Washington, D.C. – Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, president and secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement on Sean Duffy’s confirmation to serve as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT):
“Transportation labor congratulates Sean Duffy on his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Transportation. As Transportation Secretary, Mr. Duffy will play a critical leadership role in overseeing the modal agencies that keep the traveling public and transportation workers safe, including the Federal Aviation, Railroad, Maritime and Transit Administrations.
“As the nation’s largest transportation labor federation, our priority remains the same across changing political landscapes and evolving technology: the safety and well-being of frontline workers and passengers. In his confirmation hearing, Mr. Duffy committed to upholding the two-person staffing minimum for freight train crews, acknowledged the importance of investing in our passenger rail network, pledged to increase air traffic controller staffing, and expressed his support for the Jones Act. We are pleased that Mr. Duffy has a shared commitment on these issues, in addition to continuing to oversee the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s long-term investments in communities across America.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy to improve America’s transportation systems, including commercial aviation, freight rail networks, Amtrak, and public transit, while ensuring that the workers who build, operate, maintain, and protect those systems remain safe on the job.”
###