Rockefeller, Cantwell Support New Pilot Fatigue Rules

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell today came out in support of the Department of Transportation’s new rule to prevent airline pilots from flying while fatigued.

Sen. Hutchison Lauds House Passage of Expedited Airport Screening for Military

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) praised the House’s unanimous passage of her legislation to allow expedited airport screening for service members and their families traveling on orders. This legislation, the Trust Our Troops Act, passed in the Senate on December 13, 2011. “Our nation’s military have earned the right from […]

Rockefeller Says Defense Bill Protects Taxpayers, Promotes U.S. Technological Innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1540) adopted by the Senate today included tough new measures to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV authored these measures after a Commerce Committee investigation found evidence that funds awarded through these two technology innovation programs were being misused.

Senate Chairmen Join Cummings’ Investigation of “Gray Market” Drug Companies

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, joined Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, in his investigation of “gray market” companies that trade in drugs in critically short supply.

Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Environmental Risk of Genetically Engineered Fish

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Good morning. We’re holding this hearing today to discuss the potential environmental risks of genetically engineered fish. The hearing could not be timelier: as I speak, the FDA may be finalizing approval of the first genetically engineered animal for human consumption in the U.S. This is truly ground breaking and for many, this is concerning. The “AquaAdvantage” salmon has been engineered to grow faster and heartier than its natural counterpart by mixing genes from three different fish species, so its filets can quickly get from the fish pen to your dinner table.