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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
08/06/09
Contact: |
Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824
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Chairman Rockefeller's Remarks on Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network Airlines and Regional Airlines
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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 and each carrier’s role in guaranteeing the safety of its own operations. This hearing will focus on the relationship between the major, or network, airlines and their regional airline partners.
Aviation safety improves greatly when we work together – the federal government, the airline industry, the workforce, and the passengers all have a critical role to play in this effort. In the past, we have made our greatest progress when the FAA and the airlines worked in concert with one another. Programs such as the Aviation Safety Action program (ASAP) and the Flight Operation Quality Assurance (FOQA) program are good examples of this cooperation, but more work remains to be done.
Today, I hope we can foster a dialogue that will strengthen the resolve of all air carriers and other stakeholders to find ways to further improve the safety of operations conducted under code-share agreements. Airlines can greatly improve our aviation system’s safety by sharing best safety practices and serving as an additional check on the safety of their code-sharing partners.
Approximately 90 percent of the passengers travelling on regional airline flights purchase their tickets from a major air carrier. However, those passengers are often unaware that the major carrier that sold them their ticket is not actually operating their flight. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses about how we can better disseminate information about which carrier is actually operating their flight. More importantly, I’d like to determine if there are further steps we can or must take to ensure there is one level of safety throughout the commercial air transportation system.
I am proud that we have taken the initial steps to move forward FAA reauthorization legislation that is focused on modernizing the air traffic control system, strengthening safety requirements and improving air service in rural areas of the country. Each of these areas can help promote significant improvements to the safety of air travel. My fellow original co-sponsors, Senators Hutchison, Dorgan, DeMint, and I have worked hard crafting this bill over the past few months. We will work diligently to make sure Congress passes this bill, and I look forward to taking this measure up on the Senate floor in the near future.
I appreciate the airlines’ willingness to be here today to discuss this important issue before Congress. It’s important to note that the air transportation system has, statistically, never been safer. The airline industry depends on the passengers’ confidence in the safety of the system, and I think this open forum will help to reinforce that confidence with the travelling public.
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7th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds the Senate's Confirmation of Nominees
- 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...
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7th - |
Chairman Rockefeller on "Cash for Clunkers"
- 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...
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6th - |
Hearing Summary: Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
- 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...
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6th - |
Hearing Summary - Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network and Regional Airlines
- 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...
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6th - |
Hutchison: FAA Must Stay Vigilant
- 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...
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6th - |
current Press Release |
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5th - |
Executive Session: Committee Legislation Summary
- 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...
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5th - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Remarks on Today's Executive Session
- 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...
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5th - |
Hearing Summary: Nominations Hearing
- 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...
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5th - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Remarks on Today's Nominations Hearing
- 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...
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5th - |
Committee Approves Hutchison Bill to Jam Illegal Prison Cell Phones
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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 (...
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