Sam Brownback

They are having countries come to them and saying, we will pay for the research and the development.

I want to focus my comments on two areas. One is on the aviation industry itself.

They are needing research money to develop the next wave of products.

This has been an industry that has been decimated in recent times.

I would like to highlight a bill I recently introduced with Senator Hollings, S.788, the Second Century of Flight Act.

This bill would create a national office to coordinate aviation and aerospace research activities within the U.S. Government and encouraging public-private cooperation.

Additionally, an issue that should be of importance to all of us in the room is the future of 'short line' local freight railroads.

I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today and inviting The Honorable Secretary Mineta to testify before us.

Unfortunately, that bill never saw action on the Senate floor during the 107th Session of Congress.

It seems to me Mr. Secretary that these numbers in terms of cost savings for our highway system are compelling.

If other countries are doing this, then we should start a trade action against them.

I put forward a bill with Senator Hollings and the Commerce Committee, Second Century of Flight.

It calls for a coordinator on the overall aviation research.

I would hope would aggressively get behind it or something like it, because we are really losing this business.

They are having countries come to them and saying, we will pay for the research and the development of the wing.

We may end up being just an assembler of aviation products rather than the developer and lose all the jobs underneath the system.

I want to focus my comments on two areas. One is on the aviation industry itself.

I would like to thank you for holding this hearing today and inviting The Honorable Secretary Mineta to testify before us.

But I have a CDL, as you probably know, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to highlight a bill I recently introduced with Senator Hollings, S.788, the Second Century of Flight Act.

For the life of me, I cannot understand how that is an increased safety feature when you say there are going to be more 18-wheelers on the roads instead of less.

It is incumbent on this President to outline those costs.

It is a noble ambition, and one worthy of America's best efforts.

It is a very large mistake to assume that you can just hide the costs of this war from the American public.

I believe a true mark of a civilized society is not the level of human dignity it confers upon the strong or wealthy, but a true mark is on how much it confers upon the vulnerable and the oppressed. Clearly an abortion procedure that…