Nomination Hearing Summary

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on the nomination of Mr. John S. Pistole, to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and an Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Hutchison Questions TSA Nominee on Need for Flexible Workforce to React Quickly to Emerging Threats

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing today on John Pistole, the nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said she had serious concerns with collective bargaining for TSA security screeners. Senator Hutchison said it was critical for the agency to have a flexible workforce that can react quickly to emerging threats.

Executive Session Summary

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an executive session and favorably reported out the following legislation and nominations:

Committee Approves Distracted Driving Legislation Sponsored by Rockefeller and Hutchison

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved legislation (S. 1938), sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), to offer incentive grants to states that enact laws to combat distracted driving. Hutchison noted that the bill would impose no new mandates and would be funded through existing programs, spending no additional taxpayer dollars.

Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement on Historic Countrywide Mortgage Settlement

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today applauded the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its prosecution of two Countrywide mortgage servicing companies that overcharged Americans who were struggling to stay in their homes.

Hutchison Statement on SpaceX Test Flight

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), today made the following statement after the SpaceX test flight of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida:

Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement on STELA Becoming Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama signed the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act of 2010 (STELA, S. 3333) into law: