Udall to Headline Americans for the Arts Event and Question Witnesses at 3 Hearings

Hearings will address consumer protection, Russia hacking of private businesses, and defense funding for U.S. conflicts abroad

By Jennifer Talhelm | March 20, 2017

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Tom Udall will headline “Arts Advocacy Day,” hosted by the Americans for the Arts and question witnesses at two hearings for the Senate Commerce Committee and one hearing for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Tomorrow, March 21, at 9 a.m. ET, Udall, co-chair of the Senate Cultural Caucus, will give remarks for Arts Advocacy Day on the importance of arts and humanities to the culture, tradition and tourism economy of New Mexico and communities throughout the nation. He will also announce the introduction of his bill to help artists and entrepreneurs spur New Mexico’s creative economy, called the Comprehensive Resources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the Economy (CREATE) Act. Video of his remarks will be available here after the event.

Then at 12:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. ET, Udall will question the Acting Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission on what actions the agency plans to protect consumers from credit card theft and false advertising for “anti-concussion” sports equipment. The hearing, “Staying a Step Ahead: Fighting Back Against Scams Used to Defraud Americans” is being held by the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security. Watch live here.

Wednesday, March 22 at 8 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. ET, Udall will address concerns about the increased risk of cyber hacking facing American businesses — and the hacks by Russian entities that have already taken place — at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, “The Promises and Perils of Emerging Technologies for Cybersecurity.” Watch live here.

Then at 8:30 a.m. MT / 10:30 a.m. ET, Udall will join the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for “A Review of the Budget and Readiness of the Department of Defense” to ask Secretary of Defense James Mattis about his priorities for the Department of Defense, including national security priorities abroad, and the recent unauthorized escalation of hostilities in Syria. Watch live here.

March 21, 2017
WHAT: Udall to headline Americans for the Arts event
TIME: Approximately 9 a.m. ET
WHERE: Kennedy Caucus Room, 325 Russell Senate Office Building

WHAT: Udall to question FTC acting chairman on consumer protection efforts at an FTC oversight hearing, “Staying a Step Ahead: Fighting Back Against Scams Used to Defraud Americans”
TIME: Approximately 12:30 p.m. MT / 2:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: 253 Russell Senate Office Building.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017
WHAT: Udall to address Russian hacking of private businesses at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, “The Promises and Perils of Emerging Technologies for Cybersecurity”
TIME: Approximately 8 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. ET
WHERE: 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

WHAT: Udall to ask Secretary of Defense Mattis about defense funding and the future of U.S. conflicts abroad at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing, “A review of the Budget and Readiness of the Department of Defense”.
TIME: Approximately 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building.