I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in place of the dean of the South Carolina delegation, Congressman Jim Clyburn, who is away this week on family medical leave, and asked me to read this statement: Swearing-in Day is…

Mr. Speaker, hypocrisy is reaching new heights today in this body. Many of the same Members who said ``bring it on'' as sequestration loomed, who relished forcing the President to make across-the-board cuts, are now in a rush to apply…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Greetings, Administrator, glad to have you here.

But the longer-term rebuilding is where the CBDG comes in and fills the gap?

I wish you could elaborate. I would appreciate your elaborating what the mix of funding, the mix of efforts has been here.

The intent of sequestration was to make deep and indiscriminate cuts and to be unacceptable and to force everybody to the table to conclude a broader, longer term budget agreement.

The last thing we would want to happen is for States to be forced to reduce service come October 1 because the new cost discrepancies are not resolved.

I visited New York last week with Chairman Carter of our subcommittee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I commend you for holding this hearing on this very important topic.

I want to thank you for your commitment to developing a 21st-century rail system.

But they have agreed to pay for the expenses directly associated with operating their routes, a percentage of overhead costs for supporting services, and capital fees to help keep trains and infrastructure in good repair.