Chairman Rockefeller Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

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 following the announcement of Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr.’s nomination to become the next Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Vice Admiral Papp, if approved by the U.S. Senate, would become the 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, replacing Admiral Thad Allen in May 2010.

Chairman Rockefeller Statement on New DOT Rule to Strengthen Airline Passenger Protections

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 an announcement made by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding a new rule that establishes consumer protections during airline tarmac delays. The new rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers.

Committee Approves Hutchison Cosponsored Railroad Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Committee, and Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to update federal rail policy to better balance the needs of rail carriers and their shippers and reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for 5 years. The STB has not been reauthorized since it was established in 1996.

Committee Approves Bus Safety Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Ranking Member on the Committee, and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to overhaul motorcoach safety regulations and dramatically reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by accidents.