Adjourned. We are getting ready to start the second half, that date night doubleheader. It will extend into the nighttime. I dont think it will. With that, im pleased to call this hearing to order. Welcome all of our witnesses, welcome to guests, and a special thanks to senator capito and our colleagues for being here for this important hearing. Today, we are to discuss the federal Highway Administrations communication of the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act. Its, im enormously proud. I know senator capito is as well. Weve worked with this committee did and literally, laying the foundation for the bipartisan infrastructure defense of. People say to me and im sure they say to you, senator capito, when you travel back to West Virginia around the country, why cant you guys and gals just Work Together to get stuff done . As it turns out, in this committee, thats what we do. We reported out parts of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation unanimously, 20 to 2. Ten democrats, ten republicans, and were proud to help lay the foundation for what turned out to be one of the biggest investments in our nations infrastructure ever. It started right here in this room, so i think we make some history and hopefully we, continue to make that history going forward. Before we begin, i want to take this moment to acknowledge the disaster that occurred this past weekend, just north of philadelphia. My wife and i live five miles from the Pennsylvania State line, so this was too close to home, and theres a lot of work meant going on, and our witness today, jalen, has been up there for quite a time and will have a little bit about that as well. Eight tanker truck carrying some 85 gallons of gasoline caught fire on the off ramp on an overpass of i95, causing it to collapse. Seen on television. Administrator bought, who also goes by administrator bhatt, has already been to the site of the crash a couple of times. He and his team are working with state officials there as they seek to restore mobility on this critical quarter for our nation. I call i95 is our nations highway. It goes all the way from maine all the way to florida and the amount of traffic on that, goes through my state, is just incredible. I want to thank our administrator and the rest of his team, the federal Highway Administration for the important work that you are doing. We appreciate very much for being with us today. Its been a little more than two years since this committee unanimously marked up the highway bill that will go on to service the foundation of bipartisan infrastructure law. And when we, did we notice that it was quite [interpreter] funding for our nations highway programs. It included the first ever climates title in a bill of that nature, and our highway, but we created that promoting resilient operations for transformative, efficient, and cost saving transportation, also known as the protect program. We did so with the intent of improving resilience of our Transportation Systems, and reducing our vulnerability to extreme weather. Weve all heard saying that the transportation with a pound of pure, that is certainly the case with investments and resilience. Building the protective futures and National Projects to keep transportation to withstand disasters for years. On the earlier of those protections are in place, the it will be. With that in mind, im pleased the federal Highway Administration is now accepting applications for the first round of protect grants. Its my hope that the federal Highway Administration works quickly to award these programs funds and help begins to improve the resilience of the communities, rather, nationwide. Our bill also creates dedicated programs to build electric vehicle or Ev Charging Networks across our country. It also includes a 70 increase in funding or problems to build safe, accessible, pedestrian and bicycle pathways across our country. In addition, our Service Transportation bill authorizes the connecting communities program. This first ever federal program to invest in the safety and pollution impacts of highways that have divided and hurt neighbors and neighborhoods in many places across our country. Importantly, not only did our highway bill focused on that Critical Issues of climate, safety, and equity, but it did so in a lasting, bipartisan way. As my colleagues have heard me say, shailen, million times, Bipartisan Solutions are lasting solutions. Im very proud of the investment we took the bipartisan infrastructure bill. But during that markup, i also noted that the infrastructure bill alone was not enough to address Climate Change. Once we pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, we got to work on legislation that dismantle inflation. The Inflation Reduction Act out there several programs of the program of the federal Highway Administration. This included a program to reduce the industrial emission front, construction, materials, as well as funding to Environmental Review, and permitting times. Inflation rejecting act also provided funds to mitigate air, no, ice and water pollution, and other impacts on Highway Infrastructure on disadvantaged communities. Together, the Inflation Reduction Act represents the most significant investment in clean energy and transportation. Clean energy, as well as members alliance, in our patience is three. Still, theres no shortage of remains to be done, there are key questions that federal Highway Administration has to address limitations around regulation, and guidance. Thats why im delighted to welcome our friend, not just from delaware, a friend whos actually been secretary of transportation and delaware and colorado, worked with i think, u. S. D. O. T. , in any number of other responsible positions to prepare him for this day. This is his first time before our committee since the Senate Confirmed his nomination to the administrator of the federal Highway Administration, by voice vote, in december of 2022. We look forward to hearing your testimony today about the extensive work that you have led in the last six months or so. As ive noted, congress provided the federal Highway Administration with historic funding, and the authorities necessary to provide, highways across our country. The agency must also use its authority to address ongoing needs. One such need for regulation is to help reduce emissions, from our transportation sector, which account for nearly 30 of our nations Greenhouse Gas emissions. The largest Single Source in our current economy. As my recollection, 30 will be coming from the vehicles who drive cars. Mobile sources, 25 comes from our power plants across the country. Another, roughly 20 , comes from manufacturing, basic manufacturing operations. But the biggest of those three is our roads and highways and bridges. Last, july, the federal Highway Administration reported rule in states metropolitan areas to measure their performance on Greenhouse Gas emissions and set targets to reduce those emissions. Once finalized, this will be a critical tool to steer Infrastructure Investments towards Better Climate outcomes. And i hope the agency will move quickly to finalize that rule. Finally, i would like to emphasize the importance of improving safety. Last year, nearly 40,000 people tragically lost their lives in our nations roads. The highest number in 16 years. I will say that again. Last year, nearly 43,000 people tragically lost their lives on our nations roads, the highest number in 16 years. The u. S. Department of transportation is taking important steps towards the skull by releasing the national roadway Safety Strategy, which sets a goal of zero fatalities for u. S. Roads for the first time, zero, for the first time. Still, there is more work to do. The federal Highway Administration, and should be giving to prioritize safety. That includes working with states, working with metropolitan areas, planned today the streets that are safer for all users, and susan highway designed in roadway designs and meeting unsafe behavior. With that, i look forward to hearing about that work that administrator bhatt has done and will continue to do to advance these priorities. I have to concern to ranking senator capito, whose leadership is critical to the passage of the infrastructure bill were discussing today. Senator capito, you are recognized for as long as you need to speak. Thank, you chairman carper, for calling todays hearing. Your ongoing willingness to conduct oversight on the iija and the Inflation Reduction Act. Administrator bhatt, its good to see you. I know youve been extremely busy here over the last several days. Since your confirmation, you have maintained a very open line of communication with me and my staff. I want to express our appreciation for doing that. I also want to thank your hardworking staff at the agency. I know they are working a lot on a lot of different issues. I would like to acknowledge the tragic incident on our 95, in philadelphia, the pictures are just overwhelming, and i know youve been on the ground. I appreciate the responsiveness of the fhwa, in providing assistance to the state of pennsylvania. I know the investigation is underway, congresswoman provided more information on is available. Im very proud that this committee, as the chairman said, developed a legislation that served as the foundation of the iija. We did so together, and bipartisan through regular order, i was proud to manage the bill on the floor with the chairman and to attend the signing ceremony at the white house. Unfortunately, our bipartisan product was jeopardized by if h, before you got there, fhwas december 2021 policy memorandum, but i want to thank you, administrator bought, for issuing a substantially revised policy memorandum that superseded the original one. I appreciate that you recognize the original memorandum diminish the bipartisan accomplishments of this committee and contradicted the statutory text and clear intent of the congress. When the iija was signed into law, we promised the American People that the legislation would deliver results by improving our natures Core Infrastructure transportation infrastructure, and were starting to see real, tangible benefits of that investment. In a negotiating the legislation, i prioritized inclusion of a robust project delivery and process improvement title, that included the codification of the one federal decision policy for surface transportation projects. I look forward to receiving an update from you today on how the agency is implementing those provisions and others in the iija. Proper implementation of the law, is the only way to see the full elements of the iija. Now on to the inaptly named Inflation Reduction Act, which has not and will not reduce inflation. Following the passage of the iija, the administration embarked on a partisan exercise to pass what i believe our policies through the budget reconciliation process. That effort began with the introduction of the socalled build back better legislation in 2021, and culminated with President Biden signing the i. R. A. Into law in august of 2022. The original version of the reconciliation legislation included a provision that wouldve directed fhwa to establish a Greenhouse Gas emissions performance measure and associated targets. I challenged that provision, as violating the bird rule of the congressional budget act. That provision was stripped from the legislation, that removal of line it was the second time since i became Ranking Member of this committee that we have dealt with this policy. That was the second time that congress directly rejected fhwa, the authority to establish a Greenhouse Gas performance measure and associated targets. Providing this authority to fhwa was also debated, and ultimately left out, of the bipartisan iija. The biden administration, through your agency, is now attempting to input, and the chairman just talked about, this imposed a Greenhouse Gas emissions performance measure and associated targets on state departments, transportation metropolitan planning organizations without any authority from congress. This rulemaking feels very similar to the december 2021 policy memorandum. Yet again, this administration is trying to implement partisan policies they wish had been included in the iija, and the i. R. A. , through agency actions. Im hopeful that under your leadership, this rulemaking for Greenhouse GasPerformance Measures and associated targets will not move forward. On a related note, i want to express my concern with the proposal that the president s fiscal year 2024 budget request has. The budget request included legislative language that would repurpose 60 million in an obligated Contract Authority from the tibia program to the active transportation Infrastructure Investment program. This is in the weeds, but i know you understand what im talking about. The iija did not provide Contract Authority for that program. It received an honorization, but is subject to appropriations. This committee determines what programs receive Contract Authority and how much, now thats apartment. I hope this is not something your agency plans to pursue, as once again, the committee has already made a decision here. Finally, i want to raise an issue that is not directly related to either of the loss we were discussing today, but may have Significant Impact on how state deities manage their programs and their ability to move forward. Im referring to the 3. 5 billion dollar discrepancy in Contract Authority between the two fiscal management systems. Known as fema and delphi. I appreciate you brought this issue to my attention in january, and i look forward to receiving an update for you on how d. O. T. Plans to resolve this discrepancy. In summary, the topics of our hearing today start to contrast a different outcomes. A quality into rehabilitate. We get great quality and durability when the senate pursues Bipartisan Legislation through regular order. If we compare that to a partisan legislation through budget reconciliation process that i believe falls short. Nevertheless, oversight for implementation of these two laws is a critical function of this committee. I would like to take one moment to say farewell to a much beloved and incredible member of our staff over here, the republican, staff epa w, lauren bacon will be leaving us i dont know if its today or tomorrow, but way, way too soon. And she has been, she really helped to shepherd the iija through our committee. She is an incredible resource, i know she will be successful wherever she goes, but lower, and we will miss her and i know your department will miss her as well. Because its a great given take weve been able to have with her and through your department. So, thank you for letting me bid lauren a fond farewell. Lauren, thank you for your work. One of the joys and working this committee is working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Its not just member to member, but the staff as well. And you add to courtney to members of our respective staff, thank you for that. We set the example, weve all heard trickle down theory . And it also, when the leaders of a Committee Like this Work Together and reflect the kind of behavior, i know the staff picks up on it as. Well and its a good thing for us. So, and youre our rock star. [applause] do you know were lawrence going to come next . Private sector. Okay. All right. Before i turn it over to shailen bought, i want to note that i want to drive to the train station, and thats one of listening to npr news, and they were giving some updates. They announced that they were able to people say the i. R. A. Doesnt really help reduce inflation, but at the end of the day, the morning news this morning, we just learned that inflation continues to drop. I think the annual ice numbers is now down to 4 . And the left job creation number that was reported out of the department of labor a couple of weeks ago, jobs 23 40, 000, in the last month. And Unemployment Rate for the country is still going, down around three and a half percent, which is pretty darn good number. Its not perfect, theres still things we can do better, but the, i think, for the bad its not that bad. Thank you, senator capito, will now hear from our witness, jalen bhatt. Shailen protests just name bhatt, but a lot of us pronounce it bhatt. And bhatt, insoles, the better to play. I will answer to either one, but he the administration of the federal Highway Administration. Sort into his current role on january 13th, 2023. After was confirmed by the senate on december 8th of last year. As administrator, mr. Bhatt overseas and a