The senate floor. That and more coming up tonight on cspan2. Cspan issue involves a view of government. Funded by these Television Companies and more including charter communications. Charter is proud to be or recognized when the best internet providers we are just Getting Started building wondered a thousand miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. Charter Communications Support cspan as a Public Service along with these other television providers. Giving a front row seat to democracy. Just chamber of commerce host and infrastructure conference in washington d. C. With the members of congress, by demonstration official state and local leaders. They discuss legislation passed during President Bidens tenure how its applied to workforce training chip manufacturing and the electrical grid. The event began with key note remarks by acting labor secretary. This is about four hours. Ladies and gentlemen director at united infrastructure. Good morning. How someone doing this morning . Fantastic. Thank you, maria the rain just started as a perfect reason to get everyone inside of this beautiful space thank you all for taking the time this morning to be here with us. I loved seeing a room started slowly filled up with infrastructure nerds like myself. Its fantastic. Welcome to infrastructure at 2024. Very exciting. I am supremely honored to lead infrastructure for my post and accelerate for america action. Many have been with us two years ago its been a fantastic two years leading this wonderful coalition organization and associations and private Sector Companies so many of you are a here in the room with us today thank you all for your support. For your dedication, for your work on this mission thank you so much. Many of you are thinking what are we still doing here . Why do you force us to come to these every year, year after year after year . I get it. If youre not going away im so sorry were forced to be here for many more years to come. Get situated, get comfy. This year we are not continuing our admission of celebrate the successes of amplifying the project of the continuing to beat the drum for federal investment in infrastructure. We are also acknowledging every critical milestone. The Halfway Point of the bipartisan info structure law. If the last two and half Years Steering Committee or partnership network, our larger coalition of Family Partners have been beating the drum, pounding the pavement to make sure they know about these incredible investments and now we get to the critical work of paving the next steps. Making sure we get to the next federal investment. Quickly to my partner sure work to the calling sunroom from sidewalk infrastructure partners, meridian, stan tech and of course h ntb thank you so much for your hard work showing the rest of the counter the private sector should be doing in this space. And to her Steering Committee want to acknowledge her Steering Committee quickly. Aflcio the American Science and the Business Roundtable thank you bart from credible reception last night the National Association of manufacturers national of cities nor thick American Building trades unit that valuable Water Campaign and credible the u. S. Chamber of commerce but look at this room thank you all want to thank our sponsor for today. Thank you for your partnership, for your mission and recognition the importance of this work. Around of the plaza for the entire u of i family. Ly we have a truly Incredible Program today at silver in the tens of thousands projects in every single state and territory that have been funded to the ia ja. Its a celebration will have today to focus on the investments of the Public Sector from private sector, from philanthropy into our nations workforce. Getting more people opportunities to build the critical projectsrc that will be so pivotal throughout the next generation and beyond so thank you all for working with us to get that going as well. We are going to go through lunch weve got food taken care of movies in the Briefing Center right over b here i know youre all very busy people thing to step out, take a call, joining beating, put out a fire please go to the room and do that and think back and join us if got a Wonderful Program so lets get to it. Once again were so thankful to our partners u. S. Chamber of commerce, hosting us today. I know she is very sad not to do with that she wanted to make sure she gives acknowledgment its my distinct honor the president s seal of the u. S. Chamber of commerce mrs. Suzanne clark. Thank you so much everyone. [applause] looks thank you welcome everyone to the u. S. Chamber of commerce. We are delighted to host you all today to discuss how we can unleash the potential of our nations historic infrastructure. This is about finishing the job we started. Many of us spent years or even decades working to get a robust infrastructure bill across the finish line. What we should all celebrate that achievement the bipartisan infrastructure built simply laid the foundation for increasing our nations competitiveness. Too truly see the opportunities before us we must create a policy environment that makes it easier for businesses to invest and to build a better future. To do that we have to do a better job of setting priorities as a nation and acting smartly and strategically to make them possible. Billions of dollars of federal investments ready to go into our nations roads, bridges, railways, and broadband. Americas updating process is holding back progress, opportunity and Economic Growth. When it takes an average of seven and a half years to get a permit for a new bridge or a new road longer than it takes forad many projects thats not strategic. We want to talk on infrastructure challenge that hits closer to home for many in this region. Its more than a challenge its a tragedy. We with the key Federation Partner in the aftermath of the horrific collapse of the Francis Scott key bridge. Think about the team and the people of baltimore are dealing with. Families whove lost loved ones. Who have l lost jobs, commuters who cannot get home. Businesses have less access to the port that is vital to what they do. In addition to or for their part is help the community and the w families recover we must work to build that bridge. I will compound the challenge. Prolong the disruption of commerce and daily life. We cannot let that happen in baltimore or anywhere else or project badly needs to get done. Honestly permit america to build campaign. Uniting more than 350 Coalition Partners calling on congress to enact meaningful, durable permit performance. Not long after as part of the debt limit built last june congress enacted the first meaningful update in more than 40 years to the National Environmental policy act. That helped pave the way to get more shovels in the ground. There is plenty left to do and the clock is ticking. It may seem hard to believe funding for the bipartisan infrastructure law is nearing its expiration. The next congress but this reauthorization the best best way to build support for this legislation is to be able to point to its impact. That means making it easier to invest, permit build the speed and efficiency. And it means great more certainty from that priority to affect the nations ability to drive growth, innovation and prosperity we are capable of. Reauthorizing the infrastructure clear andevelop a comprehensive Energy Policy that supports American Energy production in the energy transition. Addressing the workerr shorter crisis, securing our borders pursuing a market opening trade agenda and more. Look, we have a lot of work ahead of us but i am optimistic. We have a demonstrate what is possible business come together around a shared national priority. Today is the continuation of that effort. To date we can turn promises into projects and push for longterm investment thank you for your dedication and commitment and i look forward to partner with you in this effort. With that i will turn things over too brian jones president f the mid atlantic division. Good morning everyone. Thank you suzanne its truly a privilege to be here today represent the u. S. Chamber of commerce board of directors as we embark on discussion surrounding one of the most Monumental Investments in america infrastructure and sustainability efforts in history. The crucial next steps to keep that momentum going over a decade ago infrastructure week was established as a pivotal platform uniting policy makers, industry leaders, the Business Community and the public and a concerted effort to advance critical conversations forward. Unified by a common goal, this coalition employed considerable influence in urging lawmakers to elevate Infrastructure Investment as a top priority. From navigating legislative obstacles to fostering Innovative Solutions inclusive dialogue the invaluable expertise leadership and guidance proved key to finding a Common Ground and reaching as we all know are rare bipartisan achievement. The Infrastructure Investment and jobs act coupled with increased state and local funding hold significant implications for the infrastructure industry and the american economy. Our shrink and in a new era of opportunity, growth, and innovation. Already receiving tangible impacts, projects previously stalled due to funding constraints are now moving forward in creating a millions of new jobs across various sectors. Cutting Edge Technologies and Sustainable Practices are being adopted. Positioning the industry as a leader in innovation while enhancing efficiency. But as suzanne noted this is only the beginning. Our work is not over. We must now concentrate on maximizing the impact of this historic investment while also identifying sustainable longterm funding mechanisms to preserve and enhance our infrastructure system for generations to come. Our sessions today and others throughout the weeks, months, years ahead offered opportunity to deepen a collective opportunity not just of ventral infrastructure but approaches positive change and reit build connections within communities across our nation. Please welcome welcome enjoining my friend maryellen ceo of accelerator for america in united for infrastructure. [applause] please welcome to the stage president accelerator for america. Good morning everybody. What a beautiful room of infrastructures, practitioners, stakeholders, advocates great to be with you we appreciate you joining us. I am mary ellen president ceo of accelerator for america. We are an entity that runs the infrastructure with all ofer yo. Accelerator for america was a former Los Angeles MayorEric Garcetti in 2017. We work every day in our mission to help develop solutions that combat economic and security and shared scale replicate those Solutions Across our network of cities and leaders everywhere in this country. At the core of our work has always been infrastructure because we know infrastructure helps reconnect neighborhoods and connect people to opportunity. Infrastructures about our countrys economic competitiveness and at its core its about good jobs which is why im excited to be up on the stage suited to introduce our key note speaker. And considering we both have california groups, lets talk a little bit about acting secretary julie su she took the reins in march of last year and under her leadership the department continues to put at the center of everything they do, those who have been historically under invested and underestimated. Acting secretary julie su ensures these individuals is sometimes enforced to take on whatever work they can get an amount of the hours, no matter the conditions or the mistreatment they have new opportunities through this infrastructure law to work on projects that provide a family supporting wages. Dignity and growth opportunity. Acting secretary and i also share a firstgeneration american story. My father andr his family cameo this country after world war ii having nothing but the clothes on their backs and their few ks suitcase and a few things will my grandfather with family supporting wages and a pension. The acting secretarys family came here couple decades later and she was born here in this country, just as i was. But maybe not the same opportunity. She ultimately became her parents most ferocious advocate she translated for them and help temake sure they got what they needed as a family that formed who she is in the work that she does today to make sure that people have dignity at work in the pay and benefits they need at work. Early in her career she combated sweatshop conditions for more than 70 thai immigrants in california. Leading her to found the organization sweat shop to watch focus on unproven conditions for those working in the garment industry. I worked to aid these vulnerable residents helped earn eight macarthur genius grant. We have a genus in our midst this morning. Acting secretary julie su would work for two california governors and for those who know accelerator you know we love governors and our mayors we are project lease thrilled with the initiative she has had with the National League of cities on tigood jobs, great cities helpig our city leaders form programs and initiatives around this amazing opportunity. Higher on a panel layer from san antonio. Secretary su understands importance of Partnership None of the stuff happens alone as a team sport that we work in. At accelerator we are plural to part with the department of players womens beer on the Line Initiative leveraging Infrastructure Networks for equity to ensure these infrastructure and the Clean Energy Job with the inflation reduction acts are available for people of color, women, and people been historically under invested it in on. With that are Skilled Trades at work without our labors, steel Metal Workers are plumbers, painters, transportation, transit experts and so many more none of the Infrastructure Projects would be possible. But that in mind it is my great honor to introduce the countrys number one advocate for great jobs and worker, acting secretary julie su. Good morning everybody. Mary ellen, thank you so much that very warm introduction. It was so lovely to speak with you before speaking with you. Good jobs really transform lives and do so for generations. Im so pleased to be here today to talk to about that how we are in a moment we can make that akhappen. And we have done a very long time in the country. I know the best ideas happen when business leaders, unions, mayors other local officials others come together a partnership. I really appreciate you and your leadership in bringing together this group to talk about something that is so core to President Bidens vision for america which is infrastructure. I want to acknowledge a few people before i start. My friends he will hear from and them just a little bit. Press of the Building Trades present of the Transportation Trades Department aflcio. N President Biden is investing in america and the workers that sean and greg represent our building america. I want to recognize san antonio mayor ron nirenberg. As maryellen said our mayor is when getting stuff done on the frontline san antonio is one of the book great jobs great cities. San antonio is really setting an example i want to thank whose brilliant work got it so much of the Bidenharris Administration initial economic from Pandemic Response to stork job growth and Suzanne Clark who you heard from on the video has been great to work with it as well we think about how to build resilient supply chain across this country. Make sure Economic Growth broadly benefits all. As you all know, since even before this group came together about a decade of go we talk about the need for Infrastructure Investments. President biden is delivering them. Now, everywhere i go i get to see historic investments taking shape all across the country. At Pittsburgh International i airport we are investing 20 million to modernize the airport terminal. At the same time that work is using made in america steel. It is creating thousands of prevailing wage union jobs, it will generate 2. 5 billion in economic activity. Thats a theme which is how these investments are not just good for workers. Not just good for those who work on them but power our Economic Growth. I also got to visit the site up and the people are creating americas First Interstate highspeed rail. This is going to connect california inland empire with las v