U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the tonnage of freight moving by rail is going to increase by 88 percent through 2035.

My state of Florida actually developed a railroad. It was Henry Flagler that brought his railroad south.

The Army has already undertaken significant cost cutting efforts and reduced personnel and equipment requirements during the first 2 years of sequestration.

Rail is already one of the safest ways of moving people and goods, but there are challenges.

Senator Nelson is very much aware of, a three-part development strategy that focused on capital improvement projects and infrastructure investments.

This is a successful project because it was a public-private partnership.

Rail is essential to the movement of goods and people in America.

The extension will be used for the following. The next handful of years, say 3 years or so, will be the continued deployment in the infrastructure side.

We're appreciative to the Committee and, certainly, your sponsorship or co-sponsorship and Senator Thune and Senator Blunt's sponsorship of the extension that you introduced in the last session.

It's all about connectivity. It's all about the ability to reach markets faster and safer.

And just like your state is so dependent upon railroads, so are so many of our states.

Positive Train Control will even make this industry even safer.