Jay Rockefeller

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, how much time remains on our side?

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Let me just say that the TSA Administrator has the right to allow collective bargaining for TSA employees through the authority he was provided in the original Aviation and Transportation Security Act passed in 2001. When Congress passed that, we came to an agreement that left the determination of allowing collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers to the TSA Administrator. I firmly believe this authority should remain with the TSA Administrator. The current agreement was approved under the Bush administration and approved by a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. I see no reason to alter this compromise at this time. There are valid reasons to keep the authority with the TSA Administrator. He works firsthand with the employees every day. The nature of his work is very hands on. He is better qualified to determine the agency's mission, how it can be improved, with or without collective bargaining--he more than anybody. On Friday, Administrator Pistole announced his intention to allow collective bargaining over workforce issues, but security and pay will not be subject to negotiation. Most other Federal law enforcement agencies, including others housed within the Department of Homeland Security, such as Customs and Border Patrol, have collective bargaining rights. I do not believe the sponsors of this amendment would question the dedication of these law enforcement officers, despite their right to collectively bargain. TSA employees must still follow civil service rules that prohibit the right to strike and allow managers to move workers to different areas and roles in the event of an emergency and security as needed. I cannot support this amendment. I feel it could negatively impact security if TSA permits collective bargaining rights to improve employee retention. Finally, this amendment is a security issue, and one that is better addressed when a TSA reauthorization comes to the floor. This is our problem. We are not talking about security here, we are talking about other matters. Accordingly, I urge my fellow Senators to oppose the Wicker amendment. I yield the floor.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Alaska.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``A Ticking Time Bomb: Counterterrorism Lessons from the U.S. Government's Failure to Prevent the Fort Hood Attack.''

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The President's Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Proposal.''

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011 at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011, in Dirksen 406 to hold a hearing entitled, ``Nomination of Daniel M. Ashe to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.''

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on February 15, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in SD-406.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, rollcall votes in relation to FAA amendments are expected to occur throughout the day tomorrow.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I wish to say, very briefly, that I strongly support the Nelson amendment for a whole variety of reasons, all of which are very logical, extremely well ordered, and which I do not have time to give. The yeas and nays have been ordered. Perhaps we can proceed with the vote.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m. on this day there be 20 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form on the Wicker amendment prior to the vote in relation to the Wicker amendment, and that the remaining provisions of the previous order remain in effect.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Blunt amendment No. 5 be modified with the changes that are at the desk; further, that the Blunt amendment No. 5, as modified, and the Reid amendment No. 55 be considered and agreed to en bloc and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with each Senator permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I am only going to comment for a minute, but what the Senator from Alaska has just said is completely true. It also points out the overall philosophical question of what are we doing with this bill: Are we going to pass it or fight over all these slots? I am for passing the bill and leaving slots for conference or whatever, unless we can work something out. Nobody wants to agree. Everybody thinks they have the leverage. Maybe they do, maybe they do not. But in the meantime, this bill, which has been languishing for all these months, in fact, solves one of the problems of Alaska in its entirety because of the NextGen system, which I have been talking about--and which I could talk about more but not today--which is a global satellite network. It will provide the safety and capacity that is needed for safe flight in tricky weather, where weather changes very quickly, and, in fact, it is now in place in Alaska. So that doesn't, in any way, take away from the Essential Air Service problems which the Senator from Alaska is talking about. I totally agree with her on that. But it just shows that if we hold up this bill and make ourselves slaves to working out slots agreements, which probably can't be worked out on this floor--maybe they can, I hope so, but I doubt it--we are depriving her State and others--but hers in particular since hers is a test State which has this system in place because of the changing weather, because of the unpredictability of virtually everything when you are flying. It is in effect there and in four other States. We are trying to get it to all States. This will change the whole future of aviation. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment also be set aside to call up the Baucus amendment, No. 75, as modified.