Kay Bailey Hutchison

Truck safety has improved significantly since FMCSA was established in 2000.

There is still important work to be done in ensuring unsafe trucks, unsafe truck drivers, and unsafe trucking companies are not allowed to operate on the Nation's highways.

I continue to press ahead with my own passion for safety.

Safety belts actually would fall under NHTSA, not the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Unsafe carriers get into the system or get back on the system.

Safety is a unifying message, under Secretary LaHood's leadership.

I think it may be time for us to reform some portions of the operations of that agency.

It is time for Congress to act.

PHMSA grants special permits and approvals without exercising its regulatory authority.

I share your concerns with respect to the safety issues that have been raised from the Inspector General's report.

Our bus safety bill would be another very important highway safety accomplishment that will help save lives.

We need the current Administration to mandate EOBRs on every large truck.

Many operators who are put out of business because of a safety violation just turn around and file under a new name.

I am hoping that we will be able to extend the Shuttle to narrow that gap.

Without your commitment and the vigor that you have shown, I think sometimes maybe Congress would have lagged behind.

I have been certainly a supporter of the COTS, the Commercial Orbital Transportation System.

I think it doesn't hurt to always err on the side of caution and make sure that we're doing everything possible in the safety area.

What are your thoughts on added use?

I think we have looked at the differences between air carriers and commuters over the years, and we have made changes that have improved safety.

I hope that as NTIA proceeds with its broadband policy, it will maintain a commitment to unserved areas as its highest priority.

I think that this particular youth ATV issue is one where perhaps there is going to need to be some new flexibility

I think it is important that we have the full Commission to look at it, and I would agree that a common sense approach is what is needed right now in order to have the best results.

I would bow to Chairman Pryor as really the leader in the bill that was passed, and there are some very good parts to it.

I hope that we will be able to get them through this Committee and on to the full Senate for confirmation before we recess for August.

I hope you will also look at Central and South America as a way to use trade and investment opportunities to help shore up democracies and stability in our own hemisphere.