Chairman Rockefeller Introduces Landmark Railroad Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today after the Committee held an Executive Session and favorably reported out S. 2889, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2009. The STB Reauthorization Act of 2009 (STB Act), cosponsored by Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator John Thune, and Senator Byron Dorgan, will comprehensively update and improve the railroad industry and address longstanding competitive imbalances for shippers by increasing rail competition, strengthening federal oversight, and improving shipper’s access to regulatory relief.

Rockefeller Encouraged by National Maritime Announcement of Improved Mariner Applicant Processing

WASHINGTON, D.C.—John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Coast Guard’s recent revamping of its licensing process to certify mariners through its overseeing agency, the National Maritime Center, by launching an automated status notification program for mariner applicants.

Dorgan, Rockefeller, Lautenberg Work to Keep NTSB at Forefront of Transportation Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee, issued the following statement today after introducing legislation to reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Coast Guard’s Increased Authority to Interdict Submarines Smuggling Drugs into the United States Pays Off

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) yesterday southwest of Guatemala in the Eastern Pacific.  The SPSS was initially detected by a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and was later boarded […]

Chairman Rockefeller Statement on Senate Passage of the Travel Promotion Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, made the following statement today regarding the Senate’s passage (79-19) of the Travel Promotion Act:   “The Travel Promotion Act is important economic development legislation and I am extremely pleased to see it pass the Senate.  The […]