Our first panel of witnesses today. They are chairs of the National Endowment for the humanities and arts. Both witnesses are appearing for the first time before our subcommittee. Congratulations to both of you and your confirmation and thank you. Todays hearing provide us with a chance to hear more about the great work both endowments have done over the last couple of years and supporting our communities across the country economically, culturally and educationally. The National Endowment for the arts and humanities are a perfect example of how the federal government can be a positive force in communities large and small in every single state. In your statement following your confirmation, dr. Jackson, you said in addition to serving as an economic engine, arts and creativity are core to what it takes to heal our nation, communities and ourselves. I wholeheartedly agree. The fy 2020 three budget request for the National Endowment for the humanities is 200. 6 8 million 200. 68 million.
Through a credit card or bank account. At the end of every billing consumers would pay for their Telephone Service plus the purchase is that a page from thirdparty vendors. In theory using a telephone bill as a way to purchase goods and Services Makes some sense as a lot of potential. And it attracted a lot of interest. As several of our witnesses point out in their testimony today and do it very well, the socalled direct Carrier Billing method payment could benefit and bank customers, and other people looking for an alternative way dead shopper mecca charitable contribution. The reality of thirdparty charges on telephone bills is a markedly different story, a profoundly different tale and the fact of the matter is that it has not lived up to its potential. The pennant platforms. Figured out a way to beat the system. Theyve found ways still on cram unauthorized charges and have been absolutely relentless in doing so. So today most consumers still did not understand, including some of m
Necessary tunneling capacity under the hudson and tunnels currently serving extraordinary number of passengers on amtrak side and very diplomatic, mr. Chairman. Much painful history. Those tunnels are over 100 years old. Your first, do i agree, that it is an essential investment . We absolutely must do something about those. I believe were approaching 110yearold tunnels. They not only constrain capacity but at certain point they will become a real safety risk. And you know, think about the upheaval that will result if we were to lose that capacity all of a sudden. Could it be a candidate for the new starts program . Yes it could. What we would need is a local project sponsor to come forward to do all the Development Work and most importantly, come up with the necessary local match. And your final question, i need special legislation to help make that happen . Well take a turn on that but i dont think so. I think, i mean obviously the entire Program Expires at the end of the year but i
Hearing. [inaudible conversations] this hearing is open, and ask as you know and as you know, my name is richard blumenthal, im senator from connecticut, and i am here, regretfully, in place of chairman rockefeller who has an urgent intel, intelligence matter and, therefore, could not be with us at the opening. I dont think hell be able to join us, but his absence is in no way a sign of any lack of interest in this subject. In fact, ive talked to him in some detail about this hearing, and i know that he would be here if he could be. I want to welcome all of our panel here and all of the folks who are attending. This subject is one very, very close to my heart as a former attorney general for a couple of decades in connecticut. I had First Experience with cramming, both wireless and land line, and worked with at least one of the members of this panel, attorney general sir rell, and ill be introducing him in just a moment. As many of you know, the telephone industry decided to get into t
The socalled direct Carrier Billing method of payment could benefit unbanked customers. And other people looking for an alternative way to shop or make a charity contribution. But the reality of thirdparty charges on telephone bills is a different story. A profoundly different tale and it hasnt lived up to its potential. As soon as the phone Company Opened up outside scammers found a way to scam the system. They have added charges to peoples bill and are relentless in doing so. Many dont understand, including colleag colleagues, that their phone bill have charges for things they never bought. And they are paying for things they never bought. And it is an unwelcome surprise to them especially when they discover that they have trouble they turned their attention to the market was purchasing through the text message service. The Commerce Committee staff and i really want to thank them for their work has prepared a new report documenting how crammers exploited the weakness in the premium m