Were honored to have both the chairman and the Ranking Member of the committee here. I understand senator cardin you have an introduction to make. Lets recognize first senator carper because he will come back into his little bit later. Junta thank her chair and Ranking Member for putting this together. I like to ask unanimous consent this appears in the record five a chance to give it life i will do that. Thank you for joining us. Thank you. How to thank you for being here today think my friend and his staff for their help in getting this hearing together. I think the last one is retiring this year, that leaves you and me. I hope thats not a message. We did come in and spend a lot of time together working in a bipartisan way. Looking forward to working with my colleagues on the committee to benefit the economy. Since the president has been in office weve added over 2 million jobs in Consumer Confidence has skyrocketed. However the economy willingly grow infrastructure is maintained. In 2015 over 18 billion tons of freight were moved over highways, railways and through the air. These numbers will grow to 25 million tons of freight in 2005 or 37 trillion. When freight is delayed or awaiting movement on the ports and waterways, an estimated 27 annual are borne by businesses raising prices on consumer goods. The more delays we see the for the behind will become. The u. S. Ranks 12th in overall of structure quality. Weve heard from engineers who have scored a infrastructure is a d . Estimated we need to spend close to 2 trillion in the next ten years to improve our overall economy. I asked congress to pass a a fast act. It establishes 6. 3 billion freight Formula Program for states to invest in freight projects on the national highway freight network. The first time that have been done. s creative 4. 5 billion Grant Program to improve the safety and movement of freight. That was the largest transportation authorization in a decade, we have more work to be done. I look forward to hearing from Witnesses Today and i enjoyed meeting them and reminding them that are best kept secret thank you for reminding me how long weve been here. We have been friends since we both came to the United States congress and 87. I do think of for his dedication. His willingness to find ways to move things forward. His been one of our great leaders. Its been a pleasure to work with you on the subcommittee that deals with infrastructure. Todays topic is important, Freight Movement, assessing where we are now and where we need to go, this nation was built by the fact that we are able to build up an economy and the infrastructure was critically important to us being able to develop that economic strength were so proud and gives opportunities to so many people. The u. S. Freight system depends on the system of infrastructure. Roads are critically important for the trucks. Real is important for freight. Yesterday i had a meeting with the new acting ceo as we talked about freight issues including the challenges that we had in baltimore. Its incredibly important we maintain and strengthen our rail. We talked about the waterways. The importance that is to the movement of freight in our barges, our pipelines. And our airports. Our airports are becoming more congested. So, over the next 30 years, a Transportation System which is powered the rise were nation and enabled Economic Growth could become a drake if we do not Pay Attention to investing in americas infrastructure. We know how many hours a week are wasted transportation through truck stuck in traffic. Try to get through the Washington Area on any day, even on the weekends its difficult. Even in the middle of the night. Went home yesterday and there was construction and it took me longer than it should have. There is congestion we need to do a better job in dealing with it. Trucks lose 28 billion in wasted fuel in time per year. We have major tensions we need to pay. Aging locks and aunt arising. Ports need stretch in the modernization if theyre going to continue to compete. Regional economy transit systems are hundred billion dollars of backlog. I can attest to the need for maintenance here. Millions of workers are power these companies will feel these effects. This is essential, despite advances. Apply leadership that provides Funding Sources for these programs. We need to build upon prior success of the committee to provide the wherewithal for infrastructure. We just going to highlight, because i should at least promote one aspect of my state. Let me break a little bit about the portable to more than the important cities tour economy. Where one of four ports that has the death and with necessary to take on ships through the canal. Thats important part of our economy. Baltimore has a 50foot shipping channel. We looked at what we are able to do, and ill put it in the record but let me point this out, business at the port generate 16350 direct jobs. More than 127,000 jobs are linked to port activities. Is responsible for nearly 3 billion and contributes 310 million in state local tax revenue. None of this can be done without a strong federal partnership. We cannot do it on our own. Yesterday, we had a long discussion about jobs. We all know that investing in infrastructure will not only build the tools necessary to grow the economy, it will create jobs of the future that we need to support our nation. I look forward to hearing from our panel. Thank you. Senator carper, id be happy to defer to see dont have to come back later. I appreciate that. Looking at the port of baltimore, just jose the top port is in delaware. My staff was good enough to drop off some bananas so i have a prop. I told them were not only the top port for importing bananas, were the top port for putting parents. Thats not true, but they trapped off this package appearance. After the experience of the last few days we could use that. Im not good december than that. I do want to say this, when i gave my statement eight talks about the ingredients that are part of job creation and access to capital for markets. In infrastructure done well, i just ports and rail, all of the above and more. We have this reluctance to pay for this stuff. Big part of our challenge is to figure out a costeffective way to make this investment. To have non federal monies thats her challenge. Its important having gone through a tough time on tax reform, my hope is that we tackle infrastructure in the months to come that we do it the right way. If we do that this is if we do that will count down her critics and amaze her friends. Thats what we need to do. Thank you. Thank you. Before i introduce another member i like to say a few words. Today examining Freight Movement in assessing where we are and where we need to go, phrase a vital part of our economy. I think you for holding this important hearing. Everyone benefits for goods being shipped. It allows for americanmade products to go from the heartland and coastal across the world. It will help of greater highways and shipping lanes, this year love the Environment Public Works Committee is held seven hearings on the importance of modernizing infrastructure. Weve heard both urban communities. We can cut red tape and get things finish faster. Taxpayers at the most bang for their buck. President trump has made fixing our roads bridges and roads a top priority. In january they will outline a broad vision for infrastructure. We have unique opportunity ahead of us. We can grow the economy and help ensure the health and safety of every american. I look forward to partnering to improve americas roads, bridges, Water Systems and ports. I want to introduce crispier. He served as presidency of the Trucking Association since july 2016. His a longtime friend with connections in wyoming. Please he will provide his expertise. He attended college at the university of wyoming where hand is bachelors and masters degree. He began his career with the senate 1993 working as a professional staff member for l simpson. He continued his work. In 98 he was nominated by george w. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the senate as assistant secretary for labor and policy. He served as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Authority in iraq and was awarded the u. S. Department of defense a joint civilian service medal. Role. And educate on behalf of the Trucking Industry knowing how vital great transportation is to the economy and states like wyoming depend on the industry upwards of 7 Million People responsible moving for 10 billion month Million Pounds of freight annually. We look forward to hearing your testimony. I am very happy to be named the Deputy Assistant director from the for administration december of 2016 but he has been with the port now 16 years and has a distinguished record to understand all operations under his current responsibility to include maintenance claim and Terminal Operations and the intermodal religious tics so we are pleased with the expertise from maryland and better understand the challenges that we have to move the commerce and freight through the ports to receive the bachelor of science degree in the business administration. And those other two witnesses that have not been introduced and the chief executive officer and the Regional Council of government. And we will start with you and work across. Chairman and Ranking Member and chairman thank you for the introduction and members of the subcommittee i appreciate the opportunity to testify on this critical subject. We are grateful to recognize freight in the process transportation bill. As proven necessary to move 5 billion additional times over the next decade that is a 40 increase. This year alone, moving 71 of the nations freight tonnage, worth more than 10 trillion. The international Highway Network is rapidly deteriorating. Costing the average motorist nearly 1500 per year per year higher maintenance and congestion. Exceed 3 billion in 2015 Truck Drivers sat in traffic nearly 1 billion lung hours sitting idle for an entire year. 53 of highway fatalities condition of the roadway is a contributing factor. The Highway Trust Fund is projected to run short of current spending levels of fi 2021. Creating a huge funding gap to cancel or delay criticall projects. Spending half of what is necessary as the investment gap continues to grow so will the bridges roads and fatalities attributable to inadequate roadways. The proposed solution is build america fund with a new index . 20 per gallon gallon fee built into the price of the fuels collected at the terminal rack generating 340 billion in revenue over the first ten years. This proposal would stabilize the trust fund. However we recognize over time the fuel taxes a diminishing Revenue Source so we encourage the subcommittee to implement a ten year plan to provide longterm stability for the federal aid program with more sustainable user fees. To recognize that is one part of the supplychain we rely on them to keep it moving smoothly and efficiently we are pleased with those projects we urge you to retain those programs and increase funding for freight while maintaining the share currently dedicated to highway projects. In particular the freight intermodal deserve dedicated funding with greater conductivity than more efficient and safer movement. Finally to support a strong federal role of highway improvement. States are not waiting on congress to act a have adopted funding schemes to find roads and bridges within industry paying half of the tab of the Highway Trust Fund willing and ready to pay more we consider such schemes as nothing more than a fleecing of our industry. Others are redundant of existing federal standards such as the rest breaks these burdensome barriers are elevating safety risk to the motoring public while aligning the publics pocket on death row lining the pockets of trial lawyers. That is trucking revenue that would have been spent on pay, training and more environmentally friendly equipment those have allowed states of added compliance cost to grow and support our nations economy make in state preemption a top priority. This is not about states rights rhetorical statements involve responding on death responsibility the constitutional obligation to support interstate commerce knows that that goal behind jurisdictional boundaries with the gps heat maps these illustrations how it is a local state or regional problem and much as a political rhetoric tries to suggest it is a federal issue with serious and measurable economic and security implications. I applaud this committee for its razor focused each of you bring to these problems. With a committed partner to help you and your colleagues produce in infrastructurep bill of republicans and democrats in the American People that they can be proud of. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Distinguish members and Ranking Member and chairman thank you for allowing me to share ourou views representing both the council of governments as well as a coalition of the trade core doors these diverse groups seek to increase federal investment in intermodal methods of infrastructure i have final authority over all enteral spending on Service Transportation the region is home to the nationally significant bridge that is a linchpin that connects michigan to miami that carries over 1 billion of goods every day but suffering due to structural deficiencies and overcrowding this results in 750 million annually waste of time and fuel of prime example of the freight needs the Commerce Clause cause on the federal government to make investments for interstate commerce 70 of all freight crosses all lines i applaud this committee for prioritizing freight that is a down payment on our needs but more is needed to keep pace with the Global Economy. We must remember as a percentage of gdp china spends four times what the United States does on infrastructure. Designed to target investments and improvements but to have complex freight projects is limited and recognizing this the fact to have a muchneeded competitive Grant Program designed to target large freight and highway projects which often see those jurisdictions competitive programs encourage applicants to bring forward the best ideas and they frequently incentivize to get involved to leverage 3. 6 billion of total investment so just because of project is more affordable to the federal government does not mean it is not a valuable investment for a countrys economy a should first be evaluated on the ability of the congressionally defined program goals. To foster strategic investment. We would make five recommendations. Number one the Investment Strategy should shape and guide the nations trade infrastructure system with active coordination among the states and regions to focus on multimodal trade to be established to guide policy and programming with a focus on nationally significant projects. Number two provided a sustainable funding source. Ed investment has a larger return on investment and other transportation spending. Those programs are vastly oversubscribed and those that saw 13 request for every one dollar available the direct federal investment of 2 billion above current levels is necessary congress should also eliminate caps on non highway spending freight does not only moven on highways but the Public Benefit to drive Public Investment should be made. Number three successful applications meet merit based criteria to prioritize projects with a contribution for National Trade efficiency. Number four. They should see the faxed act implementation to ensure investment that aligns with congressional intent with sufficient Decision Making transparency. Despite the development of strong meritbased criteria gao was unable to determine the rationale for selecting the first round of 18 successful projects. And lastly a partnership that should leverage participation to provide the largest toolbox of Funding Options and the Advisory Council of users and members to assist the u. S. Dot to foster partnerships with the private sector i think the committee for their time and attention. Thank you for being f specific use specified five things and the committee will have to makeve some decisions. Thank you for the opportunity to assess where we are and going. G. I know other witnesses will concentrate in other areas so i will not do that instead i will focus on the importance of the Transportation System and those that are critically important currently serving as the chairman headquartered into school is the alabama operating 340 barges and 26 toe votes. The National Public policy organization advocates for the wellmaintained system the inland waterways is made up of 12000 miles of commercially active waterways including the intercoastal waterways. 11000 miles on which they pace a pay a fuel tax deposited into the Waterway Trust fund. To be successfully advocating raising taxes by 45 to current level of 29 cents per gallon it currently pays half the cost of new construction of the inland waterways with the locks and dams and also channeling. After having one order enacted it is very