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Whistleblower

Issue: Maritime, Ports, Freight, Ocean Shipping

Rockefeller Wants Port Authority to Account for George Washington Bridge Closure

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today is asking the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to answer for an unannounced closure in September 2013 of a major access point to the George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River and connects New Jersey and New York City. Rockefeller was alarmed by the agency’s sudden action and its subsequent consequences on interstate commerce and safety, and believes it further highlights his concerns about a lack of oversight at the Port Authority.

Rockefeller Releases Report on Impacts of the Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released a report titled, “Impacts of the 2013 Government Shutdown” – a snapshot of the impacts of the government shutdown to the public and the U.S. economy. The report was released during the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing titled, “The Impacts of the Government Shutdown on Our Economic Security,” on Friday, October 11, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

Rockefeller Introduces Tax Bills to Make Sure Cruise Lines Are Paying Their Fair Share

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today introduced legislation today to close a tax loophole, currently exploited by the cruise industry, that has given cruise lines the ability to avoid paying U.S. income tax. For the past seven years, Carnival and Royal Caribbean – which represent 71 percent of the global cruise industry – paid an effective worldwide tax rate of just 1.3 percent on more than $17 billion in profits. Because this figure includes foreign taxes, the cruise industry’s effective U.S. tax rate is actually much lower than 1.3 percent. Rockefeller’s legislation would eliminate this outrageous exemption by requiring cruise lines to pay their fair share of taxes and support the federal resources on which they heavily rely.

Rockefeller’s Cruise Bill Puts Consumer Awareness and Protection at the Forefront

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today introduced the Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2013, a bill that would close gaps in cruise industry consumer awareness and crime reporting. Serious incidents continue to occur on cruise ships, yet the industry has not prioritized consumer awareness, safety, and security. Rockefeller’s bill would provide the nearly 21 million Americans who plan to take a cruise this year with critical information about the limited scope of their current consumer protections and would take steps to improve accountability in the industry.

Rockefeller Asks GAO to Assess Effectiveness of Oil and Gas Transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the impact of current shale oil and gas development on the nation’s existing transportation infrastructure. The boom in domestic shale oil and gas production has raised questions about the ability of existing infrastructure to safely transport these hazardous products, and the capacity of safety standards as production increases. Recent events, including the tragic Quebec train derailment earlier this month, and the December 2012 pipeline explosion in Sissonville, WV, have raised concerns about potential gaps in safety standards.