Republican Sen Rick Scott pledges to obstruct Transportation, Commerce nominees until Buttigieg and Raimondo testify about the supply chain crisis

Florida Sen. Rick Scott has issued an ultimatum: He will seek to obstruct the confirmation of Transportation Department and Commerce Department nominees until Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testify about the supply chain crisis during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing.

"Today, I'm requesting that you immediately schedule and hold an oversight hearing in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to address the current supply chain crisis, and call on Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to testify about the Biden administration's plans to solve this crisis," Scott wrote in a letter to committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

"Until this hearing occurs, it is my intention to hold all Department of Transportation and Department of Commerce nominees, that have been favorably reported by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, on the Senate Floor," Scott declared.

The Republican senator noted that supply chain woes have been hurting individuals and companies nationwide.

"The higher prices and product shortages resulting from this crisis are hurting families and businesses in my state of Florida and across the nation. American ports are experiencing severe cargo delays as we head into the holiday season. Worse, inflation has jumped to its highest rate in more than 30 years. Restoring our supply chains is critical to getting the American economy rolling again. Since President Biden has so far refused to address this crisis, Congress must act," Scott said in the letter.

Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released consumer price index data showing significant increases in prices over the last year.

"The all items index rose 6.2 percent for the 12 months ending October, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending November 1990," BLS reported.

Scott, who began serving in the U.S. Senate in early 2019, previously served as the governor of Florida.