WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 was passed by the Senate today as Title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3001). The bill was passed by unanimous consent.
“I am pleased that the Senate passed the Maritime Administration’s reauthorization for 2009,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii). “This bill will improve the functioning of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, provide additional assistance to small shipyards, and provide the guidance needed to continue the successful performance of the Maritime Administration.”
In addition to authorizing FY 2009 funds for the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the bill provides the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) the authority to hire adjunct professors and would require the USMMA to prescribe a policy on sexual harassment and sexual violence similar to the policies at other Department of Defense (DOD) military academies. The bill also streamlines the small shipyards assistance program and clarifies cargo preference rules. Highlights of the bill include:
United States Merchant Marine Academy. In an effort to improve the budget submission process and financial accountability of USMMA, the Congress authorizes the Maritime Administrator to transition certain core employees critical to the operations of the Academy from non-appropriated fund instrumentalities to the federal government system and authorizes the hiring of adjunct professors for temporary employment contracts.
Assistance for Small Shipyards and Maritime Communities.The bill makes technical modifications to the existing Small Shipyard Assistance program to improve the grant making process and to expand the eligibility of small shipyards that may qualify for assistance under the program.
Cargo Preference. The bill clarifies that cargo preference applies to any person or organization receiving federal funding, unless they are otherwise exempted. This clarification eliminates confusion over the application of cargo preference and will provide the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) with the appropriate enforcement authority for administrative oversight of cargo preference laws under subsection 55305(d) of title 46, United States Code.
Under title 46, the bill authorizes the MARAD to increase the annual payments to cadets of state maritime academies for the Student Incentive Payment program, as well as adjust the timing of the award and the terms for which the payments may be used and to extend the duration of the marine war risk insurance program.
- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement today regarding the confirmation of:
Mr. Christopher P. Bertram, to be Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation
Ms. Patricia D. Cahill, to be a...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement today regarding the Senate’s passage (60-37) of H.R. 3435, a bill making supplemental appropriations for FY2010 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program (“Cash for Clunkers”).
“I a...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
Witness List:
Mr. Alfred J. Longhi, Jr., former Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Lithium Power Technologies
Mr. Thomas J. Howard, Acting Inspector General, National Aeronautic...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.--One of my top priorities as chairman of the Commerce Committee is maintaining our country’s role as the global leader in technological innovation.
It’s no secret that to maintain our leadership in the global economy, we must continually invest in new ideas. And our investment dollars have to come from both the private and public sectors.
One of the federal go...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network Airlines and Regional Airlines.
Witness List:
Mr. Philip H. Trenary, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Airlines Corp.
Mr. Peter Bowler, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Eagle Airlines...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today during a hearing on the relationship between network and regional airlines said that the Federal Aviation Administration must stay vigilant when it comes to air safety.
“Despite the remarkable safety record of the U.S. aviation industry, rece...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.--The crash of Flight 3407 outside Buffalo, New York, in which 50 people lost their lives, serves as a tragic reminder that the aviation industry and the federal government must work vigilantly to maintain the safety of the air transportation system.
This Committee recently held two hearings examining the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of the airlines a...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an Executive Session and favorably reported out the following legislation and nominees:
S. 1078, the AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act
S. 30, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009
S. 251, the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009
S. 952, Harmful Algal Blooms and Hyp...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.--We have four very important bills and a number of key Administration nominations on today’s agenda.
First, the committee will consider, S. 1078, the AmericaView Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program. This bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to expand the AmericaView program, which is designed to use satellite and remote sensing data to support applied resea...
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on nominations.
Witness List:
Mr. Dennis F. Hightower, to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce
Mr. Robert S. Adler, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Ms. Anne M. Northup, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product...
- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, sent a letter to CIGNA today requesting information regarding how the health insurance company “purged” small businesses whose employees made too many claims and cost CIGNA too much money.
“Since I took over as Chairman of the Commerce C...
- I am pleased to welcome Mr. Dennis F. Hightower to the Committee today. If confirmed as the next Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, you will serve as the Department’s chief operations officer and take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Department’s $17 billion budget and more than 38,000 employees.
I am confident that your work in the private and pu...
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Committee, to allow prisons to block calls from contraband cellular phones. The Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009 (S. 251), is cosponsored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Diane Feinstein (...