[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               NOMINATIONS PLACED ON THE SECRETARY'S DESK


                           in the coast guard

       Coast Guard nominations beginning Roger K. Wiebusch, and 
     ending Robert W. Montfort, which nominations were received by 
     the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of May 
     17, 1994.
       Coast Guard nomination of Kay L. Hickman, which was 
     received by the Senate and appeared in the Congressional 
     Record of May 17, 1994.
       Coast Guard nominations beginning Mark L. Everett, and 
     ending Euill W. Long, III, which nominations were received by 
     the Senate and appeared in the Congressional Record of July 
     27, 1994.

            statement on the nomination of ricardo martinez

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support the 
nomination of Ricardo Martinez to be Administrator of the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA]. His nomination was 
unanimously approved by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation at its executive session on August 11, 1994.
  NHTSA was established to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and 
economic losses resulting from traffic accidents on the Nation's 
highways. Armed with that mission, the agency plays a vital role in 
reducing health care costs, by promoting safety of cars and light 
trucks.
  If confirmed as Administrator, Dr. Martinez will bring a fresh 
perspective to the agency with his extensive medical background in 
trauma services and injury control and prevention. The nominee is 
currently serving as a consultant to Secretary of Transportation Pena 
on health issues. Prior to this, he most recently served as associate 
professor of surgery and emergency medicine at Emory University school 
of medicine. From 1985 to 1993, Dr. Martinez served in various 
positions at Stanford University, including associate director of 
trauma service at the university's hospital, and clinical assistant 
professor in the Department of surgery at the school of medicine. In 
addition, Dr. Martinez has written extensively on medical issues, and 
his works have been published in numerous medical journals, magazines, 
and books.
  At his confirmation hearing on April 21, 1994, Dr. Martinez stressed 
his commitment to injury prevention, and the need to reinvigorate NHTSA 
to prepare it for the challenges of the next century. He also 
acknowledged NHTSA's role with respect to consumer education, as well 
as the important mandate the agency has to set CAFE [Corporate Average 
Fuel Economy] standards, and to analyze and disseminate data concerning 
fuel economy issues.
  This nominee deserves our support, and I urge my colleagues to join 
me in approving Dr. Ricardo Martinez to be NHTSA Administrator.


          Statement on the Nomination of Dharmendra K. Sharma

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate is 
considering the nomination of Dharmendra K. Sharma to be Administrator 
of the Research and Special Programs Administration [RSPA] of the U.S. 
Department of Transportation [DOT]. At its executive session on August 
11, 1994, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
unanimously ordered this nomination reported favorably.
  The position of Administrator of RSPA is a critical one. RSPA is 
responsible for hazardous materials transportation and pipeline safety, 
transportation emergency preparedness, safety training, multimodal 
transportation research and development activities, and the collection 
and dissemination of air carrier economic data. Two of the more 
significant offices within RSPA are the Office of Hazardous Materials 
Safety, which develops and issues regulations for the safe 
transportation of hazardous materials by all modes, and the Office of 
Pipeline Safety, which establishes and provides for compliance with 
standards that assure public safety and environmental protection in the 
transportation of gas and hazardous liquids by pipeline.
  The nominee brings to this position a broad range of technical, 
research, analytical, and management abilities. He has demonstrated 
expertise in the fields of energy, science, and technology. For over 10 
years Dr. Sharma has served as a Manager with the Electric Power 
Research Institute [EPRI], and prior to that he worked for the General 
Electric Co.
  This nominee has demonstrated his understanding of the critical 
issues facing RSPA. He understands the need for greater vigilance over 
RSPA's pipeline safety program and the need for some form of 
comprehensive ``one-call'' legislation so that the number of pipeline 
accidents may be reduced. In addition, Dr. Sharma's background and 
expertise will allow him to assist Secretary Pena in the area of 
transportation technology development, a cornerstone of this 
Administration's plan for the future.
  Mr. President, I am confident that Dharmendra K. Sharma's 
professional background and experience have prepared him well for the 
tremendous challenges confronting DOT and our Nation's system of 
transportation. I welcome this opportunity to recommend Dharmendra K. 
Sharma's confirmation as RSPA Administrator, and I urge my colleagues 
to join me in approving this nomination.

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