Executive Session

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Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I come to the Floor today as the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in support of the nomination of Raymond LaHood to be the 16th Secretary of Transportation.

As a former 7-term Member of Congress representing the 18th District of Illinois, and a former member of the House committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman LaHood is well-qualified for this position.

This week, the Commerce Committee held a full committee hearing to consider his nomination. To Congressman LaHood's credit, and with the cooperation of Chairman ROCKEFELLER, our committee quickly discharged his nomination in order to fill this important Cabinet position.

I am pleased that our committee moved expeditiously on Con gressman LaHood's nomination and I am hopeful the full Senate will move just as quickly.

As my colleagues know, the range of problems confronting the new Secretary of Transportation are amongst the most difficult that any new department leader has faced in quite some time.

In a few short months, important policy, budgetary and regulatory decisions will need to be made on several transportation and infrastructure issues. I am confident that Congressman LaHood is up to the task and will hit the ground running.

As my colleagues know, the existing highway program expires at the end of September. Until then, Congress and the new administration will have to work very hard on a reauthorization. This will be a very difficult process due
to the current fiscal state of the highway trust fund and because of the current formula's disparate treatment between the States.

In addition, we desperately need to create stability in our aviation infrastructure programs by passing a full fiscal year 2009 FAA e xtension, along with completing a multiyear FAA Authorization bill. I have encouraged Representative LaHood to support a full fiscal year extension of the current FAA Reauthorization bill, through September 30, 2009, along with committing to work with him on a new FAA Authorization bill.

Without congressional and administration cooperation, the FAA's plan to modernize our air traffic control system--known as NextGen--could squander precious time and resources. Our Nation's skies and airports are severely congested; we need a Secretary in place immediately to oversee and manage the funding, implementation, and transition to NextGen.

I am also confident the DOT will have a renewed focus and appreciation for our Nation's Amtrak and high speed rail system. This is an area we have neglected too long. While the Amtrak reauthorization that was just signed into law was an important step, we need strong leadership at the Department to ensure that we have a national passenger rail system that works. Congressman L aHood is a strong advocate for Amtrak and I look forward to working with him to implement the priorities of that important legislation.

I encourage my colleagues to support Representative Hood's nomination.

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