NATION - The following information was released by Maine Senator Olympia Snowe:

U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today met with Transportation Secretary Nominee, former U. S. Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL), and shared her priorities for the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Obama Administration.

"With President-elect Obamas promise to make an investment in infrastructure on par with President Eisenhower's creation of the Interstate Highway System in the upcoming stimulus package, coupled with an FAA Reauthorization that is two years overdue for passage, and the pending expiration of the current Highway Bill in the fall, it is clearly a critical year for infrastructure and transportation," Senator Snowe said.

Making note of their strong working relationship during their time together in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senator Snowe commended LaHoods commitment to public service and described his approach toward tackling challenging issues as one with "an open mind and on a bipartisan basis."

Outlining her priorities for the 111th Congress, Senator Snowe emphasized the importance of stabilizing America's aviation network, including: a Passenger Bill of Rights; an overhaul of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program that guarantees air service for small communities such as Presque Isle, Augusta, Rockland, and Bar Harbor; and the implementation of a new, modern air traffic control system.

Congress, she said, must act swiftly and pass an FAA Reauthorization, "the FAA Reauthorization has been languishing unfinished for most of the 110th Congress, as it expired in October 2007. There is a concern that this bill will be pushed back even further in 2009, while our airlines continue to struggle financially and major legacy air carriers faces the threat of merging or completely failing. We cannot afford to deter this legislation any longer."

Furthermore, Senator Snowe called for additional investments in the nations infrastructure and stressed the need for the advancement of a bipartisan Highway Transportation Bill.