[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S793-S794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     CONFIRMATION OF RAYMOND LAHOOD

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I come to the Floor today as the 
ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation 
Committee in support of the nomination of Raymond LaHood to be the 16th 
Secretary of Transportation.
  As a former 7-term Member of Congress representing the 18th District 
of Illinois, and a former member of the House committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Congressman LaHood is well-qualified 
for this position.
  This week, the Commerce Committee held a full committee hearing to 
consider his nomination. To Congressman LaHood's credit, and with the 
cooperation of Chairman Rockefeller, our committee quickly discharged 
his nomination in order to fill this important Cabinet position.
  I am pleased that our committee moved expeditiously on Congressman 
LaHood's nomination and I am hopeful the full Senate will move just as 
quickly.
  As my colleagues know, the range of problems confronting the new 
Secretary of Transportation are amongst the most difficult that any new 
department leader has faced in quite some time.
  In a few short months, important policy, budgetary and regulatory 
decisions will need to be made on several transportation and 
infrastructure issues. I am confident that Congressman LaHood is up to 
the task and will hit the ground running.
  As my colleagues know, the existing highway program expires at the 
end of September. Until then, Congress and the new administration will 
have to work very hard on a reauthorization. This will be a very 
difficult process due

[[Page S794]]

to the current fiscal state of the highway trust fund and because of 
the current formula's disparate treatment between the States.
  In addition, we desperately need to create stability in our aviation 
infrastructure programs by passing a full fiscal year 2009 FAA 
extension, along with completing a multiyear FAA Authorization bill. I 
have encouraged Representative LaHood to support a full fiscal year 
extension of the current FAA Reauthorization bill, through September 
30, 2009, along with committing to work with him on a new FAA 
Authorization bill.
  Without congressional and administration cooperation, the FAA's plan 
to modernize our air traffic control system--known as NextGen--could 
squander precious time and resources. Our Nation's skies and airports 
are severely congested; we need a Secretary in place immediately to 
oversee and manage the funding, implementation, and transition to 
NextGen.
  I am also confident the DOT will have a renewed focus and 
appreciation for our Nation's Amtrak and high speed rail system. This 
is an area we have neglected too long. While the Amtrak reauthorization 
that was just signed into law was an important step, we need strong 
leadership at the Department to ensure that we have a national 
passenger rail system that works. Congressman LaHood is a strong 
advocate for Amtrak and I look forward to working with him to implement 
the priorities of that important legislation.
  I encourage my colleagues to support Representative Hood's 
nomination.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, one of the nominations just confirmed was 
that of Ray LaHood, former Congressman from the State of Illinois who, 
by this action, will become our next Secretary of Transportation in the 
Obama Cabinet. It was my great honor to introduce Congressman LaHood to 
the Senate Commerce Committee yesterday, along with former House 
Republican Leader Bob Michel. I had asked President Obama to consider 
this nomination because of my high regard for Ray LaHood, both 
personally and politically.
  We served together for many years. He has represented my hometown of 
Springfield. Despite our clear partisan differences, we have become not 
only fast friends but real allies. Ray LaHood is an extraordinary 
person. Born and raised in Peoria, IL, he served as a schoolteacher 
before coming to work for Bob Michel in Washington, where he served as 
his chief of staff. He then succeeded Bob Michel as a Congressman from 
the district which had Peoria as its major city and proceeded to 
represent large portions of north central Illinois and most of the 
former congressional district of former Congressman Abraham Lincoln.
  Ray LaHood is a person whom I not only respect but like very much. 
His word is good. He is a hard worker. He has the right values and 
politics. When politics in Washington became so corrosive and divisive, 
Ray LaHood led an effort in the House to establish dialogue between 
Democrats and Republicans. When I have worked with him on issues such 
as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, the future 
of the 183rd Air National Guard unit in Springfield's capital airport, 
and a variety of other issues, I have found him to be hardworking, 
diligent, and committed to the public good.
  I believe President Obama has made an extraordinarily good choice for 
Secretary of Transportation. It is a department which will be very busy 
because the new Recovery and Reinvestment Act understands that we need 
new bridges, roads, airports, and mass transit so that America's 
economy can get back on track and grow. Ray LaHood is a great person to 
be heading up that department.
  His wife Kathy and family were with him yesterday before the Commerce 
Committee. They are a great group. He is very proud of his children and 
should be. They have done extraordinarily good things in their lives as 
well. I am glad we moved quickly on this nomination for Ray LaHood as 
Secretary of Transportation. I know he is probably following this 
proceeding, and I wish him the very best. I know he is going to be 
exceptional in his service not only to President Obama in the Cabinet 
but also to the United States of America.

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