secretary, you have chris bertram with you. chris is assistant secretary for budget and programs and chief financial officer for the department, as you so well know. until august of 2009, mr. berm ram was here as a senior professional staff member as the senate committee on commerce, science and transportation. i know in his previous career he also was at the faa and an important position and also served as staff director for the house of representatives sub committee on highway and transit. certainly comes with a tremendous background and so we're glited he's with you at the witness table. mr. secretary, please proceed. mr. chairman and senator sessions. budget proposal for the department of transportation. importantly, thank you for the kindness and your kind words about my son and what's happening in egypt and your interest in that. we appreciate that very much. as you know, transportation has been in the news a lot lately. that's a good thing. this week both the house and senate will debate long stalled legislation, as you'v

secretary that you have chris bertram with you chris is the assistant secretary for budget and programs and the chief financial officer for the department you so well know. until august 2009, he was here as a senior professional staff member of the staff committee on commerce, science, and transportation. i know in his previous career, he also was at the faa in an important position and also served as staff director for the house of representatives subcommittee on highways and transit. he certainly comes with a tremendous background and somebody who is respected here. we are delighted that he is with you at the witness table. mr. secretary, please proceed. >> mr. chairman and senators sessions, thank you for the opportunity to testify on president obama's 2013 budget proposal for the department of transportation. as importantly, thank you for the kindness and your kind words about my son and what is happening in egypt and your interest in that. we appreciate that very much. as you know, transportation has been in the news very much lately. that is a good thing. this week but the house a