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| Press Releases |
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Chairman Stevens Applauds Committee Members for Bipartisan Leadership on Interoperability Funding
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today applauded his colleagues for adopting by voice vote an amendment that makes $1 billion available for first responders by October 1, 2006. These funds provide firefighters, police, and medical personnel with the necessary radio equipment to communicate with one another in the event of a terrorist attack or major disaster.
The amendment, offered by Senators David Vitter (R-La.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), was agreed to during the Committee’s first day of markup of the Communications, Consumers’ Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act.
“I commend Senators Vitter and Boxer for leading the effort to ensure our nation’s first responders have funding for interoperable communications as quickly as possible,” said Chairman Stevens. “The unanimous support among our Members demonstrates this Committee’s commitment to our public safety community. Public safety is not a partisan issue.” Chairman Stevens also noted that Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) originally suggested the idea of making these funds available sooner.
Up to $250 million of the $1 billion would be distributed to each state and the federal government to establish caches of emergency communications equipment. The federal funds would be granted to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regional offices around the country. The offices are located in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Denton (Texas), Kansas City, Denver, Oakland, and Bothell (Wash.).
Under a proposal by Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) contracts would be prenegotiated so that the equipment would be available immediately from the private sector if a disaster occurs.
The majority of the remaining $750 million would be allocated based on threat and risk, with the rest divided among the 50 states for emergency equipment and training. The Commerce Committee worked closely with first responder groups in crafting the legislation.
The Committee will continue its consideration of the Communications, Consumers’ Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at 10 a.m. in room 216 of the Hart Building .
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| 28th - |
Committee Approves Communications Reform Bill
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 7 approved its comprehensive communications reform bill, which contains provisions that speed the deployment of broadband and stimulate competition in the video service market.
The legislation, now named the Advanced Telecommunications and Opportunity Reform Act, incorpor...
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| 27th - |
Congress Sends Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill to President
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the conference report for H.R. 889, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2006. On June 22, the U.S. Senate adopted by unanimous consent a resolution that deemed the conference report passed upon the House’s acceptance of the Senate’s correcting language. The bill now goes to the President for his signature.
Th...
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| 26th - |
Chairman Stevens' Opening Statement at the Communications Reform Bill Markup
- Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) gave the following opening statement at the Committees markup of the Communications, Consumers Choice, and Broadband Deploayment Act:
Today we mark up the Communications, Consumers’ Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act. The measure is the work product of every Member of this Committee. It incorporates suggestions, language, a...
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| 23rd - |
Chairman Stevens Commends Secretary Mineta for His Impact on Transportation Sector
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today issued the following statement upon learning of the resignation announcement of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta:
“Norm and I have worked together very closely over the years. He has really been a tremendous Secretary for the transportation area. Because of his long service in the House of Repre...
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| 22nd - |
current Press Release |
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| 19th - |
Senate Approves Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today approved by unanimous consent S. 2012, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2005.
The bill has received broad bipartisan support among the Members of the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill was introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), with...
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| 7th - |
Chairman Stevens Addresses NCTA Key Contacts Breakfast
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today addressed company representatives and state/regional cable association executives at the National Cable and Telecommunications Associations Key Contacts Breakfast. Chairman Stevens spoke generally on a range of telecom reform topics, including decency, franchise reform, and net neutrality.
The followin...
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| 6th - |
Senate Approves Legislation to Implement the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved S. 2013, the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Implementation Act. This bill, which implements the provisions of a bilateral treaty between the United States and Russia on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population (“Polar Bear Agreement”), was introduced by...
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| 5th - |
NOAA Honors Stevens with 2006 Special Recognition Award
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today presented Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) with a lifetime achievement award at its first annual Marine Stewardship and Sustainability Awards ceremony. Stevens received the Special Recognition Award, which honors leadership in the sustainable management of living marine resources.
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| 1st - |
Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Freight Railroad Service, Capacity
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Surface Transportation Subcommittee will hold a hearing on economics, service and capacity issues in the freight railroad industry at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, room 562, according to U.S. Senator Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, subcommittee chairman, who is convening the hearing at the request of U.S. Senator Conrad Burn...
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