Senate Passes Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed S. 1582, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008, which reauthorizes the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act (HSIA). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hydrographic services are vital to maritime commerce and to assist in the protection of our environment.
S. 1582 was introduced by Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K Inouye (D-Hawaii) and cosponsored by Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
Hydrography is the science that measures and describes the physical features of bodies of water and their littoral land areas. These activities are vital to making sure our nation’s marine transportation system remains safe, efficient, and environmentally sound. A safe and efficient marine transportation system supports and promotes international trade and interstate commerce that is central to the nation’s economic prosperity.
The HSIA was enacted in 1998 and amended in 2002. The House passed a companion bill, H.R. 3352, on March 31, 2008.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate tonight unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Following are excerpts from a floor statement by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison:
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- “I am deeply disappointed that Republicans blocked the digital television transition (DTV) delay bill today in the House. One thing is clear, the outgoing Bush Administration grossly mismanaged the digital television transition and consumers are confused, households are not prepared, and the coupon program for converter boxes is broken. While the Senate paved the way with a bipartisan bill...
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the DTV Delay bill by unanimous consent.
“Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do. I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time. The S...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digi...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement on legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digital television transition without a sound plan t...
- Washington, DC – This evening, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced a bipartisan compromise to the DTV Delay Act introduced last week.
The amended DTV Delay Act will retain the extension of the digital transition date to June 12, 2009. Additionally, the agreement extends the Federal Communicatio...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) issued the following statement upon the confirmation of Representative Ray LaHood, of Illinois, as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT):
“I congratulate Representative LaHood on his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Transportation...
- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R–TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today pressed former Congressman Ray LaHood, the Transportation Secretary nominee, on his stance on imposing tolls on existing federal highways at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation & Science hearing. Rep. LaHood agreed with Sen. Hutchison that tolling should not be imposed on existing r...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today welcomed four new Republican members to the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.).
“I am pleased to welcome Senators Isakson,...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today pressed President Barack Obama’s Transportation Secretary nominee, Ray LaHood, for assurances on the Federal Aviation Administration’s steps to auction airline landing slots in the New York area and proposals to improve Amtrak operations. ...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ocean conservation and research scored a major victory today with the passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The act includes five bills, originally introduced in the 110th Congress under the leadership of Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), that increase our knowledge of oceans and coastal areas, provide policymakers with i...
- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, and U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) today introduced legislation, the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009, aimed at preventing prison inmates from using smuggled cellular phones.
“This legislation will fight criminal enterprises behind bars and protect innocent victims and public officials...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said it was too early to call for a delay to the digital television (DTV) transition scheduled for next month. Senator Hutchison stated that increased focus was needed to fix the anticipated coupon shortage before the transition date of February 17, ...
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