WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee, convened a Commerce Committee field hearing titled “Keeping Goods Moving in America’s Heartland” in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Senator Fischer released the following statement after concluding today’s hearing:
“Today’s field hearing was an excellent opportunity to bring the U.S. Senate to western Nebraska and discuss the transportation needs of our rural communities. I want to thank each of our witnesses for taking the time to join us this morning and offer their expertise regarding the implementation of the five-year highway bill. We all agree that prioritizing rural transportation is the right thing to do. By listening to the views of our local communities, Congress can ensure this law provides safe, efficient, and reliable transportation for Nebraskans in our rural communities.”
Today’s hearing took place at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Witnesses included Kyle Schneweis, Director of the Nebraska Department of Roads, Don Overman, Chairman of the Western Nebraska Regional Airport Authority Board, Deb Cottier, Executive Director of Northwest Nebraska Development Corporation, David Freeman, Senior Vice President of Transportation for BNSF Railway, Kevin Kelley, President of the Kelley Bean Company, and Brent Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of Nebraska Transport Company.
This was the third U.S. Senate field hearing hosted by Senator Fischer in Nebraska. In March of 2015, she hosted a hearing of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in Lincoln, where Nebraskans testified about the impact of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Waters of the United States” rule. In September of 2015, she hosted a second hearing of the EPW Committee in Columbus. That hearing focused on the impact of the EPA’s proposed rule to lower the ozone standard.
This morning’s hearing focused on the implementation of the long-term highway bill, which was signed into law last December. It also touched on new improvements to small and community airports through the FAA reauthorization bill that passed the Senate in April of 2016.
Click here to learn about the Nebraska provisions
Senator Fischer advanced in the multi-year highway bill.
Click here to view the key Nebraska provisions
Senator Fischer added to the Senate’s recently-passed FAA reauthorization.
Click here to view and download the full audio and video of this morning’s hearing.
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