Republican News

Press Releases 02/8/2011
Hutchison Introduces Bill to Reform Rail Regulations, While Maintaining System Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today introduced legislation that would reform the Positive Train Control (PTC) regulatory mandate to reduce compliance costs, while maintaining a safe rail system. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). PTC is an automated technology that is capable of preventing train collisions, overspeed derailments and injuries to railroad employees. In 2008, Congress required the railroads to implement PTC technology on rail lines that carry passengers or certain types of very toxic chemicals by December 2015.
Press Releases 02/4/2011
Hutchison: TSA Decision on Collective Bargaining Will Hurt Security Mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said that the Transportation Security Administrator’s decision to allow collective bargaining for airport screeners would hurt the agency’s fundamental security mission.
Press Releases 01/28/2011
Hutchison Statement on the 25th Anniversary of Challenger Accident
Press Releases 01/27/2011
Hutchison Welcomes New Republicans to Senate Commerce Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today welcomed the newly expanded roster of Republicans to the Committee for the 112th Congress. New to the Committee are Senators Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).
Press Releases 01/12/2011
Senate Commerce Committee Members Respond to NASA Report
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senate Commerce Committee Members, including Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Senator David Vitter (R-La.), today issued a joint statement responding to a NASA report this week in which the space agency says it cannot build a capsule and heavy-lift rocket based on the cost and schedule outlined by Congress:
Press Releases 12/21/2010
Hutchison Statement on Nomination of Ms. Ann Begeman to the Surface Transportation Board
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement after President Barack Obama nominated Ms. Ann D. Begeman, current Republican Staff Director of the Commerce Committee, to be a member of the Surface Transportation Board. Ms. Begeman was nominated for a Republican slot on the Board that oversees railroad rate and service disputes.
Press Releases 12/21/2010
Hutchison Lauds Measure to Boost Math and Science Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today praised Congressional passage of legislation that would reauthorize two science agencies responsible for supporting basic research, while improving math and science education. The measure authorizes $41 billion less in funding than the House of Representatives passed version of the legislation and eliminates duplicate programs within the Departments of Commerce, Energy and Education. The bill also includes a provision sponsored by Senator Hutchison modeled after the highly successful UTeach initiative in Texas. The provision would enable participating colleges and universities to allow students who major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) to concurrently become certified as elementary and secondary school teachers. In 1997, the University of Texas at Austin started the UTeach program which has become a national benchmark for teaching excellence. The bill passed the Senate last week and is cosponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M). It was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today and now heads to the President to be signed into law.
Press Releases 12/21/2010
VIDEO RELEASE: Hutchison: New FCC Regulations Threaten the Internet
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said new regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threaten the future economic growth of the Internet. Sen. Hutchison also said she will introduce a resolution of disapproval in an effort to halt the new rules.
Press Releases 12/21/2010
Hutchison Says New FCC Regulations Threaten the Internet
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said new Internet regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threaten the future economic growth of the Internet. Sen. Hutchison will introduce a resolution of disapproval in an effort to halt the new rules.
Press Releases 12/16/2010
Hutchison Files Amendment to Halt Government Regulation of the Internet
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today filed an amendment to prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating the Internet. The amendment specifically would prohibit the FCC from using any appropriated funds “to adopt, implement, or otherwise litigate any network neutrality based rules, protocols, or standards.” The amendment is cosponsored by Senators Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Thune (R-S.D), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).