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Yesterday, Deborah Hersman was sworn in as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. Her term expires Dec. 31, 2008.

Hersman most recently served as a senior professional staff member of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for the past five years. She previously served as staff director and senior legislative aide to Rep. Bob Wise (D-W.Va.) from 1992 to 1999.

In her Senate committee position, Hersman was responsible for the legislative agenda, oversight and policy initiatives for surface transportation issues, including railroad regulation, safety and passenger issues; and truck, bus, pipeline and hazardous materials transportation safety. She also worked on transportation security issues following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

In addition, Hersman played a role in the passage of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002; and numerous transportation safety and security bills, and worked on Amtrak-related issues.