NSA Director Says Security Standards Are Necessary for Critical Cyber Networks, Information Sharing is Not Enough

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The head of the military’s Cyber Command said Tuesday that information-sharing among critical infrastructure owners and operators is not enough to protect their cyber networks against attacks from rival nations, criminals, terrorists, and pranksters. Information sharing combined with security standards are needed to confront the growing cyber threat, said General Keith Alexander.

Senate Approves Pipeline Safety Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate unanimously approved the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011, which will strengthen pipeline safety oversight by the federal government and address long-standing safety issues.

Rockefeller Remarks on Today’s Surface Transportation Markup

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that highway deaths fell to 32,885 for the year, the lowest level since 1949. The record-breaking decline in traffic fatalities occurred even as American drivers traveled nearly 46 billion more miles during the year. Importantly, our decade-long effort to reduce drunk driving is making a real impact. Deaths in crashes involving drunk drivers dropped almost 5% in 2010. Despite generally positive trends, all the news was not good. DOT noted that fatalities rose among pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and large truck occupants.

Lautenberg, Rockefeller Introduce Bus & Truck Safety Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and John D. (Jay) Rockfeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee announced today that they introduced the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act, a bill that reauthorizes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and makes important improvements to federal truck and bus safety standards.

Rockefeller Pleased Amtrak Privatization Plan is Shelved

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement today after House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) announced that he will no longer pursue a plan to privatize Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) train line:

Executive Session Summary

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session today and favorably reported out the following legislation and nominations: