Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3441 realigns transportation policy responsibility within the Department of Transportation and was requested by the Department. As the Department of Transportation reorganizes and refocuses its efforts to ensure America's transportation security, it is important that it is able to develop policy across transportation modes. Under the current organization of the Department, policy development is spread over three offices within the Department of Transportation. This results in a fragmented approach to policy development. The purpose of this bill is to provide a seamless, long-range and strategic approach to development of policy in DOT by establishing a new Under Secretary for Transportation Policy, who will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. In order to ensure better communication with the public and the press, the bill will also create an Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. This will round out the management team for the Secretary to allow for better management of the Department. This bipartisan bill, Mr. Speaker, is also strongly supported by the Department of Transportation. Transportation policy is too important to be undertaken in a haphazard manner in this day when transportation has become so essential to our economic well-being. Proper lines of authority and communication are vital to the continued operation of the Department.”