Senate Commerce Committee Aims to Flex Its Muscle on Big Issues

In a partisan climate that spells doom for the vast majority of issues, there are at least two policy arenas left where Republicans, Democrats, and the White House can plausibly come together on important legislation this year -- cybersecurity and infrastructure. It just so happens that the Senate Commerce Committee owns a piece of each issue, sharing turf with several powerful panels, and Chairman John Thune (R-SD) is intent on having his committee play a major role in both debates -- more so than it has in other recent high-profile fights.

Chairman Thune is adopting the theatrical adage that there are no small parts, only small actors. "Part of it's being proactive. You can kind of sit back and let the game come to you, or you can try and create. I've always believed that offense wins games," Chairman Thune said. This is the new Commerce Committee, headed by a new chairman in Thune and a new Ranking Member in Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Committee staffers like to say that they oversee oceans and space and everything in between. That's not far off, considering that they have worked on issues as diverse as domestic violence in professional sports, protections for passengers on tourist cruises, and exploding air bags. And then there's this little thing called the Internet. Yet over the past few years, the Commerce Committee was essentially a bit player in the biggest legislative developments.