The United Transportation Union reports Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, the senior Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, has announced she will retire at the end of 2012, when her third six-year term ends.

The Senate Commerce Committee has oversight of many rail, transit, air and bus issues. She is considered a moderate Republican.

The Senate Commerce Committee, with a Democratic majority, is chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.).