WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on nominations.

Nominations Include:

• Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information – Designate, National Telecommunications and Information Administration

• Aneesh Chopra, to be Associate Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President

• John D. Porcari, to be Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation

• J. Randolph Babbitt, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

• Rebecca M. Blank, to be the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce

Key Quotes from Today’s Hearing:

It is a true honor to be selected by the President for these incredibly important positions. If confirmed, you will lead our country’s investment in communications networks, the advancement of science and technology policy, the promotion of transportation mobility, and the modernization of our air system.  The bar is high, the challenges great, and the expectations abundant.
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller, IV

President Obama was elected to bring change to our nation, and advancing these shared goals of progress and prosperity will require your best efforts.  Sitting before us today are the nominees for positions in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the United States Department of Transportation (DOT).
Senator Mark R. Warner, D-VA

We must do everything we can to ensure that all Americans have access to modern communications services. The Internet plays such an important day-to-day role in the lives of so many of us that those of our citizens who are not connected risk being left behind—in terms of getting a modern education, competing for high-value jobs, receiving health care—and in so many other ways.
Lawrence Strickling, to be the Assistant Secretary for Telecommunications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce

Technology and innovation are hallmarks of the American story. They can often offer us powerful new opportunities of doing things never before possible or even imagined. By stewarding pragmatic policy choices, I believe we can make jobs more plentiful, America more competitive, communications more affordable, broadband more abundant, families more connected, and Americans more safe and secure.
Aneesh Chopra, to be Associate Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy at the Executive Office of the President

Safety has been, and must continue to be, the top priority of the Department. In addition, virtually every element of our transportation system faces daunting capacity constraints. Our transportation system is essential to the long-term prosperity of the United States and must also play a key role in advancing important policy goals such as livable communities, energy conservation and climate change.
John D. Porcari, to be Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation

I appreciate that later this year this Committee will consider the reauthorization of the FAA’s programs. It will be a time to assess the agency’s performance, set priorities, and support its missions with the necessary funding. If confirmed as Administrator, I will work closely with the Committee to help ensure that FAA’s reauthorization process provides a platform to take our system to a new peak of safety and efficiency and provides wise use of the monies paid by our taxpayers and traveling public.
J. Randolph Babbitt, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration

In this economy, we need good data---collected in a timely and reliable way by the Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis-- so we can understand how businesses and families are faring. We also need high quality economic analysis, analyzing the trends and patterns that indicate both where there is economic pain and where there are signs of recovery.
Rebecca M. Blank, to be the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce

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