[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 1, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6266-S6267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONFIRMATION OF DEBBIE HERSMAN

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, the Senate recently confirmed Debbie 
Hersman to become a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. 
She has served the Commerce Committee for 5 years, and all of us will 
miss her presence. We all wish her the best in her new position and 
know that she will serve with honor and integrity.
  I ask unanimous consent that the following statements that are part 
of the hearing record on her nomination be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

   Statement of Senator Ernest Hollings on the Nomination of Debbie 
                                Hersman

       Mr. Chairman, I know Senator Hutchison would agree that the 
     most important character a member of the National 
     Transportation Safety Board can have is independent thinking. 
     I don't want someone going to an accident, mind already made 
     up, sharp elbows telling everybody what they are supposed to 
     find, and everything like that.
       What I want is someone who can look at all sides of the 
     issue. Someone who can challenge people to make the right 
     decisions. Someone who can manage the non-partisan 
     professionals doing the work. And someone, who at the end of 
     the day, will give a fair and unvarnished response on what 
     happened.
       I pick NTSB members like George Bush picks vice presidents. 
     You can search the country, far and wide, but the best of the 
     best in transportation safety, is right here in the room, 
     everyday with us, Debbie Hersman.
       She has worked for the committee for almost 5 years. I've 
     had her focus on rail, because of the tremendous needs we 
     have to modernize Amtrak and improve passenger and safety 
     issues.
       But she also has taken on oversight of truck and bus 
     safety, pipeline safety, hazardous materials transportation 
     safety. And post 9-11, I've asked her to oversee 
     transportation security issues, insofar as air, rail, ports, 
     and trucking. In other words, she is well-rounded in all 
     aspects of transportation. Her experience belies her youthful 
     appearance.
       Prior to joining our staff, Debbie was the staff director 
     for Congressman Bob Wise of West Virginia, who served on key 
     transportation and infrastructure committees. She holds a 
     bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and a master's degree 
     from George Mason.
       We still have much work to do on this committee on 
     transportation issues, and I hate to lose my right arm. She 
     is as hard a worker, as smart as any, as competent a 
     professional as any Senator could ask for. But I know the 
     country is better off, if Debbie is at NTSB, and I proudly 
     endorse her nomination.

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, we hold many nomination hearings in 
this committee, and we say many things about the nominees, usually in 
praise of them, but at times questioning them. This nomination is a 
personal one for many of us, as we have all watched Debbie work 
tirelessly on behalf of us and our constituents.
  Before I discuss all of the reasons that Debbie is absolutely the 
right person for this position, I want to proudly state she is a West 
Virginian. Both of her parents were raised in Roane County, WV. In 
addition, she has many proud relatives in Spencer and Charleston, WV. I 
know that the people of West Virginia share my pride in all of Debbie's 
accomplishments.
  Before coming to the Senate Commerce Committee, Debbie worked for 
then Congressman Wise of West Virginia in many capacities, including 
chief of staff. Governor Wise called me to support her nomination, and 
we wholeheartedly agreed that there was no better person for the job. 
Debbie has spent a career for the people of West Virginia, and I know 
the entire country will benefit from her presence on the National 
Transportation Safety Board.
  Each of us has had to call on the National Transportation Safety 
Board, or watched on CNN, the work that they do in sifting through a 
disaster site and in dealing with family members following an aviation 
tragedy. We rely on their independence to provide Congress and the 
transportation regulatory agencies recommendations to improve safety. 
It is a critical role that they play, and one divorced from politics 
and partisanship. The National Transportation Safety Board deals with 
situations where tragedies affect many people and that makes it all the 
more important that we select someone with both the technical knowledge 
to contribute to the board's work and the human compassion needed in 
the context of these tragedies. Debbie melds these two important 
requirements in a particularly special manner.
  Each Board member is an independent source of knowledge and 
information. While the Board votes on matters, and we hope that all 
agree on the safety recommendations, each is charged with independently 
making a decision based on the facts and analysis of its expert staff. 
A small agency, with some 429 employees, its expertise and knowledge is 
recognized around the world.
  Debbie, who has worked on this committee for 5 years, has worked with 
all of us on transportation safety and regulatory issues, using her 
expertise and talents to push for improvements. Her primary focus has 
been surface transportation, but I know that she has spent a 
considerable amount of time on aviation safety issues, and helped with 
aviation security matters following 9/11. I know she worked on the 
highway bill while a House staff member, and that knowledge will help 
her in her new position.
  Her talents, wit, charm and expertise will be sorely missed. I wish 
her the best of luck in her new position, and while none of us hope to 
see her about a tragedy in our states, we know that whatever the 
situation, the NTSB will be in good hands with Debbie there.
  Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, today we are honored by the nomination of

[[Page S6267]]

Debbie Hersman to serve as a member of the National Transportation 
Safety Board. Along with Senator Hollings, I have spent a great deal of 
time over the last 5 years working with Debbie. She has always provided 
me with excellent counsel and I can count on her to know the facts and 
understand the points of view of all sides.
  Debbie's experience in all modes of transportation qualifies her well 
for this position. In 1999 she spent countless hours drafting 
legislation that ultimately resulted in the creation of the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration at the Department of 
Transportation, with the primary purposes of reducing large truck 
fatalities on our nation's highways. In 2001 Debbie and I worked 
through many legislative issues on the floor along with Senator McCain 
and his staff to pass a pipeline safety bill. The pipeline safety 
legislation was prompted by several fatal accidents that were also 
investigated by the NTSB. We rely on the Board to provide us with 
independent and honest answers about accidents and what needs to be 
done to prevent them in the future. I know that we can count on Debbie 
to understand the import of the Board's work and the interplay between 
the Board's recommendations and the legislative and regulatory 
processes.
  While it is hard for us to let one of our own go, I have every 
confidence that she possesses the professionalism, credibility, and 
with the necessary insight to do the job well. Debbie always sees the 
big picture yet she pays attention to the details. Her tenacity and 
ability to hold people's feet to the fire will serve her well in her 
new position as she sifts through the facts at accident scenes and 
works through staff recommendations.
  It has been a pleasure to work with Debbie on a multitude of 
transportation issues. I have always been impressed with her diligence 
and professional demeanor. While I will miss her, on both a 
professional and personal level, I know that Debbie will serve on the 
NTSB with distinction. It is my hope that we can move her nomination 
and get her over to the NTSB quickly.

                          ____________________