Our Nation's surface transportation system is in desperate need of repair while being stretched to its limits.

I would just stress I would hope that we will have the opportunity to return to the issues of the PATRIOT Act far in advance of the deadline for the end of this year where we have to act.

There are three major provisions that will sunset during 2009 that will need to be taken up by Congress.

Let me thank you, Director Mueller, for your service and thank you for being here today.

I think most of us believe these tools are extremely important, and we want to make sure that you have the tools that you need.

Let's take a look at the overall problems that we have in America in dealing with quality of life and our commitment to our environment.

So yes, it is critically important that we make the right investments.

It has been estimated that we spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic.

Total current spending is well below what is needed to improve the condition of our national transportation infrastructure.

I think our challenge, Madam Chair, is to craft the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, that you referred to as MAP, that will meet our investment needs in a fiscally responsible way.

I think these are important points and need to be part of the policies that we look forward to in our next effort on reauthorization.