Democratic News

Press Releases 07/29/2011
Pryor, Rockefeller Introduce Mariah's Act to Strengthen Highway Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) today introduced legislation to improve the safety of drivers and their passengers who travel on our nation’s highways.
Press Releases 07/28/2011
Rockefeller, Cantwell Ask Airlines to Reveal Ticket Profits
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell today wrote to the CEOs of the nation’s 12 largest airlines, including Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson, questioning them on whether the airline companies are in fact generating nearly $30 million a day in additional profits by exploiting a passenger ticket tax holiday in the wake of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shutdown.
Press Releases 07/28/2011
Key Quotes from Hearing on Alternative Aviation Fuels
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing today held a hearing on alternative aviation fuels. The hearing examined the impact of fuel prices on the industry, current efforts to develop alternative aviation fuels, and obstacles that must be overcome to facilitate their commercialization and adoption throughout the industry. Key issues that were addressed at the hearing included: research and development needs; infrastructure concerns; and actions the government should consider to minimize the impact of fuel costs on the aviation sector.
Press Releases 07/28/2011
Rockefeller Says Delta Airlines and House Republican Anti-Worker Provisions Keeping FAA Closed
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today took to the Senate floor again to reiterate the need to pass a clean FAA extension bill and move forward to negotiations on a comprehensive reauthorization of the agency.
Press Releases 07/28/2011
Rockefeller Remarks on Alternative Aviation Fuels
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The price of fuel is something nearly every American has grappled with. In a down economy with so many families just trying to make ends meet, the prices associated with everyday life matter. Fuel gets us where we need to go and every transportation sector depends on it.
Press Releases 07/27/2011
Rockefeller Floor Remarks on FAA Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a statement on the Senate floor today, Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV criticized Delta Airlines for pushing an anti-worker agenda and encouraged the House and Senate to pass a clean FAA bill extension.
Press Releases 07/27/2011
Rockefeller Remarks on Reauthorization of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C.—I want to thank Senator Pryor for holding this hearing and for taking on the challenge of reauthorizing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA is a vitally important agency whose job it is to reduce deaths and injuries on roads. More than 30,000 people are killed on the road each year and approximately 2 million injured.
Press Releases 07/27/2011
Key Quotes from Hearing on Defending U.S. Economic Interests in the Arctic
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee today convened a hearing on defending U.S. economic interests in the changing Arctic. The hearing examined how the United States can better position itself to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities in the Arctic region and assess whether federal agencies are proactively positioning themselves to promote U.S. Arctic interests, and whether they have adequate capacity to meet their goals in the region.
Press Releases 07/27/2011
Rockefeller, Cantwell, Senate Dems Propose Bill to Help Families of Furloughed FAA Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV announced today that he is introducing a bill to provide back pay for nearly 4,000 FAA workers who have been furloughed and are not getting a pay check after the House refused to vote on a clean funding extension that would have kept the agency open. The bill would allow these employees to continue working with pay and benefits as Congress works to achieve a full FAA extension and would be paid for from the Aviation Trust Fund. Joining Rockefeller was Senator Maria Cantwell, Chairwoman of the Aviation Subcommittee.
Press Releases 07/27/2011
Rockefeller Remarks on Defending U.S. Economic Interests in the Changing Arctic
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Our oceans and coasts have always been a source of abundant natural resources and tremendous economic wealth for our nation. Our Exclusive Economic Zone is the largest in the world—measuring 3.4 million square nautical miles, it covers an area greater than that of the United States itself.