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For Immediate Release
02/28/08
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Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
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Senator Stevens Criticizes Bush Administration Over Proposed Transportation Budget
Discusses Potential Adverse Impacts on Alaska during Oversight Hearing |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009 Department of Transportation budget, Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) expressed his strong opposition to the Bush Administration’s proposed cuts to programs that impact Alaska.
“I just feel that somehow or another people in your Department now have lost sight of history, why some of these programs exist,” Senator Stevens told Transportation Secretary Mary Peters.
The President’s proposed budget would significantly decrease funding for a variety of programs in the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration’s Essential Air Service Program (EAS), the Small Shipyard Assistance Program, and pipeline safety. EAS, alone, would be cut by $60 million.
“Now you tell me, you’re going to have to play God and tell me which villages get cut off and don’t get three flights a week?” said Senator Stevens. “And that’s everything. That’s milk and sugar and flour. Everything comes in by air. I’m from a small population state. Our state has a small population, but it has enormous area. It’s the area that has the greatest hope for supplying resources we need as a nation, and yet it seems to have been abandoned by this bill that’s before us now.”
Senator Stevens was particularly troubled with the proposed budget cuts in light of the Bush Administration’s desire to see a significant decrease in congressional earmarks.
“This budget has been slashed. Just slashed,” said Senator Stevens. “I don’t really understand it. If you knew the paradigm of no more earmarks, why did you cut these budgets expecting us to put the money back? That is what’s happened now two or three years in a row, these bills. The budgets have been cut and we’ve been forced to go and put the money back.”
During a question-and-answer session with Secretary Peters, Senator Stevens expressed concern about the lack of proper regulations governing unaccompanied minors’ air travel. Last year, a 15-year old Juneau girl purchased a plane ticket without her parents’ consent and later boarded a flight, unaccompanied by an adult, to meet with a man in the Lower 48 she had befriended online.
“She went down and bought a ticket, and got on a plane and it was discovered she was gone,” said Senator Stevens. “She was a minor, an unaccompanied minor, and I’ve asked that something be done within the system so we won’t have to legislate on that. It’d be a difficult thing to legislate on, but it’s possible…I just really think anyone that’s concerned about their families would worry about this happening and young people are very capable of going and buying a ticket and disappearing. I just don’t think that ought to be possible. We ought to at least have a proof of age requirement to get on an airplane. Now, if you don’t do that, I am going to introduce a bill for that. I think it has to be done.”
Secretary Peters agreed with Senator Stevens and committed to reach out to the airlines and travel agencies to create guidelines for unaccompanied minors.
“I agree with your concern, and as a mother and a grandmother, I also am very concerned, especially today with the availability of the Internet for young unaccompanied minors to travel, perhaps, without their parents’ consent and knowledge,” said Secretary Peters. “Senator, let me commit to you today that we will move forward with your request and see what kind of documentation we can develop. We will work with you and your staff to determine the most appropriate path forward.”
For audio of Senator Stevens’ opening statement, click here.
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| 29th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for TSA Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that The Honorable Edmund “Kip” Hawley, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, and Ms. Cathleen Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office, will testify before a full Committee hearing on the President...
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| 29th - |
CG Commandant among Witnesses for Oil Spills Protection Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today the witnesses for a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee hearing on protecting our shores from oils spills. The witnesses are listed below.
The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate operation incidents associated with oil spills. The Subcommittee will examine non-tank vess...
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| 29th - |
Coast Guard Commandant, GAO to Testify at Coast Guard Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee announced today that Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant for the U.S. Coast Guard and Mr. Stephen Caldwell, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues at the Government Accountability Office will testify at the U.S. Coast Guard budget and oversight hearing.
The Committee will also examine programs in ...
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| 29th - |
Interstate Commerce Subcommittee to Examine GDP Calculation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that it will hold an Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on the calculation of the gross domestic product (GDP) on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.
At this hearing, Rethinking the Gross Domestic Product as a Measurement of National Strength, the subcommittee ...
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| 28th - |
current Press Release |
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| 28th - |
NIST, NSF, OSTP to Testify Before Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Science, Technology, and Innovation subcommittee announced the witnesses for its March 11, 2008 hearing on The FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research. The witnesses include: Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP); Dr. Arden Bement, Jr., Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); and Dr. James M...
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| 28th - |
Inouye: DOT Must Rehabilitate Infrastructure, Maintain Security
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement today at a hearing on the Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal.
“Transportation is an essential element of our nation’s prosperity. Our transportation infrastructure provides the means to efficiently mo...
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| 27th - |
FTC Commissioners to Testify Before Commerce Subcommittee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will host an Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on the Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization. All five FTC Commissioners will testify.
The hearing will be an oversight hearing reviewing the performance of the Commission. The Committee will also receive testimony on pending FTC ...
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| 26th - |
DOT Secretary to Testify Before Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that The Honorable Mary E. Peters, Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) will testify at a February 28 hearing reviewing the DOT budget proposal. The Honorable Robert Sturgell, Acting Administration of the Federal Aviation Administration will accompany Secretary Peters.
...
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| 25th - |
Commerce Committee to Review FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Science, Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee hearing titled The FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research.
At this hearing, the Committee will explore the importance of basic research to U.S. competitiveness. The hearing will examine research and development budgets at agencies i...
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| 21st - |
Commerce Committee to Examine DOT Budget Request
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced today that it will review the President’s proposed Department of Transportation budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on February 28, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Proposal
Full Committee
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008
Time: ...
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| 20th - |
Commerce Committee to Host CG Budget and Oversight Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee announced today that it will review the President’s proposed U.S. Coast Guard budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on March 6, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will also examine programs in the pending Coast Guard Reauthorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.
U.S. Coast Guard Budget and Ov...
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| 19th - |
Commerce Committee to Review TSA Budget Request
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces it will review the President’s proposed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) budget for the 2009 fiscal year at a hearing on March 4, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
FY 2009 TSA Budget Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Room 253, Russell Sena...
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| 19th - |
Merchant Marine Subcommittee to Examine Oil Spills Protection
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Subcommittee hearing on protecting our shores from oils spills. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 2:30 p.m.
The purpose of this hearing is to evaluate operational incidents associated with oil spills. The Subcommittee will examine ...
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| 14th - |
Congress Passes “Kids and Cars” Safety Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Congress today passed the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 1216). Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Commerce Committee, is a cosponsor of the Senate companion legislation (S.694) which was introduced by Senators John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). This measure will address child safety issue...
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| 12th - |
Inouye and Dingell Urge President to Establish Inter-Agency DTV Task Force
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The Chairmen called on the President to use the government’s...
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| 11th - |
FCC, NTIA among Witnesses to Testify at Commerce Committee DTV Hearing
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With the transition date just a year away – set for February 17, 2009 – the hea...
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| 7th - |
Congress Passes Dorgan-Stevens Legislation to Extend Do-Not-Call List
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Senate Commerce Committee Vice ...
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| 7th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from DOC Deputy Secretary Nominee
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Nominations Hearing
Full Committee
Date: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Time: 9:30 a.m.
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| 5th - |
Aviation Subcommittee to Hold FAA Budget Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security announced today that it will review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget proposal at a hearing on February 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Administration’s FY 2009 proposal would provide $14.6 billion for the FAA in FY 2009, a cut of $273 million from FY...
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