before joining femsa, mr. drake served as the deputy assistant director at the u.s. department of transportation where he over saw policy implementation with a specific focus on freight, surface reauthorization and safety policy. mr. drake also worked as the director of governmental affairs at the safety administration. before joining the u.s. department of transportation, john drake was a capitol hill staffer for nearly a decade working on the senate committee on counterscience and transportation and the house committee on transportation and infrastructure. he hold as bachelor's degree in philosophy from the university of california at santa cruz. i thank you so much for being here. we look forward to your testimony. >> thank you, ma'am. good afternoon. mr. chairman paul, ranking member baldwin and members of the subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify before you today on the pipeline hazardous materials administration's efforts to ensure the safe and reliability of transportation by rail and prepare first responders involving derailments. every day, more