Rockefeller Says Health Care Reform Vote Should Not Hijack FAA Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today striking back at the Republican plan to repeal the health care reform law on the back of the FAA Reauthorization bill. The FAA Reauthorization bill is the first jobs bill of the 112th Congress.

Rockefeller Says Consumers Will Benefit from FAA Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today joined several other Senate Democrats and the president of the U.S. Travel Association at a press conference to discuss the benefits the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill will provide to consumers. The legislation is the first jobs bill of the 112th Congress.

Rockefeller Bill Provides Relief to Families of Deepwater Horizon Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV introduced legislation to provide relief to families of those killed and injured in the Deepwater Horizon explosion last year. The legislation, known as the Deepwater Horizon Survivors’ Fairness Act, fixes loopholes in liability statutes so that victims’ families can receive the same compensation available to survivors of those injured or killed in accidents on land. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

Rockefeller Praises President Obama’s State of the Union Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV tonight praised the priorities outlined in President Obama’s State of the Union address. The Senator also announced the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on boosting American manufacturing in the coming weeks as part of a larger effort to emphasize innovation and an economic revival.

Rockefeller and Lautenberg Statements on Rail Safety Technology Report

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, today responded to the Government Accountability Office (GAO)’s report on rail safety technology. The report assesses the Federal Railroad Administration’s and the rail industry’s progress implementing positive train control (PTC), a system designed to prevent accidents, and evaluates the benefits and challenges of implementing other rail safety technologies.