The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NORMAN Y. MINETA RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S11390 on Nov. 16, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NORMAN Y. MINETA RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5163.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 5163) to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide the Department of Transportation a more focused research organization with an emphasis on innovative technology, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, H.R. 5163, the Norman Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, will be considered by the Senate today. I support H.R. 5163 and look forward to its enactment into law.
H.R. 5163 will realign the current Research and Special Programs Administration, creating two new entities; the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Research and Innovative Technologies Administration. Each new entity will be led by an Administrator.
Section 2 of the bill provides a new Section 108 of Title 49, creating the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In 108(c), the bill creates the Administrator position, as follows:
(c) Administrator.--The head of the Administration shall be the Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by and with advice and consent of the Senate, and shall be an individual with professional experience in pipeline safety, hazardous materials safety, or other transportation safety .
. .
By spelling out qualifications for its new Administrator, Congress is seeking to enhance the prospects for success for the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
The new Research and Innovative Technologies Administration is created by amending Section 112 of title 49, eliminating reference to the Research and Special Programs Administration and modifying its powers and duties. Aside from adding the position to the Executive Schedule Pay Rate, H.R. 5163 does not address the new Administrator, Research and Innovative Technologies Administration.
As with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, success of the Research and Innovative Technologies Administration will rest to a significant degree on the effectiveness of its leadership. Its Administrator should be well qualified. He or she should be an individual with professional experience in transportation research, research management, research program development, education and training in transportation and transportation-related fields and in transferring technologies into real world applications.
I hope that the President will apply these qualifications when selecting a candidate for Administrator, Research and Innovative Technologies Administration.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (H.R. 5163) was read the third time and passed.
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