Editor's Note -- The following is the unedited statement from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association on the naming Tuesday of Mary Peters as President Bush's nominee for Secretary of Transportation.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) congratulates Mary Peters on her nomination as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT). This afternoon, President Bush made the announcement to fill the cabinet seat left vacant by Norm Mineta in July.

"We congratulate Ms. Peters and look forward to continuing the same great working relationship on aviation issues that we had with Mr. Mineta," said GAMA President and CEO, Pete Bunce. "We are pleased the President has moved to fill this important position and will urge the Senate to begin the confirmation process as quickly as possible."

Peters, a former federal highway administrator, most recently served as the national director for transportation policy and consulting at HDR, Inc., an architectural, engineering and consulting firm. Prior to her post at HDR, Inc., Peters spent three years as the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation.

FMI: www.gama.aero, www.dot.gov