It was a sixmonth manhunt. That is what a lot of people are not aware of. I was able to get really indications on intelligence and other things and we were heavily involved because it was saddams hometown, and ultimately pursuing these hometown connections that saddam had, we were able to get on this trail and over a sixmonth time period , he was captured. Host did you ever meet him . Guest i did not meet him personally. When he was captured, we did not want to make a zoo out of him, so he was secured in a little bird helicopter and phone to flown to to print, then to baghdad under great sick secrecy. I did great i did get to meet nefarious characters around him and we were able to pursue a lot of folks on the deck of cards. You may recall a lot of those. It was an interesting time. I never imagined i would be part of anything historic. Host i am sure you have been following the backandforth with jeff bush this week jeb bush this week with regard to the war and whether or not it was wo
House continue to strongly support the faa Contract Tower Program on a bipartisan basis and request you to comment on the record about any recommendation recommendations faa may have for reauthorization bill to insure that this program is enhanced and protected. Thank you. Madam chair. Thank you, senator wicker. I think certainly after our hearing last week, its important, many members of the committee share the support for the Contract Tower Program so i look forward to the answer to senator wickers question. Thank you. Now i would like to call on senator klobuchar. Thank you very much. A lot of interest in the hearing. Im pretending those are lines of people trying to get in that you just heard. Thank you so much, and i also wanted to welcome the colgan flight people who are here today. Members of the families. We worked with you, especially on the bill on pilot fatigue. And captain sullenberger, i want to thank you for your continued attention to improving the fatigue standards, and
Flying public. I want to ask this in a way its most effective. Ms. Gilligan, i want to start with you a hearing last week with regard to infrastructure in terms of aviation and as you know a key part of safety is aviation structure, ways to run things, and one of the things thats been, i think, for many americans, many members of congress, frustration is just how long Infrastructure Projects now take. We have the manager of the seattle Tacoma Airport testifying last week that it took 15 years to permit an additional runway. 15 years to simply permanent. Do you think the upfront regulatory side, are you willing to work with this committee on suggested streamlining particularly of Infrastructure Projects that reality to aviation . We need those out there, and, yet, we have a system that pretty much inhibits the ability to do that. We have an office aware of the safety standards, and we are willing to work with the committee and with your staff on any initiatives you believe are important