Senate panel to consider Obama’s highway safety pick

The Senate will begin its consideration of President Obama’s nominee to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) on Wednesday. 

Obama announced in mid-November that he was tapping National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Mark Rosekind to lead the Highway Safety agency, which has come under fire in the past year for its handling of auto recalls by several car companies. 

The Senate’s consideration of his nomination will begin on Wednesday afternoon at a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. 

{mosads}Rosekind will be the NTSB’s first full-time chief in nearly a year if he is confirmed by the Senate.

The agency has been operating with a full-time chief since its former Administrator David Strickland resigned at the beginning of 2014. 

Rosekind’s ascension from the NTSB to the highway safety agency could be complicated angst among lawmakers about widespread recalls involving airbags that were made by Japanese auto parts manufacturer Takata. 

Lawmakers have taken the highway safety agency to task for its handling of the Takata recall and earlier problems at General Motors, accusing officials there of failing to notice trends of accidents involving faulty auto parts in both cases. 

Obama administration officials have promised Rosekind will be a stabilizing factor for the agency if he is confirmed by the Senate. 

“Mark has shown tremendous dedication to making our roads safer throughout his career and brings direct experience from the National Transportation Safety Board,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement when Rosekind’s nomination was first announced. 

“Mark is a leader ready-made for this critical responsibility and I expect him to hold not only the auto industry accountable, but I also expect him to help us raise the bar on safety ever higher within the U.S. Department of Transportation and among all of our stakeholders,” Foxx said.