1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: Mr Secretary, that's Pete Boutage on the line. So I 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: understand you just came from a meeting at the White 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: House with the President and the rest of the Job's cabinet. 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: What did you learn at the meeting. Well, it's a 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: great opportunity for members of the Job Cabinet to discuss 6 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: what we've been seeing and hearing as we've been communicating 7 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: with the American people and and and traveling to communities 8 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: to talk about the impact of the Jobs Plan, And 9 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: every member of the cabinet who was there shared stories 10 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: about communities that saw what it would mean to invest 11 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: in infrastructure. There the enthusiasm that you see in among mayors, 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: among workers, and among business leaders as well to do 13 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: something big. So it's a great opportunity to sync up 14 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: on our different experiences and to hear the President reinforce 15 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: his commitment to making sure that we deliver in a 16 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: way that's not just going to help us in the 17 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: near term, but really set up America to compete economically 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: for the rest of our lifetimes. As you know, Mr Secretary, 19 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: and the rest of us as memorized now, it's two 20 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty or six thousand jobs were created last month, 21 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: it's a good number, and any other regular month it 22 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: would be a great number. The same time, we still 23 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: have something like eight million people who don't have jobs 24 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 1: who did before the pandemic. It was disappointing to economists 25 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: who expected as much as one million. Let's talk specifically 26 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: about transportation. To what extent did transportation have a role 27 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: in that, and for example, the chip shortage for automobiles, 28 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: problems at the ports, Well, there's certainly a concern with 29 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: the chip shortage. It's one of the reasons you've seen 30 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: the President and his economic teams so focused on supply 31 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: chain issues for the country. I mean, some of these 32 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: are concerns that have been brewing for a long time, 33 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: and they are going to impact our competitiveness if we 34 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,559 Speaker 1: don't do something. At the same time, we're also seeing 35 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: an increasing safe return to travel, and part of what 36 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: the rescue plan did was avoid some of the worst 37 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: of what we were facing just a few months ago. 38 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: You know, when we saw flight attendants being told that 39 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: they could tear up their furlough notices, when we saw 40 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: transit agencies that were getting ready to cut routes and 41 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: layoff workers, get news that help was on the way 42 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: we should. I know, we're all always trying to take 43 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: the next hill, and right we're talking about the job's plan, 44 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: but let's remember what the rescue plan is doing right 45 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: now and really helped us from going off the cliff. 46 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: And I think that's part of why over the last 47 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: three months all in, you know, we've added on average 48 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: five dred thousand jobs. We've got a long way to 49 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: go to the tune of millions. And that's why the 50 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: President has never let up and said, Okay, job done, 51 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 1: We're good to go. He's pushing us to do everything 52 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: we can to keep building a stronger economy, as the 53 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: President pointed out, as did Secretary Yelling today at the 54 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: at the White House. But one of the other things 55 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: that Secretary Yellen mentioned was that one constraint on filling 56 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: some of the jobs may be a concern on people's 57 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: part for getting back on public mass transit because it 58 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: fears about safety and health. Is there anything that Transportation 59 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: Department can do to help with that problem. Well, we've 60 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: been working to make sure that public transit is safe. 61 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: It's one of the reasons we backed up transit agencies 62 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: with that mass mandate. The same as We backed up 63 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: the airlines with that to make sure that it was 64 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: very clear what was expected. It didn't feel like it 65 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: was up to a bus operator, for example, to have 66 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 1: to handle a public health decision that we really needed 67 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: to make together as a country. So obviously, each transit 68 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: agency has its own plans for any changes that are underway. 69 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: But what I'll say is that you know we've the 70 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: result of the steps we've been taking supporting these agencies 71 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: with funding UH and with other resources is precisely to 72 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: make sure that it is not a barrier. Lack of 73 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: transportation is not a barrier to people getting to work sexually. Britage, 74 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: as you have become something of a point person on 75 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: the infrastructure you mentioned just a moment ago, let's talk 76 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: about the progress you are making from your point of 77 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: view in getting moving forward with a two point two 78 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: five trillion dollar proposal from President Biden. Are you getting 79 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: any bipartisan movement here? We talked with Marsha Blackburn earlier 80 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: this week and she said she'd be willing to go 81 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: along with something like the six hundred billions of our 82 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: proposal put forward by Shelley Moore. Capital Is the negotiation 83 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: going on? Are you taking steps forward on that. Yeah, 84 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: that exactly the process that's underway right now. We welcome 85 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: the fact that Senator Capito and her Republican colleagues came 86 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: forward with a specific proposal. They have a lot of 87 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: interest and at least parts of what we've been working 88 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: on the jobs Plan, especially areas like roads and bridges. 89 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: Of course, we believe that less traditional things like internet 90 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: infrastructure and care infrastructure belong there. But uh, that give 91 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: and take is exactly what the process is about. And 92 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: that's what I think you're going to see, uh, certainly, 93 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: especially as we look to next week with so many 94 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: members returning to Washington. Exactly. And and in fairness, my 95 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,559 Speaker 1: understanding is there is sixty billion dollars put in I'm sorry, 96 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 1: sixty billion dollars put in for them why broadband access? 97 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: Not for the care but there is money put in 98 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:48,479 Speaker 1: the Capital Bill, as I understand it, for broadband access. Correct. Yeah, 99 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: I think broadband is one of the areas where you're 100 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: gonna see some healthy bipart as an interest, especially when 101 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 1: you look at how many rural areas are among those that, uh, 102 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 1: that that have been left out. So you know, that's 103 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: just one of the things I think we can build on, 104 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 1: as well as the areas like the roads and the bridges. 105 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of a lot to work 106 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: through in terms of the math. Look at the baseline, 107 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: see what would really mean to make a big investment. 108 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: I think the focus here is to make sure that 109 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: we do something big enough to meet the moment. We 110 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: have fallen to thirteens place in infrastructure as a country, 111 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: and we shouldn't be going to all this trouble just 112 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 1: to do what it takes to hold onto thirteenth place. 113 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: We've got a position America to compete with places like 114 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: China that are investing huge amounts right now, and we've 115 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: got a position workers to succeed in the years ahead. 116 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: And that's something that we hope can be a bipartisan cause, 117 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: even if there are some differences about exactly how to 118 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: get there and exactly how to pay for it. And 119 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: one way maybe to get there is to break it 120 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: into pieces. Is it possible to take the part that again, 121 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: Senator Blackburn and Shelley Moore capitever saying they do. Would 122 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: that make sense for your point of view? Well, we 123 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: believe these things fit together. It's why the President announced 124 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 1: them as one plan. But these are exactly the kinds 125 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: of things that get negotiated as you sit down with 126 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: members on both sides of the aisle. There are a 127 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: lot of different congressional mechanisms that that could get this done. 128 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: And we're really ready to talk about just about anything. 129 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: That's the only red line that i've heard from the President. Well, 130 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: they're too. One, uh, that he's committed to not raising 131 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: taxes on anyone making less than four hundred thousand dollars, 132 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: and the other is that it is unacceptable to do nothing. 133 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: We've we've got to do something. We've got to act 134 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: relatively quickly. Secretary Buddhagist, let me put together two priories 135 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: of the president. We have on the one hand, infrastructure 136 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: clearly a priority. On the other, climate, and I wonder 137 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: how those fit together. If you've got all that you 138 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: wanted today to put into infrastructure, it would involve a 139 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: lot of concrete. Concrete is not green. How can you 140 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: address that issue? That's a real challenge, isn't it. Well, 141 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: there's no such thing as an infrastructure decision that's not 142 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: also a climate decision. The question is where whether we're 143 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: going to recognize that now What I find so exciting 144 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: about this moment and so exciting about this plan is 145 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: that this is our chance to demonstrate that climate is 146 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: also how we can create jobs for the future, whether 147 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,480 Speaker 1: we're talking about concrete, which includes research to uh find 148 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: more of the means that are less carbon intensive, potentially 149 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: even carbon negative when it comes to concrete, whether it's 150 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: making sure the electric vehicle revolution is made right here 151 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: in America with American workers making union wages at American 152 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: companies on American soil. All of the steps we need 153 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: to take around transportation can also be job creating investments 154 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: in our climate future. That's how all of these things 155 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: fit together in the President's vision, and that's the case 156 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: that we're making to the American people too. Okay, so 157 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: let me Mr se very finally come back to the 158 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: jobs question and tie it into the infrastructure very concretely, 159 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: no pun intended, but very specifically, how many jobs would 160 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: be created over the next year from the infrastructure. Well, look, 161 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: most of the scoring that we've seen in terms of 162 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: the millions of jobs that are going to be created 163 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: through this plan look at a longer time horizon than that. 164 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: What I will say is that there are shove already 165 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: projects right now in communities all over the country that 166 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: could go as soon as there was funding, and theoretically 167 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: we could move that as soon as a bill got 168 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: to the president's desk to sign up. But let me 169 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: be clear, we are of course rightly concerned about getting 170 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: through this year. But this job's plan is about making 171 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: sure we have a strong economy for the rest of 172 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: our lifetimes. This is not just about getting through the 173 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: business cycle. This is about making sure that America is 174 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: prepared to compete through the fifties, because right now we're 175 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: relying on infrastructure that was built in the nineteen fifties, 176 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: and each passing year, or for that matter, each passing 177 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,320 Speaker 1: day that we continue to do that has safety, economic, 178 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: and climate implications that we've got to address. Okay, thank 179 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: you very much for the secretary that is Pete Budha. 180 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: He is the Secretary of Transportation.