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For Immediate Release
02/28/08
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Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
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Inouye: DOT Must Rehabilitate Infrastructure, Maintain Security
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement today at a hearing on the Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal.
“Transportation is an essential element of our nation’s prosperity. Our transportation infrastructure provides the means to efficiently move goods and people across our country, from New York to Hawaii, and around the globe. More than simply facilitating all aspects of our economy, our transportation resources provide a freedom of mobility that defines our national character.
“While the U.S. transportation system is world class in many respects, it is an aging system that has reached, and in some cases clearly exceeded, the limits of its capacity. The tragic collapse of the Minneapolis highway bridge last summer highlights our nation’s growing infrastructure problems.
“Much of America’s transportation infrastructure, highways, bridges, railroad, and ports, were built at the beginning or middle of the last century, and have outlived their safe and productive lives. Numerous airports and our national airspace system are approaching or have reached full capacity.
“Congestion continues to grow on our highways and our railways, at our ports, and within our aviation system. The truth of the matter is that without strong action, we face a future of ever-expanding gridlock. Our nation’s transportation capacity must be expanded throughout all modes or our economy, our citizen’s personal mobility, and our ability to compete in today’s global marketplace, will suffer drastically.
“For more than 50 years, we have been reaping the benefits of bold transportation investments made by our predecessors in government and industry. The time has come for today’s leaders to make a similar commitment to the future prosperity of our nation. We must unite around expanding and improving our highway, aviation, rail, and port infrastructure. We must work together to improve the safety and satisfaction of the traveling public. Finally, we must manage each of these modes of transportation as part of a complete system that is dedicated to serving the needs of the nation, and not the desires of individual companies.
“I am confident that the Department of Transportation (DOT) can meet these challenges, if given the proper resources and direction from the President. The United States has always been a world leader in transportation, but I must say that I have mixed feelings about our ability to aggressively address the nation’s transportation needs after reviewing the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 DOT budget proposal.
“On a positive note, the Bush Administration has proposed funding levels for the pipeline and motor carrier safety programs consistent with authorized levels, as well as a significant increase in funding to modernize the air traffic control system.
“On the other hand, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration only received a small increase in its operations budget, which unfortunately does not take into account the resources necessary to implement the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program. Even more troubling is the fact that the White House continues to propose deep cuts in funding for Amtrak and airport infrastructure programs that Congress has consistently funded at higher levels.
“Any DOT budget proposal that moves through this Congress must provide sufficient funding to rehabilitate existing infrastructure, expand the system to accommodate growing use, and maintain the highest level of safety possible.
“I assure you that the Commerce Committee will be tracking the DOT’s performance closely in this final year of the Administration, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that DOT policy continues to focus on meeting these goals.”
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| 29th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for TSA Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that The Honorable Edmund “Kip” Hawley, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, and Ms. Cathleen Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office, will testify before a full Committee hearing on the President...
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| 29th - |
CG Commandant among Witnesses for Oil Spills Protection Hearing
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The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate operation incidents associated with oil spills. The Subcommittee will examine non-tank vess...
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| 29th - |
Coast Guard Commandant, GAO to Testify at Coast Guard Budget Hearing
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The Committee will also examine programs in ...
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| 29th - |
Interstate Commerce Subcommittee to Examine GDP Calculation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that it will hold an Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on the calculation of the gross domestic product (GDP) on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.
At this hearing, Rethinking the Gross Domestic Product as a Measurement of National Strength, the subcommittee ...
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| 28th - |
NIST, NSF, OSTP to Testify Before Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Science, Technology, and Innovation subcommittee announced the witnesses for its March 11, 2008 hearing on The FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research. The witnesses include: Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP); Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); and Dr. James M...
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| 28th - |
current Press Release |
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| 27th - |
FTC Commissioners to Testify Before Commerce Subcommittee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will host an Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on the Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization. All five FTC Commissioners will testify.
The hearing will be an oversight hearing reviewing the performance of the Commission. The Committee will also receive testimony on pending FTC ...
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| 26th - |
DOT Secretary to Testify Before Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that The Honorable Mary E. Peters, Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) will testify at a February 28 hearing reviewing the DOT budget proposal. The Honorable Robert Sturgell, Acting Administration of the Federal Aviation Administration will accompany Secretary Peters.
...
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| 25th - |
Commerce Committee to Review FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Science, Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee hearing titled The FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research.
At this hearing, the Committee will explore the importance of basic research to U.S. competitiveness. The hearing will examine research and development budgets at agencies i...
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| 21st - |
Commerce Committee to Examine DOT Budget Request
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that it will review the President’s proposed Department of Transportation budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on February 28, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal
Full Committee
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008
Time: ...
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| 20th - |
Commerce Committee to Host CG Budget and Oversight Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee announced today that it will review the President’s proposed U.S. Coast Guard budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on March 6, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will also examine programs in the pending Coast Guard Reauthorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
U.S. Coast Guard Budget and Ov...
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| 19th - |
Commerce Committee to Review TSA Budget Request
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces it will review the President’s proposed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on March 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
FY 2009 TSA Budget Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Room 253, Russell Sena...
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| 19th - |
Merchant Marine Subcommittee to Examine Oil Spills Protection
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee hearing on protecting our shores from oils spills. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.
The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate operational incidents associated with oil spills. The Subcommittee will examine ...
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| 14th - |
Congress Passes “Kids and Cars” Safety Act
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| 12th - |
Inouye and Dingell Urge President to Establish Inter-Agency DTV Task Force
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The Chairmen called on the President to use the government’s...
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| 11th - |
FCC, NTIA among Witnesses to Testify at Commerce Committee DTV Hearing
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With the transition date just a year away – set for February 17, 2009 – the hea...
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| 7th - |
Congress Passes Dorgan-Stevens Legislation to Extend Do-Not-Call List
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Senate Commerce Committee Vice ...
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| 7th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from DOC Deputy Secretary Nominee
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Nominations Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Time: 9:30 a.m.
...
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| 5th - |
Aviation Subcommittee to Hold FAA Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security announced today that it will review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget proposal at a hearing on February 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Administration’s FY 2009 proposal would provide $14.6 billion for the FAA in FY 2009, a cut of $273 million from FY...
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