|
|
Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
01/21/09
Contact: |
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
|
|
Email This
Print This
|
|
|
Sen. Hutchison Presses Transportation Nominee LaHood On Improving Air Safety, FAA Landing Slots and Amtrak Enhancements
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today pressed President Barack Obama’s Transportation Secretary nominee, Ray LaHood, for assurances on the Federal Aviation Administration’s steps to auction airline landing slots in the New York area and proposals to improve Amtrak operations. Secretary designee LaHood voiced his agreement with Senator Hutchison on both the slots issue and Amtrak enhancements.
“The next generation air traffic control system is essential to ensure our air space is used in the safest and most efficient way possible,” said Senator Hutchison. “But, this system has not yet been fully implemented, and we still have many delays, especially in the New York air space, which then affect the whole country. I hope it will be one of your major priorities to support passage of the FAA reauthorization bill and get it signed by the President. We must ensure that the safety of our nation’s air traffic is a priority, but we will certainly need the help of this administration.”
The following exchange occurred during the question and answer portion of the hearing:
Sen. Hutchison: “Last year, the Department of Transportation moved forward with a rulemaking that included the auction process for airline landing slots at airports in the New York region. Many of us in Congress and on this Committee had deep concerns about the method and legality of the proceeding. As Secretary, can you commit to working with this Committee on a new direction for improving our congested airports and airspace and will the Department withdraw the current rulemaking proceeding regarding auctions?”
Rep. LaHood: “Senator, I think that if the idea of relieving congestion at a place like LaGuardia and one way to do it is to eliminate slots, I think it kind of defeats the purpose then to go back and say you’re going to go back and auction those off. You know, personally again, I don’t like that idea. I think it defeats what you’re trying to do. If you’re really trying to cut down congestion, then eliminate the slots but the idea of them going back and re-auctioning them, to me, it doesn’t make any sense to do that.”
***
Sen. Hutchison: “It has long been my position that a national passenger rail system is an essential part of our national transportation system. Last fall, Congress showed its support for Amtrak by passing an Amtrak reauthorization bill for the first time in eight years. Rep. LaHood, do you support the full national Amtrak system?”
Rep. LaHood: “Well, the bill that was passed in the Congress last year is a very good bill and I fully intend on working with Congress to implement that. During my fourteen years in Congress, in the House, I’ve been a strong supporter of Amtrak. It’s the lifeblood for many, many communities around the country and I will work with all of you to implement the Amtrak Bill. I think it’s a good bill.”
# # #
|
|
|
|
|
29th - |
Statement by Senator Hutchison on Senate Passage of Bill to Shift DTV Transition Date to June 12
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate tonight unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Following are excerpts from a floor statement by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison:
...
|
|
|
|
|
26th - |
Senate Passes Bill to Shift DTV Transition Date to June 12
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digi...
|
|
|
26th - |
Rockefeller DTV Delay Bill Passes Senate
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the DTV Delay bill by unanimous consent.
“Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do. I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time. The S...
|
|
|
23rd - |
Statement by Senator Hutchison on Shift of DTV Transition Date
- 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 legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digital television transition without a sound plan t...
|
|
|
|
|
22nd - |
Rockefeller Announces Compromise on DTV Delay Bill
- Washington, DC – This evening, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced a bipartisan compromise to the DTV Delay Act introduced last week.
The amended DTV Delay Act will retain the extension of the digital transition date to June 12, 2009. Additionally, the agreement extends the Federal Communicatio...
|
|
|
21st - |
Senator Hutchison Welcomes New Republican Members of Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today welcomed four new Republican members to the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.).
“I am pleased to welcome Senators Isakson,...
|
|
|
|
|
21st - |
current Press Release |
|
|
15th - |
Oceans Policy Scores Victory with Passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ocean conservation and research scored a major victory today with the passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The act includes five bills, originally introduced in the 110th Congress under the leadership of Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), that increase our knowledge of oceans and coastal areas, provide policymakers with i...
|
|
|
15th - |
Sen. Hutchison Introduces Bill to Prevent Cell Phone Use in Prison
- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, and U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) today introduced legislation, the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009, aimed at preventing prison inmates from using smuggled cellular phones.
“This legislation will fight criminal enterprises behind bars and protect innocent victims and public officials...
|
|
|
8th - |
Senator Hutchison: Too Early to Call for DTV Delay
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said it was too early to call for a delay to the digital television (DTV) transition scheduled for next month. Senator Hutchison stated that increased focus was needed to fix the anticipated coupon shortage before the transition date of February 17, ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|