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:

Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Today’s Executive Session

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s executive session. We have a full docket today and some very important bills up for consideration: bills that will help grow our economy, secure our waterways, and preserve the health of our marine ecosystems.

Rockefeller Seeks Reassurance from DOT Secretary LaHood that Mexican Truck Program is Safen

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today sought reassurance from the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood that his agency is doing all that it can to ensure applicants to the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking program are adhering to the highest standards of safety. Two recent events in DOT’s administration of the program involving Mexican-based trucking companies have raised concerns that there has been insufficient scrutiny of applicants to the program.

Senate Approves Rockefeller, Lautenberg Pipeline Safety Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved pipeline safety legislation introduced by Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Surface Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Frank R. Lautenberg. The Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011 would strengthen pipeline safety oversight by the federal government and address long-standing safety issues.

Rockefeller Remarks on Moving Intercity Passenger into the Future

WASHINGTON, D.C.—For more than a century, intercity passenger rail has been the backbone of our transportation network, capably moving people throughout our nation to drive economic growth. And for more than four decades, Amtrak has been our one and only national intercity passenger rail carrier—which Congress created to make this essential function continue when other railroads were shedding their passenger rail operations.

Rockefeller Statement on House FAA & Surface Transportation Extensions

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement today after the House passed a “clean” extension of surface transportation programs for six months and also made certain funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would continue into next year: