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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
02/12/09
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Jamie Smith - Democratic Press Office 202-224-6101
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Senate Commerce Chairman Rockefeller Announces New Committee Rules
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Washington, DC - John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation issued the following statement:
“The Senate Commerce Committee today adopted our rules and structure for this Congress. The existing Senate rules give the Commerce Committee expansive jurisdiction over many sectors of the economy that will play a key role in the long term economic success of our country.
“Included in the rules officially adopted today are new sections detailing the process by which the Committee may exercise its authority to issue subpoenas.
“This power will allow the Committee to act quickly and aggressively to protect consumers and make sure our government is functioning effectively, efficiently and rooting out abuse - which is especially critical at a time of limited resources and economic uncertainty.
“While the Committee's subpoena process is new, the power to issue subpoenas is not. Section 1 Rule XXVI of the Standing Senate Rules gives the Committee the authority to “require by subpoena” the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents. What we are doing here is laying out the steps the Committee will take in the event a subpoena is necessary to do our work.
“The court of public opinion is by far the strongest check on good government and good corporate citizenship, and a congressional subpoena generally should be called upon as a tool of last resort. But effective oversight is essential and must not be obstructed. This Committee must and will bring in to Congressional and public view important information about how well the laws and programs under our jurisdiction work, and we stand ready to address manipulation or neglect by either the Executive Branch or outside parties as needed .”
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25th - |
Sen. Hutchison's Statement on Nomination of Former Governor Gary Locke as Commerce Secretary
- 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 the nomination of former Washington State Governor Gary Locke to be Secretary for the United States Department of Commerce.
“I congratulate Governor Locke on his nomination as Commerce Secretary,” said...
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23rd - |
Hearing Announcement: Consumer Protection and The Credit Crisis
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a full committee hearing on Consumer Protection and the Credit Crisis and enforcement against fraudulent credit repair schemes under the Credit Repair Organization Act (CROA).
The Committee will examine consumer protection in credit counseling, debt management, and foreclosure rescue programs and f...
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13th - |
Rockefeller Statement on Tragic Plane Crash
- Washington, DC – John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the tragic plane crash late Thursday evening:
“The news of Continental Flight #3407 crashing near Buffalo, NY is terribly tragic. My heart goes out to all of the passengers and their families during this very difficult ti...
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12th - |
current Press Release |
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6th - |
Senate Commerce Committe to Hold Executive Session on Committee Rules
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) announces an Executive Session Hearing to consider the Committee’s rules for the 111th Congress on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
During the Executive Session, Committee members will consider the following agenda items:
1) Rules Governing the Senat...
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6th - |
NOAA and OSTP Nominees to Appear Before Senate Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) will hold a nominations hearing on Thursday, February 12, 2009 for Dr. Jane Lubchenco, nominated to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the U.S. Department of Commerce - also known as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administr...
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