Senate committee clears DOT, DHS nominees

Senate committee clears DOT, DHS nominees
Ferro
   The Senate Commerce Committee announced Tuesday that it has cleared the nomination of Anne Ferro to administrator of the U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
   Ferro’s ability to operate the FMCSA came under scrutiny during her Sept. 23 confirmation hearing before the committee due to her ties to the trucking industry as head of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.
Quarterman
   The committee also approved Cynthia Quarterman’s nomination to administrator of the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
   The PHMSA recently came under fire from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s for how it manages special permits for the transportation of certain types of hazardous materials. For more details, read the November American Shipper, pages 55-57.
   In addition, the Committee approved the nomination of Erroll G. Southers to be assistant secretary of homeland security and head of the Transportation Security Administration.