Norris to Testify before National Transportation Commission

November 8, 2006

State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) will address the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission when it convenes in Memphis on November 15.

Chaired by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, the Commission is responsible for recommendations to Congress on future transportation and economic development projects.

Peters will be joined by commissioners Patrick Quinn, Chairman American Trucking Association; Steve Odland, Chairman and CEO Office Depot; Matt Rose, CEO Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad; and Tom Skancke, CEO The Skancke Company.

“I am very pleased that Secretary Peters and the National Commission selected Memphis,” Norris said. “Tennessee is the hub for transportation and economic development in the South.”

Norris will address regional opportunities for intergovernmental innovation with panelists from Federal Express, Wal-Mart and Nike joining him.

“Our task is to help find solutions to problems and identify opportunities for the future of transportation,” Norris said. “Funding, congestion and increasing demands upon limited resources call for creative thinking if we are to remain competitive as a state and a nation.”

Norris serves as Chairman of the Tennessee Senate Transportation Committee and chairs the Economic Development, Transportation and Cultural Affairs Committee of the 16-state Southern Legislative Conference.

Also scheduled to testify are Gerald Nicely, Tennessee Commissioner of Transportation; Matt Kisber, Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; John Moore, President and CEO Memphis Regional Chamber; Pete Johnson, Federal Co-chair Delta Regional Authority; Steve Rand, Asst. Vice President CSX Intermodal; Jonathan Red, COO Sea Point LLC; Neely Mallory, President of Mallory Alexander International Logistics; Keith Ingram, Vice-chair Memphis Regional Logistics Council; and Dave Huneryager, President and CEO Tennessee Trucking Association.

For more information on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission: www.surfacecommission.gov.