July 20, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The goal of today’s hearing is to get an update on the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent leak that covered 1,600 miles of the Gulf Coast with oil. It’s unacceptable to me that more than a year after the worst environmental disaster in the Gulf, the responsible parties have not yet been held fully accountable. The Gulf of Mexico—the people, the coast, and the wildlife, is still waiting to be fully restored—and may never be.
July 20, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—With first responders across the country operating on different radio frequencies and unable to share critical information in real time, U.S. Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Congressman Peter King (R-N.Y.) today stood with John Feal and 9/11 first responders to make a bipartisan push for Congress to pass the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act before the upcoming tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
July 20, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Senate Commerce Committee today held a full committee hearing on building American transportation infrastructure through innovative funding. This hearing examined the means by which federal funds can be used to leverage and partner with private sector capital to supplement existing transportation funding and increase overall investment into transportation projects. In addition, the hearing looked at the effects investing in infrastructure projects can have on job creation.
July 20, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Americans rely on railways, highways, airways, and waterways to efficiently move goods safely to their destinations. States like West Virginia need sound infrastructure to boost economic development in rural communities. Yet, our transportation infrastructure is showing signs of wear and tear and, frankly, much of it is in disrepair.
July 19, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today said he is working to strip a provision in the House FAA extension that hurts small communities nationwide. Rockefeller reiterated that the House proposed extension cannot pass the Senate leaving open the possibility for a partial agency shutdown if House Republican leaders do not reconsider their position.
July 16, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement after House Republicans filed an irresponsible FAA extension bill that would slash Essential Air Service Funding for communities nationwide:
July 14, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Senate Commerce Committee today convened a Science and Space Subcommittee hearing on capturing the economic and societal potential of nanotechnology investment. The hearing examined the potential of nanotechnology, federal initiatives to coordinate research investments, barriers to commercialization, possible environmental and health risks, and steps Congress can take to improve the return on federal nanotechnology investments.
July 14, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—I want to thank you all for being here today to discuss what some have referred to as “the next industrial revolution.” We are at a place today where big advances on technology are happening at a very small level—everything from bio-technology tools to detect early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, to soon reducing your computer’s entire memory to the size of a single tiny chip.
July 13, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today called on Attorney General Eric Holder and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro to investigate whether News Corporation, which is incorporated in the United States, violated United States law in allegedly bribing police officials to gain access to private telephone information and records.
July 13, 2011
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today convened a full committee hearing on unauthorized charges on consumers’ telephone bills. The hearing examined reports of unauthorized mystery charges being placed on landline telephone bills, a practice commonly referred to as “cramming,” and comes after a yearlong Commerce Committee investigation into cramming and its impact on American consumers. The findings of the Committee’s investigation can be found here.