[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 172 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5096-S5097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NOMINATION OF MICHAEL G. WHITAKER

  Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak about 
the nomination of Michael Whitaker of Vermont to be Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration.
  Yesterday, as you know, his nomination was reported unanimously out 
of the Senate Commerce Committee in which we both serve. That was by 
voice vote, with all the Members of the Commerce Committee 
overwhelmingly agreeing in a bipartisan fashion that Mr. Whitaker 
should lead the FAA. This is welcome after 18 months of having no one 
leading the FAA.
  It is not surprising that he had such strong support. Why? Michael 
Whitaker is immensely qualified, with over 30 years of experience in 
aviation, both in the public sector and in the private sector. His 
background and knowledge of the industry is formidable.
  First, Michael is a longtime aviator, so he has practical concern 
about safety in the air and personal experience about flying.
  Second, he has real experience running large and complex systems. 
During his time as the Deputy Administrator at the FAA from 2013 to 
2016, Mike helped the FAA upgrade to satellite-enabled surveillance 
technology. He managed cybersecurity threats and chaired an interagency 
committee coordinating safety and security enhancements in our 
airspace. He made flying safer.
  Third, he has relevant private sector experience. While in the 
private sector, Mike has worked on strategy operations for some of the 
world's largest travel companies. They include United Airlines, 
InterGlobe Enterprises, and Trans World Airlines. He will bring those 
management skills--that capacity to build a team and organize systems 
in his forward-thinking vision--to the FAA.
  Fourth, Mike's focus is on performance, and his commitment to safety 
is absolute. That is something that the FAA is primarily responsible 
for, and it is an awesome responsibility that Mr. Whitaker has taken 
seriously every day of his life while he has served in both private and 
public positions in aviation.
  Mike is a Vermonter--a small-town person who lives in a small town in 
Vermont, but he has got big-time experience. He understands the 
importance of ensuring that everyone is represented, and he knows the 
realities of what the industry and the FAA needs to succeed.
  With Mike in the cockpit of the FAA, our skies will be safer, and he 
will work tirelessly to ensure that Americans across the country can 
fly safely and seamlessly wherever they please with as few disruptions 
as possible. We urgently need a full-time FAA administrator, and 
Michael Whitaker of Vermont is the ideal candidate for that role.
  I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lujan). The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.

[[Page S5097]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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