[Senate Hearing 110-116]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 110-116
RENOMINATION OF CHARLES D. SNELLING TO BE A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN
WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
MAY 24, 2007
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
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36-098 PDF WASHINGTON DC: 2007
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Chairman
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West TED STEVENS, Alaska, Vice Chairman
Virginia JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
BARBARA BOXER, California OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BILL NELSON, Florida GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas JIM DeMINT, South Carolina
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
Margaret L. Cummisky, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel
Lila Harper Helms, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and Policy Director
Christine D. Kurth, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel
Kenneth R. Nahigian, Republican Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on May 24, 2007..................................... 1
Statement of Senator Inouye...................................... 1
Witnesses
Snelling, Hon. Charles Darwin, Renominated to be a Member of the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority..................... 1
Prepared statement........................................... 3
Biographical information..................................... 4
Specter, Hon. Arlen, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.............. 10
Prepared statement........................................... 10
RENOMINATION OF CHARLES D. SNELLING TO BE A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN
WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY
----------
THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m. in
room SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K.
Inouye, Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE,
U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII
The Chairman. Today we will consider the nomination of Mr.
Charles D. Snelling to be a Member of the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority.
Mr. Snelling has come before us previously and serves on
the Authority today. By all accounts, Mr. Snelling has been
regarded as highly competent and effective during his tenure
with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
I look forward to hearing about your experiences working on
the Authority and any views you may have about how Congress can
help ensure the success of the mission of the Authority.
Mr. Snelling?
Mr. Snelling. Thank you.
The Chairman. It may please you to know that we have
received no objection. It seems like everyone loves you, and
they approve of you, or at least----
STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES DARWIN SNELLING, RENOMINATED TO BE A
MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY
Mr. Snelling. It does please me to know that, Mr. Chairman.
And I thank you very much for that warm and fine invitation.
It's--I'm coming here often enough so I'm beginning to feel
comfortable.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Snelling. I am Charles Snelling, the President's
nominee to a second term as Member of the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors. I am
delighted to appear before you again.
I was here last September, in 2006, in a hearing on my
nomination to this same position. Although the Committee
reported my nomination unanimously, the Senate did not act on
its report, and the President nominated me again in January.
The President appoints three directors of the Airports
Authority, and the three of us are proud to be amongst the most
active members of this 13-member board. We each chair a
Committee that meets monthly. For 2 years, I served as Chairman
of the Finance Committee, and I've recently been named Chairman
of the new Planning and Construction Committee.
As I have advised this Committee before, my prior
experience on the board at Lehigh Valley Hospital, a billion-
dollar charity, has proved most helpful training for my service
to the Airports Authority.
Mr. Chairman, as most Senators use our airports, I think
it's useful to mention briefly the major issues which are
pressing on us:
First, as you may be aware, the Airports Authority is about
to assume the responsibility for the construction of the
Metrorail extension that will connect the entire region with
Dulles Airport, a project we will finance, in large part, with
tolls from the Dulles Toll Road. We have been engaged in
difficult negotiations over the price of the rail project, but
have managed to agree on a contract that sets the price within
the Federal Transit Administration efficiency standards. It now
appears that we will soon be engaged in rail construction at
the same time as airport construction. We relish the challenge.
On the aviation side, our efforts are both to attract new
services and to make sure our facilities are ready to handle
the continuing growth. At Dulles, as you know, we're building
an underground people mover, and the project is on schedule,
and the trains should start running in 2009.
We will continue to build out our master plan with an
extension to the existing midfield terminals and the ultimate
construction of parallel midfield terminals. Those new midfield
terminals are still off in the future, but I'm confident that
they will be built sooner than anyone might expect.
At Reagan National, we're scrambling to build additional
parking capacity to accommodate passenger growth caused by
flights added over the last several years. As you may know, our
garages are often full on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Traffic has been growing steadily at Reagan National, at
18.5 million for the last 12 months, up 2.4 percent over the
same period last year. At Dulles, there was a little decline
for the same 12-month period, reflecting the sudden demise of
Independence Air. But Dulles has, in fact, fully recovered. The
month of March 2007 showed a 13.7-percent growth over March in
2006. Our anticipation is that the number of Dulles passengers
will continue to grow smartly. Total passengers for the 12-
month period were 23.6 million.
More interesting than the numbers are the new services
being introduced at Dulles. Thus far in 2007, we have new daily
services to Beijing, Rome, Huntsville, and additional flights
to Seoul and London. As the year goes on, we will have new
service to Madrid, Panama City, Doha, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro,
and Oklahoma City. Flights to Addis Ababa will double to four
per week. Washington's air service is matching its significance
as a world-class capital city.
Mr. Chairman, it's just over 20 years since Congress agreed
to turn over Dulles and National, the Metropolitan Washington
Airports, to the independent Metropolitan Washington Airports
Authority. In my opinion, this has proved to be a most wise and
beneficial decision. I look forward to continuing the
Authority's excellent record as we face the future, dealing
with the ever-changing aviation world.
Thank you for considering my nomination to the board of the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. I'd be very happy
to answer any questions you might have, sir.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr.
Snelling follow:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Charles Darwin Snelling, Renominated to be a
Member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee:
I am Charles Snelling, the President's nominee to a second term as
a Member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of
Directors. I am delighted to appear before you again.
I was last here in September 2006, in a hearing on my nomination to
the same position. Although the Committee reported my nomination
unanimously, the Senate did not act on its report, and the President
nominated me again in January.
The President appoints three Directors of the Airports Authority,
and the three of us are proud to be among the most active members of
the 13-member Board. We each chair a Committee that meets monthly. For
2 years, I served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, and have
recently been named Chairman of a new Planning and Construction
Committee. As I have advised this Committee before, my prior experience
on the Board of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, a billion-dollar charity,
has proven most helpful training for my service on the Airports
Authority.
Mr. Chairman, as most Senators use our Airports, I think it useful
to mention briefly the major issues pressing us. First, as you may be
aware, the Airports Authority is about to assume responsibility for the
construction of the Metrorail extension that will connect the entire
region with Dulles Airport, a project we will finance in large part
with tolls from the Dulles Toll Road. We have been engaged in difficult
negotiations over the price of the rail project, but have managed to
agree on a contract that sets a price within the Federal Transit
Administration efficiency standards. It now appears that we will soon
be engaged in rail construction at the same time as airport
construction. We relish the challenge.
On the aviation side, our efforts are both to attract new services
and make sure our facilities are ready to handle the continuing growth.
At Dulles, as you know, we are building an underground people mover;
the project is on schedule, and the trains should start running in
2009. We will continue to build out our master plan, with an extension
to the existing midfield terminal, and the ultimate construction of
parallel midfield terminals. Those new midfield terminals are still off
in the future, but I am confident they will be built sooner than anyone
now expects.
At Reagan National, we are scrambling to build additional parking
capacity to accommodate passenger growth caused by flights added over
the last several years. As you may know, our garages are often full on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Traffic has been growing steadily at Reagan National, at 18.5
million for the last 12 months, up 2.4 percent over the same period
last year. At Dulles, there has been a decline for the same 12-month
period, still reflecting the sudden demise of Independence Air, but
Dulles has nearly fully recovered: the month of March 2007 showed 13.7
percent growth over March 2006. Our anticipation is that the number of
Dulles passengers will continue to grow smartly. Total passengers for
the 12-month period were 23.6 million.
More interesting than the numbers are the new services being
introduced at Dulles. Thus far in 2007, we have new daily services to
Beijing, Rome, and Huntsville, and additional flights to Seoul and
London. As the year goes on, we will have new services to Madrid,
Panama City, Doha, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, and Oklahoma City. Flights
to Addis Ababa will double, to 4 per week. Washington's air service is
matching its significance as a world-class capital city.
Mr. Chairman, it is just over twenty years since the Congress
agreed to turn over Dulles and National, the Metropolitan Washington
Airports, to the independent Metropolitan Washington Airports
Authority. In my opinion, this has proven a most wise and beneficial
decision. I look forward to continuing the Authority's excellent record
as we face the future, dealing with an ever-changing aviation world.
Thank you for considering my renomination to the Board of the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. I will be happy to answer
any questions.
______
a. biographical information
1. Name: (Include any former names or nicknames used): Charles
Darwin Snelling.
2. Position to which nominated: Member [``Director''], Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority, an agency created by interstate compact
between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
3. Date of nomination: June 5, 2006.
4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses):
Information not available to the public.
5. Date and place of birth: January 26, 1931, Allentown,
Pennsylvania.
6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your
spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including
stepchildren and children by a previous marriage).
Married March 21, 1951 to Adrienne Celeste Angeletti. She is
not employed.
Adrienne Celeste Snelling II Sullivan, 55; Jonathan Commonfort
Snelling, 53; Marjorie Preston Snelling, 51; Elizabeth Hornor
Snelling Groner, 49; and Lesley Coates Snelling Bober, 46.
7. List all college and graduate degrees. Provide year and school
attended.
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, September 1949-
June 1951.
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, September 1951-June
1954, B.S. in E.M.
8. Employment Record: (List all post-undergraduate employment, and
highlight all management-level jobs held and any non-managerial jobs
that relate to the position for which you are nominated.)
1954-1955, Assistant to the President, New York Transformer
Company, Alpha, New Jersey. This staff position involved new product
development and survey, and general technical and administrative
management decisions.
Since that time, I have been effectively self-employed.
9. Government experience: (List any advisory, consultative,
honorary or other part-time service or positions with Federal, State,
or local governments, other than those listed above, within the last 5
years): Chairman, Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Commission, 2000-2003.
10. Business relationships: (List all positions held as an officer,
director, trustee, partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or
consultant of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other
business enterprise, educational, or other institution within the last
5 years.)
Current:
Director, Bliley Technologies, Inc.
President and Director, The Snelling Company.
President and Director, Western Lehigh Valley Corporation.
Chairman, Thousand Islands Marine and Island Service, Inc.
Prior:
Director, NEPA Management Business Trust, 1985-2005.
Director, Axicom Technologies, Inc., 1997-2005.
Trustee, Lehigh Valley Hospital/Lehigh Valley Health Network,
Inc., Allentown, Pennsylvania--1982-2002; Treasurer--1986-1991.
11. Memberships: (List each membership you have had during the past
10 years or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable,
educational, political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or
religious organization, private club, or other membership organization.
Include dates of membership and any positions you have held with any
organization. Please note whether any such club or organization
restricts membership on the basis of sex, race, color, religion,
national origin, age or handicap.)
Current:
National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem, PA--Director.
Council of The Pennsylvania Society, Sellersville,
Pennsylvania--Secretary 1993-1995; First Vice President 1995-
1997; President 1997-2000.
The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Washington, D.C.
Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pennsylvania.
Grenadier Island Country Club, Ltd., Ontario, Canada--Past
President.
Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The Princeton Club, New York, New York.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--
Director.
Foundation for the Advancement of Monetary Education, New York,
New York--Trustee.
Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania--Trustee 1974-
1997; Treasurer 1985-1997; Life Trustee since 1997.
The Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, New York--Trustee since 1978;
Chairman 1998-2000.
Prior:
Educational Ventures, Inc., Allentown, Pennsylvania--1982-2002;
Treasurer 1986-1991.
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pennsylvania--Trustee.
Allentown Economic Development Corporation, Allentown,
Pennsylvania--Director.
Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce, Allentown,
Pennsylvania--Director.
Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce Issues Committee--
Member.
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania--Member, Board of
Associates.
12. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held public office
(elected, non-elected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any
campaign has any outstanding debt, the amount, and whether you are
personally liable for that debt.
Councilman, city of Allentown, Pennsylvania--elected 1969 (4-
year term).
President, Allentown City Council--elected annually, 1970-1973.
Member, 1972 Pennsylvania Electoral College.
Candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate, 1974.
There is no outstanding debt.
13. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
entity of $500 or more for the past 10 years. Also list all offices you
have held with, and services rendered to, a state or national political
party or election committee during the same period.
Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania-elected 1998, reelected
2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Amounts in dollars
2007:
1,000--Committee to Elect Jim Martin
1,000--Committee to Elect Maria Dantos
2,300--Citizens for Arlen Specter
2006:
1,000--Friends of Senator Jubelirer
1,000--Friends of Doug Reichley
2,000--Citizens for Browne
1,000--Lehigh County Republican Committee
2,000--Lynn Swann for Governor
1,000--Friends of Rob Wonderling
2,100--Charlie Dent for Congress
1,000--Green Party of Luzerne County
1,000--Gerlach for Congress
1,000--Friends of Karen Beyer
1,000--DENT PAC
1,000--Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Pa. Republican State Committee
2005:
1,668--Committee to Reelect Jane Ervin
4,200--Santorum 2006
700--Committee to Elect Bob Nyce
600--Heydt for Mayor
1,000--Friends of Doug Reichley
2,100--Charlie Dent for Congress
1,000--Friends of Rob Wonderling
500--Jim Gerlach for Congress
750--Republican Majority for Choice
1,000--Friends of Karen Beyer
500--Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
500--Lehigh County Republican Committee
2004:
1,000--Friends of Doug Reichley
1,250--Lehigh County Republican Committee
576--Citizens for Arlen Specter
1,100--Friends of Tom Corbett
1,000--Friends of Joe Peters
1,000--Committee to Elect Julie Harhart
1,500--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
500--Pennsylvania Picks Jean Craige Pepper
1,000--Committee to Elect Peg Ferraro
2,000--Charlie Dent for Congress
500--Jim Gerlach for Congress
500--Volunteers for Argall
500--Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee
2003:
4,000--Bush-Cheney 2004, Inc.
1,000--Brian Johnson for Judge
1,000--Charlie Dent for Congress
500--Lehigh County Republican Committee
500--Northampton County Republican Committee
500--Committee to Elect Jim Martin
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
500--Lehigh Valley Coalition for Fair Government
2002:
2,424--Citizens for Arlen Specter
1,000--Friends of Brian O'Neill
1,000--Pat Toomey for Congress
1,000--Committee to Elect Doug Reichley
1,000--Committee to Elect Charlie Dent
1,000--Lehigh Valley Republican Development Group
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
500--Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee
2001:
2,500--Committee to Elect Judge R. Simpson
2,000--Committee to Elect Jane Ervin
2,000--Pam Varkony for Mayor
1,000--Pat Toomey for Congress
1,000--Citizens for Arlen Specter
1,000--Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Bob Lovett for Mayor
1,000--Committee to Elect Charlie Dent
1,000--Fisher for Governor
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
500--Republican Pro-Choice Coalition
500--Friends of Renee Cohn
500--Friends of Judge Eakin
2000:
5,000--RNC Presidential Trust
2,000--Gruppo for State Representative
1,500--Citizens for Browne
1,500--Citizens for Mark Mitman
1,500--Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Governor Ridge Leadership Circle
1,000--Friends of Mike Fisher
1,000--WISH (Women in Senate and House)
1,000--Committee to Elect Robert Saurman
1,000--Friends of Barbara Hafer
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
1,000--Voices for Varkony
500--Committee to Elect Julie Harhart
1999:
2,000--Governor George W. Bush Presidential Exploration
Committee
2,000--Jim Martin for District Attorney
2,000--Pat Toomey for Congress
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
1,000--Friends of Giuliani
1,000--Pam Varkony for City Council
500--Sam Katz for Mayor
500--Blaschak for City Council
500--Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee
500--Nick Sabatine for County Council
1998:
2,050--Pat Toomey for Congress
2,000--Friends of Governor Ridge
1,000--Citizens for Joe Uliana
1,000--Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Citizens for Arlen Specter
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
1,000--Friends of Rima Fahl
650--Committee to Elect Charlie Dent
500--Friends of Senator Jubelirer
500--Committee to Elect Bonnie DiCarlo
1997:
1,000--Wallitsch for Superior Court
1,000--Jim Martin for Judge
1,000--Friends of Governor Ridge
1,000--Rick Santorum 2000
1,000--Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee
1,000--Pennsylvania Republican State Committee
600--Bill Heydt for Mayor
600--Friends of Bill Brackbill
14. Honors and awards: (List all scholarships, fellowships,
honorary degrees, honorary society memberships, military medals, and
any other special recognition for outstanding service or achievements.)
1958--Chosen as one of America's Outstanding Young Men in
Business in a national magazine survey.
1962--Chosen Distinguished Young Man of the Year, Allentown
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
1999--Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree, Cedar Crest
College, Allentown.
15. Published writings: (List each book, article, column, or
publication you have authored, individually or with others, and any
speeches that you have given on topics relevant to the position for
which you have been nominated. Do not attach copies of these
publications unless otherwise instructed.)
I have written regular columns commenting on economic, political
and social issues, published in the Allentown Morning Call since 1979.
From 1983 to 1986, I also wrote a weekly column for the Bethlehem
Globe-Times.
I have not made any formal speeches other than in my 2003 and 2006
confirmation hearings before this Committee. Other speeches I have
delivered have been extemporaneous, and neither the text nor the notes
for such remarks exist.
16. Please identify each instance in which you have testified
orally or in writing before Congress in a governmental or non-
governmental capacity and specify the date and subject matter of each
testimony.
My 2003 and 2006 confirmation hearing before this Committee.
17. Given the current mission, major programs, and major
operational objectives of the department/agency to which you have been
nominated, what in your background or employment experience do you
believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment to the position for
which you have been nominated, and why do you wish to serve in that
position?
Extensive experience with aviation. I am a licensed pilot and hold
land, single-and multi-engine, and instrument ratings, as well as a
glider's license. I have been a pilot for more than 50 years and have
about 6,000 hours of total time. I owned and operated my own aircraft
for about 50 years. I was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge as Chairman
of the Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Committee, and I previously
served as a Governor of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which
operates the Lehigh Valley International Airport. I have had extensive
experience as a board member of private and public organizations, some
of very substantial size.
Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles
International Airports are facilities of the greatest importance to our
Capital and our Nation. I believe I can continue to make a contribution
to these Airports' well being.
18. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to
ensure that the department/agency has proper management and accounting
controls, and what experience to you have in managing a large
organization?
My responsibilities as a Member of the Board of the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority is to work with my fellow board members
to clearly enunciate policy, objectively monitor outcome data in terms
of how successful we are in achieving our goals, monitor and evaluate
the performance of our chief executive officer and his staff, and to be
vigilant in supervising and insisting on the highest level of honesty
and integrity throughout the organization.
MWAA has an Audit Committee, on which I serve, which meets
regularly and is very active. We have a national outside auditor. As
Chairman of the Finance Committee I have had intimate knowledge of and
every opportunity to oversee MWAA's integrity.
19. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the
department/agency, and why?
(1) Financial management that ensures the Authority's ability to
provide facilities needed by air travelers at a price which air
travelers can afford; (2) protecting Washington's airports from adverse
effects of the financial turmoil in the airline industry; and (3)
successful undertaking and completion of the rail line from Washington
to Dulles via Tysons Corner.
b. potential conflicts of interest
1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement
accounts: Not applicable.
2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal,
to maintain employment, affiliation or practice with any business,
association or other organization during your appointment? No.
3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
the position to which you have been nominated.
All my investments, obligations, liabilities and other
relationships have been reviewed at the Office of Government Ethics
(OGE) and at the Airports Authority. We all agree that none presents a
risk of conflict of interest. A copy of my OGE Form 450 has been
provided to the Committee.
4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last 10 years, whether for
yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
position to which you have been nominated: I cannot identify any.
5. Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have
engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the
passage, defeat, or modification of any legislation or affecting the
administration and execution of law or public policy.
I have never been paid as an advocate of public policy or
legislation, nor have I ever been a lobbyist. However, I have in my
regular newspaper column on politics and economics made public
pronouncements on all manner of policy issues.
6. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest,
including any that may be disclosed by your responses to the above
items.
I would address any potential conflict of interest in accordance
with the Airports Authority ``Code of Ethical Responsibilities for
Members of the Board of Directors'', which generally provides for full
disclosure and recusal for apparent conflicts.
c. legal matters
1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics
by, or been the subject of a complaint to any court, administrative
agency, professional association, disciplinary committee, or other
professional group? No.
2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by
any Federal, state, or other law enforcement authority for violation of
any Federal, state, county, or municipal law, regulation, or ordinance,
other than for a minor traffic offense? If so, please explain.
I have never been arrested, charged or held by any Federal, state
or other law enforcement authority for violation of any Federal, state,
county or municipal law, regulation or ordinance other than for minor
traffic offenses. I have no knowledge that I have ever been
investigated.
3. Have you or any business of which you are or were an officer
ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency proceeding or
civil litigation? No.
4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
offense? No.
5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual
harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or
any other basis? No.
6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in
connection with your nomination.
I have very substantial experience as a board member, board
chairman and manager. I have fully participated in the board
deliberations and decisions at MWAA. I have a near perfect attendance
record of board and committee meetings. I have chaired the Finance
Committee, a key MWAA committee. I now chair the Planning and
Construction Committee and I sit on other committees of substantial
import, as, for example, the Compensation Committee.
d. relationship with committee
1. Will you ensure that your board/commission complies with
deadlines for information set by Congressional committees?
To the extent it is within my power as one of thirteen Directors.
2. Will you ensure that your board/commission does whatever it can
to protect Congressional witnesses and whistle blowers from reprisal
for their testimony and disclosures?
To my knowledge, this has not been an issue at the Airports
Authority, but I would want to make sure that such witnesses and
whistle blowers did not suffer reprisals.
3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested
witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with
firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the Committee? Certainly.
4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
reasonably requested to do so?
I have always been willing to appear and testify on such occasions,
and will remain so.
The Chairman. I thank you very much, Mr. Snelling.
I presume that the lovely lady, back of you, is your wife?
Mr. Snelling. That is--of 56 years--Adriane Snelling.
The Chairman. Sixty-six years?
Mr. Snelling. Fifty-six.
The Chairman. Fifty-six? I'm 1 year ahead of you.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Snelling. Well, it gets better every year.
The Chairman. Mr. Snelling, if you don't mind, we'll have a
short recess. Senator Specter wishes to be here to say a few
words--kind words about you, but he's caught up in traffic at
this moment.
Mr. Snelling. I certainly understand, and I think it's very
nice of the Senator to come.
The Chairman. With that thought, we'll have a short recess.
Mr. Snelling. Thank you, sir.
[Recess.]
The Chairman. Will the hearing please come to order.
The Committee is most pleased to welcome the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Senator Specter.
STATEMENT OF HON. ARLEN SPECTER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA
Senator Specter. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It's
always a great pleasure to appear before you, Mr. Chairman--
Senator Inouye. I've enormously enjoyed our long association
and friendship together in the U.S. Senate. Of course, compared
to you, I'm a newcomer. I've only been here 27 years, which
doesn't measure up too well to your 38--37, 39----
The Chairman. Forty-nine.
Senator Specter. Forty-nine? Just one digit off, Mr.
Chairman.
I have the honor today, Mr. Chairman, to introduce to the
Committee Mr. Charles Snelling for reappointment to the Board
of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
I've known Mr. Snelling for more than two decades, and can
personally attest to his integrity, his ability, and his public
service.
Of direct relevance to serving on the Metropolitan
Washington Airports Authority is his extensive experience in
the field of aviation. He is a licensed pilot. He has served on
the board of directors for the Authority since 2003, when he
was originally nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the
Senate. He was appointed, in 2000, by Pennsylvania's Governor
Tom Ridge, to be a member and chair of the Pennsylvania
Advisory Committee. He had served as the--on the board of
directors of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which
operates the Lehigh Valley International Airport.
He has a very extensive record in the business community.
He is President and Director of the Snelling Company and
Western Lehigh Valley Corporation, a trustee of the Northeast
Pennsylvania Management Trust, and a director of the Wiley
Technologies, former president of the City Council of
Allentown, served as trustee on the Lehigh Valley Hospital
Health Network, 5 years in that capacity.
And I would ask unanimous consent to insert a formal
statement into the record.
The Chairman. Without objection, so ordered.
[The prepared statement of Senator Specter follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Arlen Specter, U.S. Senator from
Pennsylvania
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce to the Committee Mr.
Charles D. Snelling as a nominee for reappointment to the Board of
Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Mr.
Snelling has exemplary aviation, business and leadership qualifications
that I believe make him a nominee worthy of confirmation.
Mr. Snelling is a licensed pilot with extensive experience in the
field of aviation. He has served aptly on the Board of Directors for
the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since 2003, when he was
originally nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S.
Senate. Additionally, Mr. Snelling was appointed in 2000 by
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to be a member and Chair of the
Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Committee, on which he served until
2003. Prior to this service, Mr. Snelling served on the Board of
Governors of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which operates
the Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Mr. Snelling's business experience includes founding Cryo-Therm,
Inc., an applied thermodynamics company that pioneered a number of
energy conversion systems and processes that were utilized by both
military and industry and resulted in Mr. Snelling holding over 20
issued patents. Mr. Snelling has also achieved remarkable success in
the field of private venture capital, real estate development and
agriculture. He is founder and director of a family of venture funds
that is widely regarded as leading start-up venture investors.
In addition to his aviation and business achievements. Mr. Snelling
is also a leading political and civic figure. In 1976, he was appointed
by President Ford to the President's Commission on Personnel
Interchange and in 1990 he was appointed to serve on the U.S. Small
Business Administration's National Advisory Committee. He has also
served as President of the City Council of Allentown (PA), Chairman of
the Republican Finance Committee of Pennsylvania and delegate to the
Republican National Convention. Presently, he serves on the
Pennsylvania Republican State Committee. Mr. Snelling's civic
experience includes service as a Life Trustee of Cedar Crest College in
Allentown, PA; a trustee of the Foundation for the Advancement of
Monetary Education; and past president of the Pennsylvania Society, to
name a few.
Mr. Chairman, the Nation's air transportation system is a vital
asset that must be properly managed to ensure its safety and
efficiency. Our nation's airports, including those managed by the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, will face enormous
challenges meeting projected increases in congestion and passenger
demand in the near future. Mr. Snelling has the experience and
leadership qualities to help meet these challenges, and I support his
nomination and prompt confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
Senator Specter. He appeared before this Committee last
year, and was reported out to the floor. And it is always hard
to see what happens there, but there was a hold, and we don't
know exactly why. This is something that I have communicated to
the Chairman about before. And it's my hope that we'll be able
to move his nomination through the Committee, and move it
through the floor, so that he can take his position on this
Authority, where I think he can perform very, very valuable
public service.
I thank the Chair for scheduling this hearing. I would have
been here earlier, but we are struggling to get a quorum in the
Judiciary Committee, where, as the Chairman knows, I am ranking
member. We had judges to report out, so that that occupied me
at 10 o'clock. But I came over as soon as we had finished the
judicial business.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. The Committee is always pleased to have the
gentleman from Pennsylvania here. Your words are always valued,
and your recommendation will be carried out.
If you'll just wait a few seconds, the record will show
that no one has voiced an objection to the nomination of Mr.
Snelling. And so, without objection, the nomination is
approved, and it will be reported to the Senate forthwith.
Thank you very much. The hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:31 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]