Republican News

Press Releases 06/10/2010
Hutchison: NASA Leadership Skirting the Law to Shut Down Space Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said NASA leadership was skirting the law to shut down the Constellation program after NASA leadership publicly announced a decision to reprioritize work on the program. NASA’s stated justification for these actions is the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA), which prohibits spending funds beyond levels that are appropriated in a given year, or obligating the government to pay money before funds have been appropriated. There are a number of unanswered questions on whether the ADA would apply in this situation, and if it did, the recently passed Defense Supplemental legislation clarifies that regardless of any provision of law, work must continue on the Constellation program.
Press Releases 06/10/2010
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.
Press Releases 06/9/2010
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.
Press Releases 06/4/2010
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:
Press Releases 05/27/2010
Bipartisan Call for Investigation of NASA after “Reassignment” of Constellation Program Manager
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Ranking Member Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), today called for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Inspector General to launch an investigation into the sudden removal of the Constellation program manager.
Press Releases 05/26/2010
Hutchison Questions Timing of “Reassignment” for Constellation Program Manager
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today questioned the timing of the reassignment of the manager for the Constellation program and called it a “troubling development.”
Press Releases 05/25/2010
Hutchison Statement on Proposed Update to Communications Act
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 it was announced that the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee would begin a process to update the Telecommunications Act of 1996:
Press Releases 05/18/2010
Hutchison: “America’s Energy Future Relies on Enhancing the Safety of Offshore Drilling”
During a hearing today on the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, said that the nation must enhance the safety of offshore drilling.
Press Releases 05/17/2010
Hutchison Statement on Administration’s Intent to Nominate John S. Pistole to Lead TSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the following statement today after the White House announced President Obama’s intent to nominate John S. Pistole to lead the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
Press Releases 05/17/2010
Senate Approves Rockefeller-Hutchison Amendment to Preserve FTC's Core Consumer Protection
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today approved an amendment sponsored by Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Ranking Member on the Committee, to preserve the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) core consumer protection functions.