More transportation industry reaction to Sen. Lautenberg passing

{mosads}”Today, transportation generally and passenger rail in particular, lost a dear friend and valiant advocate with the passing of New Jersey U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg. I worked more closely with Sen. Lautenberg as a member and later chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors as we began operation of the senator’s much loved Acela, serving DC, New York and Boston and the vibrant cities in between. I rode the rails with the senator several times, including the congressional trip to New York City shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, to share the nation’s support, solidarity and resilience with the people of New York City.”
-Reconnecting America President John Robert Smith

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a great leader who has been instrumental in bettering the lives of all Americans through his lifetime of dedicated service. For nearly thirty years as an elected leader, Sen. Lautenberg has been a champion of numerous Flight Attendant issues that have had tremendous impact on our profession. In 1989, AFA worked closely with the Senator to pass legislation that banned smoking on all domestic flights. His foresight and leadership were invaluable in pioneering the trend of smoke-free workplaces, and safer skies for passengers and crews.”
-The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA)

“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a stalwart proponent of a vibrant and safe transportation system and a tireless advocate of the men and woman who work in this vital sector of our economy. Whether leading the charge to enhance transportation safety and security, secure funding for necessary transportation investments or defend basic collective bargaining rights on the Senate floor, transportation workers knew they had a friend in Frank Lautenberg. In the area of transportation safety and security there was no greater champion than Sen. Lautenberg.”
-AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Ed Wytkind