we figure we can go from 14 years average delivery on a major transit project to maybe 3 under our proposal.

I can't agree with you that what the President is proposing is more of the Bush era policy.

I am a bit puzzled about the 18-month proposal.

They cannot commit themselves to something for which they cannot reasonably guarantee or foresee revenues.

Yes, but the point is uncertainty. Okay, thank you. I don't think you have answered it.

And to compare projects across modes and have flexibility----

How is the State going to plan a two or three year major project if they are only guaranteed 18 months of funding?

I guess I would like to know what are the offsets, when are we going to see the cost benefit analysis, when are we going to see the policy changes?

Okay. Well, so we are basically waiting, and you guys have some big plans, but we don't know about them, and it has got to be done basically by the end of July.

Right. Well, I am well aware of that, and that is why we are concerned about 18 months versus the predictability of six years and enhanced investment to begin chipping away at our infrastructure deficit.

the measures are not being followed.

None of that is right. We need to set a much, much higher minimum bar.

This has got to stop. It has to stop. And this hearing has to be the beginning of that change at last.

I guess I have trouble reconciling pilot pushing, intimidation, punitive firing, discipline for pilots who are trying to follow the law and report themselves fatigued and people want to do the right thing.

That is one of the keys which you pointed to in 1992, if they don't have protection.

I look forward to working with you and pledge our support.

We need to have a uniform higher standard.

I think it is the FAA's duty to establish a higher bar, and then no one is at a competitive disadvantage.

We have got to root this out. I mean, we just have to root this out.

But some--and we had Ms. Slaughter reference one particular outfit that does training in Florida and pushing people through pretty quickly.

Clearly what we need is a Federal regulation to make that a nonquestion of compliance.

I hope this is a new beginning with a new administration, a new Administrator, and a very assertive Chairman that we finally get these things done.

I would say it is a fairly similar circumstance, and I have done a lot of this.

There was a plan for continuity of Government, and one would assume that continuity of Government would include all three branches.

There is certainly concern there, and Brian Baird, one of my colleagues from Washington State, has proposals on how we might reconstitute ourselves in the case of a devastating attack and loss of membership.