Lawmakers share personal stories at Transportation nominee Duffy's hearing
"No federal agency impacts Americans’ daily lives and loved ones like the Department of Transportation," former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., said in his opening statement, adding that President-elect Trump "is a builder" and knows the importance of maintaining and building critical infrastructure.
During the hearing, he and several lawmakers shared personal stories of being involved in accidents including with drunk drivers.
Duffy said his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, survived a deadly head-on collision -- which brought highway safety to the forefront in his family.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., disclosed that he, too, was involved in an accident with a drunk driver 30 years ago, and does not like to talk about it.
Lujan appeared to get briefly emotional as he addressed Campos-Duffy in connecting over their shared experience – and praised Duffy for his stated goal to be remembered as a secretary who improved transportation safety.
Later in the hearing, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., also stressed the importance of highway safety and disclosed he had been hit by a car when he was 5 years old.
Posted by Charles Creitz
