And to further secure our future, we have taken
transportation into the 21st century with CAFE
Standards, NextGen, and our investments in passenger and
High-Speed Rail.
What’s more, we have provided the U.S. Merchant
Marine Academy with the funding and leadership it needs
to prepare a new generation of midshipmen to meet our
country’s rapidly-evolving defense and maritime
transportation needs.
Closer to home, we also have made great strides.
In December, the DOT was recognized as the most
improved agency in the entire Federal government in the
2012 “Best Places to Work” rankings published by the
Partnership of Public Service.
Even more impressive, DOT was ranked 9th out of
the 19 largest agencies in the government.
Each of these remarkable accomplishments is a tribute
your hard work, creativity, commitment to excellence,
and most of all, your dedication to our country.
DOT is fortunate to have such an extraordinary
group of public servants.
I look forward to continuing to work with all of
you as the selection and confirmation process of the
next transportation secretary moves forward.
Now is not the time to let up - we still have a
number of critical safety goals to accomplish and still
more work to do on the implementation of MAP-21.
I’ve told President Obama, and I’ve told many of you,
that this is the best job I’ve ever had.
I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with
all of you and I’m confident that DOT will continue to
achieve great things in the future.
Thank you, and God bless you.”
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association salutes
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, upon his
resignation announcement. "Secretary LaHood has been an
extraordinary leader. He worked to restore fair
collective bargaining rights for air traffic controllers
and other aviation safety professionals, fought hard for
furloughed FAA employees in 2011 and strongly supported
the birth, growth and success of NATCA’s collaborative
relationship with the FAA,” NATCA President Paul Rinaldi
said.
“Secretary LaHood has served during the safest period in
aviation history. His leadership and his intense focus
on safety has been an inspiration to all of us and we
have been proud to serve in the DOT during his tenure.
We thank him, congratulate him on a job very well done
and wish him the best in his future plans.”
|