[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 137 (Tuesday, September 27, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations:
  Calendar No. 1272, Thomas R. Carper, to be a member of the Amtrak 
Board of Directors; Calendar No. 1273, Celeste P. McLain, to be a 
member of the Amtrak Board of Directors; and Calendar No. 1274, Celeste 
P. McLain, to be a member of the Amtrak Board of Directors 
(reappointment).
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominees be confirmed, en 
bloc; that any statements appear in the Record as if read; that upon 
confirmation, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; 
that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and 
that the Senate return to the legislative session.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations, considered and confirmed, en bloc, are as follows:

                                 Amtrak

       Thomas R. Carper, of Delaware, to be a Member of the Amtrak 
     Board of Directors for a term of four years.
       Celeste Pinto McLain, of California, to be a Member of the 
     Amtrak Board of Directors for the remainder of the term 
     expiring March 20, 1995.
       Celeste Pinto McLain, of California, to be a Member of the 
     Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of four years. 
     (Reappointment)


   the nomination of thomas r. carper to be a member of the board of 
   directors of the national railroad passenger corporation [amtrak]

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate is 
considering the nomination of Thomas R. Carper to be a member of the 
Board of Directors of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
[Amtrak]. The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held 
Governor Carper's confirmation hearing on September 21, 1994, and 
reported his nomination on September 23, 1994.
  Governor Carper's accomplishments and talents are familiar to many of 
my colleagues in the Senate. He was elected as Governor in 1993. Prior 
to this election he served five terms as Delaware's Congressman in the 
U.S. House of Representatives and 6 years as Delaware's State 
treasurer. Governor Carper earned a B.A. in economics in 1968 from Ohio 
State University and served for 5 years as a Navy aviator, including a 
tour of duty in southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. In 1975, he 
earned an MBA degree from the University of Delaware and won his first 
election to the State treasurer's office the following year. In 1983, 
he won his first election as Delaware's Representative to the House.
  Governor Carper's prior government service has given him knowledge of 
the issues surrounding Amtrak. He has said that Delaware's dependence 
upon ``high-quality rail transportation services for its prosperity'' 
has required him, as Congressman and Governor, to address difficult 
transportation and financial issues. Moreover, as Congressman, he 
participated in the debates on Amtrak transportation and appropriation 
bills during his five terms in the House. Finally, also as a 
Congressman, he commuted by rail between Delaware and Washington, DC, 
almost daily, an experience that provided him ``with valuable insights 
into inter-city passenger rail service from the perspective of the 
consumer or general public.''
  Governor Carper's service in State and Federal Government, plus his 
familiarity with Amtrak, is exactly the type of experience that is 
needed on the Amtrak board. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support 
the President's nomination of Thomas R. Carper to be a member of the 
Board of Directors of Amtrak.

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