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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
04/28/09
Contact: |
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
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Texas Highway Commissioner Praises Goals of Hutchison Legislation to Allow States to Opt Out of Federal Highway Program
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, received praise for her legislation to allow states to opt out of the Federal Highway Program from Ned S. Holmes, Texas Transportation Commissioner and Chairman, Transportation Transformation Group. Under the legislation, opt-out states would be rebated gas tax dollars generated within their borders to use on surface transportation projects, rather than receiving funding for highway maintenance and construction via the federal formula. Sen. Hutchison’s bill is cosponsored by Senators Mel Martinez (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
The following exchange took place during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today on the future of surface transportation:
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: Mr. Holmes, in your testimony you have said that the federal government is many times an impediment to being able to build the highways that are needed in a high-gross state like Texas and you proposed some solution from your transportation research group. The bill I have introduced today would allow states to opt-out with the requirement that they maintain the federal highway system, but then allow them to make other choices in transportation needs with their own transportation dollars. What are your thoughts about legislation like that?
Ned S. Holmes, Texas Transportation Commissioner and Chairman, Transportation Transformation Group: It sounds, Senator, as though that bill would provide significant increased flexibility to the states to design and implement their systems in accordance with the appropriate federal standards, and I think that would be a tremendous benefit. Basically, there’s not enough money and there’s not enough flexibility and it takes too long to produce a new asset. Thirteen years to produce a new roadway is incredibly counter-productive. To shorten that cycle, to provide more money, and more flexibility would be a great benefit.
The Highway Fairness and Reform Act of 2009, S. 903, would give states the option to opt out of federal highway program, which doles out funding on a revenue-sharing basis. Instead, opt-out states would receive a rebate on federal fuel taxes collected in their states. The bill is designed to ensure a dollar for dollar return on gas tax revenue generated by a state.
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29th - |
Rockefeller Cracks Down On Fraud
- Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, a strong supporter of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, commended its passage in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92 to 4.
“This is about protecting families from fraud that has plagued the mortgage and financial industries, contributing to a nationwide economic crisis,” said Senator Rockefeller, a cosponsor of the legis...
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29th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds President Obama’s First 100 Days In Office
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s First 100 Days in Office:
“President Obama and his team have proven that they can hit the ground running, from boosting the economy to beginning the process of updating our transportation ...
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28th - |
current Press Release |
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28th - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Statement on The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing today on The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy. Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, was unable to attend today&rsqu...
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28th - |
Sen. Hutchison Says Highway Funding Formula No Longer Serves Best Interests of States
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the following statement today during a Commerce Committee hearing on the future of surface transportation.
“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I do thank you for holding this hearing today. It is the first hearing of this committee to consi...
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28th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision on Indecency Standards
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision today on the Federal Communications Commissions "fleeting expletives" policy.
“I am encouraged by the Supreme Court’s decision today to reverse the ruling ...
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28th - |
Sen. Hutchison Introduces Bill Allowing States to Opt Out of Federal Highway Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – To eliminate the long-obsolete Federal Highway Program funding formula, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today introduced legislation that will allow states to opt out of the federal program. Rather than receiving funding for highway maintenance and construction via the federal formula, opt-out states would instead be rebated gas tax d...
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27th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds New Members Of President’s Science And Technology Advisory Council
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement of new members on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST):
“This advisory council will help us take science out of the laboratory and into ...
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24th - |
Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement On FAA Bird Strike Data Release
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the FAA’s disclosure of bird strike data:
“I am pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation released the data regarding bird strikes. I have been in touch with the FAA...
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24th - |
Rockefeller Introduced Legislation Calling For Universal Adoption Of Electronic Health Records
- Washington, D.C. —Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV has introduced legislation that will facilitate nationwide adoption of electronic health records, particularly among small, rural providers. The Health Information Technology Public Utility Act of 2009 will build upon the successful use of “open source” electronic health records by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well ...
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23rd - |
Rockefeller Statement on Nominees Voted Out Of Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the nominations reported out by the Committee today:
“I am extremely impressed with the caliber of individuals President Obama nominated to run these vital positions in our government. The President and I agree that ...
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21st - |
Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement On Commerce Committee Nominees
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following opening statement regarding nominees put before the committee today:
“I wish to congratulate all of you on your nomination for positions in the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), the United States Department of Commerc...
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17th - |
Hearing Postponed: Reform of the Federal Communications Commission
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has postponed the hearing scheduled for Wednesday April, 22, 2009 on the Reform of the Federal Communications Commission. Additional information will be made available once the hearing is rescheduled.
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3rd - |
SENATOR ROCKEFELLER URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION ON BAYER CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
- Washington, D.C. –Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV sent a letter today to the United States Coast Guard requesting that they release key findings in the Bayer CropScience chemical explosion investigation without compromising national security.
The Coast Guard has been working with the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigations Board (CSB) to determine the cause and reaction to the Aug...
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3rd - |
CHAIRMAN ROCKEFELLER REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM EIGHTEEN HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has held two full committee hearings on Deceptive Health Insurance Industry Practices – Are Consumers Getting What They Paid For? Rockefeller sent letters late yesterday to 18 different health insurance companies asking them what data they use to dete...
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2nd - |
COMMERCE CHAIRMAN ROCKEFELLER’S STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF NASA INSPECTOR GENERAL ROBERT COBB
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the resignation of NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb:
“Only a few short weeks ago, Senator McCaskill and I expressed deep concerns to President Obama that the NASA Inspector General, Robert Cobb, had been re...
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1st - |
Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Snowe Introduce Comprehensive Cybersecurity Legislation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) today announced the introduction of comprehensive cybersecurity legislation to address our nation’s vulnerability to cyber crime, global cyber espionage, and cyber attacks that could potentially cripple the United States&rsq...
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1st - |
Bill Would Federalize Cybersecurity- Senate Proposal Would Affect Even Some Private Networks
- Key lawmakers are pushing to dramatically escalate U.S. defenses against cyberattacks, crafting proposals that would empower the government to set and enforce security standards for private industry for the first time.
The proposals, in Senate legislation that could be introduced as early as today, would broaden the focus of the governments cybersecurity efforts to include not only military ne...
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