our friend, gary ridley, hold your hand up. gary has been a witness at this table more than anyone person to ease our secretary of transportation in oklahoma. he knows what he's doing. >> we will go to mr. ruane, president and ceo, american road and transportation builders association. please proceed. >> good morning -- >> make sure you put on your microphone. >> good morning, chairman boxer, senator vitter. >> we hear you loud and clear. >> turn it off. [laughter] >> thank you for inviting me to participate in this important discussion about the challenges facing the future of the federal surface transportation program. for too long the primary metrics to gauge the impacts with the federal highway program have been each states apportioned months, highway trust fund rate of return, and in times past, in remarks. unfortunately, these methods of evaluation drastically understate the value of federal highway investment. the purpose of the federal highway program is to ensure the movement of people and goods among states, as a resu