WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today gave opening remarks at the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation nominations hearing of Mayor Anthony Foxx to be Secretary of Transportation. Below are Chairman Rockefeller's prepared remarks:

I want to congratulate you, Mayor Foxx, on your nomination for the position of Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.  This high honor is also great challenge.  As Secretary LaHood so ably demonstrated, the job requires a deep understanding of the policy and the political savvy to accomplish the Administration’s goals.  

The Department of Transportation is enduring a tumultuous time of constrained resources.  Despite this, the Department is tasked with implementing a large number of new safety mandates and, simultaneously, presiding over a transportation infrastructure network in need of significant and immediate investment.  This country’s transportation network has been a critical factor in our long-term economic growth.  However, years of under-investing in our roads; airports and air traffic control systems; rails; and ports have left us with an overstrained transportation system.  The weakness in our transportation system has been a drag on our growth.  I believe we are on the brink of losing our competitive edge in the global marketplace as a result.  The evidence is clear that this interconnected system was not built to withstand the wear and tear it endures today.  

The federal government has a critical role to play in transportation.  I am among the first to admit that we in Congress have not done our jobs in this area. Instead, we have grown accustomed to an ad-hoc approach to investing in our transportation network by using a grab-bag of unrelated pay-fors and budget gimmicks just to keep funding levels static. Too many seem content with this approach, but I am not.  Turning our backs on this growing problem ignores what we truly need: a strategic, long-term vision for rebuilding our transportation system. A Band-Aid approach to fixing our infrastructure will no longer cut it. 

We need to take a hard look at what we need from our ports, rail, air and highway systems over the long term and commit to making the appropriate investments.  We must get away from overly siloed, programmatic funding mechanisms that don’t allow for the flexibility necessary to make strategic, multi-modal investments.  We need to get smart about working with the private sector to increase overall funding.  In short, we need to rethink how we fund transportation in this country as we look toward the future.  We all need to come together – the Congress, the White House, and the stakeholder community – and truly explore all options.  We won’t get anywhere unless we work together. 

Investing in infrastructure also means investing in safety.  Since becoming Chairman, I have made consumer protection the priority for this Committee.  For transportation, that means safety. I hope I have your commitment on this across the Department.  While we have required new safety requirements across air, rail, and highway systems, the work has only just begun.  The Department needs do everything in its power to implement these safety requirements in a timely manner.  I am concerned about delays we are seeing on some very important rules and worried about more.  I need your help in making sure these new requirements are put into place as soon as possible.  

On the aviation side, it has been a tough year between the challenges involving the 787 and sequestration impacts.  Sequestration took a serious hit out of FAA’s finances.  Unfortunately, we face the same difficulties next year.  All of this has taken attention away from other key efforts, such as modernizing the air traffic control system and implementing critical safety measures.  I expect you to make a renewed effort to focus the agency on implementing new pilot qualification and training requirements.  Implementing the NextGen air traffic control system is of personal importance to me.  For ten years, I have worked to help FAA make NextGen a reality.  This system is vital to the future of our air transportation network, and I will continue to make it a priority to make sure that FAA is positioned to achieve full implementation of NextGen by 2020. 

Mayor Foxx, as you know you have a big job in front of you.  The challenges are many and the solutions are difficult.  However, if you are confirmed I want this Committee to be a partner in your efforts.  That will take communication and transparency from the Department.  I thank you for being here today and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

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