already to address some of the challenges we have in space when you talk about sort of these really, you know, diversified responsive architectures. i think there are efforts we're taking to address some of the space challenges, but certainly with respect to how we change for evolve to do more responsive i would reach for the department of defense. >> maybe we'll do one more question from the audience here and start to wrap up. >> okay. >> this is from the popular mechanics, as an efforts in transparency and nudge russia to provide more information about this weapon is the u.s. willing to disclose more about its space capabilities? >> it's an interesting question because there are capacities

that may or may not exist, but certainly, the u.s. has tried to be as transparent as possible with regard to space programs explaining even in the face of narratives that certain of our capacities are weaponized when they're not, so i would refer you to some of the good communications what we're doing in space, the clarification and transparency provided both by the space force-- >> you can finish watching this at c-span.org. we are going 0 to take you to an infrastructure conference. live coverage on c-span2. >> inside this beautiful space, thank you all for taking the time this morning to be here with us. i love seeing a room starting to get slowly filled up with a bunch of infrastructure nerds like myself. thank you, fantastic. welcome to infrastructure week 2024, exciting, yes, amazing.

[applause] >> i'm ross, leading from my post at accelerator for more action. and many of you have been with us since we take the rains two years ago, a fantastic two years leading this wonderful coalition of organizations, of associations, of private sector companies so many of you are here in the room with us today. thank you for your support, dedication on this. thank you so much. many of you are thinking what are we still doing here? why are we still doing this? why do you force us to come to these weeks every year, year after year after year. and i know, i'm sorry, you're here for many more years to come. get situated, get comfy. we're not just celebrating successes, continuing to beat the drum for the infrastructure.

we're acknowledging a very critical milestone, the halfway point of the bipartisan infrastructure law. for the last two and a half years, our infrastructure steering committee, larger coalition of families and partners have been beating the drum and pounding the pavement, everyone knows about this coming to ground and now the critical work of paving the next steps. making sure we get to the next federal investment. to our partnership networks and our colleagues in the room from meridian, siemens, and hard work for showing the rest of the country what the private sector should be doing in this space and of course to our steering committee. afl-cio, american society of civil engineers, brookings, and rtc thank you for last night. and the building and trades

unions, the value of water campaign and our incredible host for today's event the u.s. chamber of commerce. look at this room, it's really, really, beautiful. thank you all. >> and i want to thank you for your partnership and importance of this work. a round of applause for this family. [applause] >> we have a truly incredible program with you today celebrating tens of thousands of projects in every single state and territory funded, and the celebration that we'll have today to focus on the investments from the public sector, from private sector, from philanthropy into our nation's work force. giving more opportunities to build this project, pivotal to this next generation and beyond and thank you to get that going as well. we are going to go through today. we've got food taken care of and maybe seen the briefing center here, you're all busy

people, if you need to step out, take a call, and please go to do that and come right back and join us. we've got a wonderful program. let's get to t we're thankful to the u.s. chamber of partners for hosting us tornado -- today. the president and ceo of the u.s. chamber of commerce, miss susan clark. >> thank you, ross. and welcome everyone to the u.s. dham chamber of commerce. this is about finishing the job we started. many of us spent years or even decades working to get a robust infrastructure bill across the finish line. while we should celebrate that achievement, the bipartisan infrastructure bill simply laid the foundation for increasing

our nation's competitiveness to truly see the opportunities before us, we must create a policy environment that makes it easier for businesses to invest and to build a better future. to do that, we have to do a better job of setting priorities as a nation and acting smartly and strategically to make them possible. for example, today, there are billions of dollars of federal investments ready to go into our nation's roads, bridges, railways, ports and broad bands. but holding back progress, opportunity and economic growth. when it takes an average of seven and a half years to get a permit for a new bridge or a new road, longer than it takes to build many projects, that's simply not strategic. i want to talk about an infrastructure challenge that hits closer to home for many in this region and it's more than a challenge. it's a tragedy. we've been working with a key

federation partner, the maryland chamber in the aftermath of the horrific collapse of the francis scott key bridge. and forecast who lost jobs, commuters who didn't get home. businesses that have lost access to the part that's vital to what they do. in addition to working with our partners in helping the community recover, we must work to build that bridge and permitting reform delays that crucial project, it will compound the challenges and prolong the disruption of commerce and daily life. we cannot let that happen in baltimore or anywhere else in this country where a project badly needs to get done. last year, the chamber launched our permit america to build campaign, uniting more than 350 coalition partners, calling on congress to enact meaningful,

durable permitting forms. not long after that as part of the debt limit deal last june, congress enacted the first meaningful update for the national act that helped pave the way to get more shovels in the ground. there's plenty left to do and the clock is ticking. it may be hard to believe that funding for the law is nearing expiration and as the next congress reauthorizes that, the best way for this legislation is to be able to point to impact. that means making it easier to invest, permit and build with speed and efficiency, and it means creating more policy certainty around the host of priorities that impact our nation's ability to drive the growth, innovation and prosperity we're capable of. from the reauthorizing the bipartisan infrastructure bill to developing a clear and comprehensive energy policy

that supports american energy production and the energy transition. addressing the worker shortage crisis, securing our borders and modernizing immigration and a trade agenda and more. look, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but i'm optimistic. we've demonstrated what's possible when leaders in business, labor and all levels of government come together around a shared national priority. and today is the continuation of that effort. together we can turn promises into projects and push for long-term investments that help make our nation's infrastructure the envy of the world. thank you for your dedication and commitment and i look forward to continuing to partner with you in this effort. with that, brian jones president of the mid atlantic division of hmtv.

♪♪ >> well, good morning, everyone and thank you, suzanne. it is truly a privilege to be here today representing the u.s. chamber of commerce board of directors as we embark on discussions surrounding one of the most monumental investments in america's infrastructure and sustainability efforts in history and the crucial next steps to keep that momentum going. over a decade ago, infrastructure week was established as a pivotal platform uniting policy makers, industry leaders, the business community, and the public, in a concerted effort to advance critical conversations forward. unified by a come on goal. this coalition employed considerable influence for investment as a top priority. to fostering innovative solutions and inclusive dialog,

the invaluable expertise, leadership and guidance proved key to finding a common ground in reaching, as we all know, a rare bipartisan achievement. the infrastructure and jobs act holds for the infrastructure and the american economy, ushering in a new opportunity of growth, opportunity and innovation. we're seeing tangible impacts, projects installed due to funding constraints, they're now moving forward creating jobs. cutting edge he can it technology and enhancing efficiency. as suzanne noted, this is only the beginning and our work is

not over. we must look at the historic investment while afg sustainable long-term funding mechanisms to preserve and enchance our systems for generations to come. our sessions today and others throughout the weeks, months and years ahead offer an opportunity to deepen our collective understanding, not just of transformative infrastructure, but also of innovative approaches to drive that positive change and rebuild connections within communities across our nations. now please join me in welcoming my friend, mary ellen, the ceo of accelerator for america and united for infrastructure. mary ellen? (applause) >> please welcome to the stage the president and ceo for accelerator for america. >> good morning, everybody,

what a beautiful room of infrastructure practitioners, stakeholders, advocates. it's great to be with you, and i'm the president and ceo of acceleraor for america, we united to run the infrastructure with all of you. it was founded by former los angeles mayor eric garcetti in 2017 and we worked every day in our mission to help find and develop solutions that combat economic insecurity and share scale, replicate those solutions across our network of cities and leaders everywhere in this country. the core of our work has always been infrastructure because we know infrastructure helps connect neighborhoods and people to new opportunity. infrastructure is about our country's competitiveness and at its core, about good jobs. that's why i'm excited to be on

the stage today to introduce our keynote speaker. since we both have california roots, let's talk about julie su. she took the rains in march of last year and under his leadership, the department puts together the center of everything they do, those who have been underestimated. acting secretary julie su ensures that these individuals who have sometimes been forced to take on whatever work they can get. no matter the hours or the conditions or the mistreatment that they now have new opportunity through that infrastructure law to work on projects that provide a family supporting wage and offer dignity and growth opportunity. the acting secretary and i also share a first generation american story. my father and his family came to this country after world war ii having nothing, but the growths on their back and a

suitcase full of a few things. but when my grandfather game here in 1949 and went to work, he got to go to a great factory job with a family supporting wage and a pension. the acting secretary's family came here a couple of decades later and she was worn in this country just as i was, but maybe not the same opportunity. and she ultimately became her parents' most ferocious advocate and translated for them and helped to make sure that they got what they needed as a family and formed who she is and the work she does today to make sure that people have the dignity at work and get the benefit and pay for that work. early in her career, su combatted sweatshop conditions, and she focused on improving conditions for those working in the garment industry. it helped to earn a genius

grant. a genius in our midst this morning. and working for two california governors, and for those of you who know accelerator, we love governors and our mayors so we're particularly thrilled with the initiative that she's had with the national league of cities, good jobs, great cities, helping our city leaders form initiatives around this amazing opportunity and we have an infrastructure and in fact, we'll hear that later with one of our mayors from san antonio. secretary su understands the importance of partnership. none of this happens alone, this is a team sport that we work in. and we're in the women's bureau, leveraging for equity to ensure that these jobs in infrastructure and the clean energy jobs for the energy reduction act are available for people of color, for women,

people who have been historically underinvested and underestimated. without our skilled trades workers, our steel metal workers, our plumbers, our painters, our transit experts and so many more none of these would be possible. with that in mind, it is my great honor to introduce the country's number one advocate for great jobs and workers, acting secretary, julie su. [applause]. ♪♪ >> good morning, everybody. mary ellen, thank you so much for that very introduction. it was so lovely to speak with

you before coming out here with our shared immigrant stories, and the point that good jobs change lives and do so for generation. i'm pleased to talk about that and we're in a moment in which we can make that happen for more people than we've done for a very, very long time in this country and i know the best ideas happen when business leaders, unions, mayors, other local officials and others come together in real partnership. and so, i real appreciate you, mary ellen, and your leadership in bringing together this group to talk about something that's so core to president biden's vision for america. which is infrastructure. but i want to acknowledge a few people before i start. the first are my friends who you will hear from in just a little bit. sean mcgarvey president of the building trades and greg reagan from the trance sayings department of the afl-cio. president biden is investing in

america and the workers that sean and greg represent are building america. i also want to recognize san antonio mayor ron nuremberg, as mary ellen said, our mayors are the ones getting things done on the front line. and san antonio is one of the great jobs city. i'll come back and talk about mayor ron in a moment, but san antonio is setting an example that is really demonstrating what is possible across the nation and of course, i want to thank the brilliant work that guided the biden-harris from historic job growth and infrastructure. and suzanne clark you heard from on the video has been great to work with as well as we think about how to build up the supply chains across the country and make sure the economic growth bradley

benefits all. so, as you all know, since even before this group was together a decade ago, we've talked about the need for infrastructure investment and president biden is delivering them. everywhere i go, i get to see really historic investments taking shape across the country like at pittsburgh international airport where we're investing $20 million to modernize the airport's terminal. at the same time, that work is using made in america steel, thousands of prevailing union jobs and it will generate 2.5 billion dollars in economic activity. now, that's a theme of something that i'm going to talk about which is how the investments are not just for workers, not just good for businesses that work on them, but power our economic growth. i also got to visit the site of and the people who are creating america's first interstate high

speed rail. this is going to connect the empire with los angeles and also built by union workers. and probably like many of my fellow west coasters who spent a lot of time on the i-15, we welcome a high speed rail line between those two cities. and toured atlanta's builtline improving transportation and creating more green space as well as affordable housing and rejecting neighborhoods, divided by infrastructure in the past so we have a moment to think about infrastructure and the way that it connects rather than divides. so what i'm going to focus on though is a question that people often ask me, which is are we going to have the work force for this work? of course, the answer to that is yes. if we make sure that these investments create good jobs and if we focus on connecting the people who have been left out of opportunities for too long to those jobs. so this brings me to another kind of infrastructure.

i think of our work force system as infrastructure, too. it's the roads and bridges that connect good people to the jobs that they need and employers to what they want and need. just like our physical infrastructure. our work force infrastructure has got some cracks. it's got some potholes. it hasn't been built to reach every community the way that it needs to. and that includes workers and employers. and we say to that, not this time. not on our watch. in president biden's america we're building a work force infrastructure as strong as our physical infrastructure and we're making sure that it's going to reach all communities. and to do it, we need high road training partnerships. what do i mean by that? >> high road training partnerships start with the jobs, with the destination. we can't build effective infrastructure if we don't know where we're going. just like too many training

programs in the past have focused on skills that might be needed for jobs that might materialize, not anymore. in the language of economists, high road training partnerships connects the demand for labor with the supply. they involve management and labor sitting down together to plan, to design training that's tied to actual jobs, jobs that not only support a family, but uplifted entire communities. for too long, the focus has been on the skilled efficiency of workers rather than the quality of jobs, not this time. and the panel that comes up after me is going to talk about more about-- and have a lot of experience about how to build things the right way. and high road turns traditional on its head starting with the good jobs and making sure that jobs with sustaining wages and workers have a voice. jobs where workers can be in a union and jobs where every worker goes home safe at the end of the day and jobs where

families can get what some of what the presidents call breathing room at the core of our entire infrastructure. these partnerships prioritize communities that have been left behind. i'm talking about women, black workers, latino workers, asian workers, people involved in the justice system and young people who are not connected either to school or the work force at this moment. at a time when our economy is growing and projects are breaking ground across the country we have an opportunity to make sure that we build bridges to communities that have not been reached by them for too long and the high road training partnerships are those bridges. these programs include registered apprenticeships which we often describe as the super highways of this work force infrastructure. and training programs aren't just one off. they're part of an interconnected system that we invest in for projects of today, but also will exist for the projects of tomorrow.

and i always say this, but i think it's worth repeating that training shouldn't end in a job search. it should end in a good job. i was recently in milwaukee meeting with apprenticeships, and i asked how it felt to be in the program? one of the young men said, i feel secure. for the first time in my life i feel secure and that sense of security is what high road training partnerships can provide across our country and provide for employers, struggling with the challenge of finding their needs. and not just employers and neighbors, but organizations like community-based organizations that provide other services and the state and local level. putting out dollars and

opportunities can invent incentivize, and for things that get in the way of training programs and jobs. not because people don't work, or don't have the skills, but the infrastructure has not been there for too long. one example of this is the city of san antonio. earlier this year, my city co-led the equity summit focused on making child care more affordable. through the summit we found nearly 60% of workers with san antonio cannot afford child care in any given week. now, the city is working on a budget proposal that's going to help those families with child care needs. leadership matters and mayor ron's leadership is making a really big difference. we've kicked off an effort

called the line initiative and this is about creating the infrastructure that allows women to get into good infrastructure jobs. to get it done, we're partnering with mary ellen and accelerator america and implementing it on the ground with mayor nuremberg. and supporting workers with jobs that creates this well-being that we're talking about isn't enough incentive, let me share another statistic, a study that we did in the department of labor found if this country invested in child care and in families supporting policies like paid leave the way other comparable economies do, in the world, it would allow about five million more women to come into the work force and generate 775 billion worth of economic activity a year. again, when we do things the right way, it's good fork for working people and that you

represent in the infrastructure world and good for our economy and our country. doing the right way, as president biden knows and as i know, when we do right by working people, makes our economy stronger and it makes america stronger. we're also working to create better connections with our educational institutions who are a good part of the roads and bridges and that's investing in a pre-apprenticeship program for community colleges. earlier this year i went to the community college of allegheny county, and parker, never imagined he would get to do a job for his hands and also get a college degree. now he's getting to do both of those things, at his local community college with classes that connect to the job that he's doing in his local community to help build up his community. and these are jobs that are advanced manufacturing and include energy. and all of that is part of the infrastructure that we're

talking about now and we think of community colleges as on ramps to this infrastructure and we recognize that four-year degrees are not the only or the best path for people to get to the future and to get to the destination that they want. to meet this moment of historic infrastructure investments, the moments people in this room have been pushing for for some time. we have to make sure they get the infrastructure that they need. we know with high road training partnerships that will happen. they're asking for many of the partnerships across the country and many of you know about them and even been a part of that. and we have a map the training partnerships and where they are across the country and those training programs are connected to the investments that are being made in president biden's investing in america agenda. and since we created that map a year ago, we've added thousands more dots on the maps which

shows that we're not only doing what we say, we're also scaling them in a way that we need to do and everybody represented in this room needs to help us get to that point. please join us on the high road and there's a frame work, preparing an infrastructure work force to support you in this work and i urge you to look at it and it's a component of what i've talked about and each member of the partnership, whether you're a business, a nonprofit, an educational institution and a union or a government entity can play their role in helping to build these kinds of partnerships. i'm going to close and we care about the investments actually create opportunity and intergenerational opportunity for people in this country to talk about a woman named rose evans in ohio. rose was struggling to provide for her kids when she started an apprenticeship program and became a sheet metal worker with the union.

and her daughter diamond saw what it meant for the family and she enrolled in a pre-apprentice program with the department of labor with my friend president mcgarvey of the building trades. today mom rose is working on her second infrastructure project funded by president biden's investment in america, and this is in kokomo, indiana and today she's working side by side with her daughter diamond on the project. and we create intergenerational change for women, for people of color, for all communities to enjoy the prosperity that we're building in this country in this moment. so, let's do this right. let's do this together. let's seize this moment to build a 21st century infrastructure that's both physical and work force, and an opportunity in every single community and i'm so excited to do this work with you. the department of labor stands with you, we have your back and

thank you for the leadership that you're doing. thank you so much. >> (applause) >> please welcome to the stage the america works for infrastructure panel. ♪♪ >> welcome, everyone, it's an honor to be with you today and my colleague. i want to give a special thanks to the department and the staring committee for putting

on this really great event. and our panelists today are power players in this space. power players who have examined local work force development programs and led and coordinated with unions across members and fought for crucial investments into our infrastructure work force. we have mayor ron nuremberg, and the president of the building trades union and greg reagan president of the tcd. thank you for being with us. so today's conversation will focus on expanding and diversifying the infrastructure work force which we know is quite a challenge and yet delivering on the challenge is much harder than would suggest. in the first round of questions, i'd like to start with you, shon. i know you graduated from a construction registered apprenticeship program. i'm an academic and we all believe in the power of

apprenticeship program, and what's stopping from making it more available and who is not playing ball and what are you doing to diversify them. how can we do better? >> well, we've been working for probably almost the last three decades to diversify the facilities and union, and we put together with the community partners, national, local, i think urban league, youth build and naacp scores of local community organizations, what we call apprenticeship readiness program. what they are, pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare people to enter the apprenticeship programs in our trades because the training is rigorous and they need to step up in some cases to get them ready.

in the programs we target women, incarcerated, and teaching in president systems in six states, when they come out they're ready to get into registered apprenticeship programs. our graduates are 80% people of color, 20% women. we have tremendous opportunity looking forward with the amount of work coming out, excess of four trillion dollars which in, you know, construction speak, the regular construction industry did about 1.3 trillion a year. without this federal legislation that we now have, you know, jobs going out as far as we can see and we look at the opportunity, the only thing that we can compare it to is the end of world war ii when the g.i.'s were coming home

after fighting tyranny across the world and building families in the middle class in this country. and that's how gigantic the opportunity is so the recruitment piece of it is huge for us. we're heavily invested. 225 programs going in excess, large and small, the pipeline to get into the apprenticeship program. we have 1600 training centers in the united states. if we were can k through 12 district, the third largest after university of california five times the size of ohio state only one institution in the world trains more in the system than we do that's the united states military. and we have expanding capacity. we've invested and reinvested,

we spend our own money, it's not the government's money, in excess of $2 billion a year to build the infrastructure, create the curriculum and train the teachers and greatly expand that and more and more of this work gets deployed it's going to create more and more people through that pipeline to get into registered apprenticeships and one more note, we unveiled an academic study to see how we were on diversity and we have a ways to go, but the good news is, you know, everybody's got competition. the chamber knows all about that. our commission is the open shop center who considers themselves bigger than us, we've taken into the registered system, people of color and more women than other competition. we've ramped it up and look for

opportunities to move them to the middle class through our training. >> and so, just to push a little bit more, it sounds like this is fabulous and you guys are making huge strides on apprenticeship. what do we need to do in order to increase and apprenticeship more general in the united states? >> i personally that our system is a good one, co-managed between the employers and the unions. they run these programs, the board of trustees and make the decisions on the extend turs and investments and ours are going on a hundred years now. there are lots of industries currently worried where they're going to get the work force they need. unfortunately, you know, if you look at the history of wall street back in the '70s started looking at quarterly reports

and a lot of internal training that was going on across industries in the united states was jettisoned to try to save money for, you know, to please wall street investors, but they can get together as a third party operation. and there are some of them popping up. secretary su, secretary walsh did a good job pushing this apprenticeship program into long-term filling those jobs openings and prepare them through apprenticeship readiness program or in particular through a registered program so they have people taught the skill sets that they not only need gainfully employed, but through health care and through any other in the united states. >> it's finding ways to get the employers to come to the table, as well as the unions or other organizations on the workers side. terrific. >> great. we've heard so much about a

cleaner, more modern transportation system. what are some of the challenges to train workers in new knowledge and skills? what are the most promising ways to actually address those challenges? >> well, i do think that you look at the model, so much historically in our grant programs, whether it being in the f.d.a., the federal transit, and has been on capital expenses. new buses and trains, now routes and lines, and i think the way that this administration has started to change at that dynamic, for example, with the low and no emissions bus program, they required that 5% of the funds that the applicants receive towards job training, including the maintenance of electric vehicles, quite a bit different than say, a diesel vehicle. making sure we have the operators trained up so once these are deployed they're ready to go.

it's ready to go right into service and that's something that i think that that idea that we need to be investing in the people and work force in addition to just the stuff. stuff is important. we want to see more of that, but the fact that we have real money, as sean alluded to now, in areas not just roads and bridges which are important, for public transit and passenger rail and entry into the places like central and other places like this. this is exciting, but if we build that stuff and do not have the work force to be ready to operate them, it doesn't do good. when you look at the ambitious timelines, bee need to be recruiting and training those workers now and we have the know-how to do it and we have the work for the unions who represent the workers in freight and passenger rail already, can be effective partners in that and we need to start at this point and not, you know, four years from now, or two years from now. >> so, okay, so it sounds as if

you know what to do. are there workers who are signing-- are there people lining up? we here we've got a very low unemployment rate in this country and we hear about their challenges finding workers in certain industries and for certain occupations. is there had a lack of demand for these kinds of programs? >> there's a lot of demand for workers. we're facing a crisis, and a huge portion of the work force will retire in the next five years and we do not have that pipeline. part of the problem, if i'm being honest though, the employers are not being the best advocates for, you know, the best advertisers for their own industry. i think we're going to make some i am. pro with the new transit worker protections that went into place just a few weeks ago, because you know, previously what people read about if you're thinking about a job in

transit you'd read the local newspaper about another bus driver that got beat up. that's not a good one for your industry. if we start to address those problems or for example, in the rail industry, people are going to remember east palestine or the-- they're not thinking about the railroad retirement benefits, good salaries and career jobs, people have been proud to be railroaders and we need to change that morale and the narrative to help entice more people in and i know that, you know, we have some ideas about how we can create a pipeline similar to what the building trades do with apprenticeship programs because we now have multiple entities that are operating in these areas, whether it be brightline, amtrak, class two or three railroads, they're going to need the same types of workers so we should figure out a way to use a multi-employer, multi-union training program to

try to move this work force forward and create this pipeline. >> that sounds complicated. we should find a way, who will do that work? who will make that happen? >> i've had conversations with amtrak and steven in particular, they're willing to invest in this and talked to folks at brightline, they're willing to invest in it. and we have the model there. and a model how to make this work. it takes the money and just takes the focus on it and those are the two things that are standing in the way. >> okay, all right. where there's a will there's a way so i'm counting on you. >> speaking of will and way. let's talk about san antonio. let's talk about san antonio. >> so you have the ready to work program i hope you'll describe that for the audience. >> sure. >> and i'd love to hear also about some of the challenges you've encountered and what you're doing to address them. >> sure, first i'd like to

reflect on the fact that the last time i was in this room there's an inside joke here in washington for years, for local leaders that our favorite week was infrastructure week and i was here about six years ago balk talking how we needed an infrastructure bill. and i wanted to take the time to applaud and to get us the infrastructure law that makes it possible. in san antonio we recognize a couple of things, one is that for anyone who spent more than a couple of minutes talking about public policy we've been acknowledging a skills gap which is only growing. we do not have the workers with education and skills necessary to fill the jobs created today. the other issue less notable for some, but something that we thought a lot about and trying to address, the income segregation and poverty in

america. so flash forward to the height of the pandemic when we saw the food bank lines nearly double overnight because within one week, this event had really shaken us to our core. we recognized the fact that millions of american families, tens of thousands of san antonio families were one event away, one last job, one event away from a catastrophe. we didn't have an unemployment problem, we had -- so many trying to make ends meet. we're in the ready to work program address both things. in the height of the pandemic, we took part of the sales tax towards training. recognize what jobs are being created and what we can do with providers to make sure that they're training for the skill sets so participants can fill

the jobs. making sure that bring the san antonio families who are unemployed or underemployed to fill jobs, health care jobs, trades, et cetera, and we're doing a pretty good job. within a year and a half of the program launched we now have 7,000 folks enrolled. almost 1,000 people who have already graduated from their various training programs and into new jobs and i would like to just mention that we're targeting the folks who need this the most, the average participant in san antonio who enters the ready to work pipeline in their household was making $15,000 a year. that was the household income for the participant. in the work force, but again, under the poverty line. couldn't afford rent, food, et cetera. when they leave this program, the average participant is now making $44,000 a year, has a transportable credential, and

now is employed in one of the high gain career, mobility, manufacturer, whether that's health care industry, increasingly whether that's a skilled trade. we have partnerships with providers and we have partnerships with the employers, we connect the two with job placement and removing barriers to make sure that they can stay in the program. and our hope aspirationally that we can change the trajectory and break the cycle of poverty. >> that sounds fabulous, has it all gone according to plan? >> no. so i will tell you one of the big lessons learned is that job training takes time and it's difficult work. the reality is that every single one of those 7,000 participants, and we hope going to be a lot more as the program moves forward, has an individual story. every person has barriers that

would eventually cause them to choose whether or not they want to stay in the program or go and work a job. so, we have to marry the participant up with jobs navigators. from the very start, assessing their skill sets and whatever remedial training they might need. we need to address the barriers that get in the way, child care, and making sure they stay in the job, stay in the training program and eventually work with the job-- the employers who place that person into a job and make sure that they're successful. the city of san antonio is not the provider, we're not the employer in most cases, we're not the training provider. we are the broker. and so, it's an intense amount of work to make sure that that person remains in the pipeline and is ultimately able to land the job. and what we've learned is, number one, we've got to

continue to remind the folks in our community that it does take time, it's hard work and everybody has an individual set of circumstances and we've got to work with them all and also encounter add challenges within employers. every single sector works differently. in some cases we need to work with employers who are then the providers of the training. some of those skillsets on a particular line in a manufacturing facility, for instance, are proprietary. and we have to have the opportunity for employers to train themselves. our lessons have been many. number one, making sure we set the proper aspirational expectations and keep people focused we're not just changing lives, but working individually with folks and not above the life skills happening on the

ground. that's terrific. i do a lot of work in education and training and basically you get what you pay for. when you put the time and investment in, you get more return on the other end. i'm going to shift gears in time remaining, so many public dollars. so we have an opportunity to reflect what works and reform what doesn't. and yet, with the clock quietly, or maybe not so quietly ticking. i'd love to close with challenging ideas for the future. sean, back to you, during your time as president there, you've created the strategy programs. what are the opportunities you see for the program not only for infrastructure programs, but also tax credits. >> we've discovered, probably 15 years ago, that we were

invested in companies or in projects, actually, where the labor strategy for that project was not to use us, and it certainly didn't make sense to us that we were an owner and didn't have the opportunity to build it so we formed a capital strategies group and its primary mission was to get a handle on our almost 900 billion dollars worth of investments that we have. to see where they're at. and we started out looking at consultants and making sure we negotiated both for better fees, et cetera, we looked at managers and individuals. and because this money is invested across wall street, invested in commercial real estate. low and modern income housing and making sure that if people were aware if they want today do business with us, ie,

certain strings that were attached and one of the things was if you want to use union labor to build it. that's created lots of great relationships for us, believe it or not. we've formed a national labor management committee with the american economic-- i'm sorry, the american investment council, right. the equity guys and most players in the business are good players, they want to do the right thing, but unfortunately, there are some bad players out there. so we sit with groups like that and talk-- particularly talk a lot about pipelines and what do you want out of our investment. triple, bottom line not only building infrastructure, but a good neighbor where the infrastructure is being built and the people on the geography where it's built and have the opportunity not to work at the picture that's complete, but actually in the construction. ...

they go on with us to the next project so we create that cycle of stimulus cycle. the scale of investment, the scale of work that's coming, i mean, we've never seen anything like it. there's nothing to compare to come to describe it. i mean, we use to get excited when somebody would be talking about a $300 million project, a check in a project. talking ten and $20 billion projects in chip space, small modular reactor, offshore wind and all the programs that tax credit programs coming through

the -- deadline which for the first time in the tax code that says you're going to take avenge of these tax credits and programs there's an excel the rent. want to take 5%, no strings attached, , you get 5% but if oe to get 30% tax credit on your investment, you're going to have to meet certain labor standards to do that. and again that helps create that good jobs and not race to the bottom which the president has been focused on building the economy from the bottom out and the middle up. so there's tax credit programs. there are people quite honestly that it never heard of that are knocking on my door every day and saying how it would build a relationship with you? we want to take avenge of these programs but we want to make sure what would make this capital investment we have the human capital, with the skill sets that are required at the time required, place a required to build and you are really only people that have the infrastructure on the training side to partner with us and we get to that.

>> terrific. greg, labor standards as repairing and committee benefits greens are major priority for the biden administration. what have you learned and what have you learned across the country? what you think of the idea of moving projects quickly with improved labor standards? are these mutually exclusive ideas or can we develop? >> we can absolutely do both. we're proving that right now. i think we have an opportunity right now to establish a new way of handling especially private entrance into the transportation infrastructure area. we are seeing it with brightline is one example but we also have some new micro transit entrance. trying to supplement operations that the country and they are coming to us. i think a large part because of the way the biden administration talks about the importance of unions, the way the people emphasized how this is going to

be a priority but brightline approached us. some of these other copies are approaching us, talk we partner with you? that was really effective partnership and number of different areas where we have delivered together the company and the union's have delivered a substantial investment in the federal government to help build these modern green better infrastructure projects. the more we can show that model partnership, more we can show we don't need to be at odds, we can supplement each other's efforts and form effective partnerships, the more that that can become the norm, at that sort going to focus on. medical and is going to want to do it the way we done in these projects but a guarantee would as a matter if it's president biden or if it's president trump or if it's president, you know, mike pence, whoever it is, winter making decisions about decision about grant applications and figuring out which projects are worthy of money, when we have partner and corporate interests on the same page with labor and corporate on the same page and we're going in

together, makes that decision a heck of a lot easier. i don't care who the decision maker is. then he be the biggest fans of labor, than they hate us the most, but if we're making the decision easy for them by having effective partnerships and having those relationships, they are going make the easier call. one of the saga to be controversial, they get beat up on in the press. that's the type of sustained efforts on helping to really build upon over the next few years. >> do you have a particular example across the country? >> yes. so yes, actually brightline is the best one because we focus on we haven't m.o.u. on operations, there's a pla for the construction. we're talking about labor agreements at the station themselves so that the people who are working in the concession areas and all that will also be union workers. we are looking at having a wall-to-wall soup to nuts union operation that will deliver

modern high school rail for the first time in this country. that's an example of private company that prison operator in florida that was nonunion and all privately financed. window is money available and the want to invest, get some of the infrastructure money, they recognize there was value in bringing us into the fold. there are going to be other really good options in the transit space weather scope is what to do this the right way, when you want to make sure, sure, we have the small autonomous bus and that is going to feed more people into a transit system but we want to have laborers support so roommate sure it's making by the existing union workforce. we're going to make sure there are opportunities, growth opportunities for dispatching these jobs the people can advance their careers. it's not going to be one of these things where a private company comes in and undercuts the existing wages and working conditions by 40% in, as a way to cut cost. those are some examples were looking at right now.

>> perfect. mayor, love to close with you, whether cities, counties, but foreign governments, what with congress and the next administration to to better help localities? do you need more money for workforce programs, more technical assistance, all of the above? >> i think secretary su and sector walls before her laid a good groundwork for this. the answer is yes to all of the above but i do want to emphasize what great and sean both said. we need employers buy-in on these programs. in san antonio we have employers come scores reporters signed a ready work pledge. that's an agreement to share that information but what kind of jobs are being created so we can make sure we are preparing the right can workforce pick in addition we have employers buy-in to providers of training and we also have employers buy-in to be the hirers of our participants are . we already have about 535 employers who were fired and

ready to work participants out in this program. it's not a theater for a particular business but it is providing a well-rounded workforce for our city. what we have found over the course of the last year and half, and ensure this is true in your community as well, is we are not going to achieve our goals for workforce to be able to fill those job vacancies that so many industries have if we don't focus on the barriers. one specific barrier in particular, that is the need for child care. we need an investment in childcare across every single community. we are as secretary su said, that a number of our folks have no access and many of them can't afford it we know it's a barrier for women in particular but households in general. we are doing assessments, one a need for child care but also the capacity and we need investment and when he partnership. the other issue is would like to train folks in childcare. right now the labor standards,

the way to stand for child care workers are not to the level where a child care worker could actually make ends meet if that was the sole source of income. so we need to improve the labor standards and wage standards at every level for child care workers in this country. and then of course absolutely, we did investments in workforce. investment in infrastructure are great but if they are not coupled with an expectation to create a workforce, we're not doing much good. each of these investments even these capital programs are jobs programs at the end of the day. >> well, i want to thank all of you for protesting in today's panel. this brings us to close of the session, and so i just very much look forward to the rest of the program and thank you all for joining us this morning. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome deputy secretary at the u.s. department of commerce. ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> well, hello, everyone. i am really pleased to join you all for infrastructure which are

at the u.s. chamber of commerce. biden-harris administration and department of commerce as an sure many of you know have been focused on guaranteeing that we have the sturdy economic foundation that we need to build prosperity that will last not just for a few months or a few years, but for generations. that's more than just our traditional infrastructure, our roads, bridges electrical grid et cetera. et cetera. it also includes a technology that will support smart cities come smart communities and includes a technological infrastructure that will allow us to outcompete our adversaries. nowhere is that work more critical than the revitalization of american manufacturing through the landmark chips and science act. semiconductors are the lifeblood of our technology from controlling the machinery that we used in our manufacturing facilities to keeping our fighter jets in the air come to something as simple as running

and the plant in our home. and the capabilities extended technology of the future like ai and quantum computing. but to envision our path forward on chips, we have to take a step back and understand where we are starting from. right now we are deeply reliant on other countries for our chips, but it wasn't always like that. in 1990, many of us remember 1990, the u.s. made 37% of the world's chips. today, we make just 12%. a tiny fraction of the world's legacy chips, and that of the leading edge chips that we need to about a most advanced systems. the covid-19 pandemic shined a light on the vulnerabilities in the sector when our chips supply chains broke down leaving dangerous shortages, putting american businesses and consumers at risk. that two things became clear in the wake of all this. first, this was a monumental

risk for all of us in this country. and second, we couldn't let it happen again. the president and vice president know that america is going to compete and reaffirm our leadership on the world stage we have to make these once in a generation investment in our technology and manufacturing. because this isn't just about our economic security. it's about our national security. that's why president biden passed the chips and science act, major part of his investing in america agenda. investing more than $50 billion to build new semiconductor factories, and skill of the supported manufacturing ecosystems that are necessary to help them grow. investing in r&d centers, and training workers to ensure america remains the leader in this critical industry. now make no mistake, this a targeted industrial strategy. the chips and science act is our innovative solution to challenge

that if left unaddressed will send shockwaves through our economy for decades to come. we are beginning to see transformative results. in march we announced limiting memorandum of terms with intel corporation to put up to $8.5 billion and proposed funding to strengthen u.s. domestic supply chain resilience, and reestablish american leadership in the semiconductor manufacturing. though it hasn't been a green field lab lab like this and u.s. for more than three decades. with the perot's investment in intel's projects across the country, where securing access to leading edge chips and the benefits to our technologies, economy, national security, will also be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. we're leveraging up vast amounts of the sector investment. and this multibillion-dollar preliminary agreement stands

alongside similar preliminary agreements with other leading companies like global foundries, tsmc, samsung and micro. they mark some of the largest investments ever announced in your semiconductor manufacturer. best of all, because of the proposed target chips investments in these companies, we anticipate that america will produce roughly 20% of the world's leading edge chips by the end of the decade. by investing in chips manufacturing writer in america, where providing new economic opportunity to american workers and their communities, bolstering america's technological leadership, and showing up our national security, rebuilding our infrastructure. this is president biden's invest in america agenda in action. we're committed to continuing this work, complement the efforts of so many others right here in this room, and working with all of you across the country to build a stronger, more secure country. thank thank you so much. it's been good to be with you.

[applause] >> please welcome building resides in america's electrical grid panel. -- resilience. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> good morning, everybody. i was a very supposed to wait for the entered in. i am lynda tran, called a partner at epicworks advisors but most of you know me from my previous role of a senior advisor to secretary pete buttigieg and director of public engagement for the department of transportation. i am very pleased to be on the

stage today but i'm going to start with the good news/bad news. this is was can be a good news/bad news conversation. we've had the added bad news that unfortunately mayor clinton lucas was unable to judge because he battling a little bit of covid but the good news is you now have an all-star panel of women were here to drop some knowledge on you all. so the conversation today is on grid resilience. the good news piece of that is that obviously this that the administration has invested the stork resources into all of the climate resilience programs that this lovely page of going to talk about here and and in . the bad news is, our grid might not be quite ready for. i'm really excited to introduce the ladies beside you. so to my immediate right here we have maria robinson who is the director of the great department office for the u.s. department of energy. and with abigail campbell thinker sinker is ahead of climate infrastructure policy at siemens which is development of something around infrastructure these days. join me in welcoming them up.

[applause] >> w, maria. you have a tough job picky might be the only person i know as a record of an office who has a multiple set at phds and has been a state representative and is coming into this with the technical knowledge that you have. i would ask you to talk us through all the bit about the grid to climate offices for absolutely and figures which are having us here today. i love nothing more than talking about investing in our electrical grid. the great department office is actually a brand-new office. we were just sent in august 2022 so i started so i started the office with two people, and with since go to about 140 with the mission of not getting $22 billion out the door in order to invest in our electric grid. that's both the long pole, and was for transmission as well as

the small distribution you actually see that connects to your house. our goal is to enhance our existing grid as will the building out new and were to meet all the new demand went on the grid in part because of the great investments being made by the biden administration. >> it to look like? what is the grid department office. >> as we have what i call pillage of policy wonks and all budget engineering nerds come together to make really good decisions and a lot of it is focused on working really closely with industry. as mentioned i was a state representative in previous lifetime under work for trade association immediately before the. so for me it's so important we are going after talking to people who are going to utilize these mechanisms that we have, whether it's the direct funding and having conversations and if our program seem really good in our building that is impenetrable that itself was a d.c., that's only go so far chromatograph and have this conversation we're actually able to recruit a number of folks in industry, letter great folks who work at the state level who are

tasked with the company a lot of this work to make sure with some of the smartest minds who are very realistic say no, , actualy were going running this problem can figure out how we treat the language in our actual rfp moving photo cards with a wide variety of folks who are helping us to get out as well as dedicate a long-term public servants who are helping us navigate how we cut to the redtape of bureaucracy a pretty. >> thank you so much. abby, want to say by saying congressional office of folks in the know about brightline west and all the exciting things happening there. but sitting your phone industry perspective and all of the things that are part of your portfolio and you look at the grid, what keeps you up at night? >> so thanks come to build on the comments were incredibly excited can write? new teams have come into the department or we've seen this huge influx of federal funding and modernization of the code and states during really

innovative public-private partnerships and a lot of facilities being announced. it's an incredibly exciting time, and that we've been looking for for quite a while in use. with the bank said what keeps us us is how we achieve to come right? we talk about all this opportunity for ev chargers which would make an from legislation provide an opportunity localized in the u.s. or will to talk about solar again opportunity to localized manufacturing in the u.s. a lot of our peers and customers are doing the same thing. it's not just our infrastructure we're building but also are concerned about what with colleagues in the department of energy and partners and communities to get how to get the power needed for all of these new facilities come online. new data centers come for these really strong u.s. parts of our economy. i think for us it's incredibly excited because we know the technology is there. we know there's a real immediacy in terms of hardware and software and visual tools that can bring everything together in rapid pace but i think what we do right now to make sure we are

building because all the saints of our event announced, power needs immediately to support them. >> you've done a great job i think as a company, i can say out loud to this group, with a working the administration as the administration, my former home, has rolled out all of these programs the what if i could you confirm a private sector perspective about how to work with the administration of better? >> it's the same thing can well we were actually, we worked together when you were in d.c. in the trade association so i think what we see now is it's a great range of experience in terms of individuals that have been a part of it is your academia or we have this great new entrants in manufacture and startups. we think for us the important thing is likely due to share our expertise expertise but what we do to also be very open to listen. we understand again there's this once in the life generation right now but no one come to can go it alone.

so no one's administration can complete everything. a lot of different multiple pieces that are going to be a part of all of this. we understand that these last couple of years have really feed multiple use opportunity. maximizing everyday and really trying to make sure we are bringing such expertise but also an open you to the conversation, a different side of the puzzle registered or we hear from your perspective, we talked about some the challenges a little bit, boldly about for us. what are the solutions? what's exciting? what are you working on? >> we are all pretty smug with some of the challenges when folks asking what keep the appointment i say i don't sleep, in part because the challenges are so great. this is a first time in a long time the electric interesting growth so they're not necessarily prepared when doing long-term planning, you know, the investors would put into the grid and into the parsis of which talk about them on the 33,

50 year timescale and some were there's influx of new manufacturing, of data centers, of and i picked this has happened so quickly so as to get what we do both in the short term and some of these longer-term issues for us more structurally handle some of the concerns. abigail mentioned in particular some of the software solutions. when you think about electric grid you don't necessarily think about software but that's a phenomenal solution for us, whether it's at this thing called dynamic line reading break and use look at more of the grid during particular peak hours and you thought you otherwise would. it helps the engineers belittled us small c conservative about whether they want to the point more power in times when nobody has the air-conditioning on orbit has the heat on if you're up north. those are things we can look at in the short-term, and his great technologies whether it's advanced -- the wires, , right, have little metal piece called a conductor that goes through them and they made some real

scientific advancements over the past 30, 40 years to make them lighter, stronger, better conductors that go in as well is trying to prevent wildfires which is the thing to keep the upper night the most right now. a lot of folks in utility space are anxious about that. some of our funding, right, we committed $7 billion last year just out of my office alone goes towards that wildfire prevention. for every dollar were putting and were going to get so much value if it means we don't have to worry about the grid to going down. that stuff it's all of us here in infrastructure we've really excited but it's sometimes a harder sell outside of the folks are really thinking ahead and looking ahead. we've got a big mission ahead of us will be also quite a few good tools in our toolbox. >> said here on the stage part that is why we have the voices we do is because i think we're all online as abby said we can't go it alone. i would love for both of you,

starting with abby, to talk about the kinds of collaborations that have to happen the road for us to address great resilience. start with, abby. >> so i think starting with the department of energy, incredible partnerships we've seen there. i know obviously the team you are leaving has grown over time to really support these opportunities and what is been great i think in a lot of these areas will be no with the challenges are, we as an industry have an opportunity and responsibility to educate where the technology is there with the -- to build on the comments, distantly digital tools, right? how can we sure there is still committee engagement, environmental safeguards and timelines that are kept you are using a digital tool. how can we take some of these paper processes and digitalized them were used to live the same outcome in terms of community ownership to ensure that proper review but there's a clarity in the tonic.

so i think for us spending a lot of time to share but we see and what we see coming in the future of what is being piloted right now, , the department has that understanding. the other thing has been helpful is we have to see this opportunity to invest in u.s. and to bring technology here. and so with the inflation reduction act there so much indentation work that is had to happen. it's been great to also work with the department of energy and other departments to work through what that looks like. we've a lot of lessons learned from previous legislations can even a lot of great feedback from state and local officials of what has worked in the past and what hasn't. and understand all the sink out to be brought to the table. so i think for us what is been really great is to understand it's a tremendous amount of opportunity. a lot of challenges but have got constant feedback loop. so having really strong technical advisors or individual recruited into the purpose of different levels of expertise in

transit on-site experience or on-site, you know, capital finance. and so really kind of build this community to understand how, that's in the most, make sure were open, transparent so we can do a part make sure these pros and programs with a sense of possible. >> when you ugly at the national picture here, but also its patchwork. >> it is definitely a patchwork. i just want to emphasize, i think what we're most excited about is seeing companies like siemens and others creating these partnerships that otherwise would not happen. even for folks who one of our programs, great present and enter jason partnership called grippers oversubscribed by eight, ten times over there but we heard from the folks who may be didn't get an award from it is they had developed a new partnership working with her state regulator, what with the technology companies and found a way to get without us in putting any funding towards it. so that's the really exciting

part that by the vatican having a little bit of this carrot here it's foreseeable and to think of a bit more creatively and otherwise would. i still hear from regulators in particular and state legislators that they're always configure how did the push industries, all regulated industries in their own state, which is a little different from maybe the other folks we've heard of here working with either commerce or the department of transportation. and so they are like such an important component of the conversation because he can't get cost recovery of some of these investments and your regulator is not willing to pay that the extra marginal cost in order to have paul's second was the intuitive miles per hour winds instead of 100 mile-per-hour winds but the department of energy can kick in with just that marginal cost, i can make a huge difference. what we find in this industry in particular is once summoned as a pilot anybody else follows. no one ever wants to go first, somebody wants to go second.

we're hoping it became seed allots a trip a lot of those types of possible help create more certainty in the long term for this interest which i think is important is setting up this is not just a one-time infusion of funds but how do we create a more sustainable long-term investment in grid resilience year-over-year. >> i can't be on the stage and the escalation of equity. so would look at the national map and we look at the patchwork and the regional, state, humidity level differences, how are you both thinking about manufacturing, diplomat, et cetera, in a way that advancing equity? i i will start with you, abby. >> it's a long conversation, how do you ensure we are reflective if you look at policies five, seven years ago that we are seeing as really innovative. there are lessons learned in terms of who was all at the table, how we were actually

ensuring that the was its robust communications dream. this idea of are you doing better today than last year and a nursing there's a threat that goes across all the project level work? what's was been great in te policies, and develop the comments that was just shared, is at there's so many distinct pockets whether it be through chips, ira, and so it's also trying to work with partners to navigate. so i think that with the incentives and opportunities that have been built in we have definitely seen in flex and interest in energy committees, governments, that that we can get funding. i get a lot of lessons learned from states of what is going to work for them and how they can actually move these projects for and the certainty they need. i think the of the part of it is against that ecosystem because it's still a process. to have collaborative partners and local and state and federal offices that can help you navigate because sometimes equity challenge we still have

is not anybody has the resources to understand how you move through each program of what might all be available. some of the working groups, you've done these as well, again focus they continue to move forward and to be a place for them to the everywhere focus on is how do we ensure that we are helping folks navigate the process because that is still something that is i think to be built out. >> yeah, my colleagues at the office of clean energy demonstration for the rural and remote program, your child by the secretary to make as simple of a forum as human possible that is still legally acceptable by our lawyers at the department of energy. like, what we do that looks most like a google form to allow someone's rural and remote communities to build up access to some of the funding? we continue to see this as a prolific challenge, so the kind of projects that i love, so last year we gave an award out to

pacific general electric is working with a number of tribes, the tribes of warm springs out in oregon, and part of their pitch to us was making sure some of the infrastructure was old when owned by a try. they developed with the tribes can ultimately the tribes will owner. those of the projects we really excited about where you're helping some of these disadvantaged communities. also all our programs, sure you've got asked an early days as the week what exactly is day 40 and what is at me for all of our -- justice40. for us we had the committee benefit plans. and take you it comes to transmission, right, we historically put a lot of energy infrastructure in this event committees and still do with the aftermath of the long-term parts of folks are hesitant to have new types of energy infrastructure, even transmission which is not on same level of putting a pole plant. we're to get new ways. we have a funding mechanism that

allows for direct economic development in cities and towns that are going to host a transmission line. that's exciting that you can see some of it direct benefit to the folks are making the decision now will actually see a park or playground for sensitive water treatment plant pop up and make sure they understand that they are seeing some of that direct impact in their own municipality. >> there's a lot of agreement happening on this stage. and now i'm going to ask you more about areas of disagreement. obviously there are a lot of historic resources that are being pumped into programs come into communities, into the grid. abby, from your perspective you all are trying to drive innovation as quickly as possible so we get to netcenter. you might want to talk about brightline and the two emission train set your workout, but what do you see as the major impediments driving the innovation and booking for quickly? >> yes, i think again at the

sickening repetitive we have this great foundation right now, right? we basically a decades with the policy and funding that will happen in a couple of years. that has already bred this whole new ecosystem as innovators and new firms and new technologies that were maybe a few years behind where the are today because of that. so the really excites us in terms of who can we partner with come pick we help bring along. i know our financial services team is actually looking to see who the next generation of innovators and manufacturers are. similarly, we have a lot of individuals and maybe don't have the team that a company like cemented does that is managing real estate, managing fleets and if folks may not be aware but we have called the net zero x 2030 which is a very large goal. household vehicles, a lot of buildings, manufacturing companies, we have a whole team to navigate that.

as we can look through that it's also understanding the permitting process, not to bring it there. so again, i think we've seen a lot of really good areas where there's existing authority across local, state, and federal, to figure out how we could get this project up. again it's been 90 facilities that a been just from ira on the battery soldier when second vignette the yet the chips facilities in data centers. there's all about alongside rural hospitals and schools that can't go off-line, or sustainability goals. i think for us it will keep this up is again how do you help people navigate the process and to drive but has that entry inopportune and where furthering it is much as possible but also how do we look at the process to understand again what could be foundational still in place

where stakeholders have trust in the process, there's a viable safeguards, unity engagement, committed ownership and access to benefits in the projects but also certainty. because not everybody has that ability to navigate and interconnection in the same time want as many others. and so there's an equity component today. there's also certainty to it. how will be also get to our 23 goals it were not able to deploy as quick as possible? how do we get an national infrastructure of charging stations up as quick as possible? of course real conversations also happen with amazing to make sure the grid is resilient of a level as well as safety. that is conversation we still continue and that produced the foundation work we do develop trust in the process and ensure anybody has an open seat at the table. >> thank you. permitting? you going to collect through audi fishing pole and pull back

from the wheat of the get little too far in. what i will say is i know more about nepa and environmental permitting that it was just part of this job, which is different but else that maybe a little painful for myself. so what we are starting to really realize is that every single thing we are doing as an administrative chance of getting funding at the door is major federal action on that requires nepa, and within nepa there's a bright of other environmental assessments necessary, right? we could talk all day about endangered species act section seven which have to do for every single dollar that goes out the door from the federal government. i think folks are coming to apply were really thoughtful, which are copies of done this before, like siemens, right, know what to convince us into. a lot of folks are coming to the table have no idea. >> talk timeline. >> we're talking at least two years, absolute bare minimum. so like we actually out of our

office at the department of energy just put out a new role for transmission where we like, after the physical response will act it we really went and we dug through every last little piece of legislation and found something in the energy policy after 2005 where we found at the department of energy can courtney all the federal permits for transmission. it puts it on a to your timeline. and the president has backs up authority to issue the permit. we went to the process of a full rulemaking to be able to do that and not the folks into the process with us we will be the one sicko talk to fish and wildlife in the army corps of engineers and the bureau of indian affairs anybody else under the sun and hope you get all those permits, which is in and of itself like a full-time job for a lot of folks in the private sector. so we need to find more of those tools where we can have either one agency, so it so much easier for folks to go through one door. we are not changing anything

about the process produced electrical get all those permits, still have to have on information, but the board we can streamline that i think the better off were going to be in terms of working with the private sector. being honest about those processes and how much time it is going to take. it doesn't matter how small of an area of land particularly to chance like a monarch butterflies going to fly by and, therefore, you have to do some endangered species act related work. the more we can spell that out for folks in the early days and make sure they are aware of what some of this commitment are, it sets the stage a little bit better for conversations for the done road as we are doing negotiations with folks who are actually getting these awards. >> permitting. permitting everyday all-day. >> everyday all-day and we're still helpful that this of the going on over on the hill. we hear rumors everyday, but i think it's one area where we can all agree that there's certainly room for some improvement. >> abbey, give us a peek under the hood.

what does it take to build these innovative products that are going to be impacting grid presented? what sort of things are you building? >> yeah, so i think for us there's a few different things that are of interest. i i spoke a little about our digital tools. i think we're very excited about how we can use digital twin or simulation technology help model the grid, help understand to these and fight militancy but also understand the high foundational pieces and how the process works. so what can we do with these technologies that are in existence right now and then use to great success with large manufacturers? hide would take that and move it into this world to expedite a? i think also on the digital side what have we done, we do a lot of his large and for such a project. what are some the best case examples which also are digital tools that emphasize or build a

model and text or of the feasibly emblematic of the process. weevil get that from one area that is innovative that it needs to be furthered, i think you think really interested in is when you look across a great understanding that have a lot of technology that are foundational as it relates to substation equipment that is been innovative to make it more of come smaller call different ways to continue to reinvent the toolbox. the other thing we're looking at is what technologies can also give back to the grid. so what is the role as families, what can we do together bidirectional charges back to the grid, right? proud to be a part of the first bidirectional charge the how does that work? give us all a bit more assessment of what that means. >> yeah, so i think for us we look at these charging stations, obviously the bbc that provides

a feeling benefit for individuals that are going to work over traveling across the country or commerce that is moving. we also do a lot of the times any as individuals are going to charging at home, right? when we look at these new models of vehicles that are coming out, there's a huge opportunity to provide that ownership of the grid to the family. basically put battery storage in somebody's garage. so have charged be able to be pulled back to the grid in a time, at this opportunity where we had so many the street of assets on the grid right now and they're not always available or accessible to the grid. or operate or others. that's also a tool will look at is his hacker would provide the access. the idea of how can we if are continuing to build into the grid and invest in the grid to again make sure as utilities are resilient and reliable but what are we doing for tools take at the residential level course so many of these home features or

chargers or residential solar that could be used in more innovative also more efficient ways. >> what are you doing in tribal areas, areas that might not be so easy to plug in. >> us know, i think that's a great question. that is what also we have worked quite a lot with you to understand i think principally a couple of questions, right, how do you finance what these projects look like the governance structure? it's been a lot of lessons learned and also a lot of feedback for us. so we're still in a lot of early-stage conversations but i will say this is been a positive conversation but positive relationship but julie has been a good connector there. i think were still try to work through some of those larger projects. but to your point sometimes it's the community or others with a looking and we have great projects, like when a california which i command also serves as a resiliency plan because we've

seen in terms of impacts in california and natural disasters and fires, they've also been tested so been able to serve notches their committee but also in to serve in rest into mentoring areas as well. having an open ear of what we not know and it we come to navigate these projects in a different way. >> maria, we went to jump in? >> yeah, not that, i'm not adding anything that he don't think folks already know, but the amount of infrastructure necessary to see the future were like if anybody is charged at home means every substation which is those very ugly things in heaven that have enormous bushings come out that have the route corley thing atop, i think the beautiful. >> i handful of people in the film noticed them. >> what's behind this gate this as this is high-voltage? who knew? it's in a breeze neighborhood. either i can either which make those in almost a bigger to handle all of these folder on your house or easy charge on your house and that's what your

chili come back and says no, we can't do this year even though we did for your neighbor because their voltage for either we need to adopt new tools like siemens has to make them a little bit smaller. if it had to make microchips. i think we should as a public be able to get make some a substations a little bit smaller, also do with some of the environmental issues and work with disadvantaged communities but also they're not that great to look at some people are not super excited when you come renda said that you want to do a replacement and make it even bigger than it currently is. so all of that infrastructure actually have to be upgraded to meet the moment. what's hard for folks to understand, right, i don't know about you, i upgrade my phone of to use saliva, my laptop or the five years. i would like to cover such most of it has been upgraded for 75 years. it's an entire lifetime. some of these polls, you see those ugly double post because of cycling is holding the first one up, and that's because that

of the polls been there since 1930. so these are all things that we are come folks are not ready to pay for it and it is going to be a little expensive to make sure we can get to this next level but is making sure we are replacing with high-level technology. the utility industry has invested $26 $26 billion in maintaining the grid last year and a lot of that is for life. f i replace my car i probably am not going to place it like for like. i think that it's important to make sure we are pushing the industry a little bit harder to adopt some of these new technologies to meet the moments the same way we do with a lot of other industry. >> you make me think of a very specific question, everything is that the bushes, so secretary pete always uses either somethings we should trumpet to the will and somethings we should just do and not talk about. this is a very technical conversation and as you just pointed out, maria, a lot of infrastructure is behind bushes

and people don't even know it's there. how much of this work should be trumpeted and say why, and how much of it should be just done? >> that's a good question. yeah, i always joke, right, there are two things in an in the empty space that are really hard to get politician behind. one of it is great infrastructure and the other is energy efficiency and both of it is because you can't take a picture. >> and both of them are in your office. >> and it's a lot harder than going to a cool wind farm enjoy taking pictures and get a hard hat on, right? you can get politician behind that but it's harder to do the things you don't see and that needs to happen quietly. all these conversations happen at the tactical level where you feel like you need six engine ie to greece and allowed agree to be able to engage in the conversation. that's one of those areas where we had to figure out how to talk about in a way that helps people understand how their benefiting directly. is this going to reduce the costs on your electricity bill? how is this going to create

jobs? a number of projects with going out are we these big transmission lines. what does that mean? 300 jobs for the ibew in southern utah. okay, that is something i think folks can get behind and put little bit more of the human face on some of these infrastructure pieces. i like your state you tuc out everyday doing some sort of project, whether you are cheering them are cursing them along to it, you don't necessarily see some of the other infrastructure recapping. it's a great point. we had forget how we talk about it so it's a little bit more accessible to the everyday person. >> what do you think? >> i completely agree. actually i think, again, there's this dichotomy with energy. you expect when you charge a vehicle or you feel your vehicle or turn your lights on that it's there. there's immediate intrinsic connection but not the sort of understanding of all the things that come along with it. with that being said, i think

again to build on the point, this is an exciting time with individuals that are brought to the energy conversation for different reasons. don't want at the 1950s, 19 said his technology that is protecting them and your family, individuals who are just cost reasons, the amount of money a family spends as a big part is going to be on their home bill. then a lot of individuals that feel a connection to these technologies will always have them and her home. when we talk about this distributive to but that different face of technology it's the next system you have. it is the sorceress if you could put on home. there's all these different features that people do have any meets the eye connection to enter home that are also moving forward in a rapid pace that with electrification that there is an opportunity i think to also reimagine what we think but also a company like ours will always think those creative boxes are super glamorous and amazing and central but deathly appreciate the point it's hard

to translate something that is miles away or something that just seems like like a vert system of wires and boxes. >> i got my dad to put in heat pump because it was quieter. that was like the number one conversation we had. you will not hear the really annoying sound of the motor bino said you better. he's like fine, do whatever you want to do. i think it's figure out where we are meeting people at an funny how it works for them individually. >> they are just about to pull the crotch area, the hook and gravis allstate but i'm an organized at heart and engia room full of have sector leaders, funders, elected leaders and infrastructure is. so in 15 seconds here what would your call to action because what is your when asked? >> i mean, i think to be a good government affairs advocate it would be always wanting to partners we don't know what we don't know whether it's innovation coming along the line at the also the idea of what we do to ecosystem approach, was

its reform piece of best examples are be put in place to these projects moving quicker. >> call abby after period closes at. >> we need to invest in a grid in order to have the economic development that america needs. we had to do this year over year. this can't just be a one-time only thing and we're willing to work creatively to figure how to do. so called our office. were very open to ideas. >> thank you so much. thank you, ladies. thanks for the conversation. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> good morning. i'm matt sonnesyn, vice president for infrastructure, energy and environment at

business roundtable. we're excited to be joining to all this morning. let me start first by thinking the u.s. chamber of commerce. what a great facility to be hosting this event, and what great supporters for many years the event for infrastructure. thank you, chamber of commerce today. business roundtable is an association of more than 200 chief executives of america's leading companies. they represent every sector of the u.s. economy. our ceos lead u.s.-based economies -- u.s.-based companies that support one in four american jobs, and almost a quarter of u.s. gdp. and we have been proud support infrastructure week and be a part of this event now for nearly ten years. that's also what i'm really excited to introduce our next speaker, the new leader of business roundtables ceo

infrastructure committee. it's the ceo of fedex, a little company. can you have you think of a company that does more to demonstrate the value of transportation infrastructure every day? something like 15 million deliveries every day that fedex makes. if you've never seen the operation at one of the airport hubs, i really recommend it. it's an incredible experience. it certainly knocked my socks off watching plane after clint come in. the logistics of unloading, resorting of us in the package and envelope, reloading thin and getting them out for the sunrises. it's absolutely amazing, the falling of it, the precision of a to know where every single package and pamphlet in that process is. there's really one no -- thoroughly know when more dependable than fedex to get in for the long on time. and their employees regulate

report it's one of the best places to work, so it's no surprise that fedex has been among fortunes top 20 most admired companies in the world for 24 years straight. their ceo is equally impressive. he served in multiple leadership roles in the company for more than 30 years. most recently as president and chief operating officer before becoming ceo in 2022. raj subramaniam international leadership experience, his keen visit and sites, a focus on have contributed to the success of fedex and provide a blueprint as the company is revolutionizing transportation and logistics industry. he is clearly spearheading the global transformation of the company which includes revitalizing their operating strategy, profitably growing for e-commerce business, and

harnessing the power of global supply chain data to drive the companies digital agenda. so now as chair of business roundtables ceo infrastructure committee, he's leading his peer ceos as we work together with the u.s. government and of the partners to modernize and strengthen america's infrastructure. please join me in welcoming to the stage the ceo of fedex, raj subramaniam. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you all today. i'm glad i could experience a little bit of springtime here in washington before the humidity really sets in. but like i say in memphis,

that's just another day. i am raj subramaniam, president's ear fedex and chair of the business roundtable infrastructure committee. and the business roundtable is an association of more than 200 ceos of america's leading companies representing every sector of used economy and supporting one in four american jobs. as the chair of the committee i bring my perspective as a user of infrastructure. i'm sure many of you are familiar with fedex and what we do as the world's largest transportation come. i wanted sauce data to tell you something my surprise you. it's not magic that enables fedex to deliver to every u.s. zip code and 220 countries and territories around the world. it's infrastructure.

reliable infrastructure helps critical supply chains move. infrastructure enabled fedex to generate $8.7 billion of indirect economic impact in communities across the u.s. in our previous fiscal year. infrastructure helps members compass support and one quarter of the u.s. gdp. world-class infrastructure weather roads and bridges, airports, pipes and wastewater systems, pipelines and power lines or high-speed internet access enables us to thrive economically and supports vibrant, connected communities. in fact, research life brt shows that every dollar spent on infrastructure yields an early four dollars in economic growth, for 20 is making infrastructure

investment that pays serious long-term dividends. from my perspective representing the business community, safe roads, water airports and maritime ports and better rail infrastructure are essential for efficient movement of people and goods. it's easy to take these complex system for granted when things seem to be working well. unfortunately, we have seen what happens when the physical infrastructure fails us. the recent collapse of baltimore's francis scott key bridge reminded us how much american commerce depends upon safe, modern infrastructure, and about the everyday heroism of the infrastructure workers. ports, whether at the end of runways or waterways, the gateways for critical components for u.s. manufacturing, and other cargo that support lies in the livelihoods we need bridges and roads around them upgraded

as capacity expands. and increasingly, we are dependent on strong energy infrastructure to unlock the full potential of a modern economy. initiative such as electrification been building a lot of momentum for businesses like fedex, but also for individual consumers. reliable electricity infrastructure is key to enable these chips. the digital economy needs energy as well, and over the last few years we've seen the use of digital tools and development of new capabilities going at exponential rate with no indication of slowing down. that access been a pioneer in using data and technology to transform an industry. we've been making our own investments to meet this new reality, but there will need to be broader support. as businesses rely more and more on this rise of digital and

technology, ai and data centers, they will require reliable power and an electric grid that can handle the increase in demand. .. we must break down some of the biggest barriers nicole. the infrastructure committee

there are issues i want to charge us on. first, lack of funding to support the existing structure today" infrastructure of tomorrow clean the benefits of life requires predictable funding structure and kind the next understand firsthand how the success of our business but also the product boundary to cry we have prioritize our own $1.5 billion investment modernized her as well as $209 airport infrastructure. projects like youth are critical

for economic success. we must improve sluggish permitting process can take as long as a decade or more. simply unacceptable process that is simple and operates on a reliable timeline. more work remains to be done, is not a roadblock at the pace we need. policymakers across the aisle must work to address additional supply chain challenges.

benefits for years to come both in terms of funding and permitting what it's about finishing this job we started. so we have to put in the work. we need to improve our permitting system. government and industry must work together to find sustainable funding solution especially for highway system. there's no shortage of ideas on how to make that happen. what can we agree is there is to be funding will cost them a resilient and dave.

i look forward to leading the charge within the business roundtable and all those involved making infrastructure work for all americans. thank you for working hard to solve these challenges and everyone involved which i know will continue to send not that. [applause] >> thank you often. stepping to the briefing center

over here. we'll get going just a little bit of feel free and we will be back for the second half of the program for just a few minutes. take you so much. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪

structure short break. mentation of our present infrastructure lot. ♪♪ >> good morning, everybody. thank you for that warm introduction. good jobs transform lives. we are in a moment in which we can make that happen more than

we've done in a long time in this country. when business leaders and mayors and other officials and others come together in partnership i appreciate you and your leadership to talk to something so poor but i want to acknowledge a few people before i start. sean mcgarvey greg regan. enten addressing america and the workers sean and greg represent our building america.

san antonio is a great city. an example to show possible across the nation. this drug job growth. as we speak about how to build supply chain across the country and economic growth benefits all. before this group came together a decade ago the need for infrastructure. president biden is delivering.

good to see prehistoric investments across the story. made in america, thousands of union jobs and will generate $2.5 billion in economic activity. that's how they are not just for workers. i got to visit people creating america's high-speed rail and will connect california with las vegas and workers.

exactly between those two cities. mark green pace and affordable housing and divided by infrastructure in the past. when i want to focus on is what people ask me, i would point out the workforce and that answer of course is guests if we make sure these investments create good jobs and focus on connecting the people for too long. it's the roads and bridges for the job they want and need in the employer's they want and

need artistic physical infrastructure, workforce infrastructure has gotten cracked. as caps on potholes and hasn't been built to reach every community the way it needs to and includes workers and employers and we say not this time. not on our watch. we are building a workforce infrastructure for making sure it's going to reach all communities and we need high ownership. i wrote training partnership starts with the job. the destination we can't build infrastructure if we don't know where we are going to training programs in the past focused on goals that might jobs that might materialize. not anymore. reading friendship connect the demand for labor management and

labor things out together tied to actual jobs. the panel after me talk about how to build the right way. starting with a good job in making jobs and workers on the voice and be a union making it at the core of our entire infrastructure. these partnerships prioritize those left behind.

talking women, black workers, people involved in the justice system and people connected to school or the workforce at this moment. projects breaking ground across the country we have an opportunity to make sure we build bridges to communities reached for too long we often describe us infrastructure and one off. and i say this but it's worth repeating the training shouldn't and job search, they should end and a good job so i was in the walking meeting with apprentices learning to be a nutrition.

certainly a challenge of how to make their own workforce. another part of us infrastructure is not just employers and labor but organizations that provide over their services as well as policymakers who when putting out opportunity incentivized this interconnectedness. like transportation, clippings that get in the way of people to get the programs not because

people aren't willing to work or have a skill but it's not been there for too long. earlier this year covid focused on making 50% of workers cannot afford childcare. it's a project proposal to help those families.

the department of labor found. it would allow 5 million more women to come in the first economic activity each year. it is good for our economy and country. when we do right break working people make our economy stronger in america stronger.

we're working to make better connections with educational institutions under important part of this i can ask people to good jobs that's a pre-apprenticeship program so much of the community college and met a student and get a college student. the the job to build up clean energy in the infrastructure we are talking about their we recognize a four-year degree for people to get to the future and

get what they want people in this room have been pushing some time and make sure they get the job they need and we know that will happen. all of these training partnerships and where they are across the country. further connected to investments made and rerouted thousands more which shows it away to do. so please join us on the high

road. department of labor is a framework called preparing workforce and a proponent of what i talked about and how each member of the partnership whether your business, nonprofit, educational institution, union government entity plays the role these partnerships. we care about how these investments of intergenerational opportunity across the country to talk about a woman in ohio. in conjunction with my friend the building trade.

today working on her second infrastructure project on this agenda. today working side-by-side on that project. when we invest infrastructure, we invest in families and create intergenerational change and enjoy the prosperity we are building in this country so let's do this together and build infrastructure all great opportunity in every community and excited to work with you. we have your back and we thank you for your leadership. [applause] ♪♪

♪♪ >> on program will begin in five minutes. ♪♪ >> u.s. chamber of commerce event infrastructure week taking a short break.

the challenges and opportunities for energy, water and transportation infrastructure. with coverage here on c-span2. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪

♪♪ ♪♪ >> hello, everyone from pleased to join you for structure. biden errors administration and department of commerce center many of you know i've been focused on guaranteeing economic foundation to go prosperity old los mochis a few months or years but generations.

it includes a technology, smart immunities and technological infrastructure that will allow us to outcompete our adversaries. nowhere is that more critical than revitalization of manufacturing to the chips and signs act semiconductors other lifeblood of our technology controlling the machinery and manufacturing facilities in keeping fighter jets in the air. their capabilities extend like a.i. and capital but to envision the path forward we have to take a step back and understandably start from it wasn't always like

that. in 1990 -- ♪♪ ♪♪ >> it's a privilege to come on after lunch so at least you're not as cranky. i guess if you fall asleep, i can blame it on the food. thank you to united for infrastructure in the u.s. chamber of commerce for hosting us all. i was reflecting on today's presentation and one thing i'm struck by, things get done by

doing many small things. we learn through partnerships and public sector and private sector working together and trying to make implementation trillions of dollars working through thousands of local governments on the ground. i'm here representing bloomberg. what our work is, ensuring longer lives for the greatest number of people in one of the best of my first we have to pull government innovation especially at the local level.

i've only recently joined the team but i've been engaged for years coming out of the white house implementing these in prefer that, as a local government. experienced the promise of this generation also the challenge and also local infrastructure is about helping us meet that moment. a first of its kind discover and access fund and when grants and inflation reduction act.

it brings together philanthropy and partners like the emerson collective, a bomber group with federal agencies incrementing these programs specialists partners in the national league of cities for information specifically for cities, mayors and their teams to access these grant programs. a series of courses for cities that lack the capacity to find these themselves and how do you apply and when federal grant.

this is a completely free resource offered at no charge and holds the hands of mayors as they attempt to win these programs. excel purchased a few numbers to keep in mind-working, 1300 cities around the country and engaged today. thousands of local officials and hundreds of participated and they have been able to wind to billing dollars in federal grant awards thus far. they are winning and most interesting is it's helping cities that are smaller and poorer and blessed capacity than the national average.

77% of our cities help your than 50000 people in poverty rate is higher than the national average. we seek major signs of success in recent programs. we heard earlier today federal partners the department of transportation lost 800 million. we ran a series on this program but demonstrated to win quarter words go to georgia and talk to mailbox, 14000 people cap 1 million work road safety in her unity. charging and fueling

infrastructure grant program i can we help smaller and lower capacity. i was talking to mayor patterson in ohio hear from doctor application which was originally the city of athens population 20000 people is of any program they realize that would benefit from a regional approach. this became the southern ohio application. as a result multilink link ten times us march and their communities served. department of transportation and managed 3 billion and awards a few months ago and participation in the program and manner agreed

was able to win $36 million grant to address disparities that would not have been able to be addressed so now we are open for business, there are five programs running today which i hope you will take a look at infrastructure for recycling and real safety award. 2:00 on the bridges program no one should leave the programming here but if you have a friend back home, make sure they go sign up at local

infrastructure.org. i will close and turn it over to a video where you can hear from the mayors benefiting from the programs. thank you for having me. [applause] infrastructure is all aspect rebuild america preparing our city for the future. ♪♪ >> we have more opportunity more than we've ever had. we are limited with the staff we have and it helps cities of every size and we know where it needs to be spent by person

infrastructure law has been transformational and receive 500 million in grant to reconnect communities destroyed by national infrastructure highway objects. >> we the grant to create more safe pathways and roads for people to drive through. >> we've invested in the electricity grid. >> the communities that have not had that opportunity. >> i want to thank the local structure help because without us working together, i don't think would have the impact i know we will have is willing to partner with us to get done.

>> welcome to the stage. [applause] >> these are really important conversations about the complexity of rebuilding our infrastructure. invest permit bill.

that's exactly what we did in partnership with the long island railroad but the expansion project. project was a design build in 2017 and completed in 2023. lirr is the busiest commuter

railroad originally built in the 1800s consist of two tracks of 50000 people. today they carry approximately 300,000. the grand central station. they were modified and/or replaced. railroad bridges and vehicular

traffic and railroad bridges and railroads have always been a safety challenge in a community and they are numerous over the years. the elevated construction technique to reduce the impact of the railroad into the public. the community safety and minimize impact. commuters, revenue service on the adjacent community. a tracking procedure for each new bridge to reduce interaction of services at each crossing to just one weekend. this concluded the replacement of five lirr replacements making

them acceptable and integrating them with their community with the landscaping. reduce train noise and railroad system upgrading to the standard. in the projects for the mta. a new approach with the capital projects. the long island railroad and third-party stakeholders in multiple reviews and approval community engagement efforts and this collaboration contributed to this project on budget

emphasis a great example of the permit builds. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, executive director of ae unite. ♪♪ i am very thankful infrastructure team and unite. a newly formed association altered by architecture

engineering construction ceos with a mission for opportunity for black talent this week we stand at the crossroad of opportunity and responsibility. the infrastructure law and legislative advances opened new avenues for investment and innovation. opportunities for us to build not just roads and bridges but pathways equity and inclusion. our work is cut out for us. so please proportionate

challenges getting access to major projects capital. an opportunity to change that narrative. equitable policies and ensuring they are not just heard but leading the conversation we can begin real impact. i invite the leaders after the program concludes executive roundtable a deep conversation dive into strategy for

infrastructure projects the role of leadership fostering an organizational culture and infrastructure initiative. thank you for the opportunity. [applause]

a quick minute break and we are running ahead of schedule. everyone in this room is so incredibly efficient. ♪♪

♪♪

♪♪ doctor, a short break focusing on bipartisan infrastructure law. live coverage here on c-span2.

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

infrastructure week taking a short break. focusing on the implementation of bipartisan infrastructure law looking at the challenges and opportunities for energy water and transportation infrastructure. the coverage here on c-span2.

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] , good morning, everybody.

mary ellen, thank you for that warm introduction. it was lovely to speak with you before coming out here about our shared immigrant story. good jobs really transform lives and do for generations. i'm pleased to talk about that and how we are in a moment in which we can make that happen for more people than we've done in a long time in this country. i know best ideas happen when business leaders, unions and mayors and local officials and others come together and partnership so i really appreciate you and your leadership talk about something so court which is infrastructure but i want to acknowledge a few people before i start. my friends you will hear from

and a little bit. president biden is investing in america and the workers sean and greg represent our building america. i want to recognize san antonio mayor as mayor said on the front line and san antonio is a great city. san antonio is setting an example demonstrating what is possible across the nation. the biden-harris administration initial economic policy from pandemic response to historic job growth and now infrastructure and suzanne clark you heard from on the video

great to work with as well building supply chains across this country and economic growth probably benefits is. even before the screw came together a decade ago we talked about the need for infrastructure investment and president biden is delivering them. investing $20 million modernizing the terminal end of the same time -- [applause]

>> very excited to be here these past the first test. i am 2024 president of the american society. i want to thank our distinguished guests for joining us today. we have rick larson ranking member of the house transportation and infrastructure. i am very excited to continue to work together historic infrastructure investments

congress passed and they are working to ensure implementation make sure of the success. we published yesterday in the infrastructure investment need to act on federal investment will protect the industries from losing more than $1 trillion in economic output and help avoid more than 600 billing dollars and gives american families an additional 550 billion in disposable income. i could use that, i don't know about you guys. 237,000 american jobs for the same.

the right path for improving critical infrastructure network but our work is not done. we regard to keep this economic ecosystem an attractive investment payment ranging from reauthorization of other infrastructure investment displacements as we move into the 119 congress for the house and transportation committee has worked in a bipartisan manner to achieve infrastructure goals. most recently and you could help us and we look ahead to the next congress, will keep considerations and

reauthorization and reauthorization's fyi ja. >> i appreciate the opportunity with congressman larson who has been a great partner the roads and bridges should bring people together so as we look forward trying to build upon policing for decades working in a bipartisan manner to ensure we put policies in place for water resources in a foreign infrastructure we need to make sure we are building upon the mistakes that were made. as with back over the infrastructure bill, there's no question it is critical we need

to look at three important things. number one is looking at i i ja 70 to 80% to the life of the bill but was only executed around 20% of the actual dollars so understanding, it here we have infrastructure urgency and product development and delivery system that reflects that urgency today, seven years and three months. seven years and eight months for airport project in five years and three months for the average transit project today.

number two is making sure we are focused on the right infrastructure investment for the federal government. ... >> make sure we are fully there. the component is making sure we're working with our state and local governments to build the capacity of those things that don't have a federal nexus or interest to wear those things don't fall off the radar, fall off the table and our actual address. those are three key things we need to do moving forward and begin looking for george with congressman larsen to address those. >> thanks again for the chance to be here and answer a few questions about the next

bipartisan infrastructure law. it will not be called iija. it will be something else. if you have ideas about what acronym you would like, were open, have whole contest about it. but if you're going to implement what the president calls infrastructure decking, remember this is a lot that's only five years old to have to do it again to get to ten years. and so we need to be thinking about this continued investment keeping the job creation going. there's a reason for good reason many reasons why unemployment is below 4% for the longest stretch that we had in the last six you get one reason is because women and men are working in construction all over the country. certainly aren't my state and my district. my dish aukus will be don't talk much infrastructure week or decade. everyday is infrastructure date in washington state, second congressional district. if you want to do work in my district, were ready. if you find workers and in no that's one of the questions we have ahead of us as well, so it

is being uncommitted. it's about two and half years old which is like being a toddler that for iija it's middle-aged. we are getting through it. we need to start thinking about what is going to be, what he will look like next. some of these dollars, i think garrett is referring to are sitting in the budget of states. a lot of this monomer is a form of money, ghost estates and states are either programming it like my state, and an over all those dollars are larger going to go, from the federal formyl program because our state program pick some states have not. one thing you can do to help us is to talk to your legislators, your members of congress but also your local legislators in your states and tell them to get those dollars out the door. for whatever reason is the being held and not being spent or program yet, get on it. we need to get these dollars to work for people. looking ahead as well, there's

been announced in my state we were hitting unfortunately a high of road and highway deaths. and so highway safety needs to continue to be a primary care where seeing some of dollars being implement it locally in order to improve safe routes to schools, safe routes to anywhere. a lot of communities need to rebuild, rebuild some of that pedestrian infrastructure. so kids can get safety to school. i think a third issue to think ahead is the transition that we've seen in transit agencies. a lot of them are investing in low and no emissions come some electric buses come some propane below are in mission and no emission transit all over the country. we are able to do it because of the single largest transit investment we saw as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. it's a lot more work to do and i will look one more thing if i could and turned back over to marsia is the revenue to do

these projects. the gas tax of the can have the age old conversation about the gas tax. i was on a committee in 2005 when we directed the transportation revenue commission to write a report and pay at the time came up with, not came up with but discussed how we need to get to vehicle miles traveled. that was 2007. my math isn't too good but that's like 19,000 years ago when they came up with that recommendation. now we still call that innovative. there's no such thing as innovative financing. in transportation. it either pasteboard or doesn't pay for it. there's no tricky way to do it so we need to think about things. things. so our state commission just was able to get a grant in washington state with oregon, utah, idaho, nevada and hawaii to collaborate on a road user charge, kind of like a vehicle miles traveled on, how to implement. that's something when you do

look at an addition to many other things including traditional funding but also what else we're going to do your options are out there picked a matter of whether or not real users options in order to fund the trust fund so we can do this work. >> thank you both. and really you both hit on this we've had this historic legislation and investment and infrastructure, but you both refer to implementation. so what are some of the successes and challenges that you are seeing with the state and local partners, with the federal government as part of the implication of this? >> i'll start and then turn it back. one is people. so think about in a couple ways. when we did, we would pass the bil actually put in several, many, do programs at the transportation department had great these rules around his programs. that delayed some of these programs to get them implemented, and as well like anyone else there's a a lack f

people in the federal workforce to implement those programs. seem to be over that hump and the dollars are now getting out the door. that's one reason why we need to keep this engine going so we don't want to lose about muscle memory to get these dollars out the door. second is workforce locally. i know it's a challenge to a lot of you -- that's my mom. it's a challenge -- [laughing] because actually having people to do the work is very important. some of the programs that some of the funding we approved are actually tied to work for 2000 as well. i was just in washington in my state. they have project where they're putting, a credit for 78 charters for this library of comments projects as part of that great and part of the contract with the contractor they're tying it to apprenticeships. i was able to visit that project, see the ibew union, work with her incoming students

to show them how to come base basically how to install charging stations in order, sort of think of it as if you want the next generation infrastructure, , we need to tye out to developing the next generation workforce to build the infrastructure. that's the couple ways, couple things you to think about the challenges of workforce. >> i've got five boys who need a job so i'm all for that. go ahead, rick. >> in regard workforce and how we can get the capacity in place to actually deliver on these projects, i think that you've got two problems that are fairly distinctive one of them is i think that you do for lack of capacity in the pc space, professional engineers, civil engineers and others. we've seen this. this been a long time coming in that we don't have the workforce in the pipeline to students who are pursuing those engineering degrees. i think look, i come from a long

line of civil engineers in my family, and i think one of the sort of disincentives that there is this long lead time to get your professional engineer, to get your staff. going through the engineering intern, the programs we have to take as long as i think it's five years now, for years, excuse me. for years now to go on beyond college to get that stamp. i think we really need to take a look at that and figure is her way for us to come to expedite that an obviously safety and professionalism is key but is it something we could be doing to up to incentivize and just not make that such insulin so far away? the second issue is more in the skill labor side, the blue-collar side. i think one of the challenges we created for cells as we saw during covid where we were creating all these programs where literally federal government, social or for program for computing with workforce, meaning to want to stay here and stay on

unemployment and other program scope or a i going to when the workforce? i think we introduced this whole new lifestyle to a number of people that are still going to get over the hangover right now. so there's no question as congressman larsen noted that we need to make investment into training programs come into friendship programs that help to get the workforce, give the folks in the workforce trained and ready to go to build the capacity. but i do think on that p/e side i think we need to take a fresh look at what the right training and curriculum is to get someone to have professional engineering stamp and are able to participate in the types of projects from the capacity. >> thank you. and honestly, , we are seeing sh a downturn in enrollment, we are, that's all we really just release the imax movie cities of the future. we've got to get those fifth-graders and third graders if we want to become civil engineers. but i appreciate that feedback.

>> if i can just, ten seconds. i think also adding, i know -- [laughing] >> but also looking at how to redesign what is civil engineer is for 2030 and beyond because it's not the same as was -- >> that's actually what the movie is. so resilience. we are understanding that it's becoming increasingly important as part of the design process as we experience a number of extreme events or even our bonding community, the projects are not lasting the length of time the bonds are. which have severe economic social and humanitarian consequences. what can the federal government do to improve the resilience of projects that funds are roads, rails, bridges, et cetera, to meet his extreme weather events?

>> 10% of the land areas represented by the coastal counties, parishes and brewers around the united states widow 40% of the population lives there. we are seeing increasing challenges with living in these coastal areas and the population is continuing to migrate to those places. in fact, both congressman larsen and i represent coastal districts. we've got to get good, we've got to get good at living in sustainably living in coastal areas. one of the problems with being able to implement it, is the arduous process to go through regulatory. we've got to have a more dynamic process. i'm going to say something again that i said earlier. we've got to have project development delivery process that reflects the urgency of the projects were working on. number two is that you've got uncertainty with storm intensity, with storm frequency, with sea rise and all of these other factors. one of the things we've got to do is make sure we're developing

project solutions adaptation resilient solutions that do best in sort of transcended through those brackets of uncertainty for these things that we can't totally predictable nail down with an appropriate margin of error. there wasted that but the most important thing you got to incentivize resilience for adaptation by having a regular structure. >> another thing on the funding site is a couple of funding sources to protect the grants and garret graves here is a champion of the program. these are discretionary grants the first round of grants i note came out recently in my state, the seaport of light received $24.5 $24.5 million to do some work and as well as the council government. examples are local. receive nearly $300,000. just to do baseline of what you need to do because, we haven't found the people doing this

plant in a while so they need to know what they need to do so they can then go pursue dollars to address the resiliency concerns. the second thing is we had a hearing last week, i think was last week, time travel stranger in congress. an usher when it was. hearing in the emergency management subcommittee on the brick program, hazardous mitigation grant program. the brick program or try to get out ahead of the next weather event rather than rebuild where we are, actually literally money available to rebuild differently through the building resilience resilient infrastructure in our community grant, grants. so that's a critical tool as well but it also means folks, have to really communicating a lot to people if you can rebuild like we did an order to the next weather extreme weather event come to the exact same thing it would seem that again in my

district in the border in what can count with a november 21 rains and floods and atmospheric rivers. to everyone who live there seems like one month-long event. in the mac it was three separate offense which drives as are crazy. we talk to fema about that because they have to do with these one big long weather event. administratively as three events. it's causing problems or trying to rebuild after that tried rebuild on those lessons so that if we get the same kind of weather, which were built the northwest, we will not have the same kind of results. the dollars are there. thinking he had about what communities need to do ahead of these events and given what happens after these events to lower the likelihood same kind of damage occurs is going to be, you know, important mineshaft and never think about next

extreme weather everything. >> thank you. we could have a whole other session on up-to-date codes and standards being adopted, but it did want to talk about the permitting process because it has been brought up. so deploying infrastructure investments quickly and safely mean rightsizing the permitting process required to get these underway permitting rules seem to be the issue not necessarily the legislation. we tried to use a sledgehammer instead of a flyswatter, when a flyswatter would be just as easy. what are some of the ideas you all have your considering what he comes to streamline or improving permitting in future infrastructure legislation? >> i do want you to save some time. >> he wants the rebuttal. our right. so real quick. look, i do want to do a bit of a celebration. i can june last year despite

this crazy dysfunctional divisive congress that we've seen, in june of last you would reach of vipers agreement on nepa which is the first time effectively that wall has been a minute and amended it 35 pages of text, huge changes to. did things like estimated earlier not a seven-year or eight year environmental impact statement limiting in law to two years and one of 50 pages. limiting to one euro and 75 pages, limiting the scope of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement to quote reasonably foreseeable impact. not all of these other pipedream type things. what is realistically could happen and that would look at that and mitigate? looking at future without action and injuring you look at both the positive and negative consequence. expanding use of category exclusions, ensuring you codify in long one federal agency in charge, not a committee any longer. all sorts of things, some really good progress i will make note i

have been cruelly disappointed some of the rules, some of the roles making the white house recently did on this and they did not abide by the agreement and to think that something so will make it more complex and longer. in terms of next level stuff i think one of the key issues is judicial review. right now we are seeing what you have attorneys waiting, statue limitations about to expire coming in at five years out, filing a lawsuit after record decision issued and further delaying this thing. on average 150 lawsuits a year are filed on nepa. average they take excess of two years to resolve and the majority of them are resolved in favor of the record decision for the governments favor. we've got to stop this. in fact, i had a meeting with brian deese and john kerry if years ago. we walked in, i didn't say word and they said you've got to dress judicial review. coming out of their mouth. both of them up left now. maybe to get tired but i think

that that is a key issue we've got to get judicial review in different we came close to negotiate with the white house in exchange for changes to community engagement and we couldn't quite get typically ran out of time but i think that is going be one of the most important things we can do moving forward as well as expanding the use of categorical exclusions when you didn't exact same type of project over and over and over again. we don't need to go through this whole ridiculous process. >> suck at it you had an answer. one is related to this and one has nothing to do with this since we have two minutes let some going to skip ahead as well. so on permitting, we may changes in 2012 in map-21, 2015 and a fast act, 2021 and bil and, of course, 2020 the fiscal responsibility act and were still talk about permitting. if you are not working, not doing well or there's always the next thing people want to do in

permitting. until there's no permitting, probably not, but it sure seems like were always doing the permitting reform and it's sort of like congress. it just goes on forever. and so you know certainly i'm open to look at permitting reform but at some point when is, when are we no longer doing permitting reform? i don't know the answer to that. just a heads up. not that i'm against it. we have challenges in my state and i can come up with specifics when that you can help you with my problem at home. i'll take care of it. but i do want in the last minute want to make a note about the bill on the floor today, that's the at the a bill, the federal aviation administration authorization act of 2024, which we passed 351-169 out of the house back last july. we passed unanimously out of committee before that. the senate got around to it in february and only did a committee bill.

we've been working with the senate on that for the last several months. the senate finally got around to passing the agreement and he came to, they passed out last week. so this afternoon we will be debating the bill on the faa and then tomorrow we will be voting on it. i expect a strong bipartisan vote on that bill to pass it and send it to the the presidena five-year reauthorization of the faa and a lot of other things going on in this deal. it's an example of bipartisanship that does exist on the committee. we are doing our markup on water resources development i'll be at the end of this month, the end of next month. we have a coast guard bill on the floor today, a vote that is bipartisan. we passed, we pass in a committee at bipartisan pipeline safety bill in the pipes act in december-ish or something around those lines come along those

lines. if you want to see bipartisanship in action, not bipartisanship in action, but bipartisanship in action, come to the t&i committee. that's what we do. we work. that's we never hear about the work we do. we are very boring, very exciting. we just kind of tragic through things against our work done. i will continue to the rest of the year and i presume continue the next session of congress. >> thank you very much. you know, i think what you both of illustrator today that this is a bipartisan issue. it's about public safety and it's about the economic growth of our country. and we appreciate your time today and effort and what you are all doing in congress on our behalf. thank you for your time. >> thanks a lot. >> thanks everyone. [applause] >> please welcome the intelligent infrastructure panel. ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ >> good afternoon, everyone. my name is david gill become head of policy strategic partnership for sidewalk infrastructure partners. it's my great pleasure this afternoon to talk about a topic that is at the heart of a lot of the change of innovation that's happening around the world. as we all know we are his celebrity infrastructure would come for some people but, we are to a nephews into the infrastructure decade. also if you read the news it seemed like every week is i week. just yesterday open and i announced a whole set of new features for their gpt form

model. instances where 1.5 years into a decade when chatgpt was original. i'm thrilled to have a group of leaders across sectors and cost different forms of government and the private sector to start to dig into both the opportunities and challenges ahead as we think about applying technology to infrastructure. so i'm joined by commissioner eileen higins from miami-dade county. thank you for being with us. joined by mayor steve patterson of athens ohio. and joined by jeremy schaefer, vice president of the bentley systems. so there's a lot of different, different parts i think which we can enter this conversation but i want to start with mayor patterson, both because of your leadership and work in athens also the work you do national leaders, just how you're seeing the impacts of ai -- national league of cities that are bringing more intelligence into infrastructure with the work you're doing, whether whether

that's the grant you recently received from the joint office of energy and transportation for charging infrastructure of some of the great collaboration you do with the university of ohio and others. i'll turned over to. >> thank you and thanks for having me here. there's so much going on right now with municipalities when he comes to ai and implementation of ai in different ways. national league of cities basically represents 19,000 communities across the nation and every one of those communities whether your city, a village or town, , you can some level of ai, in some cases it of you know that ai at the fingertips, yet they do. with the city of athens as you mentioned we were fortunate to receive substantial charging and fueling infrastructure grants which is about $12.5 million and is really a collaboration where we had municipalities across southern ohio partnered together on this application.

it's 18 communities from the city of athens in the southeast corner of the state to dayton, ohio, over on the western side of the state at a number of small committees in between. it's not just the community. >> its schools, universities, it is trailheads into recreational spaces. and with all that if you think about it that's going to be over 250 charge points with these 50 plus charging stations. we're going to have to ai communicating and learning the users within those 250 plus charging stations, whether it's a tourism-based, who's coming, who's going. i think equally important for those of you who have an ev,, charging anxiety is a real thing. can't figure out where's the next closest charging station if this one is not working, and so using ai to your advantage and having that system learn what is going on, his or her weak

somewhere in the system. another thing to share, in terms of the city of athens that i find very interesting that we are capitalizing on ai is that we were fortunate to get, it's a congestion the medication air-quality grant through federal highway bar association agency and also through our ohio department of transportation. and with the project the thing that's facet is one of our major corridors into the city of athens, it has the largest traffic volume and it's got roughly ten signalized intersections through this retail corridor. it's got 1920 -- some cases 1920s. it's got 20-year-old infrastructure that is saying they're using the magnetic loops and identifying, you know, winter the traffic light change, when it shouldn't change your

we're going to replace it but also with basically the system that will be the brains of this, it will be learning traffic flow through that corridor where a college temper ohio university is our largest employer so we're a very seasonal kennedy. we have this ebbs and flows of that traffic pattern. the system also be able to monitor that and learn from what is happening during the summer months versus september 10 may when our volume significantly increases and smooth out that traffic flow. when you think about it if you're spoofing at that traffic flow you are reducing carbon emissions with cars sitting there idling needlessly at a a traffic light at 2 a.m. in the morning when things actually should be moving and getting people from point a to point b without having to idle. >> thanks. commission higgins, , in your leadership of miami-dade county,

you are helping lead one of the country's largest counties but also one of the most diverse, tickling social economic terms. you also have leadership role with national association of counties in the transportation community. how are you saying the role of ai, particularly run service delivery in the way you are supporting of the county can support residents? what other ways you think that sorting to make an impact? >> i can use interesting. i have been in ai your one and half, i don't know how many times we had to figure out what is ai. and so i think about it in two ways. one thing is to speed up basic things that have to happen everyday. and the other for counties and cities and did the love of government is how do we adapt, how do we use the adaptive learning capabilities of ai to

enhance our services? there's a number of ways where i can think of examples. we just necessary for counties, where unveiling in july our first ever roadmap for ai for local governments on all of the guidelines, the guard rail, to go along with that. i was proud to work we just finished our first ai policy for county. i think it's a first in florida. some of these things that we look at, so example data entry. that can all be automated. 311 calls, a lot of that come up with what other right responsive for that. you really talk about how to deliver better services. we hear talk to infrastructure. and for us i'm tickled active in transportation and public transportation. so the service to writers as are trying to get people to win from

work on our transportation system. ai can enhance that. first of all we can look at how are we if service or invitatl essay were in a bus, however using ai to predict what can happen at intersections so we can adjust our schedules? and of thinking it's that for miami-dade county but they just did a great project on the golden gate bridge out in california to make sure that bus service became more of a liability. that was all dealt with with ai. for us for example, i mean yes, you can count ridership by tabs but in the pandemic were not have people tap because that cut folks too close to bus drivers we wanted to still know what are ridership was. we were able to activate and ai model using our cctv that was able to sort through while

protecting personal images and to say this is your ridership. then it was able to predict when we had too many writers for social distancing and we need to add more surface at a particular route so we're keeping our bus drivers safe. ai is an amazing tool. i do think we need to be careful with it. but there are ways we can make sure we really providing better service to the people that we serve in local, and local government. and hopefully speed them up through some great permanent reforms. i'm sure we'll talk about that. can't get away from that in infrastructure expert all these examples within talk about all have, a lot of differences in terms of applications but in all of these there's a real need for partnerships with the private sector and where the innovation comes from. i'd like to bring in the private sector into this conversation. so jeremy, i'd like to turn to you next.

i know we may be a year and half into ai and the kind of public consciousness but there's a lot of things that have been going on for years and decades before that. one of the terms that has been used quite a bit is the digital twin. that something i seen it all. given your work at bentley, , i would love to your perspective on the evolution how you're seeing me to spell the end of the public sector entities start to draw concrete benefits from this technology. >> sure. thank you. we've and work with ai for many, many years so it's exciting to see if i hasn't burst onto the public scene in terms of common vernacular. we've always viewed bentley as very important out a digital twin of your infrastructure whether that's a water system, a roadway network, port, transmission lines. a lot of the discussions earlier, we talk with

infrastructure owners and designers and practitioners about the problems they face as a working to plan, design, build, operate and maintain that infrastructure. and so, for example, during the electrical session earlier today they were talking about one of the things that kept the deputy secretary consecutive up at night was wildfire risk. we work with our users to provide digital twin of their infrastructure lines and a look at wildfire risk to drone imagery to see whether this encroachment of education on the water systems i can for example, even worked with users while developing virtual digital twin of the water system. people don't appreciate a lease and the public anywhere from 25 and 30% of the one is put into the system is lost, as un-billable water. when you are able to the utilize digital twin with artificial

intelligence to super some of those losses are occurring to fix him and helping and criticism and drive down costs. of course even specific instances in transportation network here if you wrote the d.c. metro system, every night that track blockers are quite a look at that track your very mar emanuel intensive process and 77 incidences where people have perished during that where there's been track collisions that have occurred. but we can do that all with having real geometry cards taken announcement of data and then analyzing circum- looking with problems in getting the right maintenance at the right time there. >> there's example after example where ai apply in room reliable in top of the digital twin to help save time, money and make it safer for the workers out in the field and for the traveling public. >> that point around safety and automation brings up a topic that you mentioned drones as

another potential application. when people hear something like autonomous drone or any type of autonomous vehicle, there still a bit of concern around safety but also around agassi and did and so forth. if anyone of panel would like to start on this topic, how are you think about finding the right balance? what are the concedes that contribute to where do you think they're still more innovation needed or i'll be all set to go at skin with these type of technologies? >> i'll speak first to that. we've been wait with minnesota department of transportation and several other dot's in infrastructure owners. it is very hard appear you can envision some very large complex bridges. and having to make a those in the people literally the old way of doing it clyne and inspect every part of that of t. so drones have been a game changer in allowing us to be

able to fly the drones in a safe manner, create imagery, do crack detection and focus race was on the critical part of the structure. one concern though is when you're creating that digital twin, when you getting all the information on this critical infrastructure, he also have to secure it so that we live in a world sometimes where there are bad actors that want access to that information so we need to secure the information so that people might want to do something bad to that bridge don't get access to it. we also need, it does come in. there are various state laws that take an effect like if we capture imagery of people or license plates having to worry about blurring though so we're not unintentionally revealing something that shouldn't be revealed. >> i can think of another example. many of us i think in the transportation sector were putting in dedicated bus lanes everywhere. sometimes they are completely protected and the car can't get

in there and other times whatever, mr. delivery trucks or whatever, , somebody just stops there and that slows down our bus service. so ai, we can have police officers everywhere. they need to be, we know they need to help us enforce but we really like to have them out looking for criminals. you probably shouldn't be arrested. but ai is now enabling our buses around the country to look at who is there. but, of course, as it's capturing the image of the carpet in the lane, there's other passenger vehicles going by you might accidentally capture their driver's license or picture. so the ai technology is now as your sing blurring all about other kind of extraneous personal information, just getting down to the one vehicle that really should get the citation. but the ai company is a issuing the citation.

that particular image is going over to law enforcement, and law enforcement says yes, this is a violation, and issues a violation. it's an interesting combination where we still, we sometimes need checks and balances on all of that and that has to be built in into the system, particularly as computer enhances and advances and capabilities. >> i'll add a little bit to this especially in the drone world. there is in athens, ohio, and within athens county there's three different water suppliers, the city of athens with her own water supply with our water treatment plant but there some other partners that are out there providing water. we are looking at a county that has 63,000 people who live there. the city of athens is 24,849, and of those there's probably

3000, 4000 accounts, water accounts within the city of athens, give or take, and we have just using, we have our meter readers going to rent each month reading that meter. meanwhile come out in account does the individual who is currently using telemetry on his plane flying back and forth for another supplier and is able to capture a significant portion of the county in the meters outside the city within an hour and half to two hours and capture that i have it sent back. we are exploring that with the drones in athens. we haven't started there yet but were looking to see if we can get the right and have the drone in an hour go through and do what is going to take somebody you know, a week or longer to sit there and collect the data and then upload and whatnot. instead of using a drone. you mentioned rail, which was

such a great point, at the core of everything we we're talkit with ai is what, it's the electric grid. and they can do with all the data centers, with all the technologies out there, our grid is strong enough to support all this. then your layer on top of that green energy. you've got sold a field or you've got all your community cannot access ira because you now are a smart goal committee, whatever that is. that's putting the load on the grid as well, right? and using with our energy supplier in athens and southeast ohio is convincing them to start using drone technology to go and inspect those high tension lines that are coming in. because all too often we are expensing brownouts in in some cases blackouts and is because

the ways those lines are inspected out to where you're literally walking it. we have a significant tree canopy and southeast ohio were not uncommon during a high weather or high wind event where it will knock something out or sidearm all of a sudden fails and you got a line that drops. by not having that joint technology going out with infrared and inspecting hotspots as well as is being able to identify structural problems that you may see out there. so it's -- [inaudible]

[inaudible] >> we seem to have lost our signal from this life event that we work to resolve the issue and we hope to resume our live coverage shortly.

>> unfortunately we are not able to resolve this problem with our live feed from this event. we hope to have this for you in its entirety later in our program schedule. >> wednesday federal officials testify on the ongoing investigation into the collapse of baltimore's francis scott key bridge.

watch the house transportation and infrastructure committee by the canadian eastern on c-span, c-span now our free mobile video app or online at c-span.org. >> friday nights watch c-span's 2024 campaign trail, a weekly round up of c-span's campaign coverage providing a one-stop shop to discover what the candidates across the country are saying to voters, along with first-hand accounts from political reporters, updated poll numbers, fundraising data and campaign ads. watch c-span's 2144 campaign trail friday nights at 7:30 p.m. eastern on on c-span, onlinet c-span.org or download as a podcast on c-span now, our free mobile app review get your podcast. c-span, your unfiltered view of politics. >> and ipab we is an associate or bachelors. so the demand is incredible and

the average age of those students are 27. so the already working in 40 40 present the students are women. so it is really recruiting folks to come and learn new skills as well as young student. i told you we in the county, i worked with her id, our cio to make sure we had ai policy, but the second half of what i worked with on was to make sure we analyze all of the jobs in our county and what our county employees needed to learn. as a miami dade college is now creating that curriculum for our county employees would get to go virtually and in person should they choose be able to get the skills they need to do their job. for somebody fancies can be like machine learning and natural language processing, blah, blah, blah. but for many of our county employees it's going to be this ai awareness and ai practitioner

level. phenomenal collaboration between our community college and also fiu at the more advanced research level. as might affect the receipt some grant money from u.s. dot on cybersecurity and transportation because ai is creating new pathways to hack our system. we've got to be working as we implement and i, we've got to up our game on our cybersecurity site as well. >> on every stage of infrastructure process, ai can be of assistance to engineers or maintenance workers to help make them more productive. and help make their job even more targeted, safe if what they're doing. the design phase, ai can look -- will not design the bridge for them but they can look, i can learn from what that particular engineer has designed in the past and they can present them options they might want to

consider for that particular topography, the particular traffic load and the budget they have for that solution. so they can can get them started a stand on a blank sheet of paper to have something to begin to work with based on what that user, what that company or that dot perspective is. and then all the way onto into operation and maintenance. we have one solution that looks at basically takes dash cams that are on every delivery truck or public work vehicle. it's collecting imagery on the road. right now there is a manual process often of finding where maintenance problems are, where safety problems are on the road, looking at the line, reached i become if a scientist visited the all things that can be very, very time-consuming and it's hard to staff were dot. by crowdsourcing all these dash cam images, you're able to take that, look at the visual 20 requirements and able to almost instantly say hey, we've got

debris in the roadway. we've got a line that has been, that's not meeting standards here, i signed that is been knocked down. these are all things the i can assist with to help target what most agencies were working with have shortage of workers, target those workers to wear the need to be and to keep them safe so the not out in the roadway looking for that. >> on the training front, i appreciate your candor about mayors -- >> and commissioners. >> is a different of mine mayor tom johnson of somerset ohio, small village, they have created a covert share workspace and occur specializing in ai training and applying tech cred to that as well and their focus is the fact that we're going to have the largest intel chip manufacturing plant in the world

in central ohio. the kind of harnessing that, knowing looking for in times like we need to be prepared for what the needs of going to be for intel moving forward. i'll share a real quick story with you about mayor johnson. this is pretty cool. he, too, is learning, he's drinking from a fire hose when it comes to ai. he's created for himself and avatar that looks exactly like him and has five fingers on each hand, and he's working on it to becoming a messaging platform for he is the mayor, to wit risk of the message was going on in the village of somerset and so on and so forth but using ai to constantly kind of monitor local press and to constantly update his avatar. the one thing i think about that for mayor johnson is kind of the flipside of a lot of what we talked about today, and it's what you can potentially based on what of your software

platform is and as partnering with the federal government to make sure that we have some safeguards in keeping this great technology on the site as good as both a sum of one something nefarious, i i could think wih mayor johnson i said be careful as you make him him one day and your avatar has just going off when you're in saying something she don't want the public to hear about you. one of the things nlc has been really diligent on is to put together an ai advisory committee. the mayor of savannah, georgia, mayor johnson has been working on this with nikki lee, councilmember nikki lee of the tucson, arizona, and bringing together 20 individual leaders from across the u.s. to sit there and make sure that we can think through how can the national league be on the front end of helping the federal government set some guidelines

to where we are ensuring ai is been used for the good that ai is at the end of the day. we're also using our partner google to comport with an ai toolbox at some point in the future. that would be great for local leaders to sit there and note you've got a one-stop shop for all the things she should be noted, then jeff access to, think you should be thinking about developing in the future when it comes to harnessing this great technology. >> it's clear and i thought having activist impact and a lot of power. it's a good reality to check those. you can trust everything and accounts are unfortunate at point i think as we think about the application to critical infrastructure it's a whole other level of security that we need. the cyber site but just in terms of trustworthiness of information. on the topic of improving processes, we couldn't go hope type of permitting.

leaving aside perhaps what wish list we might have for comprehensive reform, like what at the local level like are you seeing as opportunities for your respective organizations or jurisdictions of improving the way the project get to the process by harnessing ai or other types of technological tools. >> you want me to start? apparently. all right. now the complete all the time about the federal government and the nepa process and article processes and visits and that process but the really is to get everything the project build we need local project. we go to the nepa process but that doesn't mean you have your building permits for whatever the structure is been used to have to go through. and our can with basically miami-dade county for very important environmental permits and all of this and that some of our basic public works projects

to believe involve the federal project which led to get road permit, all that come intersection can sometimes it's the county road in the city and work together. we'll need to be faster about permitting, right? we are all part of the process and we all need to be better. in our county about five years ago when i first got elected i was realizing for example, affordable housing was taking almost two years to get permits out for a large building. we embarked upon a pretty technology intensive not so much ai intensive but technology intensive process to streamline that. and a proud to say in december we permitted a 12 story building with the pedestal parking garage in 170s. so high rise. pretty dramatic agreement. for local governments can get better. i'm going to give an example of how we pivoted during covid. we were one of those counties we wanted to keep construction

going. there were outdoor jobs. we felt as if there was safe enough because they were indoor and want to keep some parts of our economy open while others will close down and balance the safety issues. what we also get to be able to provide inspection. it took only about three weeks to give it. but we went to be able to do cell phone to cell phone like our inspectors rather than being at the site risking their health for able to do a lot of the basic inspections like is this valve installed properly via cell phone. all the stuff should be able to in the future be done with ai, right? so we can keep our inspectors doing the hard stuff, the stuff that has to be in person. but all of these basic things we just need to clear them out of the backlog and in florida there are a couple of cities that are trying to ai technology particularly this is sort of less, the simpler permits come the ones that are less risky,

right, still learning here, but the less risky basic building permit and break them back. i do think there's a real opportunity via asic technology can improve in streamlining, and again ai is supposed to help us do that basic faster and then it has this ability, this predictive ability to have us learn from what we've seen and get better and faster. and i think in permitting we need to be able to begin using it to do the basic stuff faster. >> want to emphasize the streamlining portion of it. it's the lack of streamlining thickets and most men is found as ways breaches have layers and layers of bureaucracy and letting ai using ai to teach you, your chokepoints burkini to sit there and rethink how you doing this to free things up and

allow if you're receiving federal monies, statements, whatever the project is that's going on in your community that there's, they should be an easier and a more streamlined way of getting this done. >> out just say from an industry perspective, there is a level of maturity among governments that spans the spectrum. what a mean by that is we work with firms, they will develop very detailed 3-d model of a piece of infrastructure, but the city, county, dot, what if the older entity is, their policies are self-paced on 40 years ago. all they want our plans, 2-d plan sheets and stacks of 2-d plan sheet. 90% information generated generated in the 3-d model is effectively lost. the owner operator if is giva stack of two d plan sheets that then enters a very cumbersome manual paper driven approval process. other entities are much on a

different side of maturity process and a fully adopted digital delivery seek and basically digitally submit documents the entire width way h the infrastructure planning cycle. that will dramatically speed up the entire process to save money and time. ultimately the people who read the benefit on the municipalities. the municipalities, engineering is a very risk-averse field so it's hard sometimes to get people to make changes but there's many possible examples of municipal municipat have made those changes and we would encourage other wants to do russell. >> great idea. the first step in all this is getting out of processes rely on paper and things that can't be automated by the need, so there's a step change. part of what appeared across from the three of you is without ai is an accident to read. we know how fast that's something. to be part of that growth requires the bigger you get some basic ratchet up have, instead

of a stack of 2-d sheets of paper, have a database that intimate put, they can be improved and harnessed by some of these technologies. as we get ready to wrap the panel, i think it might be helpful to each of you your perspective on partnerships. we have described things that some of different parts come with its the federal government, state and local or private sector and local. what do you look for in partnership? what makes something successful, whether it's ai process or technology and innovation more broadly? how do you think about striking the partnership that's needed to implement any of these deities we have been talking about? >> you know, i'll jump in first. again, i mention athens is a small city but we often are hitting with above our weight when it comes to advancements in community. if you're speaking the partners,

i mention if i grant, the cfi grant has 18 municipalities that came together to apply all in one package as opposed to everyone sitting there trying to apply separately and quite honestly dot does sing something like that. but that's an example of partnerships. i've been pretty diligent as a of athens in developing partnerships not just within our county but across a lot of ohio. so for me to make connections ago hey, who wants to jump in on this? we will find, athens will become the lead or maybe if we get too big we will have to have someone else be the lead on this. but at the end of the day we are going to make this work. and then also working really closely with our state and federal partners. all the times come to cut out those connections. you've got to be open. as often, i speak as an elected official.

you've got to push partisanship out of the way. that has to place when you're talking about advancing your own community and partnering communities to be able to harness ai and all ai can offer. .. two interesting technologies in trying to encourage innovation. one is predicted and we are

about state. what is going on in those intersections people cell phones so way, with things that make this. >> when i look at the industry, a lot of love solve problems to

solve those problems and it is great with is a clear. collaboratively the technology. i'm very excited we are going to be able to do. [applause] logo. ♪♪ >> good afternoon.

i am vice president transportation u.s. chamber of commerce and i'm excited to introduce our next speaker and this is the last discussion will have today. thank you for showing up. across the federal government and the transportation. the public service management and budget.

university of virginia an emergency policy. the longest come up to the stage. to coordinate for anyone who has been around before that, you know infrastructure and this is

part of the investment american strategies and about rebuilding infrastructure and in doing that cost myself will bridges and airports in the clean energy resilience and so much more. and equity jobs so imagine the

complexity organize ourselves for this result. we need this money to get out the door and this is something the federal government has gone to in 19% of the funds are being delivered to bats by state and local aims and contract with important. and the drop projects but also

the backyard one and the community benefit those are the priorities. >> the department transportation about time this the operational standpoint it is different from those. >> it is different from incised also peak traditional reauthorization, you're talking transit here we are talking about so much more. we sent transit contract in 50

years and investments inc. data. i would say on the transportation side and increases and different modes reauthorization and the opportunities and challenges that come with and working with agencies and the capabilities to deliver self in many ways reauthorization and through some

lessons and one of the things we took from that react to thousand nine and a recovery coordinator and i was in the white house. every state to appoint thought. they spend this resource across the country democratic states and resources and the players. >> so there is a lot you have to manage. obviously if you begin the work,

not an idea of where you want to go south you talk about where you want to go highlight. >> back to start with macro, two and half years into a five year bill we have for 50 billion of the door in the projects. we seen some really great specific staff. 165,000 miles road projects related over 9000 projects.

and replace up to 1.7 million and meaningful work underway also, broadband and those are top lines but sometimes they prevent you the individual projects we have seen the major projects rate line a couple weeks ago which is super exciting and i was highlight moving forward about the areas.

>> on the big stuff but implementation is about a million things every day. and they are like this in our state and local partners so couple of examples we listen and learn adjustments. what is the we are pushing spunk

transit we heard. we hosted training at the white house the association will be hot agencies and major manufacturers in other players that resulted in how payments can be made a similar issue probably is formational time at this scale we heard globally from below of the requirement a

barrier to entry and other types like performance and but this is what we do every single day problem solving. times that you this.

right now considering this component. what you are all saying this requirement, the understanding of the way in which it implicate for a similar waiver. >> i know many are familiar with this but take a step back. i american laws on the books since 1930 on the buy american side for clients are a key part of pa and infrastructure projects. any kind of infrastructures covered by american and a number

of goals. this is something biden strongly supports knows domestic manufacturing if vertically important to restore american competitiveness particularly on unmet these factors. announcements today so all this to say but this is a critically important part of this. the predictability is one of the most important things so have been quite consistent over the last three years. practice and a very high bar and

examples where we work on limited waivers and factors. in the domestic industry. there were multiple rounds of comments and engagements what we landed on was a two-step waiver and it was required as of february and they are grantees

through the programs telling us is a manufacturing issue and that is one. on broadband the individuals who go in the program unless the waiver and it was focused on sectors and we have seen domestic manufacturing want to

provide.and the focus is possible and it is showing where the waiver for the investment were week along and we see this avenue. >> can you speak more to those roles? >> sure. the rules give out negotiations is ability. require more on these limits.

it is the tool for moving products quickly and provide way and providing this analysis which is or value in this administration. it is the right thing to do and it is a community product without delay medicated candlelight. >> it provides data in the previous of administration is

difficult logical and physical think we are doing to track these resources. the administration is in the agencies including the dollars we secured and the ira. i'm sad but i want to thank your for resources agencies like epa were embedded in the administration making sure the agencies have an understanding the process and the budget request.

the projects to move in a matter of weeks instead of months or years. one of first things we did was allow sharing of charging and semiconductor doctrine. >> the francis scott news out of baltimore, a 40-foot channel so all good developments for tragic incident you talk about the

authorities. >> verse want to acknowledge the tragedy from a six construction workers lost their lives tragedy struck and we acknowledge that the other is first responders we have the army court navy present amazing organization. everyone has shut up in the

community that is all of the operations on the ground. we are deferring those decisions on the ground and they are empowered to get that done. and we are working together and advocating for his. and that bipartisan report we see for this project rebuild

itself hwd and for these options they have many and they are all dedicated. the funding and one official

into me and the paving of roads and we are working as quickly as we can in the balance of the law and responsible for that. we have the american rescue plan which is a short-term financing rebuilding these and reshaping our economy enemies it will be a combination of shovel ready projects. some projects have not only been on that but are finished in the expanded in front of the brief

project in michigan and we have projects to finish and move on. and the lines are still going. this audience knows and votes in the industry know the expenditure is not the best indicator the last thing i'll say important is a five year bill for braided funding over the course of five years and the 90% of the funds available right now are either our hands and in

partners or on the so the money as quickly as possible that's right we talk about the objects and asked real people and encourage get those to accept this law, we encourage to help on this one is participates part of this exercise, i know many

are but we want more companies and entities to be part of this project. the other in your communities but also give us stories. we love telling stories about individual products and would love to hear about announcements. cabinet members and others all over the country participate regularly.