Senate confirms Chao as DOT Secretary

Excerpt from Transport Topics article: The country’s top transportation officer will be Elaine Chao after the Senate voted to confirm her Jan. 31. Chao joins President Trump’s cabinet to direct agencies that oversee trucking regulation, highway safety and aviation. She indicated atop her priorities will be to help advance a long-term funding proposal for infrastructure…

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Excerpt from Transport Topics article:

The country’s top transportation officer will be Elaine Chao after the Senate voted to confirm her Jan. 31.

Chao joins President Trump’s cabinet to direct agencies that oversee trucking regulation, highway safety and aviation. She indicated atop her priorities will be to help advance a long-term funding proposal for infrastructure projects and crafting policies designed for emerging automation technologies. During the campaign, Trump’s advisers proposed investing $1 trillion over 10 years by providing tax credits to investors.

Ninety-three senators backed her nomination, six voted against her and one voted “present.”

The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, John Thune (R-S.D.), strongly endorsed Chao for the job.

“Chao has the experience, ability, and now the bipartisan backing of the Senate to address our nation’s transportation and infrastructure challenges. Her unwavering commitment to public service will be an asset to the Department of Transportation and the new administration,” Thune said in a statement shortly after Chao was confirmed. “As a new era begins, I look forward to working with her on an agenda to boost innovation and our country’s economic success.”

Ray LaHood, former secretary of transportation and co-chairman of Building America’s Future, applauded Chao’s confirmation.

See the full Transport Topics article online.

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