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36–098 PDF 2007

S. HRG. 110–116

RENOMINATION OF CHARLES D. SNELLING TO

BE A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN

WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, 

SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

MAY 24, 2007

Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

(

(II)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Chairman 

JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia 

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts 

BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota 

BARBARA BOXER, California 

BILL NELSON, Florida 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey 

MARK PRYOR, Arkansas 

THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware 

CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

TED STEVENS, Alaska, Vice Chairman 

JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona 

TRENT LOTT, Mississippi 

KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas 

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine 

GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon 

JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada 

JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire 

JIM DEMINT, South Carolina 

DAVID VITTER, Louisiana 

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota 

MARGARET L. CUMMISKY, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

LILA HARPER HELMS, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and Policy Director 

CHRISTINE D. KURTH, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel 

KENNETH R. NAHIGIAN, Republican Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Hearing held on May 24, 2007 ............................................................................... 1

Statement of Senator Inouye .................................................................................. 1

WITNESSES

Snelling, Hon. Charles Darwin, Renominated to be a Member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority ............................................................. 1

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 3 

Biographical information ................................................................................. 4

Specter, Hon. Arlen, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania ......................................... 10

Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 10 

(1)

RENOMINATION OF CHARLES D. SNELLING 

TO BE A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN 

WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY 

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:04 a.m. in room 

SR–253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Inouye, 

Chairman of the Committee, presiding. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. INOUYE,

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

The CHAIRMAN. Today we will consider the nomination of Mr. 

Charles D. Snelling to be a Member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 

Mr. Snelling has come before us previously and serves on the Authority today. By all accounts, Mr. Snelling has been regarded as 

highly competent and effective during his tenure with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 

I look forward to hearing about your experiences working on the 

Authority and any views you may have about how Congress can 

help ensure the success of the mission of the Authority. 

Mr. Snelling? 

Mr. SNELLING. Thank you. 

The CHAIRMAN. It may please you to know that we have received 

no objection. It seems like everyone loves you, and they approve of 

you, or at least——

STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES DARWIN SNELLING, RENOMINATED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY 

Mr. SNELLING. It does please me to know that, Mr. Chairman. 

And I thank you very much for that warm and fine invitation. 

It’s—I’m coming here often enough so I’m beginning to feel comfortable. 

[Laughter.] 

Mr. SNELLING. I am Charles Snelling, the President’s nominee to 

a second term as Member of the Metropolitan Washington Airports 

Authority Board of Directors. I am delighted to appear before you 

again. 

I was here last September, in 2006, in a hearing on my nomination to this same position. Although the Committee reported my 

2

nomination unanimously, the Senate did not act on its report, and 

the President nominated me again in January. 

The President appoints three directors of the Airports Authority, 

and the three of us are proud to be amongst the most active members of this 13-member board. We each chair a Committee that 

meets monthly. For 2 years, I served as Chairman of the Finance 

Committee, and I’ve recently been named Chairman of the new 

Planning and Construction Committee. 

As I have advised this Committee before, my prior experience on 

the board at Lehigh Valley Hospital, a billion-dollar charity, has 

proved most helpful training for my service to the Airports Authority. 

Mr. Chairman, as most Senators use our airports, I think it’s 

useful to mention briefly the major issues which are pressing on us: 

First, as you may be aware, the Airports Authority is about to 

assume the responsibility for the construction of the Metrorail extension that will connect the entire region with Dulles Airport, a 

project we will finance, in large part, with tolls from the Dulles Toll 

Road. We have been engaged in difficult negotiations over the price 

of the rail project, but have managed to agree on a contract that 

sets the price within the Federal Transit Administration efficiency 

standards. It now appears that we will soon be engaged in rail construction at the same time as airport construction. We relish the 

challenge. 

On the aviation side, our efforts are both to attract new services 

and to make sure our facilities are ready to handle the continuing 

growth. At Dulles, as you know, we’re building an underground 

people mover, and the project is on schedule, and the trains should 

start running in 2009. 

We will continue to build out our master plan with an extension 

to the existing midfield terminals and the ultimate construction of 

parallel midfield terminals. Those new midfield terminals are still 

off in the future, but I’m confident that they will be built sooner 

than anyone might expect. 

At Reagan National, we’re scrambling to build additional parking 

capacity to accommodate passenger growth caused by flights added 

over the last several years. As you may know, our garages are 

often full on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. 

Traffic has been growing steadily at Reagan National, at 18.5 

million for the last 12 months, up 2.4 percent over the same period 

last year. At Dulles, there was a little decline for the same 12-

month period, reflecting the sudden demise of Independence Air. 

But Dulles has, in fact, fully recovered. The month of March 2007 

showed a 13.7-percent growth over March in 2006. Our anticipation 

is that the number of Dulles passengers will continue to grow 

smartly. Total passengers for the 12-month period were 23.6 million. 

More interesting than the numbers are the new services being 

introduced at Dulles. Thus far in 2007, we have new daily services 

to Beijing, Rome, Huntsville, and additional flights to Seoul and 

London. As the year goes on, we will have new service to Madrid, 

Panama City, Doha, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, and Oklahoma City. 

Flights to Addis Ababa will double to four per week. Washington’s 

air service is matching its significance as a world-class capital city. 

3

Mr. Chairman, it’s just over 20 years since Congress agreed to 

turn over Dulles and National, the Metropolitan Washington Airports, to the independent Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. In my opinion, this has proved to be a most wise and beneficial decision. I look forward to continuing the Authority’s excellent record as we face the future, dealing with the ever-changing 

aviation world. 

Thank you for considering my nomination to the board of the 

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. I’d be very happy to 

answer any questions you might have, sir. 

[The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr. 

Snelling follow:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES DARWIN SNELLING, RENOMINATED TO BE A

MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee: 

I am Charles Snelling, the President’s nominee to a second term as a Member of 

the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board of Directors. I am delighted 

to appear before you again. 

I was last here in September 2006, in a hearing on my nomination to the same 

position. Although the Committee reported my nomination unanimously, the Senate 

did not act on its report, and the President nominated me again in January. 

The President appoints three Directors of the Airports Authority, and the three 

of us are proud to be among the most active members of the 13-member Board. We 

each chair a Committee that meets monthly. For 2 years, I served as Chairman of 

the Finance Committee, and have recently been named Chairman of a new Planning 

and Construction Committee. As I have advised this Committee before, my prior experience on the Board of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, a billion-dollar charity, has 

proven most helpful training for my service on the Airports Authority. 

Mr. Chairman, as most Senators use our Airports, I think it useful to mention 

briefly the major issues pressing us. First, as you may be aware, the Airports Authority is about to assume responsibility for the construction of the Metrorail extension that will connect the entire region with Dulles Airport, a project we will finance 

in large part with tolls from the Dulles Toll Road. We have been engaged in difficult 

negotiations over the price of the rail project, but have managed to agree on a contract that sets a price within the Federal Transit Administration efficiency standards. It now appears that we will soon be engaged in rail construction at the same 

time as airport construction. We relish the challenge. 

On the aviation side, our efforts are both to attract new services and make sure 

our facilities are ready to handle the continuing growth. At Dulles, as you know, 

we are building an underground people mover; the project is on schedule, and the 

trains should start running in 2009. We will continue to build out our master plan, 

with an extension to the existing midfield terminal, and the ultimate construction 

of parallel midfield terminals. Those new midfield terminals are still off in the future, but I am confident they will be built sooner than anyone now expects. 

At Reagan National, we are scrambling to build additional parking capacity to accommodate passenger growth caused by flights added over the last several years. 

As you may know, our garages are often full on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Traffic has been growing steadily at Reagan National, at 18.5 million for the last 

12 months, up 2.4 percent over the same period last year. At Dulles, there has been 

a decline for the same 12-month period, still reflecting the sudden demise of Independence Air, but Dulles has nearly fully recovered: the month of March 2007 

showed 13.7 percent growth over March 2006. Our anticipation is that the number 

of Dulles passengers will continue to grow smartly. Total passengers for the 12-

month period were 23.6 million. 

More interesting than the numbers are the new services being introduced at Dulles. Thus far in 2007, we have new daily services to Beijing, Rome, and Huntsville, 

and additional flights to Seoul and London. As the year goes on, we will have new 

services to Madrid, Panama City, Doha, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, and Oklahoma City. 

Flights to Addis Ababa will double, to 4 per week. Washington’s air service is 

matching its significance as a world-class capital city. 

Mr. Chairman, it is just over twenty years since the Congress agreed to turn over 

Dulles and National, the Metropolitan Washington Airports, to the independent 

4

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. In my opinion, this has proven a most 

wise and beneficial decision. I look forward to continuing the Authority’s excellent 

record as we face the future, dealing with an ever-changing aviation world. 

Thank you for considering my renomination to the Board of the Metropolitan 

Washington Airports Authority. I will be happy to answer any questions. 

A. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

1. Name: (Include any former names or nicknames used): Charles Darwin 

Snelling. 

2. Position to which nominated: Member [‘‘Director’’], Metropolitan Washington 

Airports Authority, an agency created by interstate compact between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. 

3. Date of nomination: June 5, 2006. 

4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses): Information not 

available to the public. 

5. Date and place of birth: January 26, 1931, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including stepchildren and children 

by a previous marriage).

Married March 21, 1951 to Adrienne Celeste Angeletti. She is not employed.

Adrienne Celeste Snelling II Sullivan, 55; Jonathan Commonfort Snelling, 53; 

Marjorie Preston Snelling, 51; Elizabeth Hornor Snelling Groner, 49; and Lesley 

Coates Snelling Bober, 46.

7. List all college and graduate degrees. Provide year and school attended.

Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, September 1949–June 1951.

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, September 1951–June 1954, B.S. 

in E.M.

8. Employment Record: (List all post-undergraduate employment, and highlight 

all management-level jobs held and any non-managerial jobs that relate to the position for which you are nominated.) 

1954–1955, Assistant to the President, New York Transformer Company, Alpha, 

New Jersey. This staff position involved new product development and survey, and 

general technical and administrative management decisions. 

Since that time, I have been effectively self-employed. 

9. Government experience: (List any advisory, consultative, honorary or other 

part-time service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other than 

those listed above, within the last 5 years): Chairman, Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Commission, 2000–2003. 

10. Business relationships: (List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee, 

partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise, educational, or other institution within the last 5 years.)

Current:

Director, Bliley Technologies, Inc. 

President and Director, The Snelling Company. 

President and Director, Western Lehigh Valley Corporation. 

Chairman, Thousand Islands Marine and Island Service, Inc.

Prior:

Director, NEPA Management Business Trust, 1985–2005. 

Director, Axicom Technologies, Inc., 1997–2005. 

Trustee, Lehigh Valley Hospital/Lehigh Valley Health Network, Inc., Allentown, 

Pennsylvania—1982–2002; Treasurer—1986–1991.

11. Memberships: (List each membership you have had during the past 10 years 

or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable, educational, political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or religious organization, private club, or other membership organization. Include dates of membership and any positions you have held 

with any organization. Please note whether any such club or organization restricts 

membership on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or handicap.)

Current:

National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem, PA—Director.

5

Council of The Pennsylvania Society, Sellersville, Pennsylvania—Secretary 

1993–1995; First Vice President 1995–1997; President 1997–2000.

The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.

Merion Cricket Club, Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Grenadier Island Country Club, Ltd., Ontario, Canada—Past President.

Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Princeton Club, New York, New York.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Director.

Foundation for the Advancement of Monetary Education, New York, New 

York—Trustee.

Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania—Trustee 1974–1997; Treasurer 

1985–1997; Life Trustee since 1997.

The Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, New York—Trustee since 1978; Chairman 

1998–2000.

Prior:

Educational Ventures, Inc., Allentown, Pennsylvania—1982–2002; Treasurer 

1986–1991.

Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, Pennsylvania—Trustee.

Allentown Economic Development Corporation, Allentown, Pennsylvania—Director.

Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce, Allentown, Pennsylvania—Director.

Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce Issues Committee—Member.

Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania—Member, Board of Associates.

12. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held public office (elected, nonelected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any campaign has any outstanding 

debt, the amount, and whether you are personally liable for that debt.

Councilman, city of Allentown, Pennsylvania—elected 1969 (4-year term).

President, Allentown City Council—elected annually, 1970–1973.

Member, 1972 Pennsylvania Electoral College.

Candidate for the Pennsylvania Senate, 1974.

There is no outstanding debt.

13. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign organization, 

political party, political action committee, or similar entity of $500 or more for the 

past 10 years. Also list all offices you have held with, and services rendered to, a 

state or national political party or election committee during the same period. 

Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania–elected 1998, reelected 2000, 2002, 

2004 and 2006.

Amounts in dollars

2007:

1,000—Committee to Elect Jim Martin 

1,000—Committee to Elect Maria Dantos 

2,300—Citizens for Arlen Specter

2006:

1,000—Friends of Senator Jubelirer 

1,000—Friends of Doug Reichley 

2,000—Citizens for Browne 

1,000—Lehigh County Republican Committee 

2,000—Lynn Swann for Governor 

1,000—Friends of Rob Wonderling 

2,100—Charlie Dent for Congress 

1,000—Green Party of Luzerne County 

1,000—Gerlach for Congress 

1,000—Friends of Karen Beyer 

1,000—DENT PAC 

1,000—Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee 

1,000—Pa. Republican State Committee

2005:

6

1,668—Committee to Reelect Jane Ervin 

4,200—Santorum 2006

700—Committee to Elect Bob Nyce 

600—Heydt for Mayor 

1,000—Friends of Doug Reichley 

2,100—Charlie Dent for Congress 

1,000—Friends of Rob Wonderling 

500—Jim Gerlach for Congress 

750—Republican Majority for Choice 

1,000—Friends of Karen Beyer 

500—Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

500—Lehigh County Republican Committee

2004:

1,000—Friends of Doug Reichley 

1,250—Lehigh County Republican Committee 

576—Citizens for Arlen Specter 

1,100—Friends of Tom Corbett 

1,000—Friends of Joe Peters 

1,000—Committee to Elect Julie Harhart 

1,500—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

500—Pennsylvania Picks Jean Craige Pepper 

1,000—Committee to Elect Peg Ferraro 

2,000—Charlie Dent for Congress 

500—Jim Gerlach for Congress 

500—Volunteers for Argall 

500—Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee

2003:

4,000—Bush-Cheney 2004, Inc. 

1,000—Brian Johnson for Judge 

1,000—Charlie Dent for Congress 

500—Lehigh County Republican Committee 

500—Northampton County Republican Committee 

500—Committee to Elect Jim Martin 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

500—Lehigh Valley Coalition for Fair Government

2002:

2,424—Citizens for Arlen Specter 

1,000—Friends of Brian O’Neill 

1,000—Pat Toomey for Congress 

1,000—Committee to Elect Doug Reichley 

1,000—Committee to Elect Charlie Dent 

1,000—Lehigh Valley Republican Development Group 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

500—Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee

2001:

2,500—Committee to Elect Judge R. Simpson 

2,000—Committee to Elect Jane Ervin 

2,000—Pam Varkony for Mayor 

1,000—Pat Toomey for Congress 

1,000—Citizens for Arlen Specter 

1,000—Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee 

1,000—Bob Lovett for Mayor 

1,000—Committee to Elect Charlie Dent 

1,000—Fisher for Governor 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

500—Republican Pro-Choice Coalition 

500—Friends of Renee Cohn 

500—Friends of Judge Eakin

2000:

5,000—RNC Presidential Trust 

2,000—Gruppo for State Representative 

1,500—Citizens for Browne 

1,500—Citizens for Mark Mitman 

1,500—Pa. Senate Republican Campaign Committee 

7

1,000—Governor Ridge Leadership Circle 

1,000—Friends of Mike Fisher 

1,000—WISH (Women in Senate and House) 

1,000—Committee to Elect Robert Saurman 

1,000—Friends of Barbara Hafer 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

1,000—Voices for Varkony 

500—Committee to Elect Julie Harhart

1999:

2,000—Governor George W. Bush Presidential Exploration Committee 

2,000—Jim Martin for District Attorney 

2,000—Pat Toomey for Congress 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

1,000—Friends of Giuliani 

1,000—Pam Varkony for City Council 

500—Sam Katz for Mayor 

500—Blaschak for City Council 

500—Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee 

500—Nick Sabatine for County Council

1998:

2,050—Pat Toomey for Congress 

2,000—Friends of Governor Ridge 

1,000—Citizens for Joe Uliana 

1,000—Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee 

1,000—Citizens for Arlen Specter 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

1,000—Friends of Rima Fahl 

650—Committee to Elect Charlie Dent 

500—Friends of Senator Jubelirer 

500—Committee to Elect Bonnie DiCarlo

1997:

1,000—Wallitsch for Superior Court 

1,000—Jim Martin for Judge 

1,000—Friends of Governor Ridge 

1,000—Rick Santorum 2000

1,000—Pa. House Republican Campaign Committee 

1,000—Pennsylvania Republican State Committee 

600—Bill Heydt for Mayor 

600—Friends of Bill Brackbill

14. Honors and awards: (List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition for 

outstanding service or achievements.)

1958—Chosen as one of America’s Outstanding Young Men in Business in a national magazine survey.

1962—Chosen Distinguished Young Man of the Year, Allentown Junior Chamber of Commerce.

1999—Honorary Doctor of Public Service Degree, Cedar Crest College, Allentown.

15. Published writings: (List each book, article, column, or publication you have 

authored, individually or with others, and any speeches that you have given on topics relevant to the position for which you have been nominated. Do not attach copies 

of these publications unless otherwise instructed.) 

I have written regular columns commenting on economic, political and social 

issues, published in the Allentown Morning Call since 1979. From 1983 to 1986, I 

also wrote a weekly column for the Bethlehem Globe-Times. 

I have not made any formal speeches other than in my 2003 and 2006 confirmation hearings before this Committee. Other speeches I have delivered have been extemporaneous, and neither the text nor the notes for such remarks exist. 

16. Please identify each instance in which you have testified orally or in writing 

before Congress in a governmental or non-governmental capacity and specify the 

date and subject matter of each testimony. 

My 2003 and 2006 confirmation hearing before this Committee. 

17. Given the current mission, major programs, and major operational objectives 

of the department/agency to which you have been nominated, what in your backVerDate 0ct 09 2002 21:23 Aug 14, 2007 Jkt 036098 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6621 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\36098.TXT SCOM1 PsN: JACKIE
8

ground or employment experience do you believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment to the position for which you have been nominated, and why do you wish 

to serve in that position? 

Extensive experience with aviation. I am a licensed pilot and hold land, singleand multi-engine, and instrument ratings, as well as a glider’s license. I have been 

a pilot for more than 50 years and have about 6,000 hours of total time. I owned 

and operated my own aircraft for about 50 years. I was appointed by Governor Tom 

Ridge as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Committee, and I previously served as a Governor of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, which 

operates the Lehigh Valley International Airport. I have had extensive experience 

as a board member of private and public organizations, some of very substantial 

size. 

Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International Airports are facilities of the greatest importance to our Capital and our Nation. I believe I can continue to make a contribution to these Airports’ well being. 

18. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to ensure that the 

department/agency has proper management and accounting controls, and what experience to you have in managing a large organization? 

My responsibilities as a Member of the Board of the Metropolitan Washington 

Airports Authority is to work with my fellow board members to clearly enunciate 

policy, objectively monitor outcome data in terms of how successful we are in achieving our goals, monitor and evaluate the performance of our chief executive officer 

and his staff, and to be vigilant in supervising and insisting on the highest level 

of honesty and integrity throughout the organization. 

MWAA has an Audit Committee, on which I serve, which meets regularly and is 

very active. We have a national outside auditor. As Chairman of the Finance Committee I have had intimate knowledge of and every opportunity to oversee MWAA’s 

integrity. 

19. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the department/

agency, and why? 

(1) Financial management that ensures the Authority’s ability to provide facilities 

needed by air travelers at a price which air travelers can afford; (2) protecting 

Washington’s airports from adverse effects of the financial turmoil in the airline industry; and (3) successful undertaking and completion of the rail line from Washington to Dulles via Tysons Corner. 

B. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation agreements, and 

other continuing dealings with business associates, clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement accounts: Not applicable. 

2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal, to maintain 

employment, affiliation or practice with any business, association or other organization during your appointment? No. 

3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other relationships which 

could involve potential conflicts of interest in the position to which you have been 

nominated. 

All my investments, obligations, liabilities and other relationships have been reviewed at the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and at the Airports Authority. We 

all agree that none presents a risk of conflict of interest. A copy of my OGE Form 

450 has been provided to the Committee. 

4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial transaction which you 

have had during the last 10 years, whether for yourself, on behalf of a client, or 

acting as an agent, that could in any way constitute or result in a possible conflict 

of interest in the position to which you have been nominated: I cannot identify any. 

5. Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have engaged for 

the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or modification 

of any legislation or affecting the administration and execution of law or public policy. 

I have never been paid as an advocate of public policy or legislation, nor have I 

ever been a lobbyist. However, I have in my regular newspaper column on politics 

and economics made public pronouncements on all manner of policy issues. 

6. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including any 

that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items. 

I would address any potential conflict of interest in accordance with the Airports 

Authority ‘‘Code of Ethical Responsibilities for Members of the Board of Directors’’, 

which generally provides for full disclosure and recusal for apparent conflicts. 

9

C. LEGAL MATTERS

1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics by, or been the 

subject of a complaint to any court, administrative agency, professional association, 

disciplinary committee, or other professional group? No. 

2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by any Federal, 

state, or other law enforcement authority for violation of any Federal, state, county, 

or municipal law, regulation, or ordinance, other than for a minor traffic offense? 

If so, please explain. 

I have never been arrested, charged or held by any Federal, state or other law 

enforcement authority for violation of any Federal, state, county or municipal law, 

regulation or ordinance other than for minor traffic offenses. I have no knowledge 

that I have ever been investigated. 

3. Have you or any business of which you are or were an officer ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency proceeding or civil litigation? No. 

4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo contendere) of 

any criminal violation other than a minor traffic offense? No. 

5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual harassment or 

discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or any other basis? No. 

6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information, favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in connection with your nomination. 

I have very substantial experience as a board member, board chairman and manager. I have fully participated in the board deliberations and decisions at MWAA. 

I have a near perfect attendance record of board and committee meetings. I have 

chaired the Finance Committee, a key MWAA committee. I now chair the Planning 

and Construction Committee and I sit on other committees of substantial import, 

as, for example, the Compensation Committee. 

D. RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMITTEE

1. Will you ensure that your board/commission complies with deadlines for information set by Congressional committees? 

To the extent it is within my power as one of thirteen Directors. 

2. Will you ensure that your board/commission does whatever it can to protect 

Congressional witnesses and whistle blowers from reprisal for their testimony and 

disclosures? 

To my knowledge, this has not been an issue at the Airports Authority, but I 

would want to make sure that such witnesses and whistle blowers did not suffer 

reprisals. 

3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with firsthand knowledge of matters 

of interest to the Committee? Certainly. 

4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of 

the Congress on such occasions as you may be reasonably requested to do so? 

I have always been willing to appear and testify on such occasions, and will remain so.

The CHAIRMAN. I thank you very much, Mr. Snelling. 

I presume that the lovely lady, back of you, is your wife? 

Mr. SNELLING. That is—of 56 years—Adriane Snelling. 

The CHAIRMAN. Sixty-six years? 

Mr. SNELLING. Fifty-six. 

The CHAIRMAN. Fifty-six? I’m 1 year ahead of you. 

[Laughter.] 

Mr. SNELLING. Well, it gets better every year. 

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Snelling, if you don’t mind, we’ll have a 

short recess. Senator Specter wishes to be here to say a few 

words—kind words about you, but he’s caught up in traffic at this 

moment. 

Mr. SNELLING. I certainly understand, and I think it’s very nice 

of the Senator to come. 

The CHAIRMAN. With that thought, we’ll have a short recess. 

Mr. SNELLING. Thank you, sir. 

[Recess.] 

10

The CHAIRMAN. Will the hearing please come to order. 

The Committee is most pleased to welcome the gentleman from 

Pennsylvania, Senator Specter. 

STATEMENT OF HON. ARLEN SPECTER,

U.S. SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA 

Senator SPECTER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It’s always a great pleasure to appear before you, Mr. Chairman—Senator Inouye. I’ve enormously enjoyed our long association and 

friendship together in the U.S. Senate. Of course, compared to you, 

I’m a newcomer. I’ve only been here 27 years, which doesn’t measure up too well to your 38—37, 39——

The CHAIRMAN. Forty-nine. 

Senator SPECTER. Forty-nine? Just one digit off, Mr. Chairman. 

I have the honor today, Mr. Chairman, to introduce to the Committee Mr. Charles Snelling for reappointment to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. I’ve 

known Mr. Snelling for more than two decades, and can personally 

attest to his integrity, his ability, and his public service. 

Of direct relevance to serving on the Metropolitan Washington 

Airports Authority is his extensive experience in the field of aviation. He is a licensed pilot. He has served on the board of directors 

for the Authority since 2003, when he was originally nominated by 

President Bush and confirmed by the Senate. He was appointed, in 

2000, by Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Ridge, to be a member and 

chair of the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee. He had served as 

the—on the board of directors of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport 

Authority, which operates the Lehigh Valley International Airport. 

He has a very extensive record in the business community. He 

is President and Director of the Snelling Company and Western Lehigh Valley Corporation, a trustee of the Northeast Pennsylvania 

Management Trust, and a director of the Wiley Technologies, 

former president of the City Council of Allentown, served as trustee 

on the Lehigh Valley Hospital Health Network, 5 years in that capacity. 

And I would ask unanimous consent to insert a formal statement 

into the record. 

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, so ordered. 

[The prepared statement of Senator Specter follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. ARLEN SPECTER, U.S. SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce to the Committee Mr. Charles D. 

Snelling as a nominee for reappointment to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. Mr. Snelling has exemplary aviation, business 

and leadership qualifications that I believe make him a nominee worthy of confirmation. 

Mr. Snelling is a licensed pilot with extensive experience in the field of aviation. 

He has served aptly on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since 2003, when he was originally nominated by President Bush 

and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Additionally, Mr. Snelling was appointed in 2000 

by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to be a member and Chair of the Pennsylvania Aviation Advisory Committee, on which he served until 2003. Prior to this 

service, Mr. Snelling served on the Board of Governors of the Lehigh-Northampton 

Airport Authority, which operates the Lehigh Valley International Airport. 

Mr. Snelling’s business experience includes founding Cryo-Therm, Inc., an applied 

thermodynamics company that pioneered a number of energy conversion systems 

and processes that were utilized by both military and industry and resulted in Mr. 

11

Snelling holding over 20 issued patents. Mr. Snelling has also achieved remarkable 

success in the field of private venture capital, real estate development and agriculture. He is founder and director of a family of venture funds that is widely regarded as leading start-up venture investors. 

In addition to his aviation and business achievements. Mr. Snelling is also a leading political and civic figure. In 1976, he was appointed by President Ford to the 

President’s Commission on Personnel Interchange and in 1990 he was appointed to 

serve on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Committee. 

He has also served as President of the City Council of Allentown (PA), Chairman 

of the Republican Finance Committee of Pennsylvania and delegate to the Republican National Convention. Presently, he serves on the Pennsylvania Republican 

State Committee. Mr. Snelling’s civic experience includes service as a Life Trustee 

of Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA; a trustee of the Foundation for the Advancement of Monetary Education; and past president of the Pennsylvania Society, 

to name a few. 

Mr. Chairman, the Nation’s air transportation system is a vital asset that must 

be properly managed to ensure its safety and efficiency. Our nation’s airports, including those managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, will 

face enormous challenges meeting projected increases in congestion and passenger 

demand in the near future. Mr. Snelling has the experience and leadership qualities 

to help meet these challenges, and I support his nomination and prompt confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Senator SPECTER. He appeared before this Committee last year, 

and was reported out to the floor. And it is always hard to see what 

happens there, but there was a hold, and we don’t know exactly 

why. This is something that I have communicated to the Chairman 

about before. And it’s my hope that we’ll be able to move his nomination through the Committee, and move it through the floor, so 

that he can take his position on this Authority, where I think he 

can perform very, very valuable public service. 

I thank the Chair for scheduling this hearing. I would have been 

here earlier, but we are struggling to get a quorum in the Judiciary 

Committee, where, as the Chairman knows, I am ranking member. 

We had judges to report out, so that that occupied me at 10 o’clock. 

But I came over as soon as we had finished the judicial business. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

The CHAIRMAN. The Committee is always pleased to have the 

gentleman from Pennsylvania here. Your words are always valued, 

and your recommendation will be carried out. 

If you’ll just wait a few seconds, the record will show that no one 

has voiced an objection to the nomination of Mr. Snelling. And so, 

without objection, the nomination is approved, and it will be reported to the Senate forthwith. 

Thank you very much. The hearing is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 10:31 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]

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