The Senate Thursday unanimously confirmed Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, NC, to succeed Ray LaHood as secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversees the safety of the nation’s natural gas and hazardous pipeline infrastructure, as well as roads, airports and railways.

The chamber voted 100-0 for Foxx, which is very unusual for a Cabinet position and the Senate as a whole, which rarely agrees on anything. President Obama nominated Foxx, the youngest mayor of Charlotte and the city’s second African American mayor, to succeed LaHood as head of the DOT in late April (see Daily GPI, April 30).

In January, LaHood announced his resignation, but he pledged to stay on until his successor was confirmed to ensure a smooth transition for the department. LaHood was named transportation secretary in January 2009. During his term, there were three major explosions on natural gas pipelines: San Bruno, CA; Allentown, PA; and Sissonville, WV (see Daily GPI, Dec. 12, 2012; Feb. 11, 2011; Sept. 22, 2010). The series of incidents has led to more rigorous regulations from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an agency of DOT.

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