Frank Lautenberg

I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak for up to 15 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

there are so many things here we can disagree about, but I wish to say thank you to all of my colleagues. One hundred of us have joined together in overwhelming numbers to support this historic legislation which creates a national moment…

the Bush administration issued a rule that, even though truck driver fatigue was a major problem, would significantly increase the number of hours that a truck driver could drive during the week.

And we like what we see you doing. And thank you for your consciousness about the safety factor.

18 months is a long time to wait for a safety audit.

It would have created 44,000 jobs immediately in the construction area, where there are plenty of people shovel-ready, ready to get going, they can't wait.

This has been a bad year, one of the worst, for bus crashes.

the consequences can be devastating.

A major step forward in truck safety is to enact S. 876, the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, sponsored by Chairman Lautenberg.

It was mind-boggling, to say the least, to hear that decision by the Governor was being made.

They may not solve the problem. What, then, can be done about it?

FMCSA has chronic problems with data quality accuracy, timeliness that must be addressed.

Forgive me for neglecting to remind the gather that Ms. Ferro is the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

this is really an important rule that will do a great job in advancing safety, as well as saving lives.

the research shows that after the eighth hour of driving, the risk of a truck crash increases dramatically.

the reason that the hours of service rule is being revised right now is not because of some frivolous exercise by the Department of Transportation.

every week of the year the number of people killed in truck crashes is equivalent to a major airplane crash.

It's my view that they're not safe on these roads.

If our mission is to move our economy forward and create jobs, then we can do it very rapidly, very effectively if we look at the infrastructure side of things.

We're going to bring this hearing to order.

It is up to Congress to take action now that will improve safety, protect the long-term national investment in our crumbling highway and bridge infrastructure.

I thank you. That's an issue, too, that must be carefully implemented in order to, for all of us to be doing our jobs.

Our objective is a safer condition for the citizens in the country.

Well, the one thing that is obvious here is that we all feel the responsibility to make it safer out there on the highways, and to make sure that companies and individuals are equipped to do their jobs with safety in mind.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman.