- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) sent a letter to the Acting Comptroller General of the United States calling for further investigation of government seafood inspection practices. This follows concern that there is fragmentation occurring among the federal agencies that have a role in seafood inspec...

- Washington, D.C. - Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) calling for the safe and appropriate disposal of sensitive consumer information collected through Verified Identity Pass, Inc.’s (VIP) Clear program. This comes after ...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate’s vote to confirm Mr. Julius Genachowski to be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Mr. Robert C. McDowell, confirmed to be Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and Mr. L...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement after the Senate confirmed Larry Strickling to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). “I am pleased the Senate confirmed Larry Strickling as head of NTIA,” said Senat...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today congratulated the incoming Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Julius Genachowski, and Commissioner Robert McDowell, after both were confirmed by the United States Senate. “I am pleased to see that we are two steps cl...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement today in support of Meredith Attwell Baker, who was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “Meredith Baker will be a strong, in...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing on Consumer Choices and Transparency in the Health Insurance Industry. Witness List Wendell Potter, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Health Insurance Industry Insider Nancy Metcalf, Senior Program Editor, Consumer Reports Karen Pollitz, Research Professor, Georgetown Uni...

Washington, D.C. - Today’s hearing is about protecting consumers so I want to start by talking about a consumer. Her name is Jill Faddis. Back in 2001, she and her husband were living in Seattle, Washington. They had health insurance coverage through the Aetna insurance company. Their Aetna policy covered visits to doctors who were not part Aetna’s network. The policy promised the Faddises t...

- Washington, D.C.—Today, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) announces the release of an investigative staff report, Underpayments to Consumers by the Health Insurance Industry. Please see the staff report and supplemental documents below.

Washington, D.C. - I’d like to start this hearing by honoring and remembering those who tragically perished in yesterday’s catastrophic Washington, DC metro accident. Current press reports say 9 people lost their lives and many remain severely injured, in what is now the deadliest accident in the history of the Metrorail system. This Committee takes its role in safety oversight extremely seri...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement during a Commerce Committee hearing on the future of high speed rail: “These are truly exciting times for those of us who have long been advocates of passenger rail, and especially for those of us that have be...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked (on a 53-34 vote) a travel promotion bill from being considered in the Senate. “At a time when Americans continue to endure the most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression, the...

- Washington, D.C. – Today, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) wrote to a key Senate Committee and requested at least $50 million in funding for a new railroad safety technology grant program, created by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. This grant program provide...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held the following subcommittee hearing on Freight Transportation in America: Options for Improving the Nation’s Network. Witness List Mr. Richard Roper, Director, Planning Department, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Mr. Matt Rose, Commissioner, National Surface Transportation Policy a...

Washington, D.C. - I am very pleased the Senate Commerce Committee is holding this important hearing on freight transportation in America. Although this is not an issue many Americans think about every day, efficiently moving goods into and throughout this country is a cornerstone of America’s economic viability. Getting goods to market in a timely fashion not only creates jobs, but allows businesses...

- WASHINGTON D.C. - Today the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee conducted an off the floor markup. Chairman Rockefeller issued the following statement on his vote on the FCC nominees: “Julius Genachowski has my resounding support. He offers the public and private sector experience needed to reinvigorate the FCC and put consumers first. From the content that gets ...

- WASHINGTON D.C. - Today the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee conducted an off the floor markup on the nominations of: • Ms. Inez M. Tenenbaum: To be Chairman and Commissioner of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission • Mr. Julius Genachowski: To be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission • M...

- Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, applauded President Obama’s new financial regulation plan that will protect consumers by imposing stricter government oversight of the financial services system. “In the Senate Commerce Committee, I held my very first hearing as Chairman on consumer p...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on The Consumer Wireless Experience. Witness List: Panel I Mr. Mark Goldstein, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, United States Government Accountability Office Panel II Mr. John E. Rooney, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Cellular Co...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas ’ senior Senator and Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following remarks on the Senate Floor about the Chrysler and GM automotive dealership situation. “…I rise today to speak about the update on the Chrysler and GM. bankruptcies and their imp...

Washington, D.C. - Throughout the last decade, consumers have grown to rely on the mobility, convenience, and safety that wireless service can provide. Ten years ago, less than 100 million consumers had wireless phones. Today, the wireless industry counts more than 270 million American subscribers. However, in light of this success, we have a serious responsibility to ask what the consequences are for an i...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement for the record during a Commerce Committee hearing on the consumer wireless experience. “It is critically important that this Committee listen and be responsive to the concerns expressed by consumers. Lik...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas’ senior Senator, Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Member of the Subcommittee on Science and Space, submitted the following remarks to the Human Space Flight Panel, a 10-member committee of former astronauts, aerospace executives, and academics commissioned to evaluate Am...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on Aviation Safety: the Role and Responsibility of Commercial Air Carriers and Employees. Witness List: Mr. Jim May, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Transport Association of America Mr. Roger Cohen, President, Regional Airline Association Captain ...

- Washington, D.C. – In an effort to ensure the public has access to key information during local industrial accidents or emergencies like the Bayer CropScience explosion in Institute, West Virginia last year, Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, introduced legislation that will clarify federal laws regarding the release of certa...

Washington, D.C. - The tragic accident of Flight 3407 is a chilling and horrific reminder that the aviation industry and Congress must be vigilant in maintaining the safety of the air transportation system. I am proud to say that last week this committee held a safety focused hearing examining the roles and responsibilities of the federal government in making certain the aviation industry adheres to the very hig...

- The Hill U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) June 17, 2009 Maintaining and improving our nation’s vast surface transportation network has become nearly as daunting as negotiating the gridlocked roads of many American cities at rush hour. Communities across Texas and throughout have fast-growing populations, but face crumbling and overstressed highways and consistent funding shor...

Washington, D.C. - The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the most important line of defense between consumers and dangerous products. Families trust you to keep them safe. Parents look to you to help protect their children from dangerous products. Unfortunately, the CPSC has suffered from years of budget cuts and poor leadership decisions that worked at cross-purposes with its mission. That...

Washington, D.C. - Communications technology is at the pulsing center of our new economy. For our nation to meet the challenges we face in education, health care, the environment, and to remain globally competitive, we will require top-notch communications infrastructure. Because good communications policy will lay the foundation for these noble goals, we need real expertise at the Federal Communications...

- Washington, D.C. – Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last week sent letters to the President of Chrysler and CEO of General Motors requesting responses on a number of issues regarding consumer, dealer and worker protections. The Committee received a response this week from both companies and Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the follow...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today questioned Julius Genachowski and Robert McDowell, nominees for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on improved broadband Internet access, broadcast decency, and the Fairness Doctrine. Senator Hutchison explained that when it comes to ...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the following full committee hearing: The Consumer Wireless Experience U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Hearing Start Time: 2:30 p.m. Press Pre-Set Time: 1:45 p.m. Location: Room 253, Russell Senate Office Building This heari...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for a hearing to address the unintended consequences associated with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, approved last year, during a nomination hearing for Inez M. Tenenbaum to be Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Co...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to concerns raised at a June 3 Commerce Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas’ senior Senator, today received a letter from Chrysler President Jim Press outlining the company’s steps to protect auto dealers forced to close under Chrysler’s new business strategy. “I have been exceedingly concerned about the impac...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman, John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, applauded President Obama’s signing of a memorandum today on the National Policy for Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes. “The United States is on the cusp of creating a wave of new ‘blue’ jobs through ocean energy development, aquaculture, m...

- This has been an exciting week for our oceans, starting out on Monday with World Oceans Day, and celebrating Capitol Hill Ocean Week. As Chairman of this Committee, I am very proud that we have taken the time, with Senator Cantwell’s leadership, to highlight the great economic and environmental wealth that our oceans and coasts hold. I am very pleased that the Committee...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing yesterday on Aviation Safety: FAA’S Role in the Oversight of Air Carriers. ***The Committee will hold a second hearing on Aviation Safety: The Role and Responsibility of Commercial Air Carriers and Employees on Wednesday, June 17, 2009*** Witness List: The ...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard subcommittee hearing today on the FY 2010 NOAA Budget. Witness List: The Honorable Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce Key Quotes: “NOAA is the pr...

Washington, D.C. - The devastating loss of life caused by the crash of Flight 3407 in Buffalo – and the crash of Flight 446 from Brazil to France – are chilling horrific reminders that there is nothing more important in aviation than the safety of all passengers. As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to investigate the causes of the Buffalo crash, we in Congress absolutely mu...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on The Blue Economy: The Role of the Oceans in our Nation’s Economic Future. Witness List: Dr. Judith T. Kildow, Social Scientist, Director, National Oceans Economics Program, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Ms. Alexandra Coustea...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas senior Senator and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement regarding the closure of 50 automotive dealerships in Texas : “Today is a sad day for 50 Texas small businesses and the communities they’ve served. Nationwide, Chrysler is unnecessarily forcing the...

- On January 1, 1954, Americans from coast to coast witnessed the first nationwide colorcast when the Tournament of Roses Parade was aired in vivid Technicolor. This broadcast marked the arrival of the color television, something Americans have now enjoyed for over half a century. Not since that undertaking have the broadcasting industry and the federal government endeavored to roll out a technol...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas senior Senator and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement regarding General Motor’s decision to select Ed Whitacre, Jr. as the company’s new chairman once it completes its bankruptcy reorganization: “Ed Whitacre is a distinguished business leader. His su...

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- Our oceans and coasts are sources of great economic and environmental wealth for the nation. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. import and export freight is transported through seaports. Our 3.4 million square mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the largest in the world, covers an area greater than the entire United States. The Blue Economy – jobs and economic opportunities that emerge from our...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, after receiving word that Chrysler has committed to redistributing the inventory of all affected dealers, Senator Hutchison released the following statement: "I very much appreciate Chrysler’s announcement tonight. James Press clearly listened to the dealers’ compelling stories and heard the frustration expressed by the senators regarding t...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Jay Rockefeller today reminded Americans of the nation’s upcoming transition to digital television (DTV), and sent letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), urging them to help consumers before, during and after the convers...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and its Chairman, John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, celebrates World Oceans Day and Capitol Hill Ocean Week beginning Monday, June 8th and running through Friday, June 12th, 2009. The goal of this years Ocean Week is to highlight the critical importance of improving the Blue Economy and increasing Blue Jobs. ...

- Three weeks ago, Chrysler announced that it was terminating 789 franchises nationwide. I spoke with Pete Lopez, an auto dealer in Spencer, West Virginia, present here today, who had just learned his contract was being terminated. He was devastated and filled with anxiety. In a flash – his work, his livelihood, and the economic security of his employees were in serious jeopardy. Compoundi...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the following statement today during a Commerce Committee hearing on the General Motors and Chrysler dealership closures. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Would you allow me to ask every person in the audience who is a dealer to stand. We really wanted ...

- Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, held a hearing today on GM and Chrysler Dealership Closures: Protecting Dealers and Consumers. Witness List: Mr. Pete Lopez, President and CEO, Spencer Auto Group, Roane County, West Virginia Mr. Russell Aubrey Whatley III, Owner/Dealer, Russell Whatley Motor ...

- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement on the President’s intent to nominate Robert McDowell to serve another term as a Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “Robert McDowell will provide continuity for ...

- 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: “I appreciate Senator Kohl’s willingness to withdraw the pending cloture motion and join the Commerce Committee’s broader efforts to reform surface transportation, improve rail competition and provide...

- Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has issued the following statement in response to the Chrysler and General Motors (GM) bankruptcies and subsequent restructuring: “General Motors and Chrysler are important American manufacturers and it is my hope they will emerge stronger. However, my immedia...