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For Immediate Release
03/04/08
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Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
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Inouye and Stevens Introduce Seafood Safety Legislation
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced a bill that would expand the National Marine Fisheries Service Seafood Inspection Program (SIP) to ensure that seafood products commercially distributed in the United States are fit for consumption.
“According to the most recent NOAA statistics, the average American consumes approximately 16 pounds of fish and shellfish each year,” said Senator Inouye. “It is essential that Americans are confident in the safety of the seafood they eat. By requiring the Secretaries of Commerce and Health and Human Services to work together to monitor seafood imports, we will take a significant step in ensuring that confidence.”
“Wild-caught Alaska seafood has consistently set the worldwide standard for quality and sustainability,” said Senator Stevens. “However, more than 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported from countries whose quality standards are nowhere near those applied in Alaska. This bill would raise those standards and protect the health and safety of all Americans.”
The Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act, S. 2688, would:
- Require the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to work together to create an infrastructure that would provide a better system for importing safe seafood. They would be required to examine and test imported seafood; inspect foreign facilities; provide technical assistance and training to foreign facilities and governments; and expedite seafood imports from countries with consistently high standards.
- Increase the number and/or capacity of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) laboratories that are involved with the SIP under the National Marine Fisheries service.
- Authorize $15 million for each fiscal year from 2009 through 2013 to implement the provisions of this Act.
The full text of the bill is attached.
Audio of Senator Stevens speaking about seafood safety can be found here.
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| 27th - |
Aviation Subcommittee to Examine Aviation Safety
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security will hold an Aviation Safety Oversight Hearing on April 10, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
Although the U.S. aviation industry is experiencing its safest period in history there have been a series of high-profile events that have raised concerns regarding the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) ove...
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| 27th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Announces April 2 Markup
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces an Executive Session for Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
During the Executive Session, Committee members will markup the following agenda items:
1. S. 2688, the Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act
2. S.J. Res 28,...
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| 26th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Date and Time Change for Phantom Traffic Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that the Full Committee hearing on Phantom Traffic has been rescheduled from April 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. to April 23, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.
The hearing will examine concerns regarding traffic over telephone networks that is sent without identifying information used for intercarrier billing pu...
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| 26th - |
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez Remarks while in Fairbanks, Alaska
- Below are U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez remarks to the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce in Fairbanks, Alaska
Thank you Senator Stevens. No matter the weather, the reception that you and your fellow Alaskans extend to me on my trips here are always warm.
Alaska is well represented in Washington with Senators Stevens and (Lisa) Murkowski and Congressman (Don) Young. They&...
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| 14th - |
Commerce Committee to Hold Climate Change Field Hearing in Honolulu
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) announces a full Committee field hearing on Climate Change Impacts and the Reponses in Island Communities for March 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Islands have unique characteristics that make them especially vulnerable to climate change and variability. Given thi...
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| 14th - |
U.S. Senate Confirms DOC, Amtrak Nominations and CG, NOAA Promotions
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously approved nominees reported from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation early this morning for positions with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Board of Directors, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The confirmations include:
...
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| 12th - |
Commerce Committee Postpones NOAA Hearing
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has postponed its Thursday, March 13th Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee oversight hearing on The Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The hearing has been postponed due to a series of votes that are anticipated on Thursday....
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| 12th - |
Commerce Committee Postpones Hearing to Review the Financial State of the Airline Industry
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has postponed its Thursday, March 13th Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Financial State of the Airline Industry.
The hearing has been postponed due to a series of votes that are anticipated on Thursday. A new date and time will be announced when available.
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| 11th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Phantom Traffic Sent Over Telephone Networks
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing on Phantom Traffic scheduled for April 10, 2008, at 10 a.m.
The hearing will examine concerns regarding traffic over telephone networks that is sent without identifying information used for intercarrier billing purposes.
Phantom Traffic
Full Committee
Date: Thursday,...
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| 10th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on the Financial State of the Airline Industry
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today the witnesses for an Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Financial State of the Airline Industry for March 13, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. The witnesses are listed below.
After posting nearly $35 billion in cumulative net losses from 2001 through 2005, U.S. air carr...
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| 7th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Full Committee Hearing on International Fisheries
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing for Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., on International Fisheries: Management and Enforcement.
The hearing will focus on international fisheries issues, including Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMO’s), compliance reporting and enforcement on the high sea...
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| 6th - |
Inouye Commends Passage of Consumer Product Safety Bill
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) issued the followed statement today prior to final passage of S. 2663, the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act.
“Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 2663, the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act. The leadership of Senators Pryor and Stevens i...
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| 6th - |
Pryor, Stevens, Inouye, Collins Score Victory for Consumer Safety
- WASHINGTON D.C. –The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), Senate Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK), Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) that will protect children and consumers from toxic toys and other dangerous products.
Pryor applauded Senate passage of the Consumer Product Saf...
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| 6th - |
Commerce Committee Reschedules DTV Transition Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation rescheduled today a Full Committee hearing on U.S. readiness for the nationwide transition from analog television broadcasting to digital television (DTV) broadcasting. The hearing is set for Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.
With the transition less than a year away – set for February 17, 2009 &nd...
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| 6th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Hearing to Review the Financial State of the Airline Industry
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today an Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on The Financial State of the Airline Industry for March 13, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
After posting nearly $35 billion in cumulative net losses from 2001 through 2005, U.S. air carriers have been able to return to profitability over...
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| 6th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Rescheduled DOC Deputy Secretary Nomination Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a rescheduled date for a Full Committee Nomination Hearing for John J. Sullivan, nominated to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Nomination Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Time: 2:00 p...
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| 5th - |
Witnesses Announced for GDP Calculation Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today the witness for an Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on the calculation of the gross domestic product (GDP). The witnesses are listed below.
At this hearing, Rethinking the Gross Domestic Product as a Measurement of National Strength, the subcommittee will examine ...
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| 4th - |
current Press Release |
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| 4th - |
Inouye: Americans Must be Confident in the Safety of Their Seafood
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement day after introducing a bill that would help ensure that seafood products commercially distributed in the United States are fit for consumption.
“Mr. President. I rise today to introduce the Commercial Seafood Consumer Protection Act. I am j...
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| 3rd - |
NOAA Administrator to Testify at Agency Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced an oversight hearing on the fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Subcommittee will hear testimony from Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), the NOA...
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