Hearing of the Environment and Public Works Committee, on the Nomination of Thomas J. Madison, Jr.

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Hearing of the Environment and Public Works Committee, on the Nomination of Thomas J. Madison, Jr.

Schumer Pushes For Rapid Approval Of Proposed Federal Highway Chief, Thomas J. Madison, A New York Native And NYSDOT Vet; Understands Importance Of Signature Peace Bridge

At Senate Environment and Public Works Hearing, Schumer Introduces Former NYSDOT Head Madison - Applauds Appointment to Administrator Of Federal Highways At NYSDOT, Madison Supported World-Class Signature Peace Bridge as a Key for WNY-Canada Transportation, Commerce, and Tourism

Schumer: Madison's Impressive Resume Demonstrates His Readiness to Take On Twenty-First Century Infrastructure Challenges

At a nomination hearing by the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today applauded the nomination of Thomas J. Madison, Jr. to Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration for the Department of Transportation. Madison previously served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation. He is a native of New York and a former SUNY student.

"I met with Thomas Madison last week and he is squarely in our corner on the Peace Bridge. He knows the issue well from his days in NY State DOT and he believes in a world-class signature bridge for western New York that will be key to maintaining and growing commerce, travel and tourism between the US and Canada. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will work to do everything I can to move his nomination quickly. I am confident that Mr. Madison's acute awareness of the need to invest in strategic and innovative transportation infrastructure planning will make him a worthy Administrator."

Mr. Madison is also a former member of the Peace Bridge Authority Board in Buffalo, New York where he was a vocal proponent for the construction of a new "signature design" spanning the City of Buffalo and Southern Ontario.

Schumer added, "I am one of the biggest advocates for such a bridge and I look forward to working with Mr. Madison as the permitting process moves forward."

The full text of Schumer's statement, as prepared for delivery, appears below.


Statement of Senator Charles E. Schumer
Environment and Public Works Committee, Hearing on the Nomination of Thomas J. Madison, Jr., July 30th 2008

I'd like to thank my colleague, Chairwoman Boxer for holding this nomination hearing.

I would also like to acknowledge my good friend and colleague from the State of New York, Senator Clinton, who is here with me today.

And I would especially like to thank the committee for allowing me to speak and giving me the honor of introducing Thomas J. Madison, Jr., before he is confirmed to be the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration

As we all know, transportation needs have reached a critical point in our nation's history.

It is imperative that our nation's aging highway infrastructure be adequately maintained and kept in a state of good repair. The Federal Government cannot sit on its hands and must expand its involvements in such efforts. And it is still not too late for this Administration to make the right moves to get us back onto the right path. This nomination is one such move.

I believe the condition of our nation's infrastructure is not only an essential part of our economic well being but it is also critical to our personal safety. Right now, the state of our nation's infrastructure is not something this country can be proud of. We need to wake up to the dire state of our roads, rails and bridges, so as to avoid devastating accidents like the collapse of the I-35 Deck Truss Bridge in Minnesota

And so I am pleased to present Mr. Madison to the Committee, and I voice my support on behalf of his nomination to Federal Highways. I know that he prioritizes transportation infrastructure and his impressive resume demonstrates his readiness for the many challenges he will face.

Thomas Madison is a native of Binghamton, New York and a graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo. In Binghamton he served for two years as a Deputy Broome County Executive.

He then served as Governor George Pataki's Regional Representative before moving to Albany to be the Governor's Deputy Appointments Secretary.

Mr. Madison continued his career in public service as the Executive Deputy Director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, and then the Director of State and Local Government Affairs for Governor Pataki. After serving as Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Transportation in New York State, he was appointed Commissioner of New York State Department of Transportation

It was in this position that Mr. Madison so instrumentally laid the ground work for the future of transportation infrastructure in New York, which is home to over 237,000 miles of highway lane and 17,500 bridges.

Mr. Madison can tout the Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005, a $2.9 billion statewide ballot initiative that targeted the rebuilding and improvement of the State's highway and bridge network and mass transportation systems, as well as fund airport, rail freight and port projects.

This 5-year strategy for New York State Transportation was decisive in ensuring the State's ability to keep roadways safe while expanding public transportation options, creating jobs, and protecting the environment.

Nationally we face needs similar to New York's: As I mentioned before, the collapse of the I-35 Deck Truss Bridge in Minnesota was a bellwether of the condition of the bridge stock in this country. Similarly, we are facing complex new problems in transportation funding as our highway trust fund depletes at alarming rates and energy prices continue to skyrocket.

On a personal note, Mr. Madison is also a former member of the Peace Bridge Authority Board in Buffalo, New York where he was a vocal proponent for the construction of a new "signature bridge" spanning the City of Buffalo and Southern Ontario.

I am one of the biggest advocates for such a bridge and I look forward to working with Mr. Madison as the permitting process moves forward.

The Peace Bridge is a crucial link in commerce and tourism between the U.S. and our Canadian neighbors, and for those reasons I am eager to continue talks with Federal Highways and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to see to it that the City of Buffalo gets the magnificent structure that it so deeply deserves.

I am confident that Mr. Madison's acute awareness of the need to invest in strategic and innovative transportation infrastructure planning will make him a worthy Administrator of Federal Highways.

I again thank Chairwoman Boxer and my colleagues for holding this hearing and for their efforts to expeditiously confirm Thomas J. Madison Jr. to be the FHWA Administrator. Thank you for your time.

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