- Washington, D.C. – The Senate last night unanimously approved H.Con.Res. 196, honoring the pilots of United States commercial air carriers who volunteer to participate in the Federal flight deck officer program. This resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.-7) on June 30, 2005 and passed the House by a vote of 413-2 on December 7, 2005. The resolut...

- WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Senate unanimously approved an amended version of H.R 1400, the Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), offered an amendment to the bill, which was originally introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Ric Keller (R-Fla.). The legislation unanimously passed the House on December 7...

- Washington D.C. - The Senate tonight unanimously approved the conference report to accompany S. 1281, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005, clearing the measure for the President. The conference report authorizes NASA’s programs for fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Scien...

- WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the nominations of Deborah Taylor Tate and Michael Copps to be Commissioners on the Federal Communications Commission. On December 13, 2005, by unanimous consent, the Senate discharged the Senate Commerce Committee from further consideration of the Tate and Copps nominations. A hearing had been held on the nominees earlier that da...

- WASHINGTON, DC – Today the United States Senate voted 51-50 to approve the Budget Reconciliation conference report which includes the Digital Transition title. The conference report will now be returned to the House of Representatives for its consideration, as the Senate made technical changes unrelated to the Digital Television title. This title was negotiated by the Senate Commerce, Scien...

- WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2006 by voice vote. The conference report incorporates provisions originally included in the Maritime Administration Enhancement Act, S. 2029, reported by the Commerce Committee. The conference report establishes within the Maritime Administration (MARAD) a grant,...

- WASHINGTON, DC – A House-Senate Conference Committee yesterday approved the Budget Reconciliation conference report which includes the Digital Transition title. This title was negotiated by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which originally offered bills on the digital transition. The Senate version of the bill, the Digita...

- Washington, D.C. - The Senate today confirmed by unanimous consent the following nominees, previously reported by the Senate Commerce Committee: Mark Rosenker to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board Kathryn Higgins to be a Member of the National Transportation Safety Board William Kovacic to be a Commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission J. Thomas Rosch to be a...

- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate last night unanimously approved H.R. 4508, the Coast Guard Hurricane Relief Act, which provides Congress’s commendation, recognition and gratitude to Coast Guard personnel for their efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the bill authorizes the preservation of leave for those Guardsmen detailed to operations in response to Hurricane Ka...

- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today issued the following statement in response to rumors that he intends to attach a provision concerning the Department of Transportations Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on foreign investment in U.S. air carriers to the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Appropriations bill: "Secretaries Rice and Mineta are to be congratulated for their work on a n...

- WASHINGTON, DC – Late last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the "Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2005" (S. 1390), introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and co-sponsored by Senators John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). The legislation, which reauthorizes and amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (CRCA), enhances the resources and ...

- Washington, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2005 by voice vote. The bill was introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), with Senators Trent Lott (R-Miss.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Bar...

- Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today reported S. 1608, the “Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act of 2005” (U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2005) by unanimous consent. Senator Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) introduced the bill, which is co-sponsored by Co-Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Commit...

- Prior to adjournment today, by unanimous consent the Senate discharged the Senate Commerce Committee from futher consideration of the nominations of Deborah Taylor Tate and Michael Copps to be Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission. Their nominations are currently on the Senate Calendar and await action by the full Senate.