[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 39 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
IN SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATION OF LINDA JOAN MORGAN TO BE A MEMBER OF THE 
                     INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I am pleased that the Senate has 
confirmed the nomination of Linda J. Morgan to be a Commissioner on the 
Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC].
  The ICC is an independent agency composed of five Commissioners, who 
are responsible for the regulation of surface transportation issues. 
The term for which Ms. Morgan has been nominated will expire December 
31, 1998.
  Linda has assisted me and other members of the Senate Commerce 
Committee extremely well for 15 years. She served for 8 years as 
counsel on the Surface Transportation Subcommittee, which often 
considers matters related to the ICC as well as economic and safety 
matters in surface transportation. For the last 7 years, she has been 
the general counsel for the full committee, where she involved herself 
further with legislative initiatives pertaining to significant surface 
transportation issues. Linda's efforts have contributed to the passage 
and oversight of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, the Motor Carrier Act 
of 1980, the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982, the Negotiated Rates 
Act of 1993, and a host of other important commerce-related enactments.
  The Commerce Committee has oversight over transportation regulation 
and policy, and understands the difficult issues the ICC often faces. 
The ICC must determine reasonable shipping rates in disputes between 
shippers and motor carriers; assist parties affected by railroad 
mergers, sales, construction, and abandonments; and balance free market 
competition in the transportation industry with the public need for 
quality service at reasonable prices in rural as well as metropolitan 
areas of the country. These tasks require a clear understanding of the 
surface transportation industry and regulatory policies. Therefore, I 
am delighted to support Linda's nomination, for she has an impressive 
combination of qualifications and experience.
  The Commerce Committee's loss is the ICC's gain. The ICC will gain a 
knowledgeable, objective, and well-qualified Commissioner with special 
expertise in surface transportation issues. She is known throughout the 
Commerce Committee for her integrity and nonpartisan advice. For my 
part, I will miss her counsel and attentiveness to the Commerce 
Committee's responsibilities.

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