[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12994-12995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          FAA REAUTHORIZATION

  Mr. DORGAN. Madam President, in 2 minutes or so, let me talk briefly 
about the FAA reauthorization bill, which we have passed out of the 
Commerce Committee and out of the full Senate--it passed 93 to 0 here 
in the Senate. Senator Rockefeller and I, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison 
and others, are working very hard to try to negotiate an opportunity to 
get a report that we can bring back to both the House and the Senate to 
get this done.
  The reason this is urgent and so important is the modernization of 
our air traffic control system is long overdue and there is so much 
that is needed in this FAA reauthorization bill. It deals with safety 
issues. As chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, I held a number of 
hearings on the Colgan crash in New York--the tragic crash that took 
the life of so many. So I wanted to

[[Page 12995]]

make a point, because I know people are wondering what is happening on 
that legislation.
  We had a meeting yesterday for over an hour. We are going to have 
another meeting this week. We had a meeting the week prior to the break 
last week. We are working very hard to try to find a way to bridge the 
gap. I think we are very close to being able to get something we can 
bring back to both the House and Senate. My hope is that early in this 
work period we can get this done. I talked to Senator Rockefeller late 
last night by phone after our meeting in the afternoon. So Senator Kyl 
and many others have been involved--Senator Warner.
  This is a very big piece of legislation. Changing our air traffic 
control system, modernizing our system from a ground-based radar system 
to a GPS system is a big, challenging project, but we have to get at 
it. This bill has languished way too long. We have reauthorized it 
many, many, many times. Now it is time to get the legislation done and 
get it signed by the President.
  We are working very hard, and I hope in the next week or two Senator 
Rockefeller and I and Senator Hutchison and others can come to the 
floor and report success and bring a bill to the Senate to vote on.


                            Kagan Nomination

  Madam President, let me also finally say--I didn't mention it 
earlier--that the Kagan nomination is going to come to the floor during 
this work period, I am sure. I strongly support the Kagan nomination 
and intend to vote for her nomination. I think she is an awfully good 
nominee. I know many of my colleagues will be doing so as well. I fully 
expect her to pass the Senate quite easily. I would expect the 
nomination to be approved quite easily.
  Madam President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARPER. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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