FMC Nominee Pledges to Cooperate With Industry

Richard A. Lidinsky Jr., the administration’s candidate for a seat on the Federal Maritime Commission, said he would improve communications between the agency and the maritime industry during a June 8 confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

“It is the role of the FMC, through its regulatory powers, to assist all segments of our waterborne commerce … in regaining their economic vitality,” during the current recession, Lidinsky told the panel.

The FMC also can work with ports on projects to improve the environment, Lidinsky said. However, he declined to comment when asked by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., about the commission’s actions to block portions of the clean truck program at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Lidinsky and two other transportation nominees took the witness table for the last few minutes of a three-hour committee session that included the markup of five bills, and was interrupted for Senate roll calls. Senators spent most of the time discussing the future of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration with Charles F. Bolden Jr. and Lori Garver, nominees to be administrator and deputy.

Polly Trottenberg, nominee for the Department of Transportation assistant secretary for policy, was warmly introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell.

Trottenberg spent several years on Schumer’s staff, and is now executive director of Building America’s Future, a transportation advocacy group founded by Rendell, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Deborah A.P. Hersman, nominee for chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, received praise for her three years as an NTSB member. When asked if the NTSB should have more authority to enforce its safety recommendations, she deferred to the support the agency has received from Congress in putting recommendations into law.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., asked Hersman about highway accidents involving longer or heavier trucks. Hersman said the NTSB is following the accident report carefully.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., told the three that it was likely they would be recommended for nomination.

Contact R.G. Edmonson at bedmonson@joc.com.