. >> thank you, mr. sabo. it's a very encouraging report. very enlightning, i must say. i'm sure this side of the table is new to you in your years after service in the other body, the staff, they have steeped you in the issues of transit and transportation programs and general, and you're more accustomed to being on the other side of the table and preparing questions to grill witnesses with. now it's your turn to be grilled. congratulations and welcome and glad to have you here. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i'm now realizing why they elevate this. i'm not accustomed to looking up this. >> i remember how it was when i was elected in 1974. i remember chairman bob jones portrait in the other room let each of us new members say something for one minute. came to me and i said, well, mr. chairman it's a different feeling from when i had real power on this committee when i was the administrator. >> i appreciate the opportunity to discus the recovery act. but before i do, i want to take a moment on behalf of secretary hood, myself and the entire family to express our condolences

i'm pleased to welcome mr. sabo, who will appear for the first time in your new position as f.r.a. administeror, you'll play a big part in this. you'll have meetings to determine what the parameters for high speed rail should be. i think having them all over the country is another good sign. i just want to say that the -- robert exles, the former county judge, which is the county executive, in texas, of our largest county, harris county. he's now heading up the effort for a high speed rail corridor, the texas t-bone, it's a great plan coming forward and i think could go right into amtrak. it could have a lot of great results and i hope that it is one of the first projects that can get some of the stimulus funding that would be available. i think that it's great that he's here to talk about the national system and i just want to recognize governor rendell, who also is someone with whom i've worked a long time and his brother is actually my constituent in dallas, robert, and also a good friend and someone that -- with whom i have worked also in dallas and in texas. so we have a lot o