The first in a series of hearings was held as the committee prepared to rewrite the transit portion of the surface transportation law. The authorization of the August 10, 2005, "Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users," (SAFETEA) would expire on September 30, 2009. In his testimony, Transportation Secretary LaHood said that more than one-third of the trains and other equipment operated by the seven largest rail transit agencies are "either in marginal or poor condition" and that those operators need about $50 billion to update equipment.