Pryor, Rockefeller Introduce Legislation to Increase Transparency, Competition in Insurance Industry

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) introduced the Insurance Competition and Transparency Act of 2010 today that would strike a provision in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act that restricts the FTC’s authority to investigate and disclose information about practices employed by insurance companies that may reduce competition in the marketplace. Currently, many insurance companies, including the health insurance industry, are largely exempt from this FTC oversight.

Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement on Senate Passage of the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization extension reauthorizes the FAA through September 30, 2010 and implements critical aviation safety and pilot training improvement measures.

Senate Passes FAA Funding Extension with Safety Provisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today passed a funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that contained several key safety provisions to make air travel safer. These safety provisions were negotiated by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and others. The previous extension was set to expire on August 1, 2010. The new extension will expire at the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2010.

Chairman Rockefeller Says FTC Rule to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Debt Settlement Practices is Enormously Important

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a new rule to protect consumers from deceptive debt settlement practices. The new rule will require debt settlement companies to disclose more information about the services they provide, and bar them from charging upfront fees. The debt settlement industry was the subject of a Commerce Committee investigation initiated by Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV.

Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement on the Airline Safety and FAA Extension Act of 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement about the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization extension would reauthorize the FAA through September 30, 2010 and implement critical aviation safety and pilot training improvement measures. Senate action on the extension is expected in the coming days.

Commerce Committee Approves SHORE Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today after the committee approved S. 3597, the Securing Health for Ocean Resources and Environment Act (SHORE Act).

Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Consumer Online Privacy

WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, our Committee will examine the issue of consumer privacy in an online world. It is an issue I am deeply interested in, and I know my colleagues – especially Senators Kerry and Pryor – who chair the Subcommittees on Communications and Consumer Protection are, too. I thank them for their work on this issue.

Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Hutchison Introduce Bipartisan Port Security Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Ranking Member of the Commerce Committee, have introduced the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2010 (S. 3639), a bill to strengthen security at our nation’s ports by focusing resources on critical areas, including Especially Hazardous Cargo, small vessel security, and global supply chain security.