[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 21 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1477-S1478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING KENNETH M. MEAD'S SERVICE AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 382, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 382) recognizing Kenneth M. Mead's 
     service as Inspector General of the Department of 
     Transportation.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to commend 
Kenneth Mead's service as inspector general of the Department of 
Transportation. I am joined by Commerce Committee Cochairman Senator 
Inouye and committee members Senators Burns, McCain, Rockefeller, Lott, 
Lautenberg, Sununu, Pryor, and Bill Nelson.
  On February 11, 2006, Mr. Mead announced his retirement as the 
inspector general of the Department of

[[Page S1478]]

Transportation after nearly 9 years of service in that position. In 
those 9 years of service, Mr. Mead and his staff conducted countless 
investigations in an independent, impartial, and professional manner 
regarding numerous issues affecting the Department.
  Mr. Mead appeared before the committee as a witness on several 
occasions throughout his tenure, and the committee always found that he 
provided independent, thorough, and relevant commentary and 
recommendations concerning a wide range of Federal transportation 
policies and programs. His contributions to transportation safety are 
greatly appreciated by the current and former members of the committee.
  On behalf of the Commerce Committee, I ask that the Senate recognize 
and commend Kenneth M. Mead for his more than 8 years of exemplary 
service to the Nation as the inspector general of the Department of 
Transportation, and we express our deep appreciation and gratitude for 
his long and outstanding service.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 382) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 382

       Whereas Kenneth M. Mead has announced his retirement as the 
     Inspector General of the Department of Transportation after 
     nearly 9 years of service in that position;
       Whereas, Kenneth M. Mead and his staff conducted 
     investigations independently, impartially, and with rigorous 
     professionalism into myriad issues affecting transportation 
     and transportation policy;
       Whereas, Kenneth M. Mead and his staff provided 
     independent, thorough, and relevant commentary and 
     recommendations on a wide-range of Federal transportation 
     policies and programs, including aviation operations and 
     safety, highway, auto and truck operations and safety, 
     transportation security, rail operations and safety, and 
     pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety;
       Whereas, during Kenneth M. Mead's tenure as Inspector 
     General, the events of September 11, 2001, had a dramatic 
     impact on the Federal government's relationship with the 
     aviation industry and posed significant challenges for 
     ensuring the safety and security of public transportation in 
     general and the United States aviation industry in 
     particular;
       Whereas Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta 
     recognized Kenneth M. Mead's contributions by describing him 
     as ``a tireless advocate for setting the highest possible 
     standards of integrity, accountability, and performance'' in 
     the Department's efforts to make the Nation's transportation 
     system as safe and efficient as possible: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Kenneth M. 
     Mead for his more than 8 years of faithful and exemplary 
     service to the Nation as the Inspector General of the 
     Department of Transportation, and expresses its deep 
     appreciation and gratitude for his long and outstanding 
     service.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to Kenneth M. Mead.

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