[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23572-23573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     NORMAN Y. MINETA RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5163.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 5163) to amend title 49, United States Code, 
     to provide the Department of Transportation a more focused 
     research organization with an emphasis on innovative 
     technology, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, H.R. 5163, the Norman Mineta Research 
and Special Programs Improvement Act, will be considered by the Senate 
today. I support H.R. 5163 and look forward to its enactment into law.
  H.R. 5163 will realign the current Research and Special Programs 
Administration, creating two new entities; the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration and the Research and Innovative 
Technologies Administration. Each new entity will be led by an 
Administrator.
  Section 2 of the bill provides a new Section 108 of Title 49, 
creating the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration. In 108(c), the bill creates the Administrator position, 
as follows:

       (c) Administrator.--The head of the Administration shall be 
     the Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by 
     and with advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be an 
     individual with professional experience in pipeline safety, 
     hazardous materials safety, or other transportation safety . 
     . .

  By spelling out qualifications for its new Administrator, Congress is 
seeking to enhance the prospects for success for the new Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
  The new Research and Innovative Technologies Administration is 
created by amending Section 112 of title 49, eliminating reference to 
the Research and Special Programs Administration and modifying its 
powers and duties. Aside from adding the position to the Executive 
Schedule Pay Rate, H.R. 5163 does not address the new Administrator, 
Research and Innovative Technologies Administration.
  As with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 
success of the Research and Innovative

[[Page 23573]]

Technologies Administration will rest to a significant degree on the 
effectiveness of its leadership. Its Administrator should be well 
qualified. He or she should be an individual with professional 
experience in transportation research, research management, research 
program development, education and training in transportation and 
transportation-related fields and in transferring technologies into 
real world applications.
  I hope that the President will apply these qualifications when 
selecting a candidate for Administrator, Research and Innovative 
Technologies Administration.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 5163) was read the third time and passed.

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