I call this meeting to order.
Before we begin with our guest this afternoon, we have a housekeeping item to deal with. In your packages you will find a couple of budgets required to cover witnesses' expenses. There are two budgets, one for $7,700 and the other for $5,700.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt proposed budget one, in the amount of $7,700?
(Motion agreed to)
Likewise, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the second budget, in the amount of $5,700, for expenses pertaining to the video conference and briefings that we have received and will receive?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you very much for your cooperation on those housekeeping items.
Dr. Sheppard is with us today.
We thank you very much for taking the time out of your schedule, Dr. Sheppard, to come and appear before the committee and provide us with a briefing, an update, in your capacity.
We generally allow about 10 minutes for our witnesses to make an opening presentation and then we move into questions from our committee members. The members are aware of the time frames allotted, and these are for questions and answers.
At this time, Dr. Sheppard, I would ask you if you have any opening comments.