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Press Releases |
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Opening Statement of Senator Ted Stevens
at Committee Mark-up of S.1063 and Nominees
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We are here today to consider S. 1063, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005. Public safety has been a focus of the Committee and has been deliberately woven into the Commerce Committee’s agenda this year, especially in the context of communications. The Committee’s agenda has included numerous public safety-related hearings and critical pieces of legislation, including:
The Tsunami bill, which establishes a Tsunami warning system. I commend our Co-Chairman, Senator Inouye for his leadership on this bill.
The WARN Act, which establishes a comprehensive national alert system and on which Senator DeMint and Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska took the lead for us.
The Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, which establishes a hard date of April 7, 2009 for the transition to digital television, provides critical spectrum (24 megahertz) to first responders, and includes funds for interoperability, national alert and E-911.
Today the Committee is addressing S. 1063 which is also important for public safety. The bill includes 3 main objectives: It provides authority and guidance to the FCC so that it can craft a comprehensive scheme to address 911 and E-911 services. It ensures that IP phone companies have access to E-911 components that may be controlled by competitors, which the FCC Order did not do. And, it provides the liability protection that everyone needs to be able to provide 911 service. Public safety needs this protection.
We were told that counsel for some of these Public Safety Answering Points were being told not to take calls from IP Voice service providers for fear of liability. Industry also needs this protection to be able to acquire needed capital and insurance in order to continue to bring this new and innovative service to consumers. I commend the lead sponsors Senator Burns and Senator Bill Nelson for their commitment to this bill and the FCC for its leadership on this issue.
In addition to S. 1063, the Committee will consider several nominations. Shana Dale has been nominated to be Deputy Administrator at NASA. She has a long history on space and science issues from her service at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the House Science Committee. Dr. Michael Griffin has called me several times in support of Ms. Dale, and he has asked us to move her nomination through the Senate as quickly as possible.
Mark Rosenker is the Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. He also serves as a Major General in the Air Force Reserve. Rosenker has been re-nominated to a five-year term which begins on January 1, 2006.
Kathryn Higgins is a real veteran of this town. She has held senior staff positions in both the Senate and the House, and was Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary for President Clinton. We also have six non-controversial officer promotions on the agenda.
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Implement the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved S. 2013, the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Implementation Act.
This bill, which implements the provisions of the Polar Bear Treaty signed by the United States and the Russian Federation, was introduced by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and is...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Federal Trade Commission Nominations
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today approved the following nominations by unanimous consent:
William Kovacic to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
Thomas Rosch to be a Federal Trade Commissioner
PN842 - Coast Guard Admirals
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17th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves SPY BLOCK Act
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today reported S. 687, the Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge Act or the “SPY BLOCK Act,” by unanimous consent. The bill would outlaw a number of activities that are associated with spyware and strengthen the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s enforcement author...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Advance Transportation Security
- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved today the “Transportation Security Improvement Act of 2005,” S. 1052, introduced by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.)
The comprehensive legislation reasserts th...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Legislation to Amend the Age Restriction for Pilots
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved a substitute amendment offered by Senator Burns to S. 65, a bill to amend age restrictions for pilots, by voice vote. The bill was introduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.).
Since 1960, federal regulations have specified that individuals age 60 and older may not serve as airline pilots on an...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved S. 517, the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act of 2005 by voice vote. The bill is sponsored by Committee Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas)
S. 517 establishes within the Department of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board (WMARB) to promote the ...
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17th - |
Commerce Committee Approves Extension of Aviation War Risk Insurance
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WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously approved today the “War Risk Extension Act of 2005,” S. 1102, introduced by Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and co-sponsored by Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-Mont.).
S. 1102 extends the Federal Government’s existing war risk insurance co...
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17th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves the Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today reported S. 1110, the Engine Coolant and Antifreeze Bittering Agent Act of 2005, by voice vote. Consumer Affairs Subcommittee Chairman George Allen (R-Va.) originally introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) Consumer ...
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15th - |
Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens Addresses U.S. Climate Change Science Program Workshop
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today addressed the U.S. Climate Change Science Program Workshop. Chairman Stevens’ remarks focused on the need to rely on sound science when making policy decisions.
The Climate Change Science Program Workshop is being held over three days and is sponsored by 13 government agencies. More information about the c...
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15th - |
Chairman Stevens Introduces Legislation to Implement the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Treaty
- Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has introduced the United States-Russia Polar Bear Conservation and Management Implementation Act to execute the provisions of the Polar Bear Treaty signed by the United States and the Russian Federation. Committee Co-Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) is a cosponsor of the bill.
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9th - |
Chairman Stevens Introduces Legislation to Repeal Section 5 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
- Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) has introduced legislation, S. 1977, a bill to repeal Section 5 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which has precluded upgrades to the Cherry Point refinery in Washington State.
S. 1977 removes the prohibition on federal agencies from issuing a permit for a marine terminal or dock i...
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8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Open Forum on Decency
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Washington, D.C. – Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today announced that the Full Committee is planning to hold an "Open Forum on Decency" on November 29, 2005. A specific time and location will be announced at a later time.
Representatives from wide variety of groups, including cable, broadcasting, and other content industries, are expected to attend ...
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4th - |
Senate Confirms
Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of NASA
- The U.S. Senate this afternoon confirmed Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by Unanimous Consent. Ms. Dale received the unanimous support of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee when her nomination was reported out of the Committee on Wednesday, November 2, 2005. ###
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3rd - |
Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act Added to Budget Reconciliation Bill in Senate
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling it one last chance for the Senate to be heard on whether it wants a national passenger rail system, Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi today asked the Senate to adopt as an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill, the Amtrak reform bill he introduced in July. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 93-6.
“I know it is highly unusual to add an authorizati...
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3rd - |
Senate Approves Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005
- WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Senate today passed the Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 as part of the Budget Reconciliation Bill by a vote of 52-47.
The legislation, offered by U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), establishes two specific dates that will advance the transi...
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2nd - |
Commerce Committee Approves Nominations
- WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today approved the following nominations by unanimous consent:
Shana Dale to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mark Rosenker to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
Kathryn Higgins to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board
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2nd - |
Chairman Stevens Argues Against
the Ensign Amendment
to Reduce Converter Box Program Funds
- Washington, D.C. – During debate today on the Senate’s Budget Reconciliation Act, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) opposed an amendment offered by Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) which would divert $2 billion from a converter box subsidy program contained in the Commerce Committee-approved Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 20...
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2nd - |
Senate Commerce Committee Approves
the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005
- Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today reported S. 1063, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005, by unanimous consent. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) originally introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by Committee Members Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and John Kerry (D-Mass.).
During the mark-up...
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