▶ 0:11:18A subcommittee will come to order. You'll have to pardon us a little bit. We're kind of running on fumes right now. Chairman cole had us up till midnight, and, uh. And I had our subcommittee up kind of early this morning. So, um, they will, uh, they will earn a good rest when all is said and done.
▶ 0:11:44Today, this subcommittee welcomes the honorable sean duffy, secretary of the department of transportation, to testify for the fiscal 27 budget. Secretary duffy. It's good to see you. Thank you for appearing before us today. Um, the president's request for dot is 26.8 billion in discretionary budget authority for fiscal 27.
▶ 0:12:07This amount includes an increase for air traffic operations to continue efforts to hire controllers and other safety personnel. Another installment for air traffic modernization and new investments in ports, shipyards, and rail safety. We're going to hear a lot about that today.
▶ 0:12:26This is the first year without advance appropriations from the ija, which totaled 184 billion for the department from 2022 to 2026. I appreciate your efforts and the efforts of your department to move things forward. Since you were in front of this subcommittee last. The obligation rate for the iija division j dollars has increased from 39% to 51% in the past year.
▶ 0:12:53The backlog of 3200 grants has all but been eliminated. We appreciate that effort and would remind you of the requirements set forth in the fiscal 26 law regarding proper execution of programs appropriated by this committee, along with new congressional notification requirements.
▶ 0:13:10Our hearing today serves as an example of the reciprocal relationship between this committee and the executive branch to ensure the appropriate resources are provided to dot to meet our shared goals of safety, infrastructure improvements and modernization of our transportation systems. The investments we've made together in air traffic control prove this concept.
▶ 0:13:32Funding to rebuild the controller workforce, combined with long overdue modernization of air traffic technologies, reflects the kind of sustained bipartisan commitment that a safety critical mission demands. This work is far from finished, and the challenges ahead are significant. The progress we've made shows what's possible when congress and the department focus on common priorities and follow through with real resources.
▶ 0:14:01As we look to fiscal 2027, we know more needs to be done for the seas. We need to ramp up our investments in the nation's maritime workforce and infrastructure to ensure we have the commercial competency to compete globally.
▶ 0:14:14This will also support our national defense capability in the indopacom region and elsewhere for our surface transportation infrastructure, we're on the precipice of a reset following the expiration of the ija how we build upon what worked and how we course correct from those investments that were serving political pipe dreams is the key question, in my opinion, for fiscal 27.
▶ 0:14:39I look forward to seeing what our authorizing counterparts put forward. They're in the process of doing that as we speak, and we stand at the ready on the appropriations committee to cut the check when the time comes. I should be clear, however, that this committee has the sole jurisdiction on discretionary funding efforts to recreate the advanced appropriations of the iija are ill founded and not to be contemplated contemplated without the full involvement and deliberation of this
▶ 0:15:10Committee. The invite remains, Mr. secretary, to come down to arkansas's third district and see how the investments of your department are flowing into communities like mine. The department is a unique department in that way, as the impact of your work is seen in every single congressional district. As such, this committee enjoys a history of bipartisanship, and I look forward to continuing as we begin the fiscal 27 process.
▶ 0:15:37Speaking of which, I'd like now to recognize my dear friend in the ranking member of this subcommittee, Mr. clyburn of south carolina, for any opening remarks he prefers to make. I now recognize the gentleman from south carolina for that purpose. >> thank you very much, Mr. chairman. Welcome back, Mr. secretary. Dot's primary mission is to invest in solutions that improve transportation safety.
▶ 0:16:02This includes safer transportation in our skies, on our rails, in our ports, and over and under our bridges. According to the american road and transportation builders association, there are more than 9500 bridges across my home state of south carolina, and more than 2130 of them are in disrepair.
▶ 0:16:29To make matters worse, now there are 600 bridges are structurally deficient, a number that has grown over the last three years. As you might be aware, south carolina is the fastest growing state in the nation. This means that as we welcome more people and businesses, there will be more wear and tear on our roads and bridges.
▶ 0:16:55At the same time, south carolina ranks among the highest for fatalities on our highways, according to the insurance institute of highway safety. In one year alone, 2023, my home state has seen more than 1000 fatalities. Fatalities on our roads, including in rural areas, which face unique safety challenges.
▶ 0:17:26And this is not unique to south carolina. In fact, the american society of civil engineering gives the united states infrastructure a c grade, uh, although an improvement, uh, from c minus, which was before it is in part attributable to the major investments enacted by this body, the bipartisan infrastructure law made a historic five year investment in our nation's transportation
▶ 0:17:57Systems, whether it is helping to repair deficient bridges or improve our ports, these investments investments are intended to enhance safety, employ american businesses, put more people to work, and create new private, uh, public partnerships.
▶ 0:18:17I'm pleased that our colleagues in the house transportation and infrastructure committee have begun their work to reauthorize so many of the programs important to our districts. However, I am concerned that the committee, this committee is not at the table to support another tranche of much needed supplemental advanced appropriations.
▶ 0:18:44And as you are aware, the bipartisan infrastructure law included an additional 36.8 billion annually over its five year span to help meet our transportation infrastructure needs. Unfortunately, no new supplemental funding will be available beyond september 30th of this year. I implore my republican colleagues and you, Mr.
▶ 0:19:11Secretary, to impress upon our leadership and the white house to help ensure that this committee continues to help close the gap on transportation projects across the country. I believe this subcommittee can work in a bipartisan fashion to deliver safer transportation networks for the american people, and I look forward to hearing from you, Mr.
▶ 0:19:37Secretary, about how we can best use america's resources and talents to build a safer, more secure country. Now, with that said, Mr. secretary, I would be remiss if I did not raise on this panel today my concern with your great american road trip.
▶ 0:19:57While I agree with the importance of having boots on the ground, so to speak, to learn more about the complexities of our transportation and travel needs across the country, it is important to keep in mind the millions of struggling, taxpaying americans who are not afforded the same opportunities. My hope is that as you move it around the country, you will include some roads less traveled.
▶ 0:20:24Now, while I do not argue with robert frost, I believe that what really makes the differences in our lives are the people we encounter during our travels, irrespective of which road one might take. It is my collective duty, our collective duty, to make america's greatness accessible and affordable for all, not just some.
▶ 0:20:53And with that, Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. clyburn. And at the risk of patronizing the overall chairman, let me just say, as I said earlier today, reimagining the appropriations process for this congress has been a challenge for a number of years, dating all the way back to the time, Mr. secretary, that you were serving in this great body.
▶ 0:21:19But this guy to my right that's about to speak, deserves a lot of credit for moving us toward a much more perfect and meaningful process. He's done it skillfully. He's done it very patiently and against great odds. And I want the public to know how grateful I am and how grateful this committee is for the work of our overall chairman, Mr. tom cole of oklahoma.
▶ 0:21:45You're recognized, sir, for five minutes. >> thank you for that very generous and fulsome praise, but I can tell you, any success I had wouldn't happen without my friend, the ranking member. Uh, because this is a bipartisan exercise, and appropriation always is. And I'm particularly proud of this subcommittee because of the bipartisanship that exists between this chairman and this ranking member and how well they've worked together. Uh, so thank all of you and thank all the other members for being here.
▶ 0:22:14Secretary duffy, welcome to back to thud. Uh, thank you so much for appearing before this subcommittee again and for your continued leadership and service. I particularly want to commend you for your commitment to modernizing our air traffic control system, upgrading aging air traffic control infrastructure is long overdue, and your leadership and urgency on this issue are exactly what is needed as we move through fiscal year 2027.
▶ 0:22:40Uh, I remain focused on maintaining responsible investments in our nation's transportation system. Uh, as chairman womack has already stated, your team has already made exceptional efforts to ensure that we're investing taxpayer money, uh, in infrastructure and safety improvements that are worthwhile. Taking a hard look at thousands of funding decisions to make sure they deliver real results for the american people.
▶ 0:23:09You're to be commended for that. This subcommittee furthered these efforts in the fy 2027 bill, uh, under chairman womack and ranking member clyburn's leadership supporting programs that improve infrastructure while scrutinizing those that are wasteful and duplicative. Uh, but make no mistake, we've not sacrificed dot safety mission in that process.
▶ 0:23:32Over the past three fiscal years, this subcommittee has made the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers a top priority. In our fy 27 bill, we're supporting 2300 new comptroller candidates on top of the 2500 we funded in fy 26, reflecting the committee's commitment to rebuilding the controller workforce that keeps our skies safe and the economy moving.
▶ 0:23:59I also want to recognize your personal interest and support for the mike monroney center in oklahoma city and your determination to supercharge controller hiring across the board. That attention has made a real difference, and it reflects a genuine understanding of what this facility means to the safety of our entire aviation system.
▶ 0:24:18We have the land, the facilities, the world class staff at oklahoma city to ensure that controllers receive in-person focused and state of the art training. I'll continue to fight for the funding that this center needs to modernize and expand, and I'll frankly push back any efforts to decentralize or weaken what we've built there. This commitment extends beyond controllers alone.
▶ 0:24:44Aviation safety depends on a full complement of qualified safety personnel across the faa. I will also reiterate my steadfast commitment to prioritize investments in tribal and rural areas, and the fy 27 bill under Mr. womack's leadership demonstrates that commitment.
▶ 0:25:05Nearly 70% of americans that road miles are in rural areas, and about 145,000 of those miles are on roads that pass through tribal lands. These communities face notable challenges and have different needs from urban areas. As we move through the appropriations process, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fund the critical safety, missions and transportation infrastructure needs of the country.
▶ 0:25:32With that, again, thank you, chairman womack, for holding this hearing. And thank you, secretary duffy, for appearing before it. >> I thank the chairman. And what I said about Mr. cole goes for the ranking member as well, miss delauro of connecticut. Um, it is a true partnership, and we're grateful for your leadership as well, ma'am. And I recognize you for five minutes. >> thank you very much, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:25:55And it is an honor for me to work with both you and and ranking member clyburn and to work with you and chairman cole as we make sure that the appropriations process is as strong as it needs to be, and that it is, um, really where the power of the purse resides. And thank you very much. Um, uh, thank you, Mr. secretary, for testifying today.
▶ 0:26:22We look forward to your testimony and to hearing your answers to our questions. Uh, america's transportation infrastructure is crucial. It's crucial to the economic health of our country. It connects communities, expands prosperity, extends opportunities to people across this country, from big cities to small towns. Unfortunately, the president's budget request proposes substantial cuts to many of the programs and initiatives that americans rely on.
▶ 0:26:47The budget proposes to cut $327 million from amtrak, including 200 million from the northeast corridor and 127 million from the national network. Amtrak is crucial to my home state of connecticut, where nearly 1000 of their employees are based. More than 2 million travelers were served by amtrak in connecticut, um, in 2025. And they facilitate an incalculable quantity of economic activity.
▶ 0:27:17Uh, investing in the service they provide is essential for supporting so many of my constituents. Uh, so I'm disappointed to see, um, such deep cuts proposed in the president's budget. It's crucial that this administration restore americans faith in the safety and security of air travel. Following a series of tragic incidents last year. Uh, I understand the faa.
▶ 0:27:39I understand that the faa recently revised downward their projections for necessary air traffic controllers, the staffing levels to maintain safe skies by roughly 2000 positions. And as we approach some of the busiest travel months of the year, the administration needs to do everything it can to provide the american people with the assurance that they will be safe in our skies. We.
▶ 0:28:04We need to know what is needed as appropriations committee to be able to provide the resources needed to keep people safe, uh, to keep our aircraft moving, uh, making the airspace more efficient. The american people are struggling every day, uh, with the rising cost of living and robust transportation infrastructure is key to connecting people with the well-paying jobs that they need to stay afloat.
▶ 0:28:32Transportation, I think we all concur, is an economic engine, and our investment in it must meet the needs that the american people face. So, secretary duffey, uh, I look forward to your testimony today, and I look forward to the, uh, interaction with our our questions and answers. Thank you. And I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. duffy. Your, uh, full written statement will be included in the record. And at this time, I recognize you for five minutes to summarize your remarks.
▶ 0:29:02>> uh, chairman womack, chairman cole, chairman rogers as well, ranking member clyburn and, uh, delauro, thank you for having me. It's good to be back in the house. Uh, it's great to have such wonderful attendance, even though you guys are supposed to be gassed, you're all here. It's great for me. Um, I hope today we do have a chance to talk about what Mr. clyburn mentioned about the bridges. Uh, it's an issue. Um, and he also mentioned, and we all know this, that our infrastructure has a c rating.
▶ 0:29:31Um, and I think as we sit here together, um, this is probably the most bipartisan place in this whole body. Uh, we all work together because there is not a republican or a democrat bridge. Um, there's not a republican safe airport or a democrat safe airport. It's, we are all in this together as one american family and doing this together. Um, I think is, is critically important.
▶ 0:29:54And chairman cole, I would agree with you on tribal lands as well, making sure that is not forgotten in rural places like where I come from, the road less traveled, um, is one that I have been on for a very long time. So to the committee, thank you for having me. And again, it's good to be back in the house, uh, for the past 16 months with your support, the department of transportation has been hard at work delivering wins for the american people.
▶ 0:30:19We have a once in a generation opportunity to revitalize the critical infrastructure that millions of americans rely on every single day, from our runways to our roads, to our railroads. We have upgraded our national infrastructure, invested in the backbone of our economy, and made life safer for american families. We are aggressively moving to clear the backlog of 3200 grants that were left behind in the last administration.
▶ 0:30:47Our goal is simple to ensure that these grants deliver safe, enduring infrastructure that will serve americans for generations to come. At the faa, we have kick started a historic overhaul of our air traffic control system. This. This is made possible because of this congress, and I'm grateful for that.
▶ 0:31:06Thanks to the working families tax cut act, we received $12.5 billion as a down payment to begin deploying state of the art equipment across our airports in nass. Um, and that work is underway. We replace 50% of legacy copper wiring converted, 278 radio sites, installed, 58 new surface awareness systems, and transitioned 17 towers to electronic flight strips.
▶ 0:31:33But technology is nothing without people. We need the people, our air traffic controllers. So since march, we've hired a record breaking 2400 air traffic controllers, and we had an innovative gamer, uh, campaign. We realized at the academy, as we surveyed the students, uh, out of 250 surveyed, uh, all of them, but three are gamers.
▶ 0:31:58And so we made a pitch to the, the gamers, by the way, they have multiple screens. Um, they're problem solving and they're talking at the same time. We received over 12,000 applications in 24 hours to be an air traffic controller. It was, it was, it was quite historic. Um, we smashed the old records. It was a great ad campaign. Um, and, uh, but it is truly bringing in the best and the brightest who want to serve their country and they're concerned about safety. And I think these are the young men and women were bringing into this field that is so important.
▶ 0:32:31Raul ruiz joint integrity and safety to the american trucking industry. It was the policy of the last administration to allow for unqualified foreign drivers to get behind the wheel of a truck. Those days are no more. Uh, we just saw an incident in california a couple days ago. Maybe it was yesterday. Um, I think we all have to work together to have the right policy in place to make sure that our roads are safe. And what should that policy look like? I have my ideas on what we need to do together.
▶ 0:32:58We've worked with states to cancel 28,000 illegally issued licenses for unqualified foreign drivers. And we're holding, um, some states that aren't cooperating accountable. We all need to follow the same rules. We've also knocked more than 20,000 drivers out of service for failing to meet basic requirements, like reading a road signs or being able to communicate with law enforcement. These changes aren't just keeping you and your family safe on the road.
▶ 0:33:26They have added benefits to boosting wages for the great american truckers who serve our communities every single day. Our commitment to historic safety standards is already delivering historic results. Um, in 2025, we successfully reduced roadway deaths by 6.7% across the nation. Mr. clyburn, I'd be happy to talk to you more about what's happening in south carolina, but the numbers nationally have come down, and that is a good thing.
▶ 0:33:52Uh, this is the fifth largest drop in roadway deaths, uh, in the history of dot. So we're making progress. We have a long way to go. We're at, you know, 36000 plus deaths a year. Still way too many. Uh, but we're making progress. We're going in the right direction. We're working on our freedom to drive initiative, working on bottlenecks, um, in the country, making sure we can alleviate, uh, traffic snares.
▶ 0:34:17Um, I'm going to try to move through this quickly, but I want to talk about, um, what we're doing, uh, collaboratively with states to finally make transit safe and clean and dependable. I'm a republican and I recognize that our states do not work. Our cities, not our states, our cities don't work if we don't have good transit systems. Um, but I do think we should expect from those systems that they are clean, that they're safe, uh, that people want to ride them.
▶ 0:34:47You should have your, I have a, your 16 year old daughter should be able to take, um, the subway or the transit system at 7:00 at night on a saturday. And if we don't hit that standard, we have work to do together to make sure that is the bar is high for us to make sure that people want to ride and they can ride and they can safely ride because a lot of people can't afford to ride other forms of transportation. So I think we owe it to our fellow brothers and sisters.
▶ 0:35:14I would like to just mention, before I turn it back to you, Mr. chairman, I would at one point, I'd like to talk about the merchant marine academy. Uh, for those of you who have been there, um. That's wonderful. If if you haven't been, I'd ask you to go. Uh, these are some of the most amazing young men and women, um, have such great heart. And this, their academy was built in the 1940s after world war two. And, um, it's as a service academy as americans.
▶ 0:35:43I don't, I don't think our, our young men and women deserve to have, um, the buildings, the heating systems, the lack of dishwashers. Um, I believe that either we have to invest in this academy, um, and in these young people or um, I don't want, I love, I love, I love that I have it and you have it on this committee, but if we're not going to make the investments, you got to shut it down. Maybe you got to give it to the navy. And I don't want you to do that.
▶ 0:36:11But we we can't let these kids, the american men and women in this academy, have this kind of infrastructure. We can't. And because we let it go for so long, it's going to take a lot of money. And that's the decision that you all have to make. But I'll I'll plead with you because if you haven't been there, go see it and talk to the midshipmen and you'll be heartened to see the men and women that want to serve this country and be mariners. So I've gone way over, Mr. chairman. I apologize for that.
▶ 0:36:39Um, looking forward to your questions, and, uh, thanks for having me again. >> thank you, Mr. secretary. And and on the subject of the merchant marine academy, there's a couple of kids from my hometown in rogers that will be incoming freshman class of 2030. Uh, so you have my commitment to visit the merchant marine academy. Thank you. Uh, we owe that to you. We have, um, um, typically start with the, the leadership of the subcommittee, but today I'm going to yield first to Mr.
▶ 0:37:09Shreve of indiana. He is performing double duty today. Not only is he a member of this subcommittee, but he's also engaged in the markup on t and I on the surface transportation bill. And so at this time, I'm going to recognize mister shreve for any questions he may have. You're recognized for five minutes, sir. >> uh, Mr. chairman, thank you very much. I appreciate this privilege. Uh, Mr. secretary, thank you for appearing before us.
▶ 0:37:35Thank you for spending some time in my state looking at a bridge project and many other things. I am the newest member of this subcommittee. So this is a particular privilege. Uh, and I serve on, uh, t and I, where we're obviously wrestling with the, uh, the surface reauthorization today. And so there's a lot going on two floors down. I'm looking at this as a new member, but through the lens of both the appropriator and an authorizer. Uh, I am from indianapolis, where we met last time.
▶ 0:38:04My district, uh, runs south and east. Uh, our motto back home is where the crossroads of america. And that's not just a slogan in indianapolis, my district includes material portions of I-65, I-70, I-74, I-69, uh, I've got parts of I 465 we're a major short line, uh, rail state.
▶ 0:38:26We're talking a little bit about rail safety, uh, today and, and beyond two floors down the indianapolis international airport's in my district. It is the top ranked mid-sized airport in our country. It's the home to the second largest fedex air hub. So there's, there's my, uh, my, my pitch for indiana's sixth district. Hoosiers know how to move freight. And we also know what happens when the system fails.
▶ 0:38:51In recent years, hoosier families have suffered tragedies involving commercial drivers who should not have been behind the wheel of 80,000, uh, pound rigs. Secretary duffy, you have taken steps at your department, including stronger english language enforcement for commercial drivers and broader push to remove unsafe drivers from our highways. I want to focus on what congress, our congress can do to help you finish the job.
▶ 0:39:17Our protections are only as strong as the systems we rely upon. That's why I'm co-leading legislation to modernize dhs safe system. So immigration status checks to non-domiciled cdls come back currently and quickly. Indiana has been cracking down since april 1st. Just since april 1st, our state has revoked 1800 non-domicile domiciled cdls.
▶ 0:39:43What else does this congress need to codify or fund to help your department and fm csa keep an eligible and unsafe drivers off of our roads? >> thank you congressman. Not bad at freight and okay at basketball, um, in indiana. And I appreciate your work on the on the safe act. That's, uh, that's important on the save, um, system.
▶ 0:40:06So here's, I want to, to, to, to be clear to everybody on the committee, uh, the issues we've had with commercial driver's licenses, um, has been a nation wide problem. There's not a difference between a democrat and a republican state alike. All the states, uh, perform poorly, meaning they're giving commercial driver's licenses to people who maybe should not have been in the country at all.
▶ 0:40:36They were illegal, um, or others who had come into the country in the last four years. And they were given a driver's license for way longer than their work permit. And so we've now modified the rules, and we're not allowing for the new rules on commercial driver's licenses to operate that way anymore. One of the problems we have, though, is I don't have the authority to retroactively look at the all the thousands, tens of thousands of commercial driver's licenses that were previously issued.
▶ 0:41:06Um, and, and encourage or incentivize states to take those drivers off the road. And just one of the issues at play here is for an american truck driver to get a commercial driver's license. We look at their record, what do they have drunk driving? Do they have speeding? Like, who are they as a driver? We'll look at their criminal records so we get a full purview into who these men and women are that are going to buy the drive.
▶ 0:41:31These 800 0 pound rigs, when we've had people come into the country recently, it's very challenging for us to look at their records. And so we don't know who they are, what is their driving record. And I think that's creating some risk to the system. And if you're going to church or you're going to walmart, um, you should be safe. These should be the best drivers on the road, not, um, some of the ones that are killing our families. >> so I'm, I'm hearing that you don't have the data sharing tools or all those tools that, that your department needs.
▶ 0:42:00>> I don't, I don't have all the authority that I need. And I would like to work with this committee in a bipartisan way to, to, to talk about what should it look like, what should the rules be? Um, and look forward and look back. >> I appreciate that. >> can, can I mention one other thing? We just launched the modis system where we have a lot of these chameleon carriers and they are, um, you'll have one address that has 100 or 150 trucking companies at one p.o. Box or one address.
▶ 0:42:26And just you guys see this across, across the spectrum. The technology is old and we have a hard time dissecting the, the, all the information. So modis has come out, uh, new software system that's allowing us to actually have purview. You can't have 100 or 10 or five trucking companies from, um, in one p.o. Box. That'll, that'll be a sign of fraud.
▶ 0:42:51We should also have a conversation of, do we want foreign operators in eastern europe or somewhere else to own trucking companies in the us and have 100 trucking companies? We're seeing some fraud with that as well. We could work together on tightening up, tightening up those rules that will drive the safety and reduce fraud. >> Mr. secretary, I would love to delve deeper into the problem of chameleon carriers, but I so appreciate your indulgence, Mr. chairman, and I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. shreeve.
▶ 0:43:19I'll recognize myself now for five minutes. Mr. secretary, the the 26 uh t hud bill requires build awards to be based solely on the selection criteria in statute. That criteria include the extent to which a project improves safety, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, and cost effectiveness.
▶ 0:43:40Your fy 26 build nofo, issued in december, includes project labor agreements as part of the economic competitiveness consideration for applicants. I want to talk about that for just a minute, because I think every state that has and my staff can correct me if I'm wrong. Every state that has an anti pla law is represented on this appropriations committee.
▶ 0:44:08Um, so can you walk the committee through your rationale to add pla preferences back into the nofo. >> so the plas uh option is in there, but I believe there's ten criteria. So a state like arkansas would not be penalized at all. If you have a if you're one of the 22 states that don't allow for plas, there's no penalty to your state in access to the build grants.
▶ 0:44:32Um, it's one of ten factors that can be considered, um, in, in the process. So it's not exclusionary at all. >> what specific analyzes or procurement reviews or economic calculations has the department conducted to evaluate whether a pla preference is um, makes, you know, our economically competitive.
▶ 0:44:59Can you help me understand what background you have to make those determinations. >> well, we'll look at um, we'll try we'll ask for data to be submitted, information to be submitted. But we isn't you know this, we want good, good projects and projects that we're not going to spend just a lot of money on to spend money. We want the deliverable. Um, and does it make economic sense as well?
▶ 0:45:23Um, and so we'll, uh, we'll ask for information from, uh, from the project sponsor and then we'll analyze that. And I'm not, not to shock anybody, but sometimes people fudge information to us. Um, and we have to go through and suss out the truth of, of the information that was submitted to make a determination. >> well, I asked the question only because, uh, we want to make sure that, uh, nonunion states like my state of arkansas can remain competitive.
▶ 0:45:53Uh, and it's good to know that they're not going to be punished for having, uh, those, uh, those types of prohibitions. Um, finally, as you know, I've championed funding to address a chronic shortage of safe parking for american truckers. Our 27 bill made another installment in this priority. The trucking industry, state dot's, and local communities are watching closely to see how the department moves on these grants. This is not a single agency problem.
▶ 0:46:18Um, it crosses the federal highways infrastructure portfolio and the federal motor carrier safety administration's safety and hours of service mission. It's not just a convenience issue. Tire drivers who cannot find a safe place to stop are a safety hazard. And you don't have to drive america's interstates, particularly at sundown, to understand where these truckers are finding some relief. They're on our exit ramps and entry ramps.
▶ 0:46:47Um, can you provide us with an update on the implementation of this program and specifically when you anticipate the release of a nofo? Yeah. >> so first, I appreciate the committee's work and making sure it was $200 million for, uh, for truck parking. And you're right, uh, you go to a on ramp or off ramp on any freeway at sundown. We have trucks, uh, pulled over there looking for places to park, sometimes spending upwards of an hour looking for a place to park.
▶ 0:47:16And it becomes a safety hazard and a safety risk for other drivers, but also, uh, for, um, uh, those commercial drivers. Uh, so I anticipate, I believe it's either this week or the start of next week that nofo on the 200 million, uh, will come out. And if I do think if the money comes back for a second round of, of truck parking, I do think there could be an opportunity that we could work on.
▶ 0:47:41Is there a is there a way we could expand the money that this body gives to have a public private partnership where we bring in private capital to, um, truly expand and give us more, uh, parking across the country on our, on our freeways and interstates. >> our federal highways and the motor carriers working on a joint framework on, on this, how these funds are going to be deployed.
▶ 0:48:06>> well, well, we've ost is, uh, putting out the, the nofo and we've worked with all, uh, all the modes and we'll together work through the best, uh, applications. There's some, there's a, there's a thought process on how we could do that and, um, how we should look at where we do it. Is it sporadic or is it on, you know, several different routes?
▶ 0:48:27>> we have another installment that's in our bill that we marked up this morning and will be in front of the full committee in a couple of weeks, but I want to make sure that truck parking will continue to be a priority of your administration. >> and I think we're going to ask for a quick turn, um, off the nofo so we can make determinations and get those dollars out relatively quickly. >> I thank the gentleman. Thank you, Mr. clyburn. >> thank you very much, Mr. chairman. Mr.
▶ 0:48:49Secretary, I've got a safety question that, uh, is a two parter, uh, one involving manpower, the other, uh, methods. Um, the first one is, you know, we've, uh, spent about $96 million to hire a new air traffic controllers. And I understand that, um, uh, there's been a sort of a new supercharged hiring process.
▶ 0:49:15Uh, that is, uh, is being undertaken, uh, but it's been called to my attention that the, uh, nascar, uh, the air traffic control union, uh, was not involved in this process at all. Uh, could you explain why, uh, the group representing, uh, the employed, uh, were not, was not brought into this?
▶ 0:49:45>> that's a great question. And thank you, congressman, for asking it. Um, so just if you give me, I'll try to be quick, the historic level of staffing up till 2024 was the 1.87, uh, which is what we've gone back to right now. Um, and it was bumped up to a higher staffing level, um, for the last two years. But historically that's the number that we've determined is a safe staffing level, um, to operate the national airspace.
▶ 0:50:13But because of the disagreement between the faa that wanted the historic number and nascar that wanted the, the bigger number, um, you all told me to go to the transportation transportation research board and have the transportation research board, independent, nonpartisan, look at this and tell us what's right, what's the right staffing levels.
▶ 0:50:35And they did come back and they've said that the staffing level that we've come out with, the historic staffing level is the right level, not the heightened one from from natcon. I just by the way, I do work very well with natc and the team, and I'm grateful for the controllers and have a wonderful relationship with them.
▶ 0:50:52>> well, I hope that that relationship will continue because I do believe, irrespective of what one's feeling may be about organized labor, uh, when there is a legitimate group, uh, representing employees, uh, I think, uh, irrespective of whether or not we follow their suggestions, bringing them into the process, uh, I think is a good thing. Uh, my other question on safety is this.
▶ 0:51:20Now I understand, uh, that, um, our commitment to modernizing, uh, your efforts, uh, has been, uh, met with some, uh, skepticism about, uh, a fee that you talked about charging, uh, in order to, uh, facilitate that modernization. Could you tell me a little bit about this fee and. Oh, no. >> thank you.
▶ 0:51:50That was someone had asked me a question, um, about how could we fund this? So I would tell you, I, the 12.5 billion that you all gave me. Um, I'm by the way, that was a leap of faith. That was truly a leap of faith because this goes back to the next gen in early, uh, early 2000, we knew this was a problem and you all gave billions of dollars and you never got the deliverable. And so that you were seeing all the aviation incidents and you took a leap of faith on giving us that money. I'm, I'm grateful for. But that's not enough.
▶ 0:52:20So we're doing the infrastructure. I mentioned the the telecom and the radios and the radars all the all, all that's being done. But the deliverable for the american people, the magic for the american people is going to be the software, because I think people don't want to be delayed. They don't want to be canceled. If it's a mechanical issue or it's weather, like we can't control that. But we have more, uh, more airplanes, commercial, general evtols drones in the airspace. And the software is a big part of it. And I don't have the I keep asking for money.
▶ 0:52:49I haven't got it yet. I'd love if you all wanted to give it to me. Um, but if that wasn't the case, another option. I'm just an idea factory over here. If you want to charge a fee and put that on to, you know, come in and fund this. Um, but but I'd prefer that you all just gave me the dollars and just if I can make one other clarification, the way this works is you're very strict in how I could spend the 12.5 billion. I don't have a lot of latitude.
▶ 0:53:16I wish I had latitude to take some of the money and move it towards software development. I don't think we want to wait till the 12.5 billion is deployed and we got a better infrastructure, and then you're like, well, then let's take another three years and start to develop the software. Like we I think we could do it all together. And that's what I'm. >> have you given us a plan of how you would do this and how much it would cost?
▶ 0:53:39>> yeah, I have, I, I think I did, um, I, so I'm going to ask for, uh, so I wanted another, I originally, I was at $31.5 billion. You gave me 12.5. Well, in everyone here has a problem with the, uh, a tower in their, in their community. There's everyone calls me about their towers because they're really old. I took the tower money out now and I'm asking for 10.2 billion. I think you all are going to give me money for towers in your districts, because everybody has a problem because it's really old.
▶ 0:54:09But the 10.2 gives us some money for the chicago, um, the chicago tower, and then gives us the money for, um, the software that we're going to need. And I'm happy to. >> time has expired. >> I'll welcome to sit down and, or give your team a call on what we want to do. >> I'd like to know a little more about this fee. Sure. >> thank you, Mr. clyburn. Mr. Mr. cole. >> thank you very much. And again, Mr. secretary, as I said in my opening remarks, we very much appreciate your focus on the.
▶ 0:54:38Mike monroney center and and getting a handle on this problem with the air traffic controllers, how many of them we have producing. I know that over many years and we've gotten a high washout rate, which in some ways is reassuring because it means the standards are high and they're tough to meet. But I know you have a particular focus on trying to improve the student graduation rate.
▶ 0:55:03Could you tell me a little bit about what you're doing and what kind of success you're having in that regard? >> so you bring up a good point. Uh, the, the washout rate is about 30% and you, we want to wash out rate. We don't want everyone that gets into the academy to graduate because you need the best ones and the right ones. Uh, 30% is too high. Um, and so we've had some unique, unique set of problems where we lost some students, um, last fall.
▶ 0:55:29Um, and that's brought our washout rate back up because they count as a washout. Um, but what has been the ad campaign to bring in excited young people to be controllers? Uh, you know, coupled with the time frame, we've truncated the time frame that you can apply. And until you get a seat in the academy, it's 39 days. It was, uh, pushing a year before. And by the way, that was not an easy problem to grapple with.
▶ 0:55:58Probably one of the most difficult problems to grapple with. How do we truncate the time, you know, get the physicals, get the testing in and get a spot in the academy. Um, so that is still a work in progress, but it, it should be lower than 30%. But we had some unique problems in the fall. >> uh, a couple and I'm sure you're aware of this. Recently we had the faa director, Mr. bedford, out there, which was, I think the first time we've had a visit in 7 or 8 years. Really appreciated it, appreciated the team.
▶ 0:56:27Uh, very, very impressive, uh, group that you've assembled there. Um, could you talk a little bit about the importance when you're training of having literally direct trainers there with them, not, you know, not trying to do all of this over the, over the internet makes a big difference to have real instructors in a face to face relationship with students. >> so just to be clear, I did beat the administrator to the academy. I've been there early in my tenure.
▶ 0:56:56So, um, it's a remarkable facility. Um, and, uh, oklahoma city is the hub and they do an excellent job, but you do want, um, hands on skilled training. This is not something that you do, uh, over the internet. Uh, we get experienced controllers, um, experienced professors to come in and give great instruction to the young men and women at the academy. Um, and by the way, if anyone hasn't been to the academy, you should actually go and see the training facilities.
▶ 0:57:25Um, in oklahoma city, it's, it's, it's quite remarkable. Um, and, and one of the, and, you know, this, one of the issues that we have is the throughput through the academy. And, uh, it's, it's, we need to get the right, the right professors in the right, um, former air traffic controllers in, um, so we can move students through the system. We've also offered students because if you get, if you fall behind, you're just, you're taken out. And so we've offered, uh, tutoring services.
▶ 0:57:56So if you fall a little bit behind in your, your, your energetic, smart young adult, we can keep you in the program. You got to, you got to still meet the scores. You still got to meet the benchmarks. But if you just need a little extra help, we're offering that to the young people who are there to get them, you know, to get them through. And that can be helpful. On the washout rate. Just a little extra time that you can give to someone can make a big difference for a great air traffic controller. >> I appreciate that I'm running up on the end of my time.
▶ 0:58:26Uh, but I would like to ask you to I know, you know, we've got the olympics coming in 28. Unusually, oklahoma city is actually a minor part of the site. We're not los angeles, but we have softball and water sports. And you've got a system of distributing the monies we vote, which seems to be working well. But could you sort of tell us where you're at in that process? >> yes.
▶ 0:58:47So you, you all sent, uh, a pot of money and I could, I could, uh, walk through how that money is being spent. But all of, all of the locations for the olympics are going to, um, receive money. Obviously, los angeles is going to get a lot more, uh, for this for transit specifically, almost 90 million. But if you want oklahoma city or oklahoma is going to be $2.5 million.
▶ 0:59:13Um, and again, the less you have going on with the olympics, the less money you're going to get in transit the most is going to be california. And they're getting the biggest complaint. >> just, uh, wanted to flag it for you. >> you might object if we gave you as much as them. Yes. >> thank you very much, I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. laurel. >> thank you very much, Mr. chairman. Mr.
▶ 0:59:38Secretary, I want to talk a little bit about rail investments in rail, including amtrak. Critical importance to the economy, particularly to my constituents and those who live along the northeast corridor and rely on the service to connect them with their schools, with their jobs, including myself. I take the I take amtrak twice a week, um, and love it. So I know that the northeast corridor rail line is a service. Uh, it's a lifeline.
▶ 1:00:04It's $6 trillion, uh, to the economic region, which spans from 12 states from virginia to maine. Um, the budget request that we received from the department through omb. In addition to that, we've historically received a grant request directly from amtrak this year, the amtrak board of directors, which you are a member, has chosen not to submit its independent funding request to the congress. Um, I appreciate receiving the department's request. Your views on this.
▶ 1:00:30Um, but having a separate request from amtrak in years past has been critical. It helps the committee to fully understand how best to provide the resources to meet amtrak's needs. Um, and while, um, the chair of the subcommittee and I may disagree on the overall t bill that passed out of the subcommittee this morning, I want to say a thank you to chairman womack for including language that will make it a requirement, um, for amtrak to submit a funding request in the future.
▶ 1:00:59Uh, your budget request, Mr. secretary, $2.1 billion for amtrak. It's a cut of 327 million from last year's funding levels. To what extent did the federal railroad administration consult amtrak when it developed the 2.1 billion estimate for fiscal year 2027? >> well, uh, congresswoman, it's good to see you. I if you recall, we started the ovarian cancer caucus together, which was very well.
▶ 1:01:27And you, uh, and you have been a warrior, um, on that issue. And I think america and those women who have ovarian cancer need someone like you to fight for them. So thank you for that. And if it's touched your life, uh, someone in your life, you know how important it is. And this body needs to pay attention to it. Um, so thank you for that. Uh, so we, we submit, as you know, there's a back and forth that we have with the administration with omb.
▶ 1:01:50Um, and there are submissions that, that we make and, and we, um, work together and come up with, um, a strategy and a set of numbers to submit to this body. Uh, but I would join you. I think that amtrak is important. Our ridership is up. We're dynamically pricing, which I as, as a business model is great. As a writer, it's not great because my, some of my prices go up when I'm traveling. Um, I, I'd like to just. >> consult with amtrak.
▶ 1:02:17So in terms of the 2.1 billion for fiscal year 20. >> amtrak, amtrak weighs in on, you know, their viewpoint. Um, and again, we work with there's, you know, there's a lot of different components that go into putting this product together to submit to you.
▶ 1:02:33>> it's my understanding though, and I just wanted that, um, uh, your request is 327 below 2026, but the capital plan that amtrak has laid out calls for 2.4 billion in federal appropriations, which is what they say is necessary to continue passenger operations, their capital state of good repair activities for 2027.
▶ 1:02:55Um, so I've got some concern that capital and state of, uh, state of good repair work may go unaddressed at the, at the lower level. What are the implications, if any, if amtrak is funded at the lower level? >> well, I think what's happened with amtrak is our revenues are up. Right. Which is which. Is that which is helpful. >> it's corridor. >> people are people are riding. Right. That's great. And by the way, in connecticut, we've made, as I think you're aware, a lot of investments on rail.
▶ 1:03:25Um, in your critical juncture, right. Um, for, for rail, we've made a lot of investments there. Um, but I think with the ridership and the extra resources that are coming in, I think that's how we see the bridge being met. Um, as we, you know, look at what, what does the congress need to provide to amtrak and what can amtrak do on their own because of the great success of amtrak in this environment, in the ridership and, and the dynamic pricing?
▶ 1:03:53>> well, I would just say, look, I I'm going to look forward to hearing from an independent amtrak as well in the future. I appreciate that and and to working with the chairman to fully understand what amtrak needs to support its rise. I applaud, you know, the, uh, you know, the increased ridership, etc. Uh, because it is such a vital and valuable economic engine. So, uh, and that, you know, I'm, I'm for continuing to invest in rail and building the progress that we have.
▶ 1:04:24>> can I ask, can I mention one other thing on amtrak? We've worked with the unions and we've worked with, uh, other stakeholders. We're and I'd love to work with you as well when we get to that point. But maybe you've heard of this. We're trying to look I don't look to europe all the time as a model of how I want to do things, but they do rail way better than we do. >> they're way better, exquisite. >> and so we want to take some lessons on how they've structured their rail and apply them here. We're the only ones that do rail this way.
▶ 1:04:52And I think if we rethink the model, how it's structured, not privatized, I don't I will not know. But I think if we do a different structure, it's gonna be better for states. And I think we're going to get better purview into how the money is being spent. And so I would, as we work through that, I would welcome your input and insight into what we're thinking about. But I think we I think we can do even better. >> look forward to that. Thank you, Mr. secretary. And I yield back. >> chairman rogers. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:05:26>> secretary, welcome home. >> it's good to be home. >> you had a great career here. >> thank you. >> Mr. chairman. The house and you're doing great work where you are. You mentioned in your opening remarks about that your job is to work the family. Work for the family. Well, you're an expert in that field too. Those nine kids, you and the missus.
▶ 1:05:54I want to talk to you about two things that matter enormously in my district. Uh, the first is the appalachian development highway system program. That's been a bipartisan commitment for over 50 years and remains unfinished.
▶ 1:06:12The corridors that still need to be built through some of the most economically isolated communities in america and completed that system would be genuinely transformative, as we've seen in parts of the area so far. Tell me where adh stands in the budget and whether the administration is committed to seeing it through. >> I.
▶ 1:06:41I should also say, I think I said former chairman, it's like probably saying former marine. Mr. chairman, um, uh, let me take a look. I, uh, I want to see where that's at. I would be happy to follow up with you, um, on where that is. And I would just note that in, in your state, you're right. I know in south carolina, there is a lot of projects, big projects, and the population has changed throughout the country.
▶ 1:07:06And how do we, how do we look to those changes that can accommodate the american people and make the investments in the right places? So I'll follow up with you on that project. >> yeah. Thank you. Yes. The second issue is emergency relief funds, um, eastern kentucky has been hit terribly time and again with hundreds of roads and bridges destroyed.
▶ 1:07:27Um, we also know the relief program has carried a significant national backlog, uh, at one point exceeding $8 billion, which compounds as more disasters take place. My communities can't wait years for the federal process to catch up to the damage on the ground.
▶ 1:07:56That's their, uh, what is the department doing to expedite emergency relief to states with outstanding disaster related projects? >> well, the resources that you all give me, I don't have a lot of dollars there. Um, on the emergency front, I usually look to fema to be somewhat helpful. They have a way bigger pot of money for us.
▶ 1:08:24Um, but it is looking to, um, those areas that have been hit hard by disaster and looking at how we can apply grant money to those, to those hard hit areas. Again, american citizens that need the help of their government and their, and their federal dot, um, to make the critical investment. So, um, if you want to talk further about what the needs are in eastern kentucky, uh, I'm happy to do that.
▶ 1:08:50And I'm not sure if there's, if we're the application process is, um, with from the state and the state dot um, but I'll, I'll get briefed up and I can give you a call. >> good. Thank you. Good luck. >> thank you. >> go back. >> miss watson. Coleman. >> thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. secretary, for your kind words about my retirement. Um, and thank you for being here.
▶ 1:09:20Um, earlier this week, you were asked by senator gillibrand about the gateway tunnel project. Um, and so this time you're going to hear from the other side of the hudson about it. Uh, your department notified the development, the gateway development corporation commission, I'm sorry that it was reviewing the tunnel projects for civil rights violations.
▶ 1:09:44And on february the 9th, the southern district of new york put an injunction so that the federal funds would continue to flow. Could you first of all, do you appreciate how important this gateway project is? Do you support it? >> so first, I will say congratulations. Uh, not just service in the house, but a long line of decades of government service. So thank you. And I, as I mentioned, you're going to, in an odd way, you're going to miss it.
▶ 1:10:13Um, you're going to miss all the fights and the bickering and. >> you're not going to put all my time. >> I'm not. >> but nice things to me. >> but I will tell you, well, you deserve nice things to be said. Thank you. I do support the yeah, this is, as I mentioned to the senator, this is the largest project in the western hemisphere. >> it's so vitally important. Yeah. >> you have you have no argument from me. What what we we we we have to also follow the law. And, and um, that's what the push was on the project.
▶ 1:10:41>> and yeah, I want to ask about that specifically, what is the status of the civil rights review? What were the reasons that it was even an issue? >> well, it was there was three projects and there was a lot of press and commentary about how they were going through race based contracting. And db is, is important and, you know, disadvantaged businesses and looking at that.
▶ 1:11:09But the supreme court said you just can't base it. One factor can be raised. One factor can be sex, but that can't be the only factor. And that's what we found was the way they were doing it. And they've admitted that. They said they'll change the way they contract. And so it's it's still it's money's flowing to the project right now. But, um, and they've agreed like, no, we, we can't do it that way and we won't do it that way. >> what is the status of the review right now?
▶ 1:11:36>> uh, well, we so, so the, there's still pending litigation right now. And it's based on that review. And there's a couple of factors at play, but we're going to be in a good place with the project. >> so I spent a good part, part of my career in civil rights enforcement. Yes.
▶ 1:11:53The whole development of, um, recognizing and remediating the impact of prior discrimination, which is a legitimate responsibility of government when putting out taxpayers money. Can you tell me when you think that this review will be done and any barriers that exist or any concerns that raise can be addressed?
▶ 1:12:22>> so I would tell you that this is more of a a litigation issue than now, you know, probably where we're at with the in the process of the review, the, the, the project sponsors gateway has been very cooperative at this point and we're working through the finer details. So on that. >> thank you. >> but not long.
▶ 1:12:41>> as the secretary then, could I ask you for a commitment that there won't be any lapses while we're going through this because someone gets someone high up, gets mad because things aren't moving in the direction that they'd like them to move or what or what not that we recognize we got to get this done. This is historic. >> it's a it's a very big project. So, um, versus something I'm foreseeable, of course, I'm going to move forward with the project.
▶ 1:13:08>> so, um, the ranking member of our committee basically took my thunder.
▶ 1:13:56Was because I obviously, if I'm going to talk about gateway tunnel, I'm going to talk about amtrak. That goes through it all the time because I do have some information. I mean, there over 200 million passengers travel each year by approximately 2100 trains that run on the card each day, and this includes an average of 122,000 riders each and every day. So I my question is when we are when we are reducing the funding towards amtrak, that obviously has a lot of outstanding needs with so many people in it running, you know, 24 over seven, they need to have a, um, trains in good repair and systems in good repair.
▶ 1:14:24So if we're taking this money away from them, are you anticipating replacing that loss to amtrak from another account? And if so, what might that be? >> so I'm committed to making sure amtrak functions and functions well and serves people. And if I could just underscore this point, yesterday we announced we are going to rebuild penn station. Now, if if gateway doesn't happen, does it make sense to.
▶ 1:15:21Do penn station? Probably not. And a lot of good work to be done. But it's also in new york and its trains, and we are fully engaged going through that process. And the announcement, you know, came out yesterday. So I do care about, uh, the service that's provided and I'm making investments to make sure that, um, along the track, we are going to well serve the people who, um, who ride. >> I appreciate that. Um, I have two really quick questions. Number one is, do you have any idea why amtrak refused or did not put in a request? >> I could double check that. I'm not sure I could. >> my my last little tiny question has to do with the safety issues that, um, the secretary. >> he's so generous. >> only because. Only because you're retiring. >> and you don't have to deal with me anymore.
▶ 1:15:50>> and all those great things that were said about you this morning in our markup. Go ahead. We'll, uh. We'll permit it. >> yeah. Are you a member of the board? >> and I have a I have a designee on the board. Yes, but I don't I. >> don't know why they didn't. >> well, I my my, uh, the. >> I'm curious. >> as to, as to sits on the board and who, by the way, uh, is one who actually loves amtrak a lot and cares about it.
▶ 1:16:45And, uh, listen, you're not we're going to be in a good place. Okay. Um. >> I'm going to, I'm going to ask my colleague to ask that other question, that little tiny question I had. You're you're okay. You're finished. Safety and security for licenses. Licensing of commercial trucks. You refer to it as a problem that we're having. And you kept saying that. You kept implying that it were that it was non american folks that were responsible for this. Do you have data that supports that? They're the only ones. And what percentage of it are immigrants that are. >> very quickly very quickly we gotta move on. >> so yeah. >> I can't get an answer. >> yeah. I'll I'll I'll I'll provide data. But as a, as a percentage, um, I think we're seeing a lot of these crashes, but I'll, I'll look at the data and send it over to you. >> thank you, miss watson. Coleman sheriff. >> there's two minutes over, by the way. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Uh, secretary duffy, it's great to see you again.
▶ 1:17:14And, uh, you know, one of my favorite parts of this job is nominating high school students to attend our military academies. And, um, you meet some of the best and brightest, uh, of our children. And, um, we, you know, particularly as a coastal community representative, uh, not only is.
▶ 1:18:07Annapolis very important in our selection process, but also I pushed very heavily on the, uh, the us merchant marine academy, which I was really glad to hear you bring that up because I want to focus, uh, my questioning around our maritime industry and the needs there. Uh, and having seen your frequent visits to the merchant marine academy campus, it's clear to me that you and I share that pride in our students at the merchant marine academy. Uh, but you mentioned even in your opening remarks, and I was glad to hear that because I know what a focus you're putting on that.
▶ 1:18:29And, and I was also glad to hear that the chairman kind of pick up that, uh, that challenge to look at, uh, the merchant marine academy in the, in the really desperate needs there, uh, from a facility standpoint, modernization and rehabilitation of, of that campus. I know there's an academy modernization plan. And, uh, if, if you could talk just a little bit about that and how you think this committee, I want this subcommittee to hear about the merchant marine academy as it exists now and where you think it should be going. >> congressman, I appreciate the question. Um, I again, I don't mean to keep calling up Mr. clyburn, but he mentioned that the the rating on our roads is a sea. The rating for the buildings at the merchant marine academy are an f, right?
▶ 1:18:59It is it's deplorable the way these kids are, are, are, are living. They didn't have hot water for four months. They had a dishwasher that didn't work. So they're eating off paper plates and plastic forks. And so one of the problems that the committee had, and I think this is fair is, um, the you'd sent money and the money wasn't being invested and spent. And the point you made to me was, hey, why are we going to give you more money if you can't spend the money that we've already given you? And I think that's a fair point from this body. We have hired the, the army corps. Um, we have their a team from the army corps. They've developed a plan.
▶ 1:19:24Um, but one of the issues is that, um, there's so much, there's so much work just to keep it operational and I mean keeping buildings from falling down that a lot of the money goes to that. Um, so I would say to the tune of, I mean, if this is the proposal and it's going to come in at, you know, uh, for capital improvement, 70 million, uh, shut it down. Send the kids home. And I don't want you to do that. I don't want you to.
▶ 1:19:53I want you to make the investment. But we if sometimes we can forget about shipping. Well, today we're not. We see how important shipping is. It is. I mean, almost all our products move on ships. And do we want to have american sailors sail those ships? If we come into times of conflict, these are the these are the men and women who sail those ships to to back up our military. There are critical, you know, part of national security. And I think they're worth it. But we can't.
▶ 1:20:22And this I, I, if we did it really quick, it would be about a $1.5 billion. Um, if we take a long time, it's going to be $3 billion. But every academy is, is getting, you know, 600 million for this. Some are getting brand new stadiums and these kids don't have hot water. And, uh, I would tell you, just please go, please go see the, the young men and women come, they're going to graduate on the, on the 20th or 22nd of june. Come and see him and you'll say they're worth, they're worth the investment. They're worth the time.
▶ 1:20:51We shouldn't we should not cede the maritime industry to some foreign country. It should be ours. We were the best and we should be the best in the future. >> amen. Thank you. And secondly, let me follow that up with the, um, another issue here.
▶ 1:21:08And that is, um, our us maritime recruitment that I, that I know you're, you're, you're behind, uh, when I look at the two recent, uh, jones act waivers, the 60 day and the 90 day, that's 150 days that our, uh, us flagged vessels are not being utilized when they're available now under the 501, a waiver that's asked for by the
▶ 1:21:39Secretary of defense that precludes, uh, any even look for jones act, uh, vessel availability. If if the waiver is under the 501 b, that's done by the department of homeland security. And then there's a look. Marad has an opportunity to look.
▶ 1:22:03And if there's a jones act vessel available, they get that call as opposed to a foreign flagged vessel. Can can you talk about the importance of supporting our our, our supply chain integrity and resiliency and the impact that these waivers are having on that? >> so if first of all, it did come from from war and homeland together, we were advised at the at the end that this was going to happen, but we were not consulted.
▶ 1:22:33Um, but if if we can figure out how we get cargo on ships, um, we're going to get shipbuilding back in america. And I think that's a, some work we can all do together because I think we want to build ships in america. But if you think this is like cabotage, so we don't let a foreign carrier fly into the us, pick up passengers in new york and then fly to california, we prohibit that. You can't do it. And it's the same philosophy in maritime, right?
▶ 1:23:00We you can come in, but you can't sail around our ports. And I think if we didn't have the jones act, we wouldn't have a maritime industry at all. Um, and so, uh, this is a unique time and, um, we'll get through this time. And I don't see long term waivers, but in this moment, um, I thought again, war has different and probably better information on what they're seeing than I had.
▶ 1:23:24And so I don't, um, I'm not going to comment on, on the decision they had to make, but thank you for bringing that up. >> so Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you. And for the record, both sides are now even. On time. Miss torres. >> maybe not for long. Uh, secretary duffy, thank you so much for being here today. I. I do appreciate you being here.
▶ 1:23:49Um, the city of claremont, um, they the city of claremont was deemed ineligible for a fiscal year 2025 safe streets for all grant. Uh, because one of your staff missed an email. Um. >> miss missed an. >> email, missed an email, but, um, secretary mistakes happen.
▶ 1:24:15I, I get it, um, but the city of claremont shouldn't be penalized for an in-house error or be forced to pay thousands more in filing for a new application. Uh, my ask of you today is to cure this mistake with the city of claremont. They are asking for their fiscal year 25 application to be considered, um, in fiscal year 26 without having to reapply.
▶ 1:24:43If they have to reapply, then they are going to have to cover the cost, thousands of dollars that they spent in the original application. I have an email here. I don't want to put it to the record. I'm happy to give it to your staff, which is the email that was missed. Um, but one of the staff. >> I would, I would welcome that. And if, if that ever happens in the future and you want to text me to I, and so I can work on remedying that. Okay. More quickly, I would welcome a text from you to say, let's make this right right now, not for the next cycle.
▶ 1:25:13>> I appreciate that, I really appreciate that and your openness to discuss all of these different issues offline. Uh, with us, I will reach out to you on some of the priorities that we have. I represent a freight corridor, um, the la, including priorities for the la 28 games. Um, one of those is going to take place literally like 20s from my front door. So I invite you to come and spend some time in my district during that time and bring.
▶ 1:25:43>> barbecue at your house maybe or not. >> sure, of course. So look, much has been said already in other committees that I don't want to talk about in that way about the road trip. Um, I want to do, I do want to say, uh, personally that it, it, it warmed my heart.
▶ 1:26:00Um, it brought to me a lot of memories of my childhood growing up in a, um, uaw household, uh, and being able to afford to take camping trips in the summer. In the winter, um, a road trip is a great way to show off our beautiful national parks as we, especially as we celebrate our 250th birthday.
▶ 1:26:25Um, it's unfortunate that president trump is making road trips unaffordable because of his illegal war in iran. The tariffs and a complete disregard for struggles of working families. Um, the closest my the families that I represent will get to seeing the beautiful sights is hopefully they'll watch on youtube or whatever other channel that road trip that you were in, because I think it was beautiful.
▶ 1:26:54Um, your trip was filmed over the course of seven months, 24 days between september 2025 and may 2026. Um, I want to submit chairman for the record, this article, which states that during the 43 day republican government shutdown, um, we had air traffic controller high absences, um, people working without pay that at the very least, three of those days of that trip.
▶ 1:27:19Um, you know, secretary was on that trip, um, between can I put this to the record. >> without objection. >> thank you. Um, secretary duffy, between 20th september 2025 and may 2026, the national transportation safety board aviation accident database, uh, states that there were over 900 aviation accidents, 167 of them
▶ 1:27:49Fatal. We have major d.o.t. Issues that you've outlined in your opening statement. And while I also want to celebrate the 250th birthday, we have a lot of urgent needs. Um, you have a lot on your plate. I don't envy the work that you have on your plate. You stated that working remotely, uh, didn't affect your job performance. Uh, being the secretary of transportation is a 247 job.
▶ 1:28:15My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, um, were convulsing when the former secretary of transportation took, um, parental leave when his twins, um, were unfortunately ill and hospitalized. So I, I want you to explain to us, um, or just, just talk to us about how, how did you manage, um, that remote work?
▶ 1:28:42Um, is there anything that you can suggest to us as, as more and more of our staffs are asking to be allowed to do some. >> of that work, I'm going to, I'm going to allow him to answer the question. I just want to remind the subcommittee here that we have a five minute rule for a reason. And if you're going to spend most of your time editorializing, that's your call. But, uh, to be respectful of everybody else's time, let's let's hasten along, Mr. secretary. >> sure. Listen, I appreciate the kind question. I didn't.
▶ 1:29:13>> want this to be a negative thing. I want you to talk about. Let him answer. >> let him answer. >> I don't take it that I appreciate the question, actually. Um, so just to be clear, for the committee, uh, this was done to celebrate, as you mentioned, america 250 with my own mother who passed away a couple of years ago. Um, my dad wouldn't come with us, but my mom would drive us from wisconsin to arizona or wisconsin to california, wisconsin to florida. Uh, some of the fondest memories I had with her.
▶ 1:29:41And as she had a long death, the kids talked to her about the road trips. I've done those with my own kids, and I think it's a great way. You guys all are from beautiful places, and I know you want people to come to california as well. So to incentivize people to see their country, I think is a beautiful thing. And I'm not saying I know you're not saying they shouldn't, but, um, and it's one thing that actually unites us is our 250th birthday, but also the beauty of our country that brings us together.
▶ 1:30:09And so this was run through the career ethics that worked for me in the last administration. And well beyond that said, yes, this, uh, this makes sense. It was in partnership, um, with a, with a nonprofit. Um, it's, uh, in conjunction with america. 250 and freedom. 250 um, and this body has told me that, uh, one of my jobs is to promote travel and tourism. I didn't make any money. I didn't get, I don't get anything.
▶ 1:30:39I did it with my, my, my children. >> how did you manage the. >> to film it? And so to that question, I think that's a great question. But if you you mentioned the, the, the shutdown, I think between everybody here. Um, I was sick of seeing myself at airports all over this country. I was everywhere. Um, thank you. Thank you, Mr. secretary, I did. >> we appreciate, we appreciate. >> I did it in a way. >> we appreciate that. And I'm going to reclaim the time here. Okay. Uh. >> just getting going. >> Mr. chairman. >> thank you. Chairman.
▶ 1:31:07>> I want our members heed the gavel. Heed the gavel, Mr. zinke. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Mr. secretary, how are you, sir? >> congressman. And I wish you would have went to montana during your trip. I'm I'm. I'm glad, actually, you were on the front line looking at the roads as your job would entail, as I did when I was secretary. >> maybe I did go to montana. You just gotta tune in. >> let's talk about montana really, really quick. Uh, you're you're from wisconsin? From montana. You know, it's rural out there. And a lot of it is our essential air service.
▶ 1:31:37Uh, I see in the budget on page 23, the your recommendation is to identify a cut of $308 million in the eyes program. Ease program. Um, you know, montana way out there, uh, some of us regulatory, uh, some of these security systems are adding a lot of cost. Uh, and we're not chicago, uh, we're kalispell or we're butte, montana. And some of these regulations may make sense in newark, but they don't make a lot of sense out there.
▶ 1:32:06And on the cut, we just want to make sure and have your commitment that you'll you'll look at those and make sure we don't cut services, but cut regulation which which will end in the same place. Less money was spent. But the services, I think are essential. So if I could have your commitment, you'll take a look at that with us and make sure we don't cut the services behind the ease program. >> don't want to cut services.
▶ 1:32:31I had seas uh, airports in my district, and I would just you as as we didn't have funding for ease during the shutdown, the the president was I was in constant contact with him. We found resources to keep ease, uh, operational so we didn't lose service to the rural parts of america during that shutdown, the 43 days. So that I think that underscores the commitment that I have with the president to making sure that, um, that we continue to provide for the rural parts of the.
▶ 1:33:01>> country is as american interest or american indians and tribal centric. But those, those smaller communities, you know, serve our, our reservations and our indian nations as well. Turn, let's turn really quick to drones. Love drones. Um, but it's been a topic for a long time. I started first started working drones in 2003, and the attitude from department of transportation is, you know, how we, how we safely fly drones, we just don't fly them.
▶ 1:33:30So, uh, when is the integration program of the drone integration into the nass? Where is that? Uh, are we, are we going to give the drones 500ft below, or are we still going to require them to have pilot's license? Or are we are we going to have europe run roughshod over us on their ability to fly drones and technology? Where is the drone program and your assessment, and how can we move forward safely? >> that's a fantastic question.
▶ 1:33:58And just to take one of your points, I said it, I don't want I don't I don't want somewhere else, uh, to, um, uh, dominate the drone industry. Um, a lot of lot of information can come off of a drone. Uh, for those who may not like us so much, we want, uh, american drone dominance. And so we have put out rules that allow it easier for, um, a lot of these manufacturers and service providers to navigate in the nass.
▶ 1:34:26Um, and it's, but it does go to the point that we are going to have a more complicated airspace with, it's with drones and with evtols. Um, and how we manage that becomes critical and what kind of, uh, beacon or squawk does each of these have? Um, is, is critical to, to safety, but also making sure that we can continue to innovate in the country.
▶ 1:34:48I think we're going to all see not new york, not in dc, but we're going to see drone deliveries, um, uh, far more frequently. And it's happening in a lot of cities. Um, but I think it's going to happen more frequently around the country. >> and does the department have an articulated plan on milestones and timelines for integration into the air? >> as we did, we put, we put out, um, a proposal and I can send that over to you as well. And by the way, you know, we, we're trying to manage, there's the commercial side of it.
▶ 1:35:19There's also, as you know, this all too well, there's a military side of drones as well, and trying to marry those two things together on the national security front, but also allowing the commercial side of the innovation to happen. Um, is what we're working with war on right now to make sure we can do both. >> I think we're both talking the same sheet. We want to make sure we dominate drones, but some of it is precision farming, wildlife management, all those things, pipelines more efficiently. And I appreciate your work on it. And with that, uh, the time I yield back. >> thank you. Mr.
▶ 1:35:50>> thank you, Mr. chairman. Secretary, it's been about a year since you were last year. We were talking about air traffic controllers back then. Um, I speak to the controllers often and they're really unsung heroes and deserve our full support. Uh, I wanted to ask you, uh, that the house t hud bill provides resources that should lead to the hiring of an additional 2300 controllers. That target number is not necessarily easy to obtain.
▶ 1:36:20I know that we are investing in in the academy, but every candidate cannot go up and down to oklahoma. Anybody from oklahoma here? Uh, but I'm proud of my work, uh, to design and establish the, the charles b rangel infrastructure workforce initiative at city college in new york, which brings young talent from harlem, the bronx, and the heights into the trades and onto jobs like gateway, second avenue,
▶ 1:36:51Subway's. It had more than a thousand enrollees last year. Um, I want to know if if there's room for this type of initiatives to, uh, also build the capacity for atc candidates. And are you willing to work with us? >> we do have schools that we have a program where they can be trained in. And if you have a college or a school that would like to, um, talk to us about how they could apply and make that happen, I would be, uh, be happy to do that. Can I just make one other point on the controllers?
▶ 1:37:19We one part is getting the controllers into the academy, and that's important, getting the right students into the academy. We're we didn't I think I've told you this, but we are we are paying, uh, controllers who are of the age where they can retire. They're the most experienced controllers that we have. And, and I want them to stay. So we've offered them a 20% up front cash bonus for every year. They'll stay. I mean, again, new controllers are great, but they've got to get trained up. If you have a controller that you already have the expertise, we don't want to lose them.
▶ 1:37:49And I've had, I think at least 600 controllers have taken us up on that. And so we're trying to think of it through through every different lens of keeping more in and happy to work with you on, on the school that could bring more kids from harlem into air traffic control. >> thank you. Thank you so much.
▶ 1:38:05Now, local hiring, uh, our aspirations as members of congress and representing our districts is that some of these projects, like gateway, second avenue, subway in my district, and of course, uh, penn station, which was announced this week, uh, that we have local hiring that people from our communities, our constituencies get those opportunities. Uh, you guys, how are you guys committed to local hiring?
▶ 1:38:32>> um, I gotta look at the, the policies, the nofas and the proposals. Um, I think it's hard for a community when, uh, to your point, you bring in an outside workforce, some from some far out place instead of not just giving jobs, but giving training to people in your community where the projects happen. I think that's always best. Um, but the requirement on local hiring, I'm not sure that I have that. Um, but I would be happy to talk to you about it and maybe we can modify how we do the.
▶ 1:38:59>> no, because I think many of this project, in my case, second avenue subway, we don't want it just to be three subway stops. We want it to be an economic engine for the community to move forward together with with that initiative 100%. And I look forward to working with you. Finally. Uh, Mr.
▶ 1:39:13Secretary, secretary, dhs secretary markwayne mullin just told travel executives that he's serious about curbing international flights to us airports in cities with sanctuary policies, which obviously could force airlines to reroute and inflict economic pain on travelers. Uh, what's your position on that? >> well, I'm not familiar with the statement from, um, from the secretary.
▶ 1:39:41Uh, listen, I, I view, I view what I do through the lens of america, and I think all of you could attest that that's the way I've, I have run this department because again, you can't I can't separate your district from my hometown because we all travel through each other's districts. So, um, I'd like to take a look at his, his comments and get the context and even ask him a question of what he meant by that.
▶ 1:40:05But we, we have people from around the world and around the country that need to be able to fly into all different kinds of places. We shouldn't we shouldn't shut down air travel in a, in a state that doesn't agree with our politics, it's again, because, by the way, that rule will be reversed. Right? We're going to switch. Well, we all switch yo switch spots at one point. Hopefully not too soon, Mr. chairman. Well. >> I'll take that as an answer and I'll yield back. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. secretary. >> thank you, Mr. joyce.
▶ 1:40:36>> thank you, Mr. chairman. Um, it's always a pleasure to see you, secretary. Good to see you. Uh, first question, I think I asked you last time you were going to look into it. I'm going to bring it up again, just to refresh your recollection, but involves the port infrastructure development program. And they have substantial investments in your ports nationwide.
▶ 1:40:57Uh, but since fiscal year 2019, the funding of the great lakes, despite playing a critical role, obviously in domestic manufacturing, energy, transportation, strategic material movement and supply chain resilience, these ports are essential economic and national security assets. And the continued investment in you will help us for our long term competitiveness and the livelihood of the region. As a department looks ahead to future pivot. I shortened that up.
▶ 1:41:25Uh, awards and broader infrastructure investments. How can do to better position great lakes ports to compete for federal funding opportunities? In addition to what opportunities do you see in which we could expand federal investment in the great lakes and inland systems to strengthen domestic supply chains, economic resilience and long term regional competitiveness? >> I would be helpful to have a secretary who actually understood the great lakes, maybe lived on the great lakes, um, was near the great lakes. Um, I that's. >> why you got. >> that one.
▶ 1:41:53I'm from wisconsin and I, I lived actually in ashland, wisconsin when I was the, the prosecutor there. It's, it's beautiful. Um, but I think, um, there's a lot, there's so many needs and I think it's, it's a competition between where are the biggest needs? Where's the biggest bang for the buck?
▶ 1:42:11Um, but I will put some attention on to the great lakes, uh, more so, uh, than I've been able to at this point because we're trying to get some of these, um, other projects out, but I will maybe we can work together on where is it? Where's, where, where do we get the biggest bang for the dollars we put in? But we can't forget the great lakes. It's a, it's a, it's a, it's an incredibly important artery. Um, that is, is beautiful and important, um, for this country. >> thank you.
▶ 1:42:39And we just want to be competitive in the grant announcements. And if you, you know, you can't get to it, I'm going to sic marcy kaptur on you. And marcy is a storm when it comes to these things. It's great. Another question I have for you is in wake of the east palestine derailment, rail safety and system resilience remain a major focus for communities surrounding my my district and for congress as a whole.
▶ 1:43:03One area that has received less attention in this conversation is the software systems railroads used to dispatch and route trains through their and uh 2024, the fra stated. There are currently no regulations supporting the oversight of train dispatching software. These computer aided dispatch systems provide rail operators with real time information on the trail and train locations, track occupancy and such.
▶ 1:43:25Given the real industry's growing reliance on these technologies, how is the department and the fra evaluating the safety and resiliency of train dispatching software today. >> in the software? Um, I don't have an answer for you right now, but I will take a look at that. And I could, uh, circle back to you, back to you with, uh, with fra, but, you know, rail safety and we saw with east palestine how, how tragic that was in the long term implications.
▶ 1:43:51And one of the things I think that we do actually very well, whether it's in, you know, whatever our mode of transportation, we're talking about when when bad things happen and we we don't want that because we're safety driven, but we actually learn from what's happened and try to improve our systems. Um, so we don't make the same mistakes over and over again. We continue to get safer with better policy and better equipment.
▶ 1:44:13>> well, you know, this is one of the things that's being bantered about now in downstairs in the t and I hearing, but should additional federal standards oversight reporting mechanisms be by the r congress to help prevent widespread operations and strengthen rail safety? >> well, I think there's a lot that can be done in this body when you look at rail safety. Um, and there's the rail safety act, I know, which is being considered, uh, right now, is it downstairs? Is this where this is happening?
▶ 1:44:38I, I know the financial services, uh, uh, room is, but yeah, I know that's being, that's being considered right now, but there's a lot we can do to continue to drive safety. And, uh, it's, it's one rail is one of these things that you can forget about if you, if you, um, if you don't, uh, work in it or you don't have rail close to you, but it's a, it's, it's critical that whether it's shipping or rail, the country doesn't work. Um, without these important modes of transportation.
▶ 1:45:07So, um, I'm interested to see what the committee does and, um, how they consider the rail safety act, but a lot of good things in there. >> certainly appreciate it. Thank you. Keep up the great work. I yield back. >> thank you, Mr. quigley. >> thank you. Chairman. Mr. secretary, let's have a deal. Lightning round three quick questions. Three quick answers. >> then we're done. >> all big. Yeah, I'll write you a note. Okay. But you talk about big bang for your buck. Uh, o'hare. Busiest airport. Yep. Um, most flights transfer through there. You mentioned the tower there. Yep.
▶ 1:45:36Um, because that one tower is so understaffed, we got a runway that's barely used and it's brand new. How close are we to addressing that? >> so first, I, I can be kind of quick and not really quick because you're right. It's if you've been up in the tower, I mean, the airport is massive and how that airport functions is a testament to the great controllers that we have. Um, but I do in the request that I'm going to make again, you have three towers.
▶ 1:46:03Um, I do think that if we get a new tower, um, and we get better visibility, I think you're going to get better performance out of, out of the airport. And again, as a wisconsin guy from wisconsin, it's one of the main arteries that we travel through. >> if you want to go see a packer game, you got to go through o'hare. So that's fine. But you just respectfully so we can finish. >> we didn't get to the bears this last year, which was challenging for us. It's been a long time. >> you I'm with you, but we just got to get it staffed up.
▶ 1:46:33The red line extension. And it's hard for chicagoans not to see that as some degree of vindictiveness, of holding it back. And it drives up costs and it puts risk. But just put this in perspective. Big bang for your buck. Amtrak 34 million rides, riders a year. Chicago transit authority 338 million. It means the world to the southland to extend that. And these delays make it more and more expensive.
▶ 1:47:00Can we get through this and not have to have a court order to get the money continually going through there to extend. >> and vindictive not I've without even you asking me. I'll we'll tell everyone you did ask me. Uh, but listen, I'm looking at o'hare. Uh, I, I haven't had any issue with chicago, but it was it's how they were, how they were contracting. And we're in a good place now. Money's going flowing to the project. What I would ask you. I think we do all have to work together. We do have to drive better safety.
▶ 1:47:30We do need better policies in place. So riders are safe. And I think that's just good government. You'll get even more riders on your system. >> let me just stop you for a second. Yeah. This week I met with three bus drivers, three bus drivers who had been involved in crime scenes, and they were victims of this. And we talked about what cta can do better. So I acknowledge that. But you don't help when you cut money. Instead, let's talk about changes in policies. But can you help us get more security?
▶ 1:47:59And, you know, it's a lot easier to meet in the middle where we don't all yell at each other. >> 100, 100%. >> so let's, let's keep talking on. >> that, just on that one. If I could just quickly, I, uh, I don't want to be the one that cares the most about it. I think, you know, locally, if there's a lot of care, if you, if you, if we can talk on a plan on what you'll do on safety and then what you're going to need me to come on the back end and help you with. I'm all in. I don't I don't want to fight on anything. >> we're actually merging metra, pace, cta functions.
▶ 1:48:25And you know, we'll get there and they're going to have security for us. So that's part of the meet in the middle to keep us on track. The interchange everything being biggest and baddest best there. Interstate 294 and interstates two, 9088. This matters to the whole country because all the freight runs through this, uh, largest freight corridor in the united states.
▶ 1:48:48Uh, and obviously the improvements that are necessary there, uh, this funding has not been obligated yet, and the delays are impacting idot's ability to move forward with phase two of the project. So for my friends in indiana and ohio and iowa and wisconsin, this is where this is where everybody goes through. So if you don't have it now, if you could get back to us. >> what was what? What was that again? What's the what's.
▶ 1:49:17>> the interchange of interstate 294 and interstates two, 90, 88 in the chicago region, the most congested freight interchange in the united states, according to the american transport research institute, idot was awarded a 95.6 federal mega contract in 2024 for the interchange project. >> okay, I have a list of all the. >> you could look into. >> that I will. I have all the list of, of, of grants that, um, have not gone yet. Okay. And I don't have that one on. So I'd, I'd welcome that follow.
▶ 1:49:48>> up, let us know and we return the time. >> we'll work with your team. That was rapid fire. >> thank you, Mr. strong. >> thank you. Chairman womack, uh, ranking member clyburn. Uh, Mr. secretary, I congratulate you. I, I noticed we had chairman, uh, cole here, chairman rogers, ranking member delauro. Man, you bring all the heavyweights in here. Everybody likes to see the secretary of transportation. And I think everybody's been very good on this dais. I think we ought to all get extra project for each one of us.
▶ 1:50:16But, uh, that's just my opinion. Secretary duffy, uh, thank you for being here today. It's good to see you again. Also, glad to see, uh, members of your staff that have joined us today. I know it's a hard job what they do. I appreciate your commitment to the american people and making the effort to see america's transportation industry firsthand, meeting with civil servants and specialists to keep this country running. I want to, um, I would be proud to host you in rocket city, usa, uh, alabama's fifth congressional district.
▶ 1:50:46Feel free to bring the wife and kids. We'll take you to space camp and the us space and rocket center. And I know you'll have a great time there. Uh, you start looking at the district, uh, the work building up to our nation's infrastructure modernization and aviation systems and ensuring federal dollars, uh, deliver real results for taxpayers. My district in north alabama is home to redstone arsenal, where more than 45000 people commute through the gates every day, making it the single largest employment site in the state of alabama.
▶ 1:51:17Secretary duffy, before um, thousands of redstone civil servants, contractors and service members can get on this base to carry out those critical missions. Many face severe traffic congestion and infrastructure constraints surrounding the installation. These transportation bottlenecks do more than create commuter frustration. They affect operational efficiency and create vulnerability around facilities essential to our national security.
▶ 1:51:42My district has seen firsthand how transportation investments directly affect economic growth, innovation, and national security. I'd like to thank chairman womack for including 350 million in the build grant funding for direct investment in high growth areas, including the huntsville metropolitan area. I served 26 years in local government.
▶ 1:52:04Uh, and I'm just telling you, I saw firsthand what these grants can do in local government, uh, serving as the chairman of the madison county commission at that time, the third largest county in the state of alabama, and now the second largest county, as the department evaluates build discretionary grant applications for project projects like road widening, congestion relief and capacity improvements.
▶ 1:52:27How will you implement targeted investments in high growth areas like huntsville, and are you taking into account factors such as proximity to key national security assets and high growth areas? >> so first off, I had I had nasa for a great four months and I was going to go to take my kids to space camp. And I never did.
▶ 1:52:45Um, probably one of my regrets and it could have come down and seen, um, your, your district, I think, um, I mentioned this before, but the, the country is changing and we have to try to meet the needs of the growth areas and, and I'd like to come down because nothing, um, you don't get the same perspective when you talk about it versus when you actually come and see it. But I have heard the stories about the congestion, um, that you have in your district and how challenging it is.
▶ 1:53:11And men and women are who are providing great service to our country, are having challenges getting to and from work. Um, and, but that's, that's, we don't have, and you don't give me an endless amount of money. And so, uh, figuring out what the right priorities are and what those bottlenecks are is what we work through.
▶ 1:53:30Um, and, um, we're trying to use public private partnerships for some of them where it can work to, to maximize our dollars or our loan capacity, uh, to, to build more. Can I make, can I make one pitch with, I know you have a minute left, but if there's a way that we can all work together to and everyone has projects that they want done, if we could permit them faster, we're going to spend less money. And that doesn't mean permit. Just say yes, there might be a. There might be issues in with an environmental review that we just don't do a project.
▶ 1:54:00But they can't take 4 or 5. And if we can do that better, we can build so much more. When 40% of a project can go to the permitting process versus turning dirt, I can get so much more done. Um, and that's a bipartisan thing we have to do together. And I hope we, we would and still be responsive to the environment, but also have the money to build in all these places, which I think is important. >> I totally agree.
▶ 1:54:24And another thing that I think that should be taken into account, the states and local government need to get skin in the ballgame. If it's a number one priority in their area, they've got to find a way to bring dollars to the table. And I think that ought to be given consideration when you do it. Uh, Mr. chairman, I yield back. >> thank you. >> that that was helpful. When the states will give some money, put some skin in the game. It's always helpful for us. >> Mr. aguilar. >> thank you, chairman womack and ranking member clyburn. And thank you, Mr. secretary, for being back here before us today.
▶ 1:54:55Mr. secretary, I was disappointed to see the fy 27 pbr, the lack of critical funding for the la olympic and paralympic games, which will be held in southern california, where Mrs. torres and I represent. President trump touted the games at the state of the union this year, and don't worry, I stood up and clapped uh when he mentioned it. I know you guys. >> thank you for that. >> I know you guys monitor that sometimes, uh, so you can roll the tape. I had a decent seat.
▶ 1:55:22Uh, and you yourself have called these america's games yet the budget request doesn't reflect that enthusiasm for historical context. A republican controlled congress provided $2.1 billion in inflation adjusted numbers for the 2002 salt lake city winter games. While I was glad to see the hud bill we marked up this morning included $875 million for la 28. Uh, thank you, chairman womack.
▶ 1:55:48It's an improvement from last year, despite the offset that we have concerns about, it still falls short of what's needed to showcase our country on the world stage. Uh, Mr. strong talked about local impact and local skin in the game. Uh, the funding that we have proposed pales in comparison to the $17 billion our regional stakeholders have already invested in their own funds. Uh, so we have that skin in the game. I wanted to ask a few specific questions.
▶ 1:56:18First, will you and the administration commit to supporting la 28 with the similar federal backing that us hosted games have received in the past? >> so obviously, every community is different and all the needs are different. But to your question, I think is do you are you going to lean in and support the olympics in la? And the answer to that is yes. I was actually. >> you know, there in 28. Right. You know, they're coming. >> they're coming up. And I know that the, the, the, the group from la was here today and wanted to meet.
▶ 1:56:47Um, and our team meets quite a bit with them. I'm here with you. So I didn't meet with them. But uh, yeah, no, I, we want to listen. This is not la it is, but it's america. Like we're showcasing america. And, um, and I think this is the point you're making as well beyond the security component of the olympics, which is the biggest part of it. The second biggest thing is transportation and making sure we don't, I don't want you to have gridlock that's reflects poorly on all of us. I want I want a seamless system. We have to work with lax.
▶ 1:57:14We have to you know, I think archer is going to do the vitals, but making sure we have the amount of money necessary for transit, bringing busses in, bringing drivers in, having mechanics in to, to make the flow happen. I commit to working with you to make that happen. And with this committee, because this reflects on all of us. >> to what level is dot coordinating and working you just mentioned, obviously, the two big components are the transportation and busses and and the homeland side on the security.
▶ 1:57:41Um, so what efforts are underway to, to, to work closely between those two agencies? >> so our, our us in homeland. Yeah. You and homeland, uh, there's a. >> with regional stakeholders and, and transit operators. >> there's a, there's a task force that's all working together with a different, um, aspects of the federal government with the olympics. Um, but then we also specifically meet with the olympics.
▶ 1:58:04Uh, and what we use, our role is technical assistance for the most part, they're on the ground, um, telling us their needs, what their thought process is on the routes and the plan and what streets are open, what's what's closed. And we provide assistance and how they're thinking through. They're going to operate the transit system for the games. >> and do you feel. >> you got both the paralympics as well right after it? >> exactly. Yeah. I mentioned the paralympics. You did the question.
▶ 1:58:30Um, and your commitment is to push whatever whatever resources this committee comes up with, uh, whatever that top line number is, your commitment is to get that out the door in advance, realizing you, you know, this is, this is coming up. I mean, this isn't just, you know, planning money out in the future. And based on where we have been historically, we are we are behind. >> throughout all shake hands with you if you want. And I commit to you.
▶ 1:58:55>> already offered your, your, you know, for us the text, you know, I'll tell you to be honest, nobody on this side has your has your number to. It's very kind of you to offer. >> just just for just for clarity, I get more text from democrats than my friends on the republican side of the aisle on projects. So I'll just. >> nobody on this committee. So that's fine. Maybe that's good. You know, congress and this gets a little friend group sometimes and maybe. Yeah, exactly. >> but I, I, I want to text you back though. That's the problem. I don't have your number two.
▶ 1:59:21I don't know, I commit, I commit to working with you and I, I'll get the money out and I want these games. And as you I think you quoted the president. He he also recognizes that he's in office when these games go off. We want to showcase the country. And just even with. When you have big games coming as well, which I think if I can make it out, I want to come to the games on the 12th is the 12th in la. I don't know. >> I'm going to be here. So I don't know. >> um, it's a friday anyway.
▶ 1:59:46I we've sent money there to, to all the different communities that you all, you gave us $100 million and we divide that up based on all, all the number of games each of the communities have. And I think you had $9 million in la for the games. >> I think that's right. >> for transit. >> you know, we have to make these, you know, games work, as you mentioned, I appreciate you. You know, we agree these are america's games. Yeah. Um, we want to make sure that they're adequately resourced and we get the money out the door. So I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 2:00:16>> if you stick around, I'll give you my number. >> thank you. Thank you. >> Mr. cisco. Bring us home. >> thank you. Chairman. Secretary, good to see you. Good to see you too. Thank you for being here. I know you know arizona well, we'd love to have you back, uh, for your schedule permits. There's some great things to see that I want to show you there, but the first one that I want to talk about is bus safety. And I think you, you know, as briefly touched on it a second ago, um, growing up in tucson, my, my dad was a bus driver, so he drove busses for first for the school district. And then he drove busses for the city for, for suntran.
▶ 2:00:46So ensuring that those behind the wheel of a bus, um, full of people feel safe and secure is a top priority of mine for the bus drivers themselves, but also for the people that they're caring in the bus. Since 2020, the city of tucson has operated under a no fares on busses, and this has led to an increase in assaults on bus drivers. Tremendous increase. Actually, I want to give you a few headlines here of examples of what I'm talking about in july of 2022.
▶ 2:01:16This is the headline female sun tran driver assaulted at tohono o'odham bus terminal on june 28th of 2025. This was the headline suntran bus driver assaulted by a knife wielding man on september 20th and september 9th of 2025. Bus driver assaulted as a suspect threw rocks at the driver. The suspect got off the bus and jumped onto another bus in the same direction. These are just a few examples.
▶ 2:01:42We're seeing hundreds of disturbing reports like this all over the country, not just in tucson. Can you update us on your agency's efforts to stop cities like the city of tucson from putting our transit operators in harm's way? So first. >> I was a bus driver myself. Um, that's where I first got my commercial driver's license. Um, seven months. Uh, so I take, I take your point, uh, seriously, uh, I, I don't have a lot of authority. Right.
▶ 2:02:10But to your point, um, one of the greatest success stories has been in san francisco. They stopped fare evasion on the subway, and crime plummeted. Um, there's a correlation if you just open if you open the systems up, um, you start to see more crime and the criminal element come in and, uh, I can't, I can't leverage the, the city to do the right thing, but hopefully the community would step up and look at the data and, you know, push their leaders to, to, to stop some of the, uh, the
▶ 2:02:41Policies that are not helping, but inhibiting safety. >> well, this is definitely no question, uh, a majority responsibility on the, or actually all responsibility on the local, um, city council and mayor and decisions there to make these fares basically free and having the consequences that I just talked about. I do want to explore different ways.
▶ 2:03:03You mentioned the word leverage, different ways that we can at a, at a, at a federal level also try to impact this because it's, it's a safety issue, as you mentioned. I mean, you have, you have cdl holder. My, my dad was as well before he retired. This is a serious issue and it's getting worse. So I, I want to, I do want to explore ways that we can probably look at something there that we that we could do. We have to I have to explore every avenue when, uh, when the city where I live in the major city in my district is not, it's not going to go the right direction. We need help.
▶ 2:03:33>> I appreciate you bringing up the safety on, on, on our busses and our just the transit system. That's too much. I think our country deserves better. Our people deserve better. And it takes leadership. And it's hard to you know, we don't want to do the leadership. That's not federal leadership. The communities need to lean in and serve people better. And we have to say, this is this is for people moving from point a to point b, and if we have a homelessness problem, well, transit's not the place. Let's deal with homelessness, but let's not put them on transit.
▶ 2:04:04Let's not put criminals on transit. You have to reserve that for the good people who pay for it, that need it. >> I would take the bus, um, when I was a kid to and from one of the first high school that I attended after football practice and, you know, late in the evening, I, you know, that that's not something that kids do anymore, that you just can't, you're not not safe in that. Uh, just a minute left. I'm going to drop this question real quick. You already kind of talked about this, the terminal radar approach control facility, tracon and davis-monthan air force base.
▶ 2:04:31Um, I've heard directly from the air force traffic controllers working there about the deterioration of the tower along with unsafe, outdated work equipment. Um, would adot be willing to look into the infrastructure needs here, uh, of, of what we were seeing on the on air traffic controller. Overall. >> I would, I would welcome that just the needs are so great. Um, and we just, we're, we're getting out $1.7 billion that we had that, that money is moving.
▶ 2:04:58Some of the towers are not ready to, to take it, but, um, I'd be happy to work with you, but there's a huge need that's going to you guys are going to have to deal with in the out years here. And everybody has a by the way, congressman clyburn's getting money for his airport. >> the air traffic controllers work hard. And I think this is one of the most bipartisan issues we'll find. We all need. And we're glad to work with you on that. Mr. chairman, I yield back two seconds. >> I can say. >> to you. Thank you, Mr. cisco. And that completes our round of questions.
▶ 2:05:25I'm going to, uh, before I close, yield to my friend, the ranking member, for any closing comments he'd like to make. Jim. >> well, thank you very much, Mr. chairman. Thank you, Mr. secretary, for being here. You know, I, um I'm a great lover of history. I am not proud of all of our history, but I love, uh, all of it.
▶ 2:05:48In south carolina, we have, uh, three national heritage corridors, uh, the national heritage corridor, the gullah geechee heritage corridor. That's the lowcountry. Uh, and we have the, uh, uh, we call the southern campaign heritage corridor. That's a southern campaign of the revolutionary war.
▶ 2:06:16I don't want you all to mistake, uh, our reputation for having started the civil war. Uh, I, um, I studied the civil war, but I don't, uh, I'm not proud of that heritage. So you're invited to south carolina because all these heritage corridors, uh, or or in south carolina, though I don't know what congressional district they're in. And for another week or so.
▶ 2:06:40Uh, but I would love to see a tour, uh, like you've conducted to bring attention to the real history of this country. Uh, I think if you consider, uh, a trip like that to, uh, one or all three of these heritage corridors, it'd be welcome in south carolina.
▶ 2:07:03And I think it would highlight a history, uh, that all of us ought to grow to be proud of. Uh, now, we also have three national parks. Uh, and you can come and go to the national parks, uh, or six of these, uh, these three parks, these three heritage corridors, uh, >> are creations of yours truly. And so I would like to have you come down and bring some attention to it. I think your road trip will do that for us.
▶ 2:07:35I don't want to do that sometimes. We're now in november. Congressman mike quigley 30s. >> sure. Um. I'm not I can't tell you what and where the road trip went, but they could have gone to charleston and they could have gone to the, uh, uh, the, the marina there that goes from the mountains all the way down through, um, into the ocean. And it's, uh, it's a, it's a beautiful place. And I'll, I'll take you up on your invitation and you, but just if I could make one last point here. The infrastructure needs of south carolina. You mentioned the growth of south carolina.
▶ 2:08:05Uh, it's per capita, not total growth, but per capita growth. It's, it's huge. And, uh, there's, there's real needs of, of roads and even evacuation routes in south carolina. >> thank you. Thank you. I'm not sure where all the road show went.
▶ 2:08:20Um, but if in fact it didn't go certain places where you've been invited and the road show comes back, understand you will be welcomed with open arms and without any criticism from this panel. >> there's there's no season two. I guarantee you that there's. >> we appreciate you. >> thank you very much. >> you will be most welcome in the great northwest arkansas.
▶ 2:08:50The chair detects that we have a few interns that are in the audience here today. Um, maximizing their opportunity to see government in action from a very practical standpoint. Mr. secretary, if you would, when this is over today, if you would stay for just a moment, give these kids an opportunity to engage you in conversation, maybe take a picture. >> I would love that. >> it'd be wonderful. Our time has concluded. I want to thank everybody for being here today.
▶ 2:09:18There may be some members who have remaining questions that they need, um, answered. And if that's the case, submit those questions for the record. Uh, please do so promptly. Secretary duffy, again, thank you for your time. It's an honor and a privilege to have you here. We look forward to working with you as we complete the fy 27 t hud appropriations process. And with that, our subcommittee is adjourned. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.