Jay Rockefeller: “Well, a sense-of-the-Senate resolution is preferable in that it doesn't become law and is not binding. It also implies…”

“Well, a sense-of-the-Senate resolution is preferable in that it doesn't become law and is not binding. It also implies, as I would believe, that perhaps the case for the amendments is not as strong as it once appeared to be. I want to speak vehemently against whatever form this takes, whether it is two amendments or a sense-of-the-Senate resolution. There is no question that the Senator from Oregon is concerned with safety. The Senator from Oregon has the luxury of dealing with flights far better than does the Senator from West Virginia. He has a consistent record on that. I also need to say, however, that when he brought up what was to be two amendments--both of which I disagree with and which I ask my colleagues to vote against, whether in amendment form or resolution form--the Senator didn't give any advanced notice about it. He didn't inform those charged with responsibility for aviation issues on the Commerce Committee before he brought this matter up, for example. Customer service is a problem we have been working on in the Commerce Committee. What I need to point out is that on this very day the airlines are coming out with their plans to implement what Senator McCain, Senator Hollings, Senator Gorton, and the Senator from West Virginia directed and worked with them to do to improve customer service. Today they are coming out with a plan to address precisely the problems the Senator is bringing up.”