Senator Stevens Floor Statement on the Importance of the 9-1-1 Service

9-1-1 calls are a lifeline for those in danger, and essential for our public safety personnel to respond quickly to emergencies. Public safety communications are a priority for Senator Inouye and myself as we work together in the Commerce Committee. In 1967, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a single number be established to re...

Senator Stevens Floor Statement on Consumer Product Safety Bill

This measure provides greatly needed resources and improves enforcement authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and this bill has come a long way throughout this whole process. I thank Senators Pryor and Inouye for allowing me to work so closely with them to negotiate this bill. I consider this to be a solid and fair compromise position. One of my favorite parts of being a Sen...

Inouye Applauds Senate Passage of Historic Fuel Economy Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) delivered the following statement today on the floor of the U.S. Senate just before passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. “Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Renewable Consumer and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. After months of constructive negotiations, we have successfull...

Stevens Calls on Congress to Extend Internet Tax Moratorium

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following remarks on the floor of the Senate in favor of extending the Internet tax moratorium. Senator Stevens: Since its inception, the Internet has provided a powerful economic boost to our nation, especially in rural areas. It has become an i...

Statement by Senator Stevens on Commerce Committee Executive Session

“Mr. Chairman, thank you for working on a bipartisan basis to develop the measures that are on today’s agenda. I am pleased that the Committee will consider a number of important bills today. “S. 1769, the Same Number Act of 2007, would require the FCC to revisit its number portability rules and extend them to all applicable voice communications services. This will allow co...

Senator Stevens Floor Statement on Introduction of Tourism Promotion Act

I come to the floor to speak in support of the “Travel Promotion Act of 2007,” Which I introduced earlier today with Senator Inouye and Senator Dorgan. Our legislation has a simple purpose: to increase the number of foreign tourists who visit the United States. To accomplish this goal, two complementary strategies must be undertaken: Existing travel problems must be resolved, a...

Senator Stevens Floor Statement on the Introduction of the Senate Resolution Against Harmful Foreign Fishing Subsidies

Mr. President, Ive come to the floor to discuss the overcapitalization of the worlds fishing fleets, which is being fueled by the subsidies foreign governments direct to their fishing industries. The problems caused by these subsidies affect not only our global fisheries resources, but also the coastal communities which depend upon them. I am introducing a Senate Resolution condemning these subs...

Senator Stevens Floor Statement on Interoperability Amendments in S. 4

Since 2001, we have heard the growing cry from public safety officials that the police, firefighters and emergency medical response personnel throughout the country need help achieving interoperability in today’s communications world. Sadly, this problem predated September 11th. More than a decade ago the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Info...

Sen. Stevens Speaks on the 911 Modernization Amendment to S.4

Senator Stevens: 911 calls provide the first line of defense in the safety of our citizens and is critical for our public safety personnel. Technological advances now allow 911 calls to provide more information, such as the caller’s location and telephone number. However, in too many parts of the country, the public safety community doesn’t have the technology needed to rec...

Sen. Stevens Speaks on Aviation and Surface Transportation Security Legislation

Senator Stevens: I thank my colleagues, Senators Lieberman and Collins for working with the Commerce Committee to include important security measures in this bill. And, I’m very grateful to my great friend, Senator Inouye, for his willingness to work in our committee on a bipartisan basis to develop and report these measures. In the five and a half years since the horri...

Senator Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young Speak at Signing of Enrolled Magnuson-Stevens Act

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in his role as President Pro Tempore, sign the enrolled Magnuson-Stevens Act on Wednesday, January 3, 2007. Stevens was joined by Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) at the ceremony. The Magnuson-Stevens Act passed both the House and Senate last December. Legislation that passes both the House and Senate must be enrolled and signed by the Spea...

Senator Stevens Introduces Buddy Guy at the Digital Entertainment Expo

Thank you. I have an important person I want to introduce. First, I want to thank everyone who had anything to do with bringing us this show here, all these exhibits. There have been a lot of people who have cooperated; my thanks go out to the Recording Industry Association, the US Telecom Association and the Digital Media Association. They’ve sponsored this event. But we are honored toni...

Senator Stevens Floor Statement on Be the Boss of What Your Kids Watch Campaign

Those in the television, cable, and satellite industries recently launched the “Be the Boss of What Your Kids Watch” campaign. This campaign, which is headed up by our good friend Jack Valenti, educates parents about how to protect their children from inappropriate television programming. When Senator Inouye and I first became Co-chairmen of the Senate Commerce Committee, severa...

Stevens Addresses Progress and Freedom Foundation to Push for Senate Consideration of Communications Bill

It’s a pleasure for me to introduce Brian Roberts. Brian and his father Ralph have both been leaders in the cable industry and have been pushing technology to new heights, and his father knows how to play poker. So, he must have learned a little bit there. Under Brian’s leadership, Comcast has grown into a Fortune 100 company with $202.3 billion in revenue, 23.3 million customers, an...

Senator Stevens Speech at National Religous Broadcasters Dinner

My great friend Mr. Don Nelson literally drove down here every year, and he would come spend some time with us. But he really was a grand man. As I was preparing these remarks, I was reminded of a story that I heard once about a little boy named John who was coming down the steps on Sunday morning with a baseball glove in one hand and a ball in the other, and his mother grabbed him right as he ...