Witnesses today, and ill save the introductions. I know there are a couple introductions that will be made from up here. This morning well go ahead with our Opening Statements, myself and senator cardin, and then were honored to have both the chairman and the Ranking Member of the whole committee here. So senator barrasso, senator carper, and then i understand senator cardin, you have an introduction to make also. Yes. All right. Well do that. Lets recognize first senator carper, because hes going to be coming back and doing his a little bit later. Just very briefly, welcome to this important hearing. I want to thank our chair and Ranking Member for pulling us all together and giving us a chance to say something. I have a statement. I would like to ask unanimous consent it appear in the record. And if i have a chance to come back and give it live later this morning, i will do that. Again, its good to see you all. Thank you for joining us. This is important. Important stuff. Thank you, senator carper. And i want to thank all of you for being here today. I would like to thank my friend, Ranking Member cardin, for his staff, for their help in getting this hearing together. You know, ive taken count, and i think the last one, other than you and me, that came in the 100th congress is retiring this year. That leaves you and me. I hope thats not a message. All right. But anyway, we did come in. We have spent a lot of time together working together in a bipartisan in accomplishing things. And we have enjoyed and continue that. Looking forward to working with my colleagues on this committee as we benefit the users of our Transportation Networks and the economy. Since President Trump has benefit in office, we have seen a 3 growth in the economy. We have added over 2 million jobs and the Consumer Confidence has skyrocketed. However, the economy will only continue to grow if our infrastructure is maintained and expanded to meet our future needs. In 2015, over 18 billion tons of freight worth 19 trillion moved over our highways, railways, waterways and through the air. These numbers are only expected to grow with an estimated 25 billion tons of Freight Movement by 2045, worth an estimated 37 trillion. Yet when freight is delayed on congested highways, diverted around deficient bridges or awaiting movement at our ports or waterways, an estimated 27 billion annually in increased costs are borne by businesses raising prices on consumer goods. The more delays we see, the further behind well become. According to the World Economic forum, the u. S. Ranks 12th in overall infrastructure quality and the American Society of engineers, which we have heard several times from, scored our infrastructure as a dplus earlier this year. Estimating that we need to spend close to 2 trillion in the next ten years to improve all of our infrastructure and our overall economy. In order to address this need, last Congress Passed the fast act with authorized 305 billion over five years. The fast act also established a 6. 3 billion great Formula Program for states to invest in the freight projects on the national highway Freight Network. And its the first time that had been done. Its created a 4. 5 billion over fiveyear Grant Program to improve the safety and movement of freight. Though the fast act was the largest transportation authorization in a decade, we have more work to be done before we close the gap between our funding and our needs. Im looking forward to hearing from our witnesses today, and enjoyed meeting them individually, and reminding mr. Parker that we and the state of oklahoma, our bestkept secret is we also are [ inaudible ] senator cardin. Senator inhofe, thank you for reminding me how long weve been here. I appreciate that very much. But senator inhofe and i have been friends since we both came to the United States congress in 1987. And i do thank him for his dedication, his willingness to try to find ways to move things forward. Particularly off infrastructure. Senator inhofe has been one of our great leaders. So its a pleasure to work with you on this subcommittee that deals with infrastructure, with senator barrasso and senator carper and members of this committee. Todays topic is critically important. Freight movement, assessing where we are now, and where we need to go. This nation was built by the fact that we were able to build up an economy, and our infrastructure was critically important for us being able to develop that economic strength that we all are so proud, and gives that opportunity to so many people. The u. S. Freight system depends upon the multimodal system of infrastructure. Roads are critically important for our trucks. Rail is important for our freight moving by rail. Yesterday i had a meeting of the maryland delegation with mr. Foot, new acting ceo of csx. As we talked about freight issues, including the challenge we have in baltimore with the Howard Street tunnel, where you cant double stack. So thats incredibly important that we maintain and strengthen our rail. We talked about the waterways, and im glad that mr. Thomas is here in regards to the port of baltimore and the importance to the movement of freight and our barges. Our pipelines. And certainly our airports. And our airports are becoming more congested. And its an important part of our freight. So, mr. Chairman, over the next 30 years, our Transportation System, which is powered to rise our nation and enable generations of economic growth, could could become a drag if we do not Pay Attention to investing in americas infrastructure. We already know how many hours a week are wasted in transportation through trucks stuck in traffic. Try to get through the Washington Area on any day, even on weekends, its becoming difficult. Even in the middle of the night. Mr. Chairman, i went home yesterday morning, but from here to baltimore, and there was some construction. It took me longer than it should have to get home last night to baltimore. So theres congestion and we need to do a better job in dealing with that. Trucks lose 28 billion in wasted time and fuel per year. 28 billion. So we have major tensions that we have to pay. Our major hub airports face severe congestion, aging locks and dams, raising the cost of fuel and freight along the inland waterways. Ports need dredging and modernization if theyre going to continue to compete and sustain jobs in a regional economy. Transit systems are the estimate is 100 billion of maintenance backlog in our transit systems in this country. And i can attest to the one here and the need for a maintenance there. The companies that depend upon our nations Transportation System and the millions of workers who power these companies will feel these effects. A robust, multimodal freight Transportation System is essential, despite advances. And i really do applaud the leadership of this committee and the fast act, the map 21, that provides Funding Sources for these types of programs. We need to build upon the prior success of this committee to provide the wherewithal to modernize our infrastructure. Im just going to highlight, because as Ranking Member of the subcommittee, i should at least promote one aspect of my state. Since mr. Thomas is here, let me take that opportunity to brag a little bit about the port of baltimore and the importance it is to our economy. We are one of only i think four ports on the east coast that can that has the depth and width necessary to take on the new ships that are coming through the panama canal. Thats an important part of our economy. Baltimore has a 50foot shipping channel, and a 50foot container berth. We look at what we are able to do, i can give a lot of statistics and put it in the record, mr. Chairman, so i dont to read the entire the entire numbers in regards to the port of baltimore. But let me just point this out. Business at the port generates 13,650 direct jobs direct jobs, in the port of baltimore, with more than 127,000 jobs in maryland linked to port activities. The port is responsible for nearly 3 billion in individual wages and salaries and contributes to more than 310 million in state and local tax revenues. So none of this can be done without a strong federal partnership. We cant do it on our own. We need a strong federal partnership. Yesterday, we had a long discussion about jobs on the floor of the United States senate. We all know that investing in infrastructure, it will not only build the tools necessary so that we can grow our economy, it will create the jobs of the future we need to support the people of this nation. I look forward to hearing from our distinguished panel, and i thank them all for being here. Thank you, senator cardin. Senator barrasso. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator carper, i would be happy to defer to you so that you dont have to then come back later. I appreciate you doing that. Listening to what ben just said about the port of baltimore, before i leave, i want to say the top port in america is wilmington, delaware. And my staff was good enough to drop off some bananas here so i can have a prop. And i told them just jokingly yesterday, were not only the top port for importing bananas, also top for importing prunes. And so they dropped off thats not true. But they dropped off this package of prunes. Ill be happy to share them with my colleagues. After the experience of this last few days, we could probably all use that. Im not going to say more than that. No, i do on a serious note, i do want to say this. I went through last night, when i gave my floor statement, talked about all the ingredients part of a nurturing environment for job preservation, access to capital, access to foreign markets. Worldclass work force. And infrastructure done well. Infrastructure not just roads, highways, bridges, not just ports, not just rail. All of the above and more. Broadband, deployment, so forth. We have this reluctance to pay for this stuff. We have this reluctance to pay for this stuff. And a big part of our challenge is to figure out costeffective ways to make these investments and ways that leverage nonfederal monies, state and local monies, private sector monies, and thats our challenge. That is our challenge. And we its important having gone through a tough period of time on tax reform, my hope is that when we tackle infrastructure in the months to come, we do it the right way and we do it together. And its a great opportunity. If we do that, well do a much better job, and our what did mark twain used to say . If we do that, well confound our critics and amaze our friends. Thats what we need to do. Thanks so much. Senator barrasso. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Before i introduce mr. Speaker to the committee, i would like to say a few words about todays hearing. This morning the subcommittee is examining Freight Movement, assessing where we are now, and where we need to go. Freight is a vital part of americas economy, and i thank chairman inhofe, Ranking Member cardin, for holding this important hearing. Everyone benefits from goods being shipped on our roads, across our bridges and through our ports. The freight industry how allows for products to go from the heartland to the coast and even across the world. This hearing will underscore the need to upgrade and maintain our highways and shipping lanes. Addressing americas aging infrastructure is a shared, bipartisan goal of this committee. This year alone, the environment and Public Works Committee has held seven hearings on the importance of modernizing americas infrastructure. We have heard testimony on the infrastructure needs of both rural and urban communities. The new innovative Building Techniques being used, the value of streamlining so we can cut government red tape and get building projects started and finished faster. As well as the success of loan leveraging programs so taxpayers get the most bang from their buck. President trump has made fixing our roads a top priority. In january, will outline a broad vision for infrastructure. We have a unique opportunity ahead of us. If we can pass major infrastructure legislation, we will grow our economy and help ensure the health and safety of every american. I look forward to partnering with President Trump and members of our committee as we work to improve americas roads, bridges, water systems, dams and ports. I would also now like to introduce chris spear, who has served as president and ceo of the American TruckingAssociation Since july of 2016. Chris is a longtime friend with extensive wyoming connections and im very pleased hes been invited to offer his expertise at this mornings subcommittee hearing. He attended college at the university of wyoming where he earned his bachelors and masters degree. Creme sits on the board of directors for the center for global studies. He began his career with the senate in 1993, working as a professional staff member for then wyoming senator, al simpson. He continued his work under senator enzi. In 1998, he was nominated by president george w. Bush and confirmed by the senate as assistant secretary of labor for policy in the United States department of labor. Chris also served as Deputy Representative for the Coalition Provisional authority in iraq, and was awarded the u. S. Department of Defense Joint civilian service medal. In 2004, he entered the private sector at Honeywell International and then Hyundai Motor company. In his current role as president and ceo of American Trucking associations, chris leads the at as efforts to advocate and educate on behalf of the trucking industry. He knows how vital freight transportation is to the economy, and how states like wyoming depend on an industry that employs upwards of 7 Million People and is responsible for moving more than 10 billion tons of freight annually. No better expert to discuss how we better move americas economy forward. Mr. Speaker, thank you. We look forward to hearing your testimony. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator barrasso. Senator cardin im very happy to have david thomas here today. He was named the deputy executive director of logistics and Port Operations for the Maryland Department of transportation, maryland port administration. In december of 2016. But david has been with the port now i believe 16 years. And has a distinguished record and understands all the operations of the port. Under his current responsibility includes facility maintenance, crane maintenance, terminal operations, cruise operations and intermodal logistics. So were pleased that hes here. Were pleased of his expertise for maryland, but also i think he can help us better understand the challenges that we have in moving our commerce and freight through our ports. He received his bachelor of science degree from towson university, one of the Great Schools in maryland in 1982, and in business administration. Two children. Married, and resides in forest hill, maryland. Nice to have you here. Thank you, senator cardin. Our other two witnesses that have not withbeen introduced, j parker jr. , tuscaloosa. And mark pullasinski of the ohio regional government. Were going to start with Opening Statements. We would ask you to confine your remarks to five minutes. Your entire statement will be made part of the record. So mr. Speaker, well start wit you and working across. Thank you, chairman inhofe, and members of the subcommittee. Appreciate the opportunity to testify on this critical subject. We are grateful to each of you for recognizing freight in the previous two authorization bills that is important federal responsibility. This is proven necessary as the freight sector will need to move 5 billion additional tons over the next decade. Thats a 40 increase. This year alone, trucks will move 71 of the nations freight tonnage, worth more than 10 trillion. Yet our national Highway Network is rapidly deteriorating. Costing the average motorist nearly 1500 a year in higher maintenance and congestion expenses. Highway congestion also adds more than 63 billion to the cost of freight transportation each year. In 2015, Truck Drivers sat in traffic nearly 1 billion hours, equivalent to more than 362,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year. Most concerning, in 53 of highway fatalities, the condition of the roadway is a contributing factor. The Highway Trust Fund is projected to run short of the revenue necessary to maintain current spending levels by fy2021. Creating a huge funding gap that could force states to cancel or delay critical projects. The u. S. Spends less than half of what is necessary to address these needs. As the investment gap continues to grow, so too will the number of deficient bridges, roads, bottlenecks, and most critically, fatalities attributable to inadequate roadways. At as proposed solution is the build america fund. The fund would be supported with a new indexed 20centpergallon fee built into the price of transportation fuels collected at the terminal rack which would generate nearly 340 billion in new revenue over the first ten years. This proposal would stabilize the trust fund and resource project backlog. However, we recognize that over time the fuel taxes of diminishing revenue source. To that end, we encourage the subcommi