Senate panel approves Transportation Security nominee
David Stone's nomination to head TSA passes on voice vote.
The Governmental Affairs Committee late Tuesday sent President Bush's nominee for the top spot at the Transportation Security Administration to the Senate floor for a vote.
The panel approved David Stone's nomination to become TSA administrator by voice vote.
"Admiral Stone is the ideal candidate to head an agency with tens of thousands of employees and oversight of security at our nation's airports, ports and railways," said Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Stone faced tough questioning from Collins and ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., during a hearing on his nomination late last month. At the hearing, Stone revealed more airlines than previously reported had handed over sensitive passenger data to TSA's airline-passenger data program, known as CAPPSII.
Despite lawmakers' complaints about CAPPSII and other security initiatives, the full Senate is expected to approve Stone's nomination.
Stone has been serving as acting administrator since Adm. James Loy began serving as Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's deputy secretary late last year.