The Senate Commerce Committee on Nov. 19 recommended Senate reconfirmation of Republican Michelle A. Schutz to a second five-year term on the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Her renomination is now ripe for a Senate floor vote that will seal confirmation—the timing of which is determined by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Schultz had bipartisan support from Committee Chairperson Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and the committee’s senior Democrat, Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).
A Commerce Committee vote on whether to recommend Senate confirmation of the nomination of Republican Richard Kloster to a first STB term remains pending owing to what is described as “slow paperwork.“
A committee hearing into the qualifications of Schultz and Kloster, at which they were questioned by senators, was held earlier in November.
Kloster’s nomination is to fill a seat on the five-member STB left vacant by the early 2024 retirement of Democrat Martin J. Oberman and expiring Dec. 31, 2028.
A Democratic seat held by Robert E. Primus remains open since Primus’ firing in August by POTUS 47. Primus is contesting the firing as “illegal“ and asked a federal court to reinstate him.
Other STB members are Republican Chairperson Patrick J. Fuchs, whose second term expires Jan. 14, 2029, and Democrat Karen J. Hedlund, whose first term expires Dec. 31, 2025. If not renominated and confirmed before then, Hedlund may remain on the STB for up to 12 additional months or until a successor is nominated by the President and Senate confirmed.
