Senate Confirms Rebecca F. Dye and Mario Cordero as FMC Commissioners

Contact: Karen V. Gregory, Secretary (202-523-5725)

On Thursday, April 14, 2011, the Senate voted to confirm the President’s nominations of Rebecca F. Dye and Mario Cordero as Federal Maritime Commissioners. They will be sworn in for their terms as Commissioners in the next several weeks.

Commissioner Dye, first sworn in on November 14, 2002, has served two terms as a Federal Maritime Commissioner. Most recently Commissioner Dye served as Fact Finding Officer for the Commission’s investigation into vessel capacity and equipment availability for U.S. exporters and importers. She was nominated and confirmed to a term expiring June 30, 2015.

Commissioner Dye stated: “I am honored to have been re-nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate for another term at the Commission. I also deeply appreciate the support of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. I look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners to increase the efficiency and reliability of the international supply chain for U.S. importers and exporters.”

Mario Cordero is an attorney in private practice and is serving his second term on the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. During his first term, Mr. Cordero served as Vice-President and President of the Board, and he spearheaded the Port’s pioneering Green Port Policy and Clean Air Action Plan. Mr. Cordero is also a professor of Political Science at Long Beach City College. He was nominated and confirmed to a term expiring June 30, 2014.

Mr. Cordero stated: “I am honored that President Obama and the Senate have given me the opportunity to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission. The Commission’s work is vital in assisting the economic recovery by facilitating international trade through the nation’s ports, as well as supporting increases in the efficiency and sustainability of shipping and port operations.”

Chairman Lidinsky stated: “Commissioner Dye has made invaluable contributions during her tenure here – both to the Commission and the shipping public. Long Beach Port Commissioner Cordero has been a leader in the Port’s innovative trade promotion and environmental policies, and I welcome having his valuable experience and perspective from our West Coast ports. I very much look forward to working with them for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and consumers. I also thank President Obama, Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison, and the U.S. Senate for their efforts to ensure the FMC has a full complement working to ensure a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system.”

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers, and the American consumer. The FMC’s mission is to foster a fair, efficient, and reliable international ocean transportation system while protecting the public from unfair and deceptive practices.