Transcripts For CSPAN2 Interior 20240704 : vimarsana.com

Understanding with interior secretary trent eight Environmental Protection agency chief of staff dan utech at the Labor Department in washington d. C. The agreements focus on creating union jobs and Clean Energy Economy. Well also have a panel of Committee Stakeholders on their experiences in advancing these goals. [background noises] [background noises] [background noises] [background noises] [cheering] [applause] good afternoon everyone. I want to start the program with a warm welcome to the department of labor to in this our partnership across the federal government the signing of two separate memorandums of understanding between the department of labor and the department of the interior Environmental Protection agency. I am to recent Deputy Director of the jobs a initiative here at dol. Good Jobs Initiative help support theti collaboration between these agencies as we aim to realize the vision are President Biden. Under the leadership of our respective leaders. This work and today it would noe possible if it were not for the people and each of our agencies who believe that we can act on Climate Solutions create good equitable union jobs. [applause] i want to give a special shout out to our colleague at interior and epa, you know who you are in and the audience for your partnership and trust as we work together. Today youll be hearing from her Agency Leaders on their vision for creating good jobs with clean economy as well as a Panel Discussion making our goals real on the ground. Now its my pleasure to introduce our esteemed leader at the department of later acting secretary julie su. She is a nationally it records t on workers rights and civil rights who dedicate her legal career to denting justice on behalf of poor and disenfranchised communities. She previously served as dol deputy secretary and secretary of the california agency. Every day acting secretary challenges us at the department to think of the best way to unleash the full power of the department of labor and act on it. She is aa sincere thought partr and true collaborator is the first to recognize it will take our collective action to see this a momentuc making today tht much more important. So with that i welcome acting secretary julie su to the stage. Thank you teresa. Thank you so much. I want to echo her welcome to all of you for being here. But also thank her for her incredible efforts and leadership inside the department along with the rest of my team, the department of interior the Environmental Protection agency. What we are talking about today is a Historic Collaboration between our departments and how our work is going to infect workers, our climate, and tomorrows workforce. That would not be possible without the incredible work representative by the people in this room. So our department of labor building his name for Frances Perkins who was the first woman cabinet secretary or any president. And by all accounts the most consequential labor secretary in history. That is why i am particularly excited to welcome secretary trent eight to our building today secretary of interior who is also the first native american to serve in any cabinet under any president. Yes lets give her a hand. She is a citizen also the first native American Woman to be elected to lead a state party in her home state of new mexico and or the first native american women to serve in congress. She is a living embodiment of something i have seen throughout my career and my life and experienced everywhere i go which is diversity and excellence go handinhand. So thank you very much secretary for being here. I bet i did that diversity goes handinhand is fundamental to President Bidens vision for what a strong and resilient economy looks like. It talks about in challenges us all to build an economy from the middle out in the bottom up. And it orderve to do that we hae to be very clear id about who has for too long at the bottom. Who are the communities, who are the individuals who are the w families where workers do not wear a worker gets up in the morning and is notrn sure he or she is going to come home safely at the ende of the day. Where whole communities have been shut out of opportunities in the past and today and shut out of the opportunities to get good jobs due to discrimination, segregation or other forms of marginalization. It is also not an accident those same communities who suffer fror poor jobs also sever the worst effects of our Climate Crisis. So, we are here today to talk about how we can address those harms together because we cannoo build the economy President Biden envisions unless we fix those things. So, we have a moments, a moment we are in now with historic investments in our nations infrastructure, and our nations manufacturing, and our nations nationsclean energy and by the president vision in our nations workers. So investing in an America America agendathe president andt have been out across the country talk about what investing in america it means we are here to do that right here at the department of labor because we are trying to deliver on a once in a generation moment of solving a whole bunch of challenges in this country all at the same time. S including good jobs and the nd t to combat the Climate Crisis. We have prioritize federal infrastructure investments, Economic Development as well as innovative opportunities to answer this question, are we going to have that workers for all the goodat jobs are being created . From a key to all of this you heard the president say and i believe the right to join a union in the workplace is fundamental to what it means to have a good job, Strong Community and a good life. [applause] so the work this going to come of the partnerships we are talking about here today are part of the proof that we do not have to choose between workers and our climate we do not have to choose between good jobs andr the environment. So we have seen this in some already made under bidenomics theres a whole bunch more work to do in our partnership is going to allow us to continue to roll up her sleeves together and get that work done. We are going to with great intentionality to make sure the workers and communities have been left outle in the past are not left out in the economy that we build going forward. The partnership has allowed us to and will allow us to continue to embed job quality and equity criteria in the trillions of dollars of federal funding going out into communities. Mo use we are going to sign todaygo are going to allow us to focus resources and expertise of not just the leadership at our entire department to ensure we are taking all the correct actions to leverage the federal governments ability to move action on the ground to always say what needs to be done with federal dollars but also to listen to and build on the expertise of communities work in communities on building equitable strong economies at workforce develop programs. I am so excited about this P Partnership with secretary holland, with dan and the epa and with all of you here. We know successful Workforce Development happens to work thats rooted in communities, doing work to understand the challenges and the abilities and talents that event left out in the communities are. So, with that im going to actually asked our panelist to come up we are going to talk about somemp examples of people who are doing this work on the ground the right way in a way that really reflects the president s vision of building a Strong Economy when they come up at psycho they are thank you so much for being here. Were joined today by frank howard the third. [applause] and Wayne Richardson. Ahead and have a seat. Frank has been treasurer of Howard Concrete Pumping Company inc. A Family Business founded by his father since 2006 hes been a fixture in the howard offices for his entire life. Howard concrete pumping company inc. Is a Specialty Contractor thheadquartered in pittsburgh wh expertise in the drilling and grouting of abandoned coal mines to prevent ground subsidence. Working with numerous and banded abandonedmind lands programs ace United States howards workforce consists of unions, tradesmen, including operating engineers, laborers and pile drivers. So thank you for modeling what it means to build the economy that President Biden envisions bit. Ly as a Regional Program manager for the labor climate claimantproject in ohio per shea member usw local10 46 in louisville, ohio 24 year maintenance employee with a bachelors degree from Kent State University which she completed but working fulltime in the shop. [applause] is doing the work but also models the opportunities we create we do things correctly her parents were still workers and her grandparents were also union members. And last but not least commissioner president Wayne Richardson is the manager of Strategic Partnerships for the labor Eastern Region as well as executive director pathways to apprenticeship the 28 new Jersey Program creates a pathway out of poverty by providing opportunities for training and Union Membership so thank you all so much for joining us. [applause] im going to start out with a very quick lightning around 90 seconds of what you see as the opportunity now given your background in the space of addressing our Climate Crisis in this country. Frank i will start with you if thats okay. Tayes. I think the important thing is that we have a time in history where we can come together andy meet. There is a funding opportunity to do work that is very hard to do that takes a lot of unique skill sets and expertise. And that traditionally does not have the funding. And at the same time we can invest in Workforce Development which is from a business perspective very hard to do and there is a long tail to doing that. That is to say the investments in workforce do not pay off right away. So it has to be ongoing investment. I think the vision we have here and the funding available is really a unique opportunity to get some of the work done. Thanks. Thank you all for this opportunity im super excited youre doing this. Boots on the ground go, Blue Green Alliance is a coalition of labor and Environmental Partners who believe exactly as you mentioned that we do not have to choose between good jobs and a clean environment. They go handinhand. We have been at this for 17 years. I have for 10te in ohio i startd when i was 12. [laughter] and here is what i see from on the ground. Hi education, trust building, relationship building, making sure the right people are at the table and this opportunity you are doing today will only broaden the folks that we can bring into the table and all speak from the same place. Be here. Thanks to all of you for coming and putting this together. One of things i see we need to do as we talk about infrastructure dollars and all of these things are going to happen is going to be so wonderful. Weve got to make sure that secretary su have been marginalized a real opportunity have been a part of the good jobs summits in the past and on of the things ice stand and hope to that right now, those who control the money make the rules. So you have got to make sure the rules are in place that will connect to the jobs and all the things that President Biden is attempting to do and Holding People accountable to folks are going to receive the money. Its not just putting the money out there. We have to train the workforce which is one of the things the laborers are doing now with our pathways to apprenticeship make sure they have a real opportunity to get into the trades, get into the union thats one of the things were doing this going to be essential because we are going to do the work force is going to be a lot of h money but we have to be rey and trained when it hits the ground. Thank you. For thank you somuch for that. Im going to ask you a question just based on what you said about the need bring all the pieces together. Can you say a little bit more about why it is so important to bring the climate environmental folks together with labor as we implement the funding . Yes. It takes a long time to build trust between different organizations, right . This historic legislation has given us the opportunity to do, on speed is to bring those folks together and explain to them that we have to work together. We have to trust one another. And i think throughout the country this is going on but i know for sure its going on in the state of ohio. Our abandoned mine lan work we have the labor at the table we have the operators of the table. We have ohio valley river Environmental Organization at the table. Our utility solar work, we have the developers, ibew at the table. All talking to one another and singingal from the same hymnal t has been an amazing thing to see. Right, the Apprenticeship Program, the folks that have been left out, we need to double down our efforts and bring them along as well. Julie i love that. The way you put it, when there are rules in place for how people are supposed to operate, we have a fair game. And you know, just to follow up, because your work on abandoned land mines, theres such an overlap between what the department of superiors funding opportunity of interiors funding opportunities create and what youve been doing what does a partnership between the department of labor and department of interior mean for you . How does it affect your work when there are standards in funding at the front end . Lee can i call out a couple of people from d. O. L. And d. O. I. Who have been instrumental in this . Wendy in the front row, ruku, there she is back there julie can you stand up when she says your names, please . [applause] lee these gals, these gals have joined an over other week call with 20, 25, 30 folks from respective states, mostly in appalachia, had the patience to explain this program, encourage us to bring folks along to this program, it has obviously not been codified until today but it has been such a pleasure working with them, and they have theyve made friends. Our labor in kentucky, lonnie, likes to call out winnie and say, winnie, what do you think about this . These folks are just salt of the earth folks that are that are going to bring these folks along in. August in ohio were having a round table, webinar discussion, with signatory contractorsed on how to bid this work. This is historic. Theyve never they dont know this program. Theyve never been made aware of this program. And here we are going to tell them that this funding is going to come for at least the next 10 years. And its going to be your work. Its really something to be part of. Julie thank you, lee. What youre saying is when there are criteria, conditions at the beginning, it creates opportunities for the work to be done the right way and to make sure that workers can do that work. Come out of programs. Lee and the right people are at the table. Weve all heard, if youre not on not at the table youre on the menu . Weve got them at the table. Julie frank, to that point, i often say theres vast Common Ground between whats good for employers and whats good for workers. And you and the company that has been in your family for generations is a very good example of that. You use union labor. You talked about the Business Case for Work Force Development. Can you tell us why your business sees value in Union Partnership and the value in respecting your workers rights to join a union . Frank sure. I think its two very important elements. Clearly, it is about providing quality Career Opportunities for individuals. I mean, the union work force, its good wages. Its healthy benefits. Its robust retirement. So its training opportunities. Its an opportunity to better yourself. Its an opportunity to make a good life without necessarily having to need a college education. So thats point one about the Union Tradesmen and the union work force. From a Business Owners perspective, i think its important to call out, especially in the construction rem, and im generalizing a little bit but if youre looking at Union Tradesmen versus nonUnion Tradesmen youre getting a more professional result by going with the Union Tradesmen. Were talking about safety. Awareness of safety. More safety training. So thats good for everybody. Were talking about Quality Control and quality assurance, so the projects are built faster and at a better quality. And then finally, its what were all talking about, its about Work Force Development. And really unions are set up to do that very well, where especially with doctorrors that are contractors that are smaller or mediumsized its difficult to do Work Force Development well. Because its a significant investment. And like i said, in the intro, theres a long tail associated with it. Thats really thes by case for being a Union Contractor versus a nonUnion Contractor is you have all those benefits, you can attract a good quality work force. And im proud to say that were Union Contractors. I know my folks are out there working hard every day and im proud that theyre making a good living doing that. Julie frank, youve just described something we believe in deeply which is that when Labor Management, partnership, coalesce in work Forest Development it leads to the best outcomes. I wonder what would you say to to other companies who are trying to solve the issue of how youre going to have the workers to do the work that we have, especially in a moment of historic growth where employers are going to see more work. More opportunity. What how describe, it may seem so obvious to you but from a going back to the real basic, could you just talk about how you came to the realization that working with the workers, with the best way to build a work force, keep the work force and talk a little bit also about apprenticeships for that. Frank sure. Theres a lot to unwind there but i think really what it comes down to is collaboration. With our signatory unions. Thats where the real benefits start to accrue. Work force development, it takes time. Its not difficult. Apprenticeships are key. The unions and in particular id like to call out local 66 operating engineers in pittsburgh they do a fabulous job. We have a great relationship. We work, we talk, when i have a need, i call them. I call the leadership. They know what im looking for. And they understand my needs. But they do a really fabulous job with the apprenticeship, their apprenticeship facility is first class, world class. It has classroom, lots of handson learning opportunity, it has a shop, its great. Its a great opportunity for training, its a great opportunity for career advancement. And we in the construction industry, we have a particular challenge in that we have failed to attract the younger generations into our work force. So as we look forward to one of the challenges that, you know, we have in all this investment and to into a clean any economy is that we need to get young people interested. And unions are really a great way of doing that. They have the economies of scale that allow them to do Work Force Development in an effective way. So you know, i think that when im talking to other contractors who maybe dont see the benefit of union, i would have them seriously take a look at that for sure. But at the end of the day, the challenges that every company faces, it has to be met with planning and it has to be met with collaboration with your partners. Julie yeah. Thank you for that. I think that do you want to Say Something about that . Wayne i want to echo what was just said by my colleagues here, its about having the right people at the table, but having an inviting table so that you can were talking about building coalitions here, right . Coalition building is exactly what were talking about. Youve got to invite everyone and have everyone who wants to participate who has a shared goal sit at the table and have a discussion. Figure out how to best move things forward collectively. Because you cant do it as individual labor union or individual company. You have to invite others to make it inviting for folks who, companies who dont have a relationship with labor unions can talk to Company Owners who do and make it they can understand, let them know what the benefits are. And there are a lot of benefits to having union labor on your projects. Lee if somebody would raise your hand if youve ever been to an Apprenticeship Program of my of the trades. Are they amazing . Yeah, and they want you to come if you didnt raise your hand and want to see Something Like that, please put it on your next tour of stops. Its amazing, its really good stuff. Wayne one last thing. When we talk about union labor, union jobs, were talking about careers. Were not just talking about a job. Were talking about having a long career with benefits, health care, pension, and if you dont know what a pension is, a lot of young folks probably dont, you know about a 401k but ill put my pension up against your 401k any day. [laughter] julie yeah. So to summarize a little bit of this, so much of Work Force Development is about plan, as you said, right, but on the day that you need the workers to start is too late to think about where theyre going to come from. So the planning and creating a table for planning is so important. When you have a Labor Management relationship, theres someone to plan with, not just for the future jobs, but for the future of the industry that youre in, in really valuable ways. And it also neverbeforeseens means that that work force is demand driven, theres a specific job to be done that training will lead to, thats a different way of thinking about Work Force Development, right . For a very long time Work Force Development was just about training for skills that maybe would lead to a job. And now people would wonder why dont people come to those programs . Its a very different thing to do a Training Program in which theres an employer at the table also who knows that what they need and are going to hire you at the end of that program and apprenticeships are a good example of that also. So thank you all for sharing just like how we think about the most effective ways of answering these questions are there going to be enough workers in the job. Im going to let you brag a little bit we know what you have done when you were president of local 55. You worked with the city of new fork, new jersey, to overcome a lead crisis. Under your leadership there the union supported the city as it replaced 100 of the lead service lines. It was over 23,000 of them. [applause] and just let me brag a little bit before you brag on yourself. You made sure those were done by good, union workers. Those were union jobs. And that they were accessible to women, to people of color, to black, indigenous an other communities that have been left out and underserved workers in the community so thats sort of the trifecta of the things we think of as the key to bindomics. How do we immediate to bidenomics. How do we meet needs and make sure these are accessible to everyone. And you supported womenowned and minorityowned contractors. The bipartisan infrastructure law provided e. P. A. With 15 billion to invest in the water sector. We want everyone who turns on the faucet in their home to have clean water coming out of it. So please talk about how community can lef rablg e. P. A. Investments today to support Work Force Development, equity and Good Union Jobs in the water sector. Wayne build a coalition. Bring the municipality, the unions, environmentalists, everyone from the community, have a conversation at the table. It has to be inclusive. Right . The mayors and the folks of these municipalities have to have the willingness to want to work with unions. All right. What we were able to do in newark, because the mayor, he came from a union, teachers union, he understands understood, you know, the value of the of being a union member. So through my relationships with the community, with the administration, the affirmative action, with the hiring rules of the city of newark, and 472, the laborers 472 who actually did the work, we were able to come to an agreement where they brought in apprentices from the laborers, who are still working today, theyre still working for 472 even though that job is finished, they built good careers. We were able to build that coalition and groundswell around thousand do this the right way. Talk about people being marginalized. The mayor was insistent. Youre going to hire a certain amount of minority contractors. Period. And youre going to hire a certain amount of minorities from the city of newark, period. Else you general contractors are going to take the work away. There was no ifs, ands or buts. There was no best effort. It was, this is what youre going to do if you want this work. When i talk about language and those who control the money, make the rules, the rules cant be that good faith effort that we know doesnt work. Right . It has to be a dictatorship. You have to say this is what this is what we want to see, right . This is the number that youre going to meet or else youre not going to be on the job, period. Because thats the only way that the folks who you want to attract, who you want to give an opportunity to, will get an opportunity. Because we dont do that, the big boys are just going to split it all up like they normally do. Julie thank you. Im going to ask you a question and ask everyone else to weigh in on it too. I do think its hard to dispel misconceptions about what it means to work with unions. Oftentimes. And that includes, you know, like you said the project Labor Agreement on a project, right. Weve talked about some of the benefits of that. Could you talk, speak to companies who are unfamiliar with tools like the things that youve mentioned we know and frank as mentioned this too, they actually cut cost, it cuts costs overall to do things the right way from the front end. It cuts costs to invest in and create partnership with your workers. It results in a welltrained work force that wont only be able to do the job, thats going to be retaind for the next job. Can you just talk about how communities can use p. L. A. s on projects in the water sector and more broadly how to dispel the notion that bring a union in creates more costs or more complications. Can you address that for us head on. Wayne sure. One of the misnomers, so initially it may cost you more. Right . A union worker versus a nonunion worker. But what do you get in that union worker . You get a skilled, trained, safe worker who is going to be more effective and more efficient. So while you may be paying x amount for this nonunion worker or your work force and youre paying a little more for your union work force, nine times out of 10 the union work force is going to finish that job more effectively li and more efficiently on time and underbudget so youre going to save money in the long run. Thats what people dont understand. They just see the initial investment of what its going to cost. But you have to weigh everything. And unions finish 15 , 20 cost less in the long run at the end they have project than nonunion outfits. Project aboar agreements, what we have to do a better job, let me just say this. Unions have to do a better job of giving certain people an opportunity. We have to do a better job of opening our doors and opening our books to minority communities and im not going to name any names but they know who they are. And they just need to do a better job of giving folks an opportunity. Ill leave that right there. Julie thank you. Lee . Lee i would weigh, in to piggyback off wayne, these folks are in your community, right . They buy the pizza at the local pizza shop they go and have their hair done at the local salon they coach their sons in little league. Many times youll find with a nonunion work force theyre either airlifted in or outside of that rem. And so these folks that when you bring a p. L. A. Into the picture, most times those folks are from that community. And giving back to that community. In so many ways that go unnoticed and unrecognized. Julie thank you. Frank . Frank the only thing i think i can add, ill echo the statements of my fellow panelists, but my experience with p. L. A. s is usually on very large construction projects. So these are complex projects. Thousands of craft workers on site at one time. Multiple contractors. Very usually difficult schedules, tough projects, and having that p. L. A. In place not only ensures all the things weve talked about, a level Playing Field for all contractors, good opportunities, good careers, but it also provides the rules that we can all get the job done safely, on time, and done well because construction is a difficult its a difficult job. Its often combative. Theres problems that nevittly come up. Theres disputes. Having that framework in place gives you a way to solve those problems and solve those disputes before they get out of hand. Julie thank you. So much. Frank, lee, wayne, thank you for all the sharing your experiences. Also making the Business Case, the worker case, the Community Case for hoe howe we can do this right. I want to ask a very quick question to bring it all home for us. What makes you hopeful in this moment for all the things you have been working toward . What makes you hopeful, theres work to be done, no question. I know youre thinking about that too, can you in 10 seconds. Lee opportunities like this. What youre doing here today and im not sucking up in any way. [laughter] this is historic, right . And to be able to sit here and represent so many of the folks that are out there in the field doing this hard work and knowing that its going to make a difference in their lives, thats what makes me hopeful. Julie wayne or frank . Wayne President Biden. [applause] wayne giving folks an opportunity who may have never had an opportunity. The most unionfriendly president in my lifetime they have thing hes putting in place, and i like bidenomics. It works for me and it works for people who look like me and its going to people who look like me are going to do better under this president than any president that i can remember. So President Biden. Thank you for creating pathways out of poverty. [applause] frank i would just say shared interests. We have disparate groups here coming together and realizing we all have common goals. [applause] julie lets give our panelists another round of applause. Thank you, thank you. All right. Wonderful. So now the moment that were all gathered for. Were going to sign the m. O. U. s between the department of labor and our sister agencies. Im going to first ask dan utech to come up. Hes chief of staff at the Environmental Protection agency. Dan, come on up. When i was first nominated to be u. S. Labor secretary, i sat down with administrator michael wee began who is the wiegan, the first africanamerican man to run the e. P. A. , hes all in on the president s agenda and the ability for us to collaborate together. Im so glad, dan, youre able to join us here today to be part of the affordable entry of the relationship weve been in in for a while. Id like to turn over the podium to you beforehand. [applause] dan good afternoon, everybody. Great to be here. With colleagues from across the administration and with partners in labor and environmental movements. Proud to represent e. P. A. And the administrator here at this event. Its an honor for know share the stage with acting secretary julie su, shes an incredible, dynamic leader. Secretary haaland, it is an honor to be here with you as well. Thank you. [applause] so administrator egan wanted to be here. As it happens at this moment hes in baltimore with the vice president. Where hes announcing a 20 billion grant opportunity, call it the Greenhouse Gas reduction fund, its going to Fund Clean Energy projects all around the country so the focus today on creating good jobs with federal investments could not be more timely for us at e. P. A. Good jobs and a clean economy. Thats what we think about every day at e. P. A. And across the administration, its important to us and more importantly its important to workers all around the country so when i think about a good job, i think about a worker who isnt anxious about living paychecktopaycheck because they have a stable source of income that compensates them fairly for their hard work. I i i think about a worker who has a sense of security because they have paid sick leave. And insurance. I think of a worker who feels safe because their work site is free from harassment and discrimination. And workers who are free to organize. Were making sure our federal investments, historic investments, create jobs that treat workers with dignity and we reward them for hard work. As President Biden says, its growing the economy from the middle out and bottom up. E. P. A. For me is where i started my career. Its always been a great place to work. Theres never been a better time to be e. P. A. Than right now. Thanks to President Biden, e. P. Ample has put forth 100 billion to invest in america. Its unbelievable with that funding were going to tackle climate change, advance Environmental Justice and create jobs all around the country. Were moving as quickly as we can to get this funding into American Communities and were already seeing results. Just last week, the administrate yorvited grand rapids, michigan, where lead pipes are being replaced, waip, something you know a lot about. He said superfund sites where cleanup is under way after years of delay. And hes visited communities where electrics buts are already taking kids too and to and from schools. These things will happening all around the country and its possible because of the president s investing in america agenda. As we continue to move to a cleaner economy you know we have to focus on the workers who will carry out this transition. We can and we will have good paying union jobs and expand opportunities for workers with two who have too often been left behind. At e. P. A. Were pushing ourselves to think creatively and ambitiously about this work, creating high quality disbroshes a diverse and skilled American Work force. In that work were benefiting from support of our department of labor colleagues including the team behind the good Jobs Initiative so thank you to them. I also want to recognize Rachel Zuckerman and john who are here from e. P. A. In particular and thank them for their work. [applause] were hard at work to realize this vision. Ill tick off a couple of examples. When e. P. A. s office of water released guidance last year, urged states to use project Labor Agreements, Community Benefit agreements and invest in registered apprenticeships. Two weeks ago, the administrator announced 7 billion solar for all grant competition. And that competition emphasizes work Forest Development and high quality jobs including asking to include letters of support from labor unions with their applications. For our climate pollution reduction grant program, a program that runs through states. The 46 states that have opted in and are going to be doing planning, planning work with grants from e. P. A. , that competition requires them to do a work force analysis as part of their Climate Action plans. This requirement will encourage states to think proactively and wholistcally about impacts to their work force and how partnerships with labor, Community Based organizations and educational institutions can help create high quality jobs. With our 5 billion clean schools but program were asking School Districts to demonstrate how theyll prepare their work forces for the transition to clean buses without replacing or displacing their current workers. Were continuing to explore mechanisms for strong labor practices at the manufacturers who are building these buses, and with the expertise of our partners at the department of labor, our current grant competition included a questionnaire about Work Force Development and job quality practices and this information will help School Districts find schools but suppliers whose values match their own. Finally we updated our master grant terms and conditions to make clear you cant use e. P. A. Funds to oppose union organizing, period. [applause] so we made some progress, we want to go even further and for e. P. A. , this signing of the m. O. U. Is not just the beginning of our efforts, its a commitment to ensure that the transition to a clean any is a Just Transition with a strong emphasis on good jobs. We cant do it alone, we appreciate the support of the department of labor and everybody in this room. On behalf of administrator regan were proud to sign this today. Thank you very much. [applause] [applause] julie all right. And now, i want to invite the amazing, the historic, the impact. Secretary deb haaland of the department of interior to come up and talk about all the work shes doing. [applause] deb hello, everyone. I am so proud to be here, proud to to partake in this amazing event and its an honor to join all of you, thank you so much, acting secretary su, my friend and colleague, for hosting us, and thank you to and colleague for hosting us and thank you for sharing your stories because the stories are what move us forward and so happy to meet you as well. These are stories of how the families sustaining job creation can combat environmental injustice and advanced the Clean Energy Economy. So thank you again. Since day one of the Biden Harris Administration and the department of the interior has lived the way in creating good paying jobs in the Clean Energy Economy that so many of us are working to provide for our country and its future. With funding from the president s investing in america agenda we are putting Historic Resources into the workforce throughout s the nation to suppt conservation, legacy pollution cleanup, Outdoor Recreation and the collective effort to address the Climate Crisis. Im thrilled that our new memo memorandum of understanding with of the department of labor will support cooperative efforts to help us draw on the strength and creativity of every worker in america. We are making clear that when we invest in our people and strengthen working families we see Economic Growth that benefits all americans in all of america. Key to this effort is historic 16 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law tota tackle legacy pollution. This is critical to lift up communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustices. In the puebla the laguna is one of these and we are still dealing with the aftereffects of the mind that left behind damage that ruined the health of so many people. Its rewarding to travel the country to see cleanup get underway in communities that have been left behind. Its especially rewarding to know that these local communities have a direct say in how this work gets accomplished. On a recent trip to pittsburgh a Small Business owner told me that hes been able to nearly double the wages of his workers and expect us to higher even more employees because of the amount of work generated by these funds and we are just getting started. As we make new funding available, we are encouraging states to use project Labor Agreements and Union Workforce to keep trained workers and Economic Opportunities atni the center. Our Clean Energy Goals also present enormous opportunities for new families sustaining jobs through innovative stipulations and bidding credits, we are launching a robust resilient offshore wind of supply chain and the jobs that come with it. We are already seeing success with the administrations commercial offshore wind projects which are being built with union labor. Just last week the Departments Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved wind one the third offshore wind project which is expected to create more than 3,000 good paying jobs. We are excited about this that will help put workers and communities at the center of the clean energy transmission. Thank you all so much again for joining us today. Thank you for sticking with us and thank you for everything you do for the communities now and in the future. Thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] thank you all so much for being here. [applause]