesday executive session, the panel announced Tuesday night. Senate Commerce still planned to vote Wednesday on a slate of nominations and will consider the postponed bills at an unspecified later date. A panel spokesperson said the postponement was due to time constraints, including ones related to floor consideration of the FAA Reauthorization Act.

Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member John Thune, R-S.D., confirmed to us before Senate Commerce announced the postponement that he planned to vote against the Spectrum and National Security Act, as expected. Panel Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., was seeking Republican members’ votes in favor of the spectrum bill ahead of the markup session but was already assured of having unanimous support from all 14 Democratic members.