John Thune

But I also wanted to point out, I guess, over the next 10 years we're going to be looking at 11,000 new controllers being hired and trained.

Senator Thune. Right. Let me ask just a general question, too, because you've implemented the nine-hour rest period.

I want to work with my colleagues on this committee to ensure that our consumers in this country have access to affordable, safe and timely air service.

Well, it just seems like that with that kind of information that managers might be in a better position to schedule and mitigate potential issues for controllers before they happen, if that kind of information and data is available.

But we want to make sure that when we do it, we do it in a way that does appropriately protect consumers online without stifling that innovation and growth.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank all the panelists.

I want to thank you for holding today's hearing on how increasing energy prices are impacting farm and ranch families across this country.

Using the new test does 'raise the bar' for proficiency testing.

These rulemakings would require updates to bus safety technologies.

They lost loved ones and turned that grief into action.

These tragic, yet seemingly preventable fatalities have devastated families and communities.

This is the year this is going to happen.

I would like to thank Senator Hutchison for her determination to improve bus safety. She and Senator Brown have been committed to advancing bus safety legislation since 2007.

Bus safety improvements have been delayed for too long, but I am encouraged that we can move forward to reduce preventable crashes and to protect passengers when accidents do occur.

Ann has... an extraordinary record of accomplishment over a long period of time.

I am here particularly, too, because Ann Begeman is appearing before this committee.

I am pleased to join this morning's nomination hearing.

I certainly would not want these employees to sustain a tax increase just to switch from paper to plastic.

I have great reservations about this type of fund which I believe would principally benefit large metropolitan areas and ignore the needs of rural states like my own.

In a time of tight budgets and fiscal constraint, we simply cannot impose new taxes or fees on the American people and our businesses who are still struggling to emerge from a deep recession.

I am particularly concerned by the $50 billion up-front transportation infrastructure plan for 2012 that sounds very much like another stimulus program.

The bottom line is we have an opportunity to fix our broken-down infrastructure to get millions of workers back on the job.

It is a short-sighted view in my estimation. It ignores past achievements like the George Washington Bridge, which was built during the Depression.

Today I wish to recognize the formation of the Dakota Territory. It was on February 26, 1861, that the Senate passed the legislation creating the territory. In the year of the 150th anniversary, I would like to honor the dedication of…

I am a believer that the answer to feeding a growing global population sort of involves expanding biotechnology and modern farming practices beyond our borders.