Richard Blumenthal

This bill does not use the heavy hand of government to force the sports leagues to do anything.

This exemption is really very special, very unique, and very undeserved if the leagues, in my view, fail to recognize their special public trust because of that unique exemption.

I think it is a red herring to threaten taking games off broadcasts unless we get this antitrust exemption for local blackouts.

Mr. Goodfriend, do you agree with that conclusion and particularly as it affects the smaller cities and fans in those cities and the threat to fans in larger cities as well?

If you are worried about filling the stadiums, why not just lower the ticket price? That is the way the market normally works.

Unless the leagues end blackouts, they will no longer be exempt from the Nation's antitrust laws when they negotiate their billion-dollar television contracts.

Regulations from the Federal Railway Administration could have avoided very likely four deaths that occurred in Spuyten Duyvil one year ago this week or last week.

Wouldn't you think that the FRA has an immediate and urgent obligation to issue such rules and regulations?

That is very dangerous.

I think there is no question in my mind that that power resides in the Department of Transportation to order effective steps that make available sufficient airbags in the interest of public safety.

Takata's rejection of a national recall is simply unacceptable and unconscionable.

NHTSA has been an agency recently adrift, even aground.

Another proposal that I have made is to put the burden on any parties seeking a secret settlement... Would you support the bill that I have introduced along with Senator Lindsey Graham?

The safety has to be proactive where people are--they see that being safe is really the more--not just the safe thing to do but the business and economic thing that needs to be done as well.

We cannot be shy. We cannot withhold all of the tools available to us to get what needs to be done to help save lives and prevent injuries.

NHTSA needs to be the enforcer.

I believe that there is a responsibility to exercise that moral authority.

Would you support the legislation that I have introduced along with Senator Markey and Senator Nelson to completely eliminate the cap on penalties for nondisclosure?

The $35 million cap on penalties for nondisclosure or inadequate disclosure is absolutely a mockery of justice.

You've made a commitment to the domestic violence hotline for $5 million a year?

The bill that I proposed would sunset the professional sports leagues antitrust exemptions under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act.

Would you be willing to make commitments of the same or comparable size to other organizations that do similar kinds of work?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for having this hearing.

These families are not flight risks and they are not dangerous. We owe it to them to do better. I am proud of standing with my colleagues on calling on the President to keep families together, target resources effectively, and run an…

As you know, Senator Markey and I and Senator Nelson, our Chairman, have proposed the Automaker Accountability Act, which would lift that $35 million cap on penalties--it would eliminate the cap.