a little awhile ago i was able to talk to jerry conley. i asked him about the impact of these firings's how they could affect the service and your safety when you ride here. >> i believe it's a problem of indifference that's crept into the organization over time. we have to turn that around. today was an important day in terms of sending a message, i hope to the whole organization. i hope those who, as i said are not prepared to meet those standard of safety reliability's customer first. they got to leave. >> did the cuts go far enough. >> i hope frankly, that mr. weidefeld will be able over time to be able to move all about in the respect the safety and that does not treat at the public with respect and dignity. . >> the firings come after a string of train and track disasters and threatening to shut metro down on the heels of that massive year-long maintenance plan and a week after general manager paul weidefeld held an unprecedented meetings with all managers outlining his vision to improve safety. we still don't know many specs about t

morning, he of six people to go before the congressional panel, others included john delaney and jerry conley and steny hoyer who represent jurisdiction served by metro, congress voice concerns over a left of safety culture at metro and they wanted to know what is being done to change the system. paul wiedefeld outline how he found the agency when he arrived. >> a lack of accountability on the management, the front-line people, and a lack of strong management systems put in place. a lack of sustainable, predictable funding source for the system. >>'s testimony came on a day when there were two insulator issues making for a consultative and the late morning rush-hour on the red line. he is hoping the safe track program which kicks off next month, will go a long way to make the system safer and more reliable. on capitol hill, suzanne kennedy. jummy: this hearing comes as two other arcing incidents caused major delays on the red line this morning, the first at 5:30 at the medical center station and the second incident just before 7:00 this morning at the woodley park metro station. both cost tra

jerry conley says this move is important set toward changing culture and mind-set at metro. >> i believe that it's a problem of indifference and immediate of coursety that cents into the organization over time today was important day in sending a message to the whole organization and i hope those who as i said are not prepared to meet those safety and reliability and customer first. >> and these firings are part of the general accountability and safety. we anoumtioned the safe track program and that will start june 4 and cause big service delays. single tracking and shut downs in metro system throughout march 2017. >> mean time d.c. police are searching for two men that kidnapped and sexually assaulted a man walking down a street the victim told police the men drove up to her wednesday morning 4500 bening road southeast and they forced her are into a van and sdrov her to 1100 block of 46 place and assaulted her and if you have information to help solve this case, call p.d.c. police. >> we now have a sketch of the suspect. see if you can recognize him. the incident took place on engelside

. >> we have the honorable steny hoyer, the honorable jerry conley, and the honorable john delaney. would ask unanimous consent that are witnesses full statements be included in the record. that is so ordered. we will start with mr. boyer. --mr. hoyer. myselfnt to associate with the remarks of the gentleman from mr. schuster. clearly, this was the crown jewel. nobody would call it the crown jewel today and cleary it must be the ground jewel -- crown jewel. millions and millions of everyday constituents in this room is the system. i appreciate the opportunity to , and the need for robust investment and high safety standards. the safety and reliability of the metro is of critical importance, not only to washington dc and the surrounding communities, but it is critical for the smooth governing of the government. both civilian and military rely on the metro to get to their office and duty stations. my district is home to 62,000 federal employees, and many who serve in military jobs located here in regional installations. many depend on metro to get to work each day to survey american pe