mr. demarco. let me begin with something we don't do too often enough and that's to thank you and your staff. these are the most difficult economic circumstances that any of us have had to grapple with in our tenure here in the united states congress. there have been other periods of downturn but nothing like what we've been through. you got to go back to the period of our parents or grandparents to encounter a time that's been as difficult. so i want to thank you and your staff, you've had the equivalent of a gun at your head and have performed very well and we thank you. >> thank you very much. on behalf of the very hard-working staff, we appreciate it. >> they don't get recognized. most people don't understand there are people behind those letters that show up every day and do a tremendous job. let me begin by -- one of our witnesses in the second panel is going to testify -- let me quote part of that testimony to you. the witness says perhaps the biggest question policymakers face is whether u