The Duffy confirmation hearing was characterized by bipartisanship, with a pledge to visit Helene-devastated states.

During his Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., was surrounded by both sitting Wisconsin senators in a bipartisan display of support.

Duffy, who served five terms after flipping a seat held by Democrat David Obey for decades, later worked at Planet Chronicle and currently co-hosts "The Bottom Line" with Dagen McDowell on FOX Business.

Duffy expressed his humility in his opening statement, stating that he was honored by President Trump's decision to nominate him for a crucial position.

He presented eight of his nine children and his wife, "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy.

His eldest son couldn't attend a meeting in Washington on Wednesday because he and his wife had a newborn and reside in Southern California, where wildfires are currently occurring.

The Department of Transportation has a significant impact on Americans' daily lives and loved ones, according to Campos-Duffy. He added that President-elect Trump, being a builder, understands the importance of maintaining and building critical infrastructure. Additionally, Campos-Duffy's personal experience with a deadly head-on automobile collision has brought highway safety to the forefront in his family.

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., revealed that he was also involved in an accident with a drunk driver 30 years ago and prefers not to discuss it.

Lujan seemed to become briefly emotional while speaking with Campos-Duffy about their shared experience, and he commended Duffy for his aspiration to be recognized as a secretary who enhanced road safety.

In the hearing, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., emphasized the significance of highway safety and revealed that he had been struck by a car when he was 5 years old.

Duffy vowed to restore Americans' trust in the airline industry by modernizing air traffic control systems with cutting-edge technologies and working with Congress and the FAA to restore global confidence in Boeing and ensure safe skies.

Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan pointed out that when President Dwight Eisenhower initiated the federal interstate program, Alaska was not yet a state, and 251 of its communities remain unconnected by roads.

Duffy committed to backing the federal initiative that guarantees crucial aviation services to remote areas in Alaska and other underpopulated regions.

Senators Marsha Blackburn and Ted Budd emphasized the need to ensure that Hurricane Helene victims are not overlooked.

The Great Smoky Mountains have caused Interstate 40, a vital transcontinental roadway from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California, to be washed out.

The September hurricane caused a section of the eastbound lanes in Haywood County, North Carolina to collapse into the Pigeon River, which halted regional commerce and access to mountain communities. Even now, parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are still facing long-term closures of major arteries, and communities are working to recover.

Duffy informed Blackburn that they are still trying to work through the process to rebuild the interstate, but it is crucial that they keep this at the forefront to ensure its timely reopening.

He vowed to make his inaugural official journey as secretary take him to the region impacted by the Helene disaster in those states.

Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., pointed out that the monthly cost of owning a car can be as much as $1,000, while using public transportation only costs an average of $100 per month.

One challenge that the Department of Transportation must tackle is the absence of a payment method for electric vehicle drivers to contribute to the highway trust fund, which currently relies heavily on taxes on gasoline as its primary source of revenue.

Duffy suggested that green vehicles should contribute to funding the roads they use.

During a light moment in the hearing, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, mentioned the possibility of Duffy visiting the Aloha State. In response, Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joked that it could be a great vacation for the entire panel.

Duffy was instructed by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., to emphasize the need for passenger rail service in the Heartland, stating that the Northeast Regional, which connects Newport News, Virginia, to Boston, has often been the main focus.

He highlighted the significance of the Southwest Chief, a crucial two-day train journey from Chicago to Los Angeles, to his state.

New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim discussed recent mysterious drone sightings in the Garden State and the transit problems affecting New York City suburbs.