Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Banking Committee nomination hearing, where she introduced Marc Molinaro as the nominee for Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, Britt emphasized Molinaro’s qualifications and bipartisan leadership.
“Marc brings to this role a rare blend of executive experience, bipartisan leadership, and an unwavering commitment to public service,” Britt stated. She highlighted his understanding of complex transportation policy and his focus on economic growth and infrastructure investments.
In addition to introducing Molinaro, Senator Britt questioned several of President Trump’s nominees, including Paul Atkins for Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Jonathan Gould for Comptroller of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and Luke Pettit for Treasury Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions.
During the hearing, Britt emphasized regulatory tailoring, particularly for smaller financial institutions. She asked Gould about the Economic Growth Act and its implications for community banks, stating, “An Alabama bank with less than $1 billion in assets should not be subject to the same threshold as a $3 trillion bank.” Gould affirmed the importance of balanced regulatory oversight.
Senator Britt also questioned Pettit on policies affecting community banks, asking whether he would commit to regular communication with the sector. Pettit acknowledged the critical role of community banks in underserved areas and expressed willingness to collaborate if confirmed.
Regarding financial data security, Britt raised concerns about the SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT) and the handling of personally identifiable information (PII). She referenced her co-sponsorship of the Protecting Investors’ Personally Identifiable Information Act, aimed at limiting data collection. Britt sought assurance from Atkins on reevaluating CAT’s necessity and data protections, to which he responded affirmatively.
Concluding the hearing, Britt engaged Molinaro on rural transportation, emphasizing Alabama’s unique infrastructure needs. Molinaro outlined plans to support smaller transit agencies and regional networks, stating that the FTA would work closely with state and local officials to address rural mobility challenges.
The hearing marked a key step in the nomination process for multiple federal positions, with Senator Britt playing a central role in discussions on regulatory policies, data security, and transportation infrastructure.
