[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 2] [Senate] [Page 2094] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNIZING KENNETH M. MEAD'S SERVICE AS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 382, which was submitted earlier today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 382) recognizing Kenneth M. Mead's service as Inspector General of the Department of Transportation. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution. Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to commend Kenneth Mead's service as inspector general of the Department of Transportation. I am joined by Commerce Committee Cochairman Senator Inouye and committee members Senators Burns, McCain, Rockefeller, Lott, Lautenberg, Sununu, Pryor, and Bill Nelson. On February 11, 2006, Mr. Mead announced his retirement as the inspector general of the Department of Transportation after nearly 9 years of service in that position. In those 9 years of service, Mr. Mead and his staff conducted countless investigations in an independent, impartial, and professional manner regarding numerous issues affecting the Department. Mr. Mead appeared before the committee as a witness on several occasions throughout his tenure, and the committee always found that he provided independent, thorough, and relevant commentary and recommendations concerning a wide range of Federal transportation policies and programs. His contributions to transportation safety are greatly appreciated by the current and former members of the committee. On behalf of the Commerce Committee, I ask that the Senate recognize and commend Kenneth M. Mead for his more than 8 years of exemplary service to the Nation as the inspector general of the Department of Transportation, and we express our deep appreciation and gratitude for his long and outstanding service. Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 382) was agreed to. The preamble was agreed to. The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows: S. Res. 382 Whereas Kenneth M. Mead has announced his retirement as the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation after nearly 9 years of service in that position; Whereas, Kenneth M. Mead and his staff conducted investigations independently, impartially, and with rigorous professionalism into myriad issues affecting transportation and transportation policy; Whereas, Kenneth M. Mead and his staff provided independent, thorough, and relevant commentary and recommendations on a wide-range of Federal transportation policies and programs, including aviation operations and safety, highway, auto and truck operations and safety, transportation security, rail operations and safety, and pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety; Whereas, during Kenneth M. Mead's tenure as Inspector General, the events of September 11, 2001, had a dramatic impact on the Federal government's relationship with the aviation industry and posed significant challenges for ensuring the safety and security of public transportation in general and the United States aviation industry in particular; Whereas Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta recognized Kenneth M. Mead's contributions by describing him as ``a tireless advocate for setting the highest possible standards of integrity, accountability, and performance'' in the Department's efforts to make the Nation's transportation system as safe and efficient as possible: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States Senate commends Kenneth M. Mead for his more than 8 years of faithful and exemplary service to the Nation as the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, and expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude for his long and outstanding service. Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this resolution to Kenneth M. Mead. ____________________