Member senator cantwell. And the administrator and planning director of the infrastructure in the us gao. And also jim dolinsky chief executive officer and executive director and with that implementation of positive train control ptc to meet the deadline of december 3t 2020 with Community Hearings have highlighted it is an Important Technology that has the ability to prevent accidents including derailments including the one in washington in 2017. Ptc enforcement and in 2015 however to apply for the extension if and only if that milestone i am pleased to say under secretary chao this is been faithfully implemented for all those of the deadline with that documentation to show the requirements go up with two additional years many real roads receive such an extension since the deadline they continue to make progress on ptc implementation. This provides an opportunity for updates on the current status across the Network Since the end of last year. Witnesses should discuss Passenger Railroads are implementing ptc and at which rate and then to talk about full implementation. Requires that they are interoperable in other words they must be able to operate seamlessly across the tracks owned by different railroads and to achieve interoperability requires coordination while industry have the faa of fail federal Railroad Administration and other stakeholders this undertaking is complex where multiple railroads interact. Witnesses will provide an update on interoperability testing with successes and challenges identified also invite our expert witnesses for any suggestions to facilitate interoperability through the network with the implementation a year and a half away to focus on any other issues and also related to vendors and somewhere in the early stages and with that availability to support ptc insulation to help identify any other challenges of implementation as the final deadline approaches on the progress of tpc implementation. But senator duckworth we will recognize her for a special introduction. Thank you mister chairman on the next step for positive train control implementation we look forward to hearing your perspective to fully implement ptc this lifesaving technology to make it clear in my state of washington when the amtrak derailed in washington and fell into the highway claiming three lives injuring 65. Ntsb investigation found ptc would have prevented this tragedy. But sadly this is just one of many preventable tragedies that since the ntsb first recommended positive train control implementation they could have prevented over 450 different crashes and other facilities and injuries so i am pleased the chairman shares my commitment that the full implementation deadline to take this with positive train control. It is unacceptable in 2019 we have not implemented even when it has been fully implemented there are still miles of tracks that will be exempted including 1400 miles used by amtrak. They expressed concerns about this during a Previous Committee hearing last month and thats to seek more information about the Safety Measures that should be in place this is speed limit action plans and equivalent technologies i want to thank administrator for the response to your commitment to ensure safety everywhere amtrak operates as will help to prevent another accident from happening again. Even with ptc in place we have to prioritize safety no technology is a cure all or well placement for that strong Safety Culture for track maintenance and the structurally sound Railroad Cars that are needed. Implementing ptc is more for safety and this is a Long Time Coming to get to where we are today. Railroads haves face many challenges i look forward to the opportunity to hear from the witnesses about the steps to have ptc fully implemented to make sure it is required on the National Rail system. We look forward to asking specific questions about the implementation and the 1400 of miles of track that will not be covered. Now to senator duckworth for special introduction. It is my pleasure to introduce ceo and executive director who has successfully led since 2017 metro operates nearly 700 trains transporting 290,000 passengers to provide service to and from out of chicago on 11 lines covering more than 1200 tracks. Has extensive experience and expertise enabled him to lead one of the most complex systems in the nation while squeezing every drop of value out of logistic resources. A few months ago he invited me to tour to watch the mechanics and electricians install, test and finetune ptc components he explained how they stretch every dollar just a little bit further to do the work in house it is a real and deep appreciation for the complexity of ptc spending 250 million on train control efforts but receiving less than 50 million of federal grants metro expected implementation 350,000,400,000,000 with an additional 15 or 20 million of increased operating cost while these are a challenge we are confident theyre getting the most bang for their buck welcome. Thank you for being here today we stand to learn a lot from you and i yield back. Thank you. We now will proceed to hearing summaries from each of our witnesses spent a good afternoon. Chairman, Ranking Member and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify about our highest priorities of full implementation of interoperable ptc systems as soon as possible by december 31t 2020. We commend the industry for its progress to date as of marct ptc was in operation on 83 percent of the 58000 miles subject to the mandate. Nevertheless the next 17 months has extensive work including activating on the remaining lines and achieving probability. Notably the alternative schedule with that mandate required and as of march 5th to approve all applicable alternative schedules with the 90 day deadline. After to monitor the railroad progress including those reports that are due today preliminary reports that ptc was in operation on 87 percent nationwide as of june 2019 with Revenue Systems on 37 percent a 12 percent increase and rate reporting ptc is in operation 90 percent of its required lines. And then holds Passenger Rail service. In operating the whole system in 2018 the other five are conducting field testing. And that focus mandated mainlines to have a high concentration and on july 12th i initiated executive Leadership Meetings with amtrak to operate on the northeast corridor. And that primary challenge of full implementation by a dect 2020 those operates that are mandated on those lines because they operate on multiple host railroads there are 227 relationships with interoperability must be achieved as of march 31st those that achieved interoperability 30 percent were conducting testing. Meeting with the leadership of 61 of those railroads to discuss the next steps for interoperability. That is why also post for additional collaborations over the next 17 months focusing on best practice sees practices with the deadline. Ptc suppliers and vendors in part due to increased demand with engagement after being confirmed as administrator a network of ten major vendor stress the Critical Role this year i have seen underscoring issues requiring suppliers immediate resolutions including the recall of equipment due to manufacturing defects and capacity limitations regarding interoperability and suppliers are integral to meet the deadline. Technical assistance dot has awarded billions of dollars to support the implementation representing 18 percent of those cost for implementation and specifically 42 percent of the four. 1 billion making full implementation of the Commuter Rails. Also the Operation Maintenance cost is substantial with hundreds of millions of additional dollars between 130 million per year. Thats why i appreciate the Congress Safety and continuing funding it provides for ptc hoping that it works with all stakeholders that they fully implement the systems quickly and safely as possible and if they fail to meet the deadline and the plans to enforce a statutory mandate with National Civil penalties offered by congress and im here to answer your questions. Thank you. Good afternoon mister chairman and members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on Passenger Railroad implementation and oversight of ptc which is one of the most Promising Technology logical advances in real safety in decades. Ptc has been a complex and lengthy process involving nate all major rail lines of all aspects and members of operations. Required to implement ptc by last december we could have extensions through december 2020 if they met specific requirements for go for railroads have fully implemented ptc others continue to work to achieve full implementation progressing of installing equipment and testing but also reaching back to interoperability to fully implement ptc today i will focus on implementation progress and remaining challenges and the approach to meet the 2020 deadline. Turning to the implementation update, since december we reported making progress of their own ptc systems those that reported implementing those territories only one is in the stage in december and testing is in an early stage of implementation 11 of the 31 host railroads does not have the interoperable systems reported they achieved interoperability collectively of those relationships only 17 percent so turning out implementation challenges in the response to the questionnaire that separate issue issues were still a significant problem because as the 2020 deadline nears less time remains to address these issues with associated delays and a limited supply of anger in high demand for Services Cause problems. With a interoperability with major challenge and to coordinate schedules for example and then to be implemented those liability issues interoperability challenges with those geographic areas particularly in dense urban areas like chicago or northeast where they are in various stages of implementation. Amtrak and most rates have a form of the system that a portion of their equipment and in some cases concurrently adding to the complexity of interoperability. And out to my second point to meet the 2020 deadline everybody continues to provide assistance on interoperability and the Testing Process with the agency and will continue to finance a subset advance a substantial workload with that implementation including lengthy safety plans. And then to prioritize those resources the extended 2020 deadline with this implementation and with substantial work with those challenges with that deadline and Going Forward to transition as a routine part of the 2020 deadline. Similarly with the implementation to maintain those systems therefore december 2020 represents not only the deadline for full implementation but also where railroads will have new operational oversight variant. This concludes my statement im pleased to answer any questions you may have. Thank you very much. Surrogate afternoon chairman, Ranking Member and all members of this committee. Thank you for holding this important hearing on next steps for ptc implementation. And Vice President of strategy and growth it is a privilege to represent and appear before you today with two partners. Going back to the origins of 1869 safety has been and remains a core mission for lab tech and then supporting freight and customer commitments to meet the december 31st, 2020 deadline for ptc implementation is our foremost priority. At the outset i thought it might be helpful to note is currently approved ptc functions as a safety overlay, that is designed to be the first existing implementation that means it serves as a supplement insurance measure with the Safety Practices and procedures. And then to build on the interoperable Management System with freight and Passenger Railroad operating outside the northeast corridor door. Lab tech is a hardware and Software Supply under one supplier and also serving as a system integrator for a number of Passenger Railroads. Those that implement the 2018 Requirements Lab tech manufactured 20000 onboard systems. It also develop new Customized Software applications for the back office that would interface and replace existing backoffice systems our follow focus to enable our customers with the ptc deadline is twofold first are railroad customer requirements for interoperability and specifically the Software Updates that will look at the file size and also with another update to double the onboard capacity these and other Software Upgrades to have closer stakeholder collaboration are intended to continue their plans for interoperability to enable more efficient operations. Second committed to delivering for our customers where lab tech has the majority of a major System Integration. Building on our experience including the early work in california the first Passenger Railroad to complete interoperability receive certification to support customer agencies for one Revenue Service and to achieve the safety plans and the interoperability. And in summary lab tech is dedicated to fulfill his commitments to enable full interoperability across the rail system we are achieving closely with our customers to continue the improve performance and working directly with Passenger Railroad customers where we have a leaning System Integration role. Into the future ptc is an ongoing commitment for all stakeholders and the work and investment going past 2020 that Digital Technologies lead to even greater safety of numbers and benefits and partnering with customers and other Rail Industry stakeholders to advance the mission into the future thank you for the invitation to testify we are pleased to answer any questions you have. Thank you mister matthew. Afternoon chairman, Ranking Member and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting me for an update on implementation of ptc and it is an important component of overall Risk Reduction program resulting in meaningful progress to our vision of zero accidents and injuries. Most important thing we do at the railroads safety the ongoing risk production efforts have a Robust Program training that reinforces safe operating practices and strong employee Safety Culture also employment of new technology. Investing 65 billion of private capital into the railroad since 2000 with more than three. 5 billion in 2019 its in the best condition and its history. An important Safety Development when the most significant, costly and complex technologies the Rail Industry has ever employed. The Capital Investment will receive 2 billion as it deploys other important technological advances working closely with the fra to put toward a regulatory paradigm to allow for leveraging our investment to support future innovation go today we are operating on all 88 subdivisions 5000 route miles have also equipped on nine non mandated subdivisions additional 2000 miles of protection running more than 1000 trainings daily with more than two and a half million trips since decembe december 2012 training more than 21000 employees to take training with technology and changes for the Operation Team and other departments those trains running on the network demonstrates people how to operate and support the system. Moving forward we have main focus areas to have Continuous Improvement with reliability, fully integrated into trade operations and achieving full interoperability closely engage with our vendors and with lab tech who is the supplier of our onboard hardware and software with the conformance to make sure they have necessary capacity, longevity and reliability to support operations. Youre actively working on interoperability with suppliers in each railroad to need to be interoperable to identify the needs to provide technical and operational assistance such as backoffice hosting is needed now achieving interoperability ten out of 20 railroads operating ptc that includes all the roads along with several short line last month those trainings are the largest interchange partner with which we have cheney line achieved interoperability to be fully tested with the completion of ongoing efforts to remain a Class One Railroad this is a time labor intensive process involving weeks or months of preparation and testing. Ptc interoperability relies on flow of Accurate Information the data to be transmitted between railroads and with the system it is significant. With that upcoming data release for full comparability and testing to approve that is outgoing. There is significant work to do in the coming months a highly reliable system then to meet the needs of our customers. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to implement the interoperable system that congress envisioned thank you for the opportunity to be here today and i will answer any questions you may have. Afternoon to Ranking Member members of the committee especially senator duckworth. The executive director is senator duckworth pointed out also the Commuter Rail chairman of the newly formed coalition to bring that distinct voice of Commuter Rail to the legislators and regulators and to speak with the implementation to provide a little bit of background with the commuter Rail Industry there were 31 active rail systems of 500 million passenger trips with this transportation for commuters our Services SupportEconomic Development to reduce emissions and compared to traveling on the highway giving to be as productive as they want to be behind the wheel of an automobile also commuter offers Affordable Housing and be there safe and on time but two basic reasons railroads in the eighties and beyond cannot sustain operations without great losses. Cities and states identify public necessity for commuter and began to fund the subsidies now they are known as long those in which cities and states have identified the need for commuters in every invested heavily in commuter for the benefits provided. Broadly they face funding challenges the industry has been working diligently to solve ptc but it has put a great strain on the limited dollars in the Capital Project and the legacy commuter system faces unique challenges since its creation the largest Commuter Railroad in the country based on track miles and with that infrastructure know what a great partner in that primary goal is to operate 700 trains running daily throughout the system was 700 additional freight and passenger trains. And with the safety of the network working to sustain the legacy system those going back into the 18 hundreds approximately half of all trips made from suburban chicago to downtown on the network with that infrastructure challenges we are pleased to report that since our inception we have been able to maintain 93 percent ontime performance with implementation status of those challenges of the next steps for industry and with the extension interoperability with the Biggest Challenges with the entire rail network in chicago ptc must work for any train or any track. Fourteen railroads working together. With those unforeseen challenges and a setback with hardware and software forcing us to modify implementation schedule with Technical Support to further exacerbate these issues our suppliers share these resources with the majority of railroads in the United States since the dispatching system we are on the 31st Software Upgrade and one year. Despite the setbacks im not sure we will meet the deadline. And to have timely support and also must be enough Resources Available for the entire industry. It will increase the safety of the system for 290,000 passengers we give trips to every day. With the implementation to put additional on the budget ptc insulation with over 400 million originally estimated at 75 billion. That is the equivalent with two. Five years of formula one funding. And as you can see we did not know enough an estimate of 20 million is the operating cost each year and each Commuter Railroad will bear the perpetual operating costs. Although we recognize the burden of ptc to increase the federal formula funding to support that with the Commuter RailGrant Program for those to address most operation costs. And looking forward to any questions. And to see and touch and feel. Thank you. You will make it on time spirit currently we are scheduled to make everything on time. We do not need any more hiccups and we need those resources at hand on a daily basis. And with the ptc systems , how do we get to that place. And the Class One Community was in place with the conversation going on they demanded of themselves and thats why you have the system going across the United States its it ms across the United States and many of the short lines have to have it in the switch interim. And with Commuter Railroads with implementation of the fra with those alternate Systems Program i cannot speak for the fact that was not part of that decisionmaking process but knowing in hindsight it was 2020 it was leadership error and im available to make more comment later today regarding certain parts of the country. It was an error quick. In my personal opinion i couldve been better with standardization. It was an error quick. In my personal opinion i couldve been better with standardization we are told there is a number of Things Congress will have an opportunity to address the unique needs. Consider created a dedicated funding stream. Would you like to respond to these suggestions quick. I dont feet think its appropriate for me to reply. What would you say. One thing i would say what was mentioned in the senator duckworth remarks i have said this time and time again is not how much money you spend but how wisely you spend it. It is a classic example when we see the total spectrum of money being spent among different railroads, you shake your head and say whats going on . A lot of that is the leadership in the corner office. And it is a poster child with the Commuter Rail dispensing money wisely. Is not to say that others dont. Anyone else want to respond . I fully support and there should be additional funding of those challenges that lead us at this point and there is investment of ongoing maintenance for the system. And then the need for operational funding to support maintenance that additional federal funding. I think we are at a crossroads we have heard those who are taking this very seriously and that being said and still in the early stages with some pretty complex hurdles to get through whether the limited number of vendors or the Software Issues and of the other capacity also the big hurdle of interoperability so i think we are ad crossroads but if there continues to be Software Issues if there are still vendor issues there is a lot on the plate they do have some standardization but doesnt work with every syste system, so how will that play out xp or add a critical juncture. Six months from now we can have a closer look at where things are. It sounds like we may have some disappointments at the end of 2020. I hope not. We are doing everything to keep that from happening. Senator cantwell. With those findings and Lessons Learned in the faa response to my letter states fra investigation of the amtrak accident for assigned crew members do not have federal regulation so that want to talk about the Ongoing Investigation but can you explain how a deficient crew standard can comply with the existing regulation and what are you doing to improve those regulations quick. And in my experience i shake my head that you would have a train with an engineer regardless of what level of training they have for proficiency. It is just unprecedented. So to allow that to happen there was a conductor trying to get qualified so now not from the territory the engineer that is qualified. In the early hours of the morning. And then i just shake my head that never should have happened. But not with the railroad industry. So how does that happen what we need to do to address it quick. Is with those characteristics in a particular instance. And with that Certification Programs and what transpired was something that never should have happened. Dont one dash so what do we do to update those rules . The rules are there but people to enforce them and those that are responsible and they were lack of fulfillment and then obviously if we keep going through this what may or may not get done by 2020 what do we need to do to make the culture address this issue quick. Lesson learned and the organization was new and they have done a lot of improving the structure and the culture and those engineers that they are supposed to and richard has done an extremely good job to feel comfortable with everything they have done. You think there is adequate safety now quick. Safety sleeps on never sleeps and never ends. Stay on top of it no matter who is at the helm. The engineer does not want that to happen but if you listen to what happened he never should have left. And to be hard to legislate with the safety standards. And from that perspective everything you have done to date to make sure that is implemente implemented. And for the responsible parties for the men and women to do a double check it is a good new story even though one too many. And i may have shared earlier there was a total of 68 head on collisions in 1978. And the industry today it is one too many but we only had one in north carolina. We are definitely keeping the record opens up theres anything else you want to suggest. Go ahead. Thank you. First i want to apply those of the passenger commuter freight rail operators to prioritize ptc testing interoperability. Then to implement and with that deadline can you keep us appraised of any changes of congress. As your testimony suggest to make early investment and i saw that when i cannot to visit. And to see if it is fully implemented between 15 and 20 million and those that you highlighted from those that incurred quick. With support from congress with the expansion of the program the discretionary grants are asking congress to consider a Commuter Rail funding as they look at the reauthorization anytime we can increase formula funding this is where we have ads and flows to have sustainable continuous funding and then to look at the next wave that the industry can undertake. Is that a multi year type of funding and with that timeframe quick. And this will help us with planning longterm. With those support one performance issues in the supply chain and then to look at the tea time and operator timeline every time there is a glitch what happens to you quick. Wet ends up happening is we data test everything last to see if certain things could be smoked out. Once we get it out on the railroad we start to interoperate with the other trains even on the track or other railroads but we will find an operational glitch that was not found earlier so then we are handcuffed to those that can write the software writing those updates those have to be brought back to west and tested and redeployed. In a network like chicago a 1400 trains we are continually finding new challenges. So how do those glitches get shared is it the Software People quick. The ptc committee has the ability to have only the latest revision of software. As they come out the latest revision it is a just fixing problems maybe from los angeles or seattle or new york depending on where they are at its all by the committee its only one eventual version of software out there. But if you explain you find a glitch do you then reach out to los angeles and say are you seeing this . So youre not trying to troubleshoot on your own quick. We have a Great Network of people set up we are constantly in communication with our peers. With that complexity of the Deployment Group to have constant conversations to hold meetings so we dont just chatter about the latest and greatest and what lessons have been learned elsewhere. With the Software Updates can you describe the challenges and how that affects ptc testing and interoperability quick. Yes the magnitude of the issue is significantly greater than elsewhere. Weve had challenges that i believe we have turned a corner of the subdivisions to now be in Revenue ServiceCenter Performing well. And with that progress we have made and elsewhere in the country we have confidence to overcome the most significant problems. There cannot be enough testing. And with the itc committees as well as other Real Customers who stay in front of the problems with that operational impact. Im over time. And over the implementation i appreciate the chairman and the Ranking Members continued oversight with this very important issue. And with that leadership to make significant progress and to be critical to overcome those challenges particularly with achieving interoperability approaching the 2020 deadline. Beside those subject to the mandate im interested in the dozens of short line railroads as they do with the host railroads. Short line provides Critical Service with Grain Elevators and ethanol plants class one mainlines so provide an update on implementation was short line railroads and those major challenges they face. Thank you for those kind remarks so when we could get a list put together then we consolidated and got rid of the redundancy initially with 76 railroads of which 41 were independent and associated with conglomerates. Facetoface conference calls. Today i have not yet learned of any short line or railroad that has thrown its hands up to say we cant get this done by the deadline of next year. But those challenges that they are faced with their primarily financial. The cost of equipping the locomotive when you realize it cost how much it cost and for those that are operating for the same amount of money. It is a hard pill to swallow. Also the insurance that they have to take on now as a result of the underwriters with their operation so visualize a railroad that has ten or 15 cars a day to make an investment of 100,000 with ten or 15 cars a day and find out insurance premiums are going up. It is hard and something that needs to be addressed and not to be in position to address it in the Industry Network as a whole has to recognize this because the interchange traffic every day for all of the railroads that we go. So just to follow up with the implementation of ptc speak to what you are doing to achieve interoperability. Thank you. We take a targeted approach to help each of our tenants that we work with with those that we operate with with every move if we can protect that within the alternate means like speed or close to yard limits or interchange so to take down the short lines you will have to equip on our system five of those are interoperable and with that backup to help equip those locomotives so it is a casebycase basis. Can you speak to some of the challenges you face achieving interoperability cracks with high traffic volumes in numerous interchanges . And then respond to what was said with those resource issues. Thank you senator. With regard to interoperability we did have a recent challenge with regard to capacity with the onboard system. We received one of the letters highlighting the importance of solving that issue. Working with Industry Partners and with these changes that address that those that had some relief and two in b in september to fully address that we have agreed that will address it but with respect to resources there are no challenges there is no operational knowledge to support the system and with respect to this the ongoing matrix of the system is a challenge and to retain these people to make sure we have the pipeline to understand the application and have the Technical Skills and we are highly focused on that. As you know ptc has been and abiding issue celebrating 50 years since we put a man on the moon. And with a lack of will and technological knowledge because the nation has the resources and i hope that none of you disagree with that proposition so for the record nobody is disagreeing. He apprised me of that person only and its an alternative that others can look at this juncture in full concentration is looking at what we can do today to make the system implemented by the deadline. Im not going to ask for a definitive answers budefinitiveu get back to me at some point in the next week or so with an estimate on whether or not they will make that . I it will be within the leadership of next week. I will reach out to your office. Let me ask about the northeast corridor of wha to what is yourl of confidence that those systems will meet at december 2020 line back to a good in respect to what we have here we had eight railroads on the northeast corridor that operate in the networks and if anyone doesnt operate properly out there and have a functional system it has and affect. If they dont have an operational system it isnt going to allow them to be out there because then they are both subject to violations and at the risk and that why we brought that leadership together and we decided to be in new york facetoface and strictly the leadership. They need support and leadership and thats why we will see what we can accomplish the next 17 months. The corridor could be crippled. If they make it has the potential in the metropolitan area and your territory in connecticut and you want seamless interoperability and everybody. Everybody. Given that threat coming back to me after that Leadership Meeting as soon as possible to get an update and obviously not just me but i think the northeast corridor is not just about any single state or even about that region its about the whole country and the economic effect to meet that deadline could have. And disciplining the vendors with a limited number of them and the fact that the disqualifying one found it easier than the effect on the deadlines am i correct . Yes. Everyone need needs to be of the from equipment to helping with Software Glitches to interoperability. At this point these types of slippages affect the ability to move to the next next critical stage at the same time they have that expertise and its critical everyone does their part in order to finish that and make that deadline. I dont know what the answer is that whether it is in the midwest with the northeast the intervention by federal authorities to make sure the deadline is met which is required by law but also the potential market power or monopolistic power of these companies doesnt put fewer railroads at it there under mercy. You raise some important issues about the corridor. Thank you also to senator thune. Over many years weve had a lot of conversations and hes shes provided good leadership and i appreciate it. When you look at the equal amount of configurations they are required to support two different types of systems on the northeast corridor. That is the demand that is being put on the supply industry and keep in mind some of these railroads and initiate their engagement until around 2015 and of ththat the law was passed in. So im not defending the supply industry but theres blame on both sides. Behind us we have to figure out how to get this thing fixed. If they dont get it right, i would avoid any unfairness and i apologize to senator for going over long time making this basis and the rocket and the craft that. The astronauts and somehow they put it all together and other countries have done it and the challenges that ive been a longtime advocate of avoiding any further delay and at this point. I hope that you all will do your best the chairman is back and i would ask one quick question. Hes indulged me to ask if you talk a lot about the vendors supply constraint on implementation schedules, and i would direct this to you because your testimony you discussed that specifically. Have issues with comply delete the restraints i think they are about the same. The differences are everybody is trying to work through this. Its gotten everybodys attention, but there is a limited pool and everybody is working towards the same deadline and you have four that have crossed the finish line and everyone is looking for their plight plans and implementation at the sambut at the same time,u encounter a glitch were memory these are things that have to be worked through because you have to get it right. So, i think unfortunately we are at a critical juncture. Unfortunately, we really needed the vendors and we need their eightgame and to cross the finish line and get it right. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you, all. Weve now embarked on the series that will call votes on the floor of the senate. I want to thank all the witnesses for indulging in this debate with us today. We remain hopeful that watchful we look forward to your suggestions. The hearing record will remain open for two weeks and during this time, senators are asked to submit any questions for the records upon receipt the witnesses are requested to submit written answers to the canadian as soon as possible but by no later than wednesday august 28, 2019 thank you very much and with that, we conclude the hearing with the thanks of the members. The this is one hour and 20 minu. Sen. Crapo this hearing will come to order. Last congress, this Committee Held two hearings examining the Digital Currency ecosystem. In those hearings, we heard about some of the developments