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.

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.

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.

Rockefeller & Lautenberg Applaud Proposal to Stop Unsafe Cell Phone Use By Truck and Bus Drivers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee, issued the following statements in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed rule to prohibit the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles, including trucks and buses.

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.).

Rockefeller Statement on Commerce Department Privacy Report

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. Department of Commerce released a report that addresses today’s online privacy challenges and offers recommendations to tackle these challenges.