... PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Senate Returns Key Nominees to the President

Last week, the U.S. Senate returned the nominations of several individuals to the President. A return of a nomination kills the nomination unless the President acts to revive it.

Three of the returned nominees who were nominated for positions of direct interest to PCA and other NACA partners are:

• Richard Stickler to be the Administrator of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA);
• William Wehrum to be the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and
• Mark Myers to head the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

David Dye, the former Deputy, continues to serve as the Acting Administrator at MSHA. Wehrum currently serves as the Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. Patrick Leahy, a career civil servant and the Chief Geologist for USGS, is the Acting Director of the US Geological Survey.

The President has several options he might use for any or all of the returned nominees. He may simply resubmit the returned nominees to the Senate. This option would require that the nominees once again be referred to the appropriate Senate committee for consideration and a vote.

The President also could nominate a new individual. Additionally, he could fill the vacancies using his recess appointment power without Senate consent by appointing the person who he nominates to the position. A recess appointment made at any time before the new Congress convenes in January would be good until the end of 2007. A recess appointment made after the new Congress convenes in January 2007 would be good until very nearly the end of President Bush's term in January 2009.

The Administration is considering its options regarding all the returned nominees. The law governing filling of Presidential appointments requiring Senate confirmation is complex. There also are time limits on how long anyone can serve in an "Acting" capacity before the office is deemed "vacant." Once an official vacancy occurs, the President's options are more limited.

Look for further developments regarding these nominations in future issues of the NACA Washington Briefing.

Contact: Thomas Gibson.

Senate Panel Extends Single-State Registration System

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure extending the Single-State Registration System (SSRS) for one year to allow the board of the newly formed Unified Carrier Registration System (UCR) additional time to agree on how to replace the SSRS.

The SSRS, which was repealed by SAFETEA-LU and slated to expire on December 31, collects approximately $100 million in annual registration fees and maintains information on for-hire carriers' operating authority and insurance status.

Thirty-nine states participate in the SSRS.

In contrast, the UCR is open to all 50 states and will also cover private carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers. The House has not provided an extension for the SSRS in its version of the Department of Transportation appropriations bill.

If the SSRS does expire, it is not clear how states will generate replacement revenues for the transportation and safety enforcement programs it funds. (Source: Transport Topics .)

For more information, contact: Tom Harman or Robert Sullivan.

Corps of Engineer Commander Announces Retirement

Lieutenant General Carl A. Strock, Commander and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced his retirement yesterday. Lt. Gen. Strock will be leaving half way through what is normally a four-year term.

The Chief of Engineers has separate and distinct command and staff responsibilities. As a staff officer at the Pentagon, the Chief advises the Army on engineering matters and serves as the Army's topographer and proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs.

As commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Chief of Engineers leads a major Army command that is the world's largest public engineering, design, and construction management agency. His office also defines policy and guidance and plans direction for the organizations within the Corps. Click here for more information.

Contact: John Sullivan.

Senate, House Recess Until September

Reminder: The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are observing their annual August recess, which continues through the Labor Day weekend. Both chambers reconvene on Tuesday, September 6.

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