Transcripts For CSPAN2 Transportation 20240706

Testified on oversight and Infrastructure Investment. Topics include the recent recall of more than 2,000,000 t vehicles due to safety concerns with the autopilot system. Electric vehicle charging station infrastructure, highspeed rail, and Vehicle Safety standards. The hearing was held before house transportation and infrastructure subcommittee. [inaudible conversations] the subcommittee on highway internal condors are asking in the sense of the german golfers to declare recess at the time during todays hearing. Without objection, so ordered. Also ask consent members not on the subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at the days inn and ask questions without objection. So ordered. If members wish to insert a document into the record is also email it. Ask unanimous consent to enter a letter from senator capito and several other senators and a press release on senator cramer into the record. Without objection and so ordered. I never like it has myself for the purposes of an Opening Statement for five minutes. Good morning and i think each of our witness of thing you today. The under the administrators beforeni us represent the full scope of the jurisdiction of the subcommittee on highways and transit. However, despite the subcommittee software get a bipartisan oversight efforts we have not had any mogul administrative before us since 2019. Todays witnesses can help provide clarity on mood issues related to the limitation of the for such investment and jobs act, as they are people and programs represent play a pivotal role in the department of transportations efforts to enact this legislation. We marked to you since the passage of iija which brightest work for an increase for americas infrastructure including over half a trillion dollars for programs under the subcommittees gestation. Iija is increase bundy, great new programs with the eligibility and increase by nearly 500 did not that of competitive Grant Funding the secretary will award. Ded was the most under the committees jurisdiction and creates approximately 80 compared to the last authorization bills fixing americas surface transportation act. Since i became transportation and Infrastructure Projects into the companies that provide the services in those sectors have not been immune to these costs. The prices of materials with Construction Equipment and labor have all remained high since the passage. In september the federal Highway Administration released updated data for the Construction Cost index with federal highways now in the First Quarter of 2023 the Construction Index reached an alltime high. Further according to the Transportation Bureau of transportation statistics highway construction increased nine of the last ten quarters compared to the last quarter of 2020 the Construction Costs increased 53. 8 . The purchasing power provided therefore greatly diminished not only my concern about the inflationary pressures, but as i have said many times before the administrations focus should be on enacting the legislation is written, not on the progressive policy proposals that didnt make it into the final. The day before thanksgiving when im sure all of us were refreshing the website waiting for an important proclamation, the fhwa announced it had finalized to create a new Greenhouse Gas performance measure to cut the tailpipe emissions stemming from transportation on the national highway system. I understand you have been tasked with tackling Climate Change first in your core measurements against the concern is during the consideration the policy proposal is expressly excluded and the legislation. Theres simply no congressional mandate or provided authority to take this action. Another example dot with direction from the policy offices using the discretionary Grant Programs to layer on the requirements that do not exist in statute and while we received a press release after press release announcing funding rewards these are not legally binding documents. I think we can all agree that it has plenty of Strings Attached by congress. Theres no reason to add even more at the agency level. Im also very concerned at the extremely slow rate they are being negotiated around the parties have signed according to the numbers. They advertise that youre making grants but it isnt going out the door and projects arent being done. I could go on but i would reiterate the message from the stakeholders theres the risk of delaying critical transportation projects that are necessary to move people safely and efficiently through the country even though i did not support, its of the law and i will ensure the resources provided are addressing the most pressing safety infrastructure supply chain needs, which i know is a shared bipartisan goal of all of us in the room today. The bill was not a blank check for this administration to pursue social or Environmental Policies unrelated to the nations Transportation System. The committee will work with dot end of the agencies represented to ensure the dollars are spent wisely and prudently on the Infrastructure Improvements the nation requires. I think the witnesses for appearing today and i look forward to a productive dialogue and recognizes the Ranking Member for five minutes for an Opening Statement. I would like to thank the subcommittee chair for holding would like to thank subcommittee chair crawford for holding this investment on the implantation of the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act. It was one of the most important bills enacted last congress. Within our subcommittees providedion it 365 billion for highways, 108 billion, for transit 43 billion, for multimodal grants, and 13 billion dollars for highway and motor carrier safety. The work of our subcommittee help set the bar high here many of the funding levels of Infrastructure Investment and jobs act are similar to what we proposed in the invest act. Two years in we are seeing the success of the law across the country. This past summer the National Capital region Transit Agency, the Washington Electric metropolitan area receive 104 main dollars grant from the federal Transit Administration to purchase zeroemission buses, convert an existing Maintenance Facility to Serve Electric buses, and training its workforce to operate and maintain electric buses. I thank administrator fernandez in the Biden Administration for this investment in good jobs and cleaner act for our region. Success stories like this are playing out across the nation. Every member in this room today, whether they voted for the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act or not, has at least one project funded in their Congressional District. As implementation continues, our country will seek safer transportation, improve mobility, a cleaner environment, and better access for all communities. Much work remains to be done. America is experiencing an epidemic of traffic fatalities which is falling disproportionately on pedestrians, cyclists, and communities of color. I look forward to hearing from each of our witnesses about their work to prevent these fidelitys. We must reckon with the rise of new technology. Such as Autonomous Vehicles and what it means for the workforce. Our workers are the backbone of our Transportation Network. As new technologies become prevalent we must ensure we protect jobs and w give workersa seat at the table here we must also work to. Mitigate the impat of our Transportation System on the environment. Transportation is the largest source of Greenhouse Gas emissions in the United States. Our transportation policies and programs must be reformed accordingly. Expanding access to transit, walking and biking infrastructure is a key part of the solution. I also support the federal Highway Administrations new requirement as as a tractor y emissions and make plans to reduce them. This requirement is derived from authority provided by congress in 2012 and is a critical step in the right direction. I also appreciate the department of transportation wide efforts to improve equity and address the decades of harm caused by our Transportation System to lowincome communities and communities of color. I urge the department to ensure the neighborhood access and Equity Funding approved by this committee as part of the Inflation Reduction Act is quickly put to use. Thank you to our witnesses today. I appreciate your diligent work to implement the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act and the diverse and thoughtful perspectives you bring to thect challenges ahead. I look forward to todays discussion. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, ms. Norton. And i would recognize chairman gray. Hes been and will be with us for this particular hearing so i now recognize the reiki rr of the full committee mr. Larsen for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I want to thank the chair and Ranking Member for having the same today. I want to welcome all the dot witnesses and thanks for bridges but in the subcommittee in today. About your work to implement bil. The bipartisan infrastructure law and t the scene is another opportunity to highlight how these federal infrastructure dollars are benefiting communities and helping usin to build a cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible Transportation System. Congress provided 530 billion in the dollars in the bil for roads and bridges transit buses areas and other infrastructure needs under the subcommittees jurisdiction. Investmenttm level a number of w initiatives in the bil far exceeds previous transportation bills and congress had a dot a tall order in the permitting this legislation. Given the first two must cisco use of the big of the department to shoot over 180 billion in highway funds and 40 billion and transit funds to states and localities. Funding has gone out under more than three dozen competitive Grant Programs, and more is on the way. Just this morning the department announced awards for the safe Streets Program totaling 110 millionli for 385 projects nationwide including, and youll be surprised when you talk about this, three in my district. Yes, indeed totaling about 1. 4 million to the city and county develop roadway safety daction plans and the engine Business Council to test nine safety demonstration projects. Yesterday the department announced awards for teaching projects under the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program which totaled 645 million. This funding will help world committees reconstruct roads and freight infrastructure to make them safer and moreak accessibl. I highlight these awards and nasa because they clinton street how communities across the years are receiving benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure law. It also seen the benefits in this law from creation of jobs. Dollars transit do projects on the ground and jobs for American Workers. Septemberer 23 these dollar support over 60,000 thousand highway projects alone according to an analysis by the american boat and transportation builders association. Theres at least one new project underway in every Congressional District in the country. The bil, the department has awarded 25 million and raise grants to the account my district replaced asphyxiationyearold ivan 30. Project success and of the projects across the country means jobs, jobs with good wages, benefits and working conditions for transportation workers and manufacturers. Bil means more jobs in the transportation construction, transit, trucking, aviation, rail and maritime sectors. Without these investment the economy would be in far worse shape. We are only two years to a fiveyear bill, the department has invested in projects across the country and there is more to come. Now congress has the job of conducting oversight of implementation efforts by dot, state dot, project sponsors and industry to ensure these projects are delivered quickly and effectively and a lot a supplement in line. Congressss direct investment in bil to address many things including addressing Climate Change and reducing Carbon Pollution. We directed investments to improve safety and equity outcomes on our Transportation Networks. We want to butor more decisionmaking power in the hands of local committees whose country to know there ever such a best of these and other changes are now enhance the dod to execute your ipod efforts to date on the front and the subsequent address take onte a high rate of death to prioritize and reconsideration grants and that your Disadvantaged Business Enterprises reap the benefits of being a fun and tomato reduce Carbon Pollution from transportation sources as provided in transportation law dating back a decade. Nii welcome this Opportunity One again acknowledge that some of its infrastructure benefits each of ourtr dishes and constituents are reaping. The committee continues to living Bipartisan Solutions for all americans. I want to thank the witnesses for the service and for guiding your agencys and priorities, and then other priorities coax us as you to implement. Ik look forward to todays discussion. With that i give expert thank you ranked member. I want to welcome our newest member of the subcommittee, ms. Maloy from utah. With us andeing welcome to the subcommittee. Now i want to welcome our witnesses and thank themm for being you today. The honorable carlos monje under such a transportation for policy office of secretary of transportation. Honorable shailen bhatt, administrative federal Highway Administration if the honorable Maria Fernanda minister for federal transportation administration. The honorable Robin Hutcheson administrator federal motor carrier Safety Administration, and ann carlson acting administrator national Highway Safety Traffic Safety administration. Briefly i probably dontat haveo go intont great detail picking w these lights were. Green means go. Yellow means upon the gas because its fixing to turn red. That means you run out of time period due to the nature of the Committee Hearings that we have five witnesses, we ask you to strictly due to the five minutes if you hear this little sound, that means you are exceeding your fiveminute a lot of time and well ask you to wrap quickly so we can get onto the next witness and then to member questions. I ask unanimous consent that the witnesses full status included in the record. Without objections order to ask mens consent the record of todays are and remain open such time as a witness provide answers to questions that may be submitted in writing. Without objection, so ordered. I also asked in an miss consent to back remain open for 15 days for any additional comments and information submitted by member or witness it be included in the record in todays thing. T without objection, so ordered. As you written test and has been a part of the record the subcommittee ask you limitou yor oral remarks to five minutes. With that, mr. Undersecretary, you are recognized for five minutes. Graves, Ranking Member larsen, chair crawford, Ranking Member norton and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in for your support as we continue to build a stronger, safer Transportation System. Last month of the administrations of the radar second year of implementing the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act through which weve already implemented 37 new programs and announced funding for more than 40,000 projects and counting in every corner of the country. The department has continued its history of accountability, responsibility and financial stewardship. The team behind the dot implementation efforts 182023 samuel j service to america metal. Its the Public Servants and the work doesnt stop. Just this week as mentioned we announced 650,000,018 projects in rural areas to reconstruct or replace critical roads, bridges and upgrade freight hubs and expand services. I would like to share a few notable examples of how we are delivering on these priorities. Safety is the departments top priority and in 2022, the secretary announced an ambitious goal of zero roadway deaths. Through the departments national roadway Safety Strategy, the infrastructure law gave unprecedented resources to invest across the country. Under the safe streets they are already benefiting 70 of the nations population. Earlier today the secretary announced another 817,000,385 projects to continue helping communities with safety improvements like enhanced crosswalks and improved lighting. We are also making the roads and railways safer by improving risky rail crossing advancing lifesaving technologies like automated emergency braking and expanding the availability of truck parking. We are doing all this first and foremost so our loved ones make it to holiday dinners and make sure the simple act of walking into the Grocery Store keep workers as safe as they can be. Preventing crashes also benefits our economy, complementing the Administration Efforts to provide American Workers and businesses access to resources and markets in good paying union jobs. We are strengthening americas trucking workers creating pathways for more drivers through apprenticeship programs. Meanwhile investing in our network improving the ports and investing 40 billion to replace and upgrade the bridges across the country including the Memorial Bridge right here in washington and between kentucky and ohio. The second worst projects in the country. Infrastructure investments like these are critical to making the supply chains more efficient which ultimately cuts costs for consumers and drives down inflation. Its going to help holiday presents arrive on time, keep the store shelves stocked and provide access to jobs, schools and other vital destinations. As we work to improve the safety of the Transportation System and strengthen it as a core driver of the nations economy, we are mindful that the investments must reach everyone especially in communities that historically have been left out of meaningful investments. That means rural and tribal communities and communities of color. New programs created by the infrastructure law to reconnect the communities that were divided by transportation structures. Capping the interstates to reconfiguring the changes to extending the Transit Service so people can get to their destination safely and easily. We also know Smaller Government agencies face a steep learning curve as they try to navigate federal funding landscapes. Thats why we are providing technical tools and organizational capacities leveraging the experience of the nonprofits, academia and the private sector to help disadvantaged and under resourced communities to compete for federal aid and to deliver the project is once they get it all in the effort to accelerate the benefit of those investments. Through this work we are building a more efficient and resilient system while cutting Carbon Pollution and creating jobs. For example we are investing in modernizing more than doubling the number of zero emission buses on the roadways while creating good paying jobs, manufacturing operations, maintenance. Also state and local governments to create convenient, reliable affordable and Equitable National charging networks which is already spurring private sector investments. These generational investments will benefit the entire nation from its cities to the most remote communities. Whether you walk, roll, drive we are committed to making the transportation experience safer, cleaner, more affordable, more reliable and efficient. We are committed to working alongside congress to deliver on these promises to the American People. Thank you again. I look forward to your questions. Thank you. You are recognized for five minutes. Thank you, chairman crawford. Ranking member larson and Ranking Member of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. It represents a once in a Generation Investment in the nations infrastructure. Competitiveness communities of resistance to Climate Change and the reduction act provides historic investments and new opportunities for both of the Clean Energy Economy that creates good jobs and lowers cost for all working families. The dedication of the federal Highway Safety Administration Staff in delivering on the promise of these historic investments when the american publics inspiring. Ive always said to the transportation entity exists for two reasons to save lives and make peoples lives better. The Mission Begins and ends with safety. Last month i dream state and local officials at the sight of a fire that took place under a section of i ten near Downtown Los Angeles resulting in a closure in both directions. Within days, the announced the Immediate Availability of 3 million seeing quick phones for use by caltrans to offset the costs of emergency prepared work. At the offer support to state and local officials and provide Technical Assistance to help respond to the closure of this vital corridor. Eighty days after the fire i was pleased to join officials as Governor Newsom announced the reopening of the i ten freeway. In june they provided to similar levels of Emergency Support to open i95 in philadelphia in record time after the tragic tanker truck explosive that resulted in loss of life in a partial collapse of a bridge. In addition to safety, fhwa work is guided by an initiative we refer to is driven for the 21st century. There are six aspects, delivery, resilience, values, equity. It is this first aspect of driven delivery that i would like to focus on today. While everyone celebrates receiving a grant award, we are committed to turning those into successful projects. Thanks to bill and ira we have the major funding necessary for the Transportation System. Fhwa has taken actions supporting implementation of projects that improve safety and peoples lives including distributing more than 180 billion in highway and formula funding to states and issued notices of the funding opportunities for approximately 14. 7 million in available funds. We are currently administering 1500 grants totaling approximately 10 million across 15 discretionary programs with more to come. I recognize pressure can present challenges for project sponsors, but this is not a unique challenge for u. S. Transportation projects. I previously served in a Global Transportation rule and inflation is the challenge we are dealing with on transportation projects globally. We are aware of these challenges and recognize time is money which is why we are continuing to develop ontime and on budget. The success of the bill is dependent on the streamline funding to recipients. They stood up a new Permanent Team to oversee the matters and implement a process we continue to refine to increase efficiency and transparency thereby benefiting the delivery of new projects. The bipartisan infrastructure law is funding throughout the country that will deliver results for the Transportation System and americans as a whole. The Bridge Investment Program announced in january, 2023 included 1. 35 billion to rehabilitate and reconfigure the existing to improve interstate and local traffic flow between the interconnected regions on either side of the ohio river. Its focused on strong engagement with states and locals as they deliver the many projects funded by the bill. Ranging from Small Projects to large complex projects. For example, key members of fhwa members team and myself are in regular communication with ohio and kentucky leadership to ensure the critical project stays on track. As administrator ive had the privilege to travel around the country to see and hear how the immediate need for savers successfully and resilient transportation. The transformational funding enabled to create a system that delivers for the economy and all of our people while getting individuals to their destinations. Theres no democratic roads or republican bridges transportation binds us all together which is why we must work with each other to support the common good. Fhwa remains committed to the task. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. We would be happy to answer any questions. Can you hit your microphone, maam. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about the bipartisan exceptional law. The hard at work delivering the first two years of the largest investment and Public Transportation in American History making available nearly 40 billion in the transit operators communities nationwide. That is on top of the continued administration of the critical Emergency Relief Fund all told we have invested more than 63 billion and almost 9,000 projects since november of 21. And our work is far from done. In arkansas thanks to the bipartisan law, theres nearly 2 million to harbor these electric buses. From the Cheyenne River tribes in south dakota is 600,000 transit grants that means more reliable trips expanding the transit across the 4200 square mile reservation. The trains, buses, fairy and equipment to maintain and modernize them are being made in america and over a thousand companies nationwide. The Capital Investment Grant Program also continues to building a Community Building and projects from 240 million in minneapolisst. Paul to expanding successful Transit Networks into historically underserved communities to 150 million in the pittsburgh building highcapacity bus transit along one of the busiest corridors in the city. Both will reduce traffic and emissions and help thousands to get the job and schooling healthcare. Carefully following the ridership nationwide. In the past two years it increased from 77 of pre covid levels. As agencies better understand Community Needs and the just service for those needs, they are seeing above pre pandemic levels. Agencies large and small have redesigned the bus routes creating Better Service outside of traditional hours and provide equity of opportunity. To help the progress they funded 50 products in 24 states to plan and adapt. Communities including some of the largest cities still face physical challenges and trends transit operation. However providing the transportation for the people of the nation is not a responsibility we can simply decline. As a President Bidens expanded flexibility in how the federal transit funds can keep america moving. In the lives of some, its important to the big cities. Yet urban areas are using increased transit investments to enhance regional economies. However it provides more than economic value to urban, rural and suburban communities across the country. It also shows a moral commitment to leaving no american behind. For every commuter if they are advised to a medical equipment of the hospital. Or a College Student heading to class a small town worker both take the bus to a successful future and for every millennial writing transit for the job in the big city a little baby boomers freedom to grow old in her hometown. In mississippi the funding in the Rural Communities. A woman and jackson told me about her husband who was in the hospital. She had a doctors appointment and he normally drove her and for the first time she used ondemand transit. Her house on a dirt road that doesnt even have a name. The driver picked her up, took her to the doctor and returned her home. She says she never thought she would be one of those people that needed to the services we support. Like millions, she discovered transit when she needed it most. Thanks through the bipartisan infrastructure law people are experiencing more freedom thanks to more service. We still have work. Decades of underinvestment created 105 billiondollar backlog. Manufacturing vehicles need to become more efficient and less expensive and transitioning to zero emissions requires increasing transit workforce. They are working to meet all these challenges. We are also working against the transit workers because this is unacceptable that any Public Servant should worry whether they will return home safely. For every dollar invested, five dollars of value is created and the impact is not only fell to the bottom line. Its measured at the bottom step. When they exit through open doors into a wide world of opportunity thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law the world is closer than ever as we build more american vehicles and train more workers and the opportunities they offer. I look forward to your questions today. Thank you. Thank you. Administrator hutchison you are recognized. Thank you, chairman crawford, Ranking Member, member larsson and the Ranking Member Holmes Norton for your leadership on the subcommittee and to all committee members, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your ongoing partnership. When i was confirmed as administrator of the federal fel motor carrier Safety Administration, there was an unprecedented the spotlights not only on the trucking and motor industry but on the men and women driving that industry. The Truck Drivers coming off the heels of the pandemic americans are now acutely aware of the impact from the long haul with 75 of the goods annually, the School Bus Drivers taking our children to school and to the city drivers picking up our recycling, theres no doubt that drivers are essential to our daily lives. Today im happy to report that we have kept that spotlight shining on the industry as we carry out our mission to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. The safety affects those not only whose lives were lost, but the family members and loved ones for the grief of loss. We can and must do better. The industry is supported by the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law. I want to thank you for the opportunity to work on this unprecedented investment which ive allowed to achieve the goal of zero fatalities on the nations and to support the goal of the department of transportation safety, economic strength, equity, climate and transformation. We continue to work with our state and local government across the country on the critical goal leveraging the increased resources. The formula and discretionary grants by prioritizing, dedicating resources to high crash corridors, work zones. Im closing loopholes to prevent unsafe drivers and carriers from ever being on the road. Truck drivers are essential safety partners. The safest are those that have been in the industry the longest. We need to understand why our drivers leaving the industry. Ive written along. At the municipal drivers in alaska posted listening sessions with stakeholders and asked these questions. We know drivers need to feel safe, have access to training and to be well compensated to enter and stay in the industry. Theyve taken that and leveraged the bipartisan to assist and the nations supply chain by creating a better, safer, high highflying driver and improving the recruitment. The assistance undermines as it sits at the intersection of economic strength and equity. The Advisory Board understands violence, harassment, discrimination for women entering and remaining in the industry. We created action items to reduce the barriers because the fact is we cant leave any talent on the table. We have implemented requirements to ensure drivers entering have a minimum level of training. We advise. Members of the underserved communities and others safely operating the commercial vehicle so they may enter the industry. The infrastructure law Grant Funding to expedite commercial drivers license issuances. And since 2021, theyve issued over 1. 3 commercial drivers licenses. Weve also launched initiatives to study predatory leasing arrangements, Detention Time and worked with our departmental colleagues to address truck parking. Theyve increased efforts to combat is Strategic Plan for fraudulent household activities including the launch of the campaign. It spans 16 states and resulted in 700 closed complaints and a 30 reduction. Finally, weve dedicated the funding and the resources to prevent human trafficking. Underscoring the safety and equity goal. With of the work we focus on prevention and your historic investments and safety is unique to our crashes. Thank you for the opportunity to share our work and our successes and implementing the bipartisan infrastructure law. Thank you, administrator. You are recognized for five minutes. Thank you. Ranking member larson, Ranking Member norton and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for coming to testify today. The efforts under the leadership of the secretary to fulfill the agencys important Safety Mission. Every person has been crushed by crashes. Many of us including myself have lost loved ones, friends or family to a crash. Everyone knows someone who has been injured. Thats why this touches every person every day. We are committed to making the roads safer for everyone, preventing crashes and reducing fatalities, injuries and the Economic Cost of crashes on the roads. Today, im pleased. For january through september, 2023 which projects the traffic fatalities declined for that sixth street quarter and they seek 4. 5 for the same time 2022. Optimistic we are seeing a reversal of a record high fidelity seen in the pandemic isnt a cause for celebration. An estimated 19,515 people died in Motor Vehicle traffic crashes in the first half of 2023. A devastating loss the secretary has rightly called the crisis on our the Safety System approach and the Safety Strategy. The only acceptable number of fatalities is zero. Getting 20 will require consistent dedicated focus and work, Safety Advocates and the private sector. One way we are working toward zero fatalities is using the remarkable new resources congress provides in the bipartisan infrastructure law. And thank you for increasing the overall budget by more than 50 . We continue to work as quickly as possible on these projects and rules to save lives and to meet our statutory obligations. Weve issued a proposed rule to require automatic emergency braking and pedestrian. We issued a proposal including for tractortrailers and when deployed these technologies should dramatically reduce rear end crashes, save more than 500 lives, prevent more than 33,000 injuries per year. Theyve also proposed significant outbreaks and a bill in 2022 when we issued the final adaptive driving rule. We are also working with of the state and those communities affected by traffic. Its worth noting for example while 20 of live in rural areas, they accounted for 40 of all traffic fatalities in 2021. Every decision and also informs our approach to the technologies including automated driving systems and advanced driver assistance. Promoting innovation while prioritizing the strong Safety Culture is at the heart of the work and is evolving this sector. Innovation and safety need to go handinhand. A robust Safety Culture builds public trust and advances technologies and automatic vehicles. We are using the authorities on making sure we advanced technologies that make the vehicle and roadways safer. Finally, they take the enforcement responsibilities very seriously. So far this year we have opened 40 defense investigations, closed 28 investigations and overseen more than 900 and safety recalls for vehicles, car seats, tires and other equipment. And you may have seen todays news that after an extensive investigation into crashes involving auto pilots, tesla agreed to recall the more than 2 million vehicles on the road in the United States. Our office is up in 13 criminal investigations this year. A small agency with a big mission and safety at the heart of everything we do. They all deserve to arrive home to their loved ones safe and sound at the end of every day. I think the committee for the support in the lifesaving mission and i look forward to answering your questions and continuing to work with you to save lives on americas roads. Thank you. I think all the witnesses with your testimony and we now begin the member portion. I recognize myself for five minutes. So im with administrator. They recently released a final rule to allow the states and planning organizations to establish a new performance measure with declining targets for the Carbon Dioxide emission attributed to the national highway system. In pursuit of the final rule despite the fact that congress considers. How can you continue to its consistent with the law were given the fact it wasnt where it was considered and ultimately excluded. I want to be clear we are always consistent and follow the law. In this case the authority is laid out. We track about 17 measures given the Authority Congress has measured so we are using that to now track which is called out. Not only was the requirement before but it was also previously included and later omitted and that is the basis for the Inflation Reduction Act. If the administration believes it has existing authority to impose the requirement, then why does the administration continue to seek this authority through legislation . Thank you for that. I wasnt part of the negotiation i would say from my estate experience in delaware and colorado, we dealt with fires and floods in colorado, tornadoes in tennessee and kentucky during my time. I think it is pretty obvious from the infrastructure perspective, we are dealing with climate from infrastructure from the 20th century that does not consist with the 21st century so we are asking students to begin tracking without penalizing them, but to track the amount that comes from the Transportation Systems. So, just to be clear this particular point was specifically addressed in the proceedings, both the housing of the senate. It was specifically rejected as a part of the final package. And yet you are citing a previous authority under map 21. So does that mean that you can pick and choose when we passed the law that supersedes the old law that if you can basically pick and choose we dont like this particular provision, so we are going to go back to a previous iteration of authorization that allows some authority that we do like. In my understanding that correctly . Chairman, just to be clear, we are following the law that was laid out in map 21 so i would say the measure that allows us to measure 17 performance measures. You are following map 21. Even though the reauthorization, so this looks to me like a deliberate attempt which was expressly addressed and that particular provision was taken out and not considered as a final passage was on the floor of the house and on the floor of the senate. But youve gone back to map 21 is your underlining authority to implement something that was expressly refused in the current authorizations of that is what i want to make sure we understood that correctly. But we move on to another topic. I have a memo here. You were copied on that issue. After the vehicles of trust. It indicates the product will not result in the adverse impact but rather will help reduce rear end crashes. It goes on to say in the equivalent or greater level of safety likely to be achieved finally the memo makes clear the waiver is warranted for the use of the brake lights and my question for you is this issue with some clarity believes in the general pulsating brake lights and mentioned in the memo it is willing to work with nhtsa. Why is nhtsa preventing the industry from these lights on trucks that would prevent rear end accidents and make things safer. I appreciate the question, chairman. Let me start by saying theres a federal safety standard 108 that requires study earning rights and thats a requirement that needs to be followed by manufacturers and dealers. It does prevent the installation by the dealers. They can install them so long as it is consistent but cannot be installed by dealers because that would violate based on the safety conclusion and a steady consistent signal to drivers. Okay. Ive run out of time but despite the fact the data that youre aware of and exist your still saying that can happen. Again, not necessarily demonstrating great commitment to safety on thegade highways. I now turn to ms. Norton for five minutes. This question is for mr. Bhatt and ms. Carlson. Our nation is experiencing an epidemic of traffic fatalities, including alarming increases in pedestrian and bicyclists localities. What does the Biden Administration believe is causing this bike infidelities, and what concrete actions is the Department Taking to save lives . Thank you Ranking Member norton. One of the things im most proud of in my crew was when is with the Delaware Department transportation. To fourthom 23rd bicycle friendly states because wewe recognize extra transportation is a critical part of our Transportation Network, making sure people could do it safely. When you look at the data, this is what secretary buttigieg has asked did us to do is look at safe system approach. Their speed, theres distracted driving, this infrastructure. One of our 28 proven safety countermeasures are protected bike lanes. We are also working with states identified vulnerable road user studies in the states. So we look forward to working with them come with that data and alternate over to acting administrator carson. Thank you, congresswoman norton. Let me b start answering by what we think is the call. By providing some data and potential explanation. One of the things we know is 70 of pedestrians are killed at night, and most of them are adults. Pedestrian fatalities among children have actually declined pretty dramatically. We also know most of them are not intersections. As my colleague said, one of the things we are really focus on his infrastructure sidewalks, for example, lighting would be a ehuge improvement. We also know that people are speeding, and obviously if youre hit at higher speeds youre much less likely to survive a pedestrian crash. And drivers are driving distracted much more frequently. So we working on all of those things but lete me give two examples of things that nhtsa is doing to address pedestrian fatalities. One of the most important is our proposed rulemaking for pedestrian automatic emergency braking that would provide vehicles with technology that would identify a pedestrian that the driver did not fantasy. And would also work at night. It would be an extraordinary advancement in Safety Technology and could save hundreds of flights and for the thousands of injuries. In addition with both a proposal making any proposal in new Car Assessment Program that is a five Star Rating Program to add pedestrian protection vehicles in event that a pedestrian is actually hit. Its a gruesome thought but actually vehicles can be made to conserve much more energy and lessen the injury to both legs and head as result of crashes. Of course working with our state partners to receive Highway Safety chris, a little over 5 million for example, to address the a problematic areas where pedestrian the tallies are occurring. Using the data to figure out where the worst intersections, are the lighting problems, infrastructure problems . And then using our safe system approach to try to tackle the problem with every single tool we have. Ms. Hutcheson, one area of concern i here hear for my constituent is Household Goods moving scams. Far too often people going through a move for, are taken advantage of and held their property hot held hostage or lost forever. This can be devastating as they can include the loss of irreplaceable family heirlooms. The fast act created the Household Goods Consumer Protection working group within the federal motor carrier Safety Administration. I plan to introduce a a bill n the new year that will grant the federal motor carrier Safety Administration additional authorities to conduct Household Goods enforcement. Can you describe the agencies ongoing efforts to addresshe moving scams and educate consumers who are working to move . Who are looking to move. Thank you, Ranking Member norton, for the opportunity to t talk about this. Ive heard that wrenching stories from people who have lost everything in household moving scams, a loser whole memories. This is a deeply personal issue. At the beginning of the sheer relaunched strategic action plan. Part of that is operation protect your move that was rolled out this spring. Weve increased awareness. Stepped up our investigations, completing more and more as we go. As a result we closed 700 complaints and weve had a 36 reduction in the number of consumer complaints coming in. Were not going to stop until we bring these numbers down of the complaints that come in. And just for anyone who are separate from this or plans to move, please do check our protect your move website where you can find information on how onto move your goods yourself safely without experiencing this brought. Thank you. I yield back. The gentlewoman yields. Mr. Boston. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Administrator hutcheson, the fncs a has provoked several to limit the speed of commercial vehicles throughout the agencies, throughout the agency, you refer to the research about Stephen Johnson at the university of arkansas. However, doctor johnsons conclusione seem to be different than yours. His research showedho when speed of vehicle is different from the average speed offe other vehicl, intersections, intersection between vehicles increased and so does a chance for an accident. In fact, the chance is increased 220 higher if the vehicle is going ten Miles Per Hour slower than slower than the speed limit. Dr. Johnson even said if regulation is on the bed it is important to noteor that will occur on the basis of supported opinion rather than the defended thehe value, valid and reliable uses of data. Has your agency considered any research to determine what types of crashes would be increased when agency creates b or expanda speed limit or mandate . Thank you, representative, for raising this important issue. The National Strategy to get highspeed or something needs to be addressed at the fact in truck crashes speed is a one of the leading reasons why there are the talent to use on our highways come very often including drivers themselves. We have determined speed with determining factor and not just one but many but chief among them a tragic crash in pennsylvania where four people lost their lives and six people were injured. As you i believe you are aware we are working through a rulemaking process. We received numerous comments. And ive heard about this research about what is called speed differential. I thank you for raising it. The Regulatory Impact weve not yet published notice of proposed rulemaking, it is still in agency review. And the regular tow. Impact analysis will consider the research and this issue specifically. Me tell you the advantage of that having a representative form of government as many of us are actually in other industries around before we come here. Grew up in the trucking business, no as well. Another oneow other member also but hes not here today, he did the same thing. Going to express them because i know you probably never drove a tractor trailer up and down the highway. Thats just an assumption, maybe you have. There are two problems one in the state of illinois on the state legislature the problem was we had one limit for trucks when it limit for cars we did discover through our research they cause more racks then it would if the flow of traffic report. If you have a driver who was a skilled driver and all the sudden is going to get in the situation you have not limited his ability to use his speed to react to get away a to get away and protect change the dynamics in the poor endangering people rather than saving them to work you have a limiter does allow a professional driver to make the decisions to speed up to get out of the way was the colorado situation that might be in front of so something you should consider as well. I have a question i want to ask because its completely n. Different. Ive heard Motor Carriers that brought us involved, that gamers. Scammers. People are claiming to be Truck Drivers, there is are trying to find loads, the broker comes in and gets in the middle of the supply chain issue and the broker the load. Load. Ready to be paid for longer in existence you can no longer find them. Can be dealing with as far as the fraud that is occurring and or owner operators . One thing for great big company. Smaller companies cannot take that. I appreciate your experience in the industry we unequivocably share your concern about the impact of fraud the industry and specifically broker fraud. We are taking steps. First and foremost we issued a financial responsibility rule will ensure security limits for brokers has increased to 75000. We know its not enough. We are also taking steps for transparency and transaction. Working very closely and others. Thank you for a quick thank you my time has expired because of judgment yields mr. Larson . Thank you mr. Chair. For fear of being may be criticized later we are nearly an hour into this conversation know it yet has said stop spending money and creating jobs in my district. Good job creating jobs in the benefits and projects in the districts. Now having said that i have a few questions. First off you mentioned your testimony regarding the tesla recall can you describe the action briefly describe the actions it took leading up to the filing of the recall notice please . On the microphone please. Thank you for the question. Let me start by acknowledging a number of people have died in tesla crafters were autopilot was on. Frequently this crashes involved what appeared to be a driver not realizing there is an obstacle that appeared kind of suddenly in front of it. When i kept hearing about tesla crashes my Immediate Response was we have to do something about this. In august of 2020 when the Agency Launch an investigation pretty want to give you the complexity of requesting not to her questions for others be quicker. Thank you. We examined over 900 crashes. 322 of those involved frontal impact crashes and things were autopilot was engaged. One of the things we determine your drivers not always paying attention when it was on. Tesla has agreed to the recall. We appreciate they have agreed to it. I will just read what it says in and that i will stop. It says Software System may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse. Theyll be issuing my buddies to address that problem. That problem for the interaction between the system and the driver is not sufficiently attune to effect the driver could tune out when he or she is driving her back thanks. Much broader implications beyond what tesla is doing as well in the future when it comes use this technology for any vehicle. Passenger or otherwise protects absolutely. Bil takes climates seriously. It provides the charging structure. The buildout has been on the chart the federal dollars. Can you provide an update on this funding and where were going to be going to move this role out on charging more quickly . Thank you Ranking Member at larson. Yes absolutely. I would say we have taken two years to stand up the program. We know ohio open the first federally funded electric charge charger last week. New york is going to join later this week. Maine, vermont, pennsylvania, hawaii is coming soon. I would say we are expecting thousands of chargers to be coming online picnics why the pace didnt expect him day one but why day 730 . 1. 2 trillion dollars in the buy part of an infrastructure law. One out of four flows through federal highways. Of that 7. 5 billion we have to write rules, work with states, work at the private sector. Short of a joint office with doe. So we could do this right the first time. That is what we are doing. Cook soon to continue to watch a very closely. We talked in the past about various groundbreaking you have awarded funds for seven projects so far for electric or low admitting we have a large system in the country measured bite bypeople moved and vehicles mov. What other kind of interest racing in that program and are there Lessons Learned or policy challenges that we need to consider is were looking forward . Thank you very much for question Ranking Member larson. Heartrate programs are critical to coastal communities and the grade in the bipartisan infrastructure law the low admitting electric flirt will really help them prove and expand the service while supporting the environmental goals of the community. Very low admitting program we stood up that program very quickly. This is our last week. I issued the release of the grant awards for the second round 220 million the 13 projects in eight states. Those dollars are going to start a revolution of transformation of the program. As a matter fact, the first u. S. Electric theory is being built right now in the state of rhode island and providence. That will be the beginning of manufacturing on a low admitting fairies that help transit agencies that effective fairies as part of their mobility option to get this out and deploy projects thank you. It might be the first thing he asked but its not first in the world there are plenty of electric fairies being operated around the country the Science Fiction is real its about time he is caught up with that so without a yield backward to sediment yields mr. Johnson. Of course are a number of important investments being made as per the infrastructure package for week you want to make sure those investments do not strengthen our adversaries. You are all familiar with the technology of uses laser light to map our surroundings we deploy the stuff in increasing measure across our transportation infrastructure. So airports, ports, and Autonomous Vehicles. As we make these massive investments in deploying this Important Technology we want to make sure not creating vulnerabilities for the Chinese Communist party most americans probably do not realize the extent to which the chinese comments party has used a number of tactics to be a major Market Leader in this technology the identified chokepoints they have wanted to own which gives them a certain amount of coercive power over this infrastructure. And it is not just me a recent Congressional Research Service Study indicated that yes indeed the Chinese Communist party could use this exquisite mapping capability to be able to gain additional power and exploit these vulnerabilities. That is one reason those of us on the select many on china yesterday morning passed a report that called for us to try to de risk or exposure, our vulnerabilities to the prc used in and dominated technology of course they want the technology we just want to make sure we are investing in the technology in way that is not strengthen our adversaries. So for the undersecretary, for the administrator, any thoughts on what dot is doing to educate its team and contractors about the fact we do not want to give the prc anymore coercive power over our country and how we deploy . Congressman i would love to turn over too active actiq admir carlson in a moment cybersecurity and in concern with the peoples republic of china is spot on. We are in constant communication with the National Security team with the Treasury Department as they do analyses of different transactions to make sure that as we are deploying this technology on our nations roadways that they are resilient against attacks which we see thousands and thousands a day its not only light it is also pnt the signal we get from space. We are again in constant communication and secretary buttigieg has directed our Department Led by the Research Team of my organization or chief Information Officer to make sure we are tracking threats and helping oem partners to the same. Couples try to get specific in case people think either the undersecretary or ir fear mongering secures the independent nonpartisan statement from the crs. China could use data compiled by prc systems to require Sensitive Information or exquisite mapping of u. S. Infrastructure we really are talk about exquisite you think about every object in the Transportation System. Its location, its speed, how all of these things fit together. What unbelievable detailed and frankly dangerous information about her Transportation System. Other specific actions are government is taking to make sure we are not just buying Technology Managed by the prc and their partners . I share your concern has some authority right there i will say across the federal government. One thing we have a list has been provided to us by other agencies of the federal government from the technologies. With relation to the Customs Service and try to ensure that. We also worked very closely with our automotive partners on cybersecurity. We have something which is a model for industrywide cooperation in trying to reduce cybersecurity threats. Ive spoken at the last two National Meetings in part to convey the importance of this issue. Weve been working close with the department of commerce on these questions as well. Again we share your concerns these are serious ones progress mr. Turman as amount of time i would note i think information is heartening from the automotive perspective i do think ports, airports be of a lot of other work to do a look forward to working with their panels on that and then hell they yield agood gentleman heel, mr. Menendez. The impact in new jerseys infrastructure cannot be understated the fda announced 4 billion in grants for Passenger Rail and new jerseys Congressional District through program authorized and funded by. These funds will allow key parts of the Gateway Program to advance. Im excited to see the projects benefit our district. Look forward to working with her witnesses to them for their of this critical legislation. Administer fernandez earlier this year had led 140 member bipartisan let urge to take action to protect Public Transit operators from assault her test might note fta will soon be announcing a directive on required actions regarding assault on transit workers. Im encouraged to see the fta engage on this issue. Administer fernandez can you speak more on the general directive and how it will protect transit workers from assault . Representative menendez thank you so very much for that question. Let me begin by saying the attack on operators is un excusable. These are the same individuals that were celebrated for being heroes during the pandemic. They went to work so people could get to their jobs, essential workers. Congress directed federal Transit Administration to create and to publish but tragic worker safety from the first day of this administration we are moving forward with getting publication under way. I would start by saying secretary buttigieg the first week on the job and i have met not only with the operators we take this very seriously taking full advantage of the authorities we have saved further operators will be holding them accountable how can we hear in congress to discuss transit workers and other road group was users . Thanks for that question. I think the beginning was of course with the funding for the bipartisan infrastructure laws are funding that allows transit agencies to use by releasing into their system. They have officers they can hire personnel, they could implement technology on the security side. In addition to that they can do the training necessary at the federal Transit Administration. In addition to that would holding a series of training on the escalation in developing a prototype to protect operators. What we are doing is a holistic approach. We know theres more to be done but transit agencies have a responsibility to protect the people who work for them. Also they protect those individuals they are protecting the public the jews in the system for. Absolute we look forward to partnering with you in advancing those initiatives. Undersecretary, transportations are working to address a wide braided issues. My district in new jersey we have fraudulent license but several states enacted to address this issue by passing laws to crack down on toll innovators but one barrier of update information technology. For example a state of new york and suspend registration habitual told violators outside entity had to help create new it software. Undersecretary how is it appropriate transportation helping states at modernizer dmvs . Thank you so much congressman. I would love to turn over to my colleagues if its okay with you. They more directly. One of the really wonderful things that congress did the bipartisan way is give us money in order to partner with their states to up their game. Perhaps administrator hutchinson can answer better than i can. Quick slinky representative and thank you to my colleagues for passing it to me. We have issued the bipartisan for structural law while our lives as commercial Motor Vehicles i can say these grants have been used by states to expedite issues. Of traffic convictions and information. For cdl holders because i appreciate that its a big issue as we look at funding for state department of transportation agencies i yield back to chris gentlemens time has expired. This beloit . My first question concerns project delivery time. You said time is money thats andthats why youre committed o helping deliver projects im hearing from people in my district that projects are getting more and more expensive while theyre waiting for permitting what he doing to stream im permitting so projects dont get prohibitively expensive between the time the grant is awarded and when it can be built . Thank you representative malloy and time is money. I absolutely want to get these thisproject underway it under construction. Work closely any permitting needs in place i have a similar question i am hearing the process what is your agency doing to make sure the permitting process is moving so projects can be built before they become too expensive . Thank you very much your question. Those who intend to request funding for their projects. One of these areas that i would like to emphasize is that 99 of the projects that come before us received a categorical excuse solution. These are project affecting the human environment are not subject them through an Environmental Assessment process. That helps expedite. Get projects out sooner. We are also working across the department of transportation on the permitting action plan so we get all projects many have interfaces with other modes of transportation and getting all of those projects out on time. Thank you. Okay, last question. Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program im hearing there are requirements that are being required by the agency that are not an ii ja it is making it difficult to fill all of these slots what are you doing to address that . Are you considering removing the additional requirements . Thank you representative for the question. Our responsibility is to safety first. Weve been rolling out the safe Driver Apprenticeship Program as directed by congress and we are in the process of building drivers in order to complete the 200 drivers who need to have a significant study. We have included safety requirements as directed by congress. For the department of transportation to add Safety Measures to ensure safety. And we have done that. We continue to market, communicate, reach out and we look forward to reporting back to you in a successful program. Think i look forward to the airport thank you yelled back. Quick to judgment yields. Extra blanket member for holding this hearing its important the public knows about whats past how its being implemented. The department of transportation has grants on the 103 programs all of the type of activity the government is supposed to do basic fundamental infrastructure the public appreciates it and it utilizes. They are bipartisan in nature. There projects in every Congressional District including the districts of members voted against the bill. So far sixpoint to billion dollars in funding have been announced and headed to tennessee. And my district we received 140 million in federal aid highway Fund Supported 47 new projects in addition to the 48 projects for 2022. We appreciate that. The passage of the bill we received several discretionary rates as well but ms. Fernandes only announced 73point Million Dollars fta grants from the Transit Authority. We had 38point to Million Dollars in the quarter project in shelby project 14. 8 for the memphis airport the terminal ail expansion program. Six and 40000 for safe streets for all grants in the city of memphis. Its important with some for my district and districts all over the country. Thank you. Thank you sir. Speaking of my district i would like to make you aware of a program that chairman crawford somehow or another did not mention. It is an application for the Bridge Investment Program. Gentlemens time has expired. [laughter] quick sequence is as much as i do. Eight and a billiondollar application its between tennessee and arkansas to replace the eye 55 bridge with the new bridge. For that Million Dollars come from this grant of transportatin arkansas from tennessee. It crosses the Mississippi River a lot of the traffic throughout the country. This is an important new bridge the old bridges built in 1949 not oldtime for person but it oldtime for bridge. Its not seismically safe. And to have a resilient bridge that does that. We appreciate the due consideration be from over the Grant Application . The great thing about the Bridge Program is the statutory minimums for each state. We are able to take the bottlenecks and move them from the wish list to the instruction schedule . That would be important i mentioned to secretary buttigieg its good for the country. This is certainly good we fly everything in and out of the airport on fedex. You come across the eye 40 or i 55 all the truck and transportation and commerce. Ms. Fernandes thank you again its good to see you again. I dont matt is appreciatively have a past as you know. Most urbanized areas like memphis and is there federal funds for capitol projects and expenditures. States and localities by demonstration tried to change that but it did not make it into law. How important do you believe it is for large transit agencies like memphis to be able to access federal funds for operating expenses . Thank you very much your question. And also thank you for your focus on the new books a facility in memphis. And they now have funding to be rebuilt. As you may know larger urban transit systems cannot use the federal Transit Administration funds for operation. The late smaller rural systems can. That is one of the reasons why in the president s 2024 budget he requested Congress Enacts it would increase local providers when they need too. We refer to congress i agree it would be helpful theres closing the gaps in their operating budget. Currently Rural Communities are able to use for operations. Its such an integral part it is so essential to people around the country it is imperative they have access to that service. That access comes in the way of funding to operate the services for. I believe im correct it goes into west memphis . But in closing week the city of memphis got a safe streets for grants we will continue fighting to keep that going and get down to zero losses of life we appreciate that effort and i yield back the bounds of my time projects to judgment yields. Think it mr. Chairman, administrator is considering a number of regulations that are in various stages of the rulemaking process including potential speed limit or mandate on the large truck big big trucks. I know you may not be able to comment detail about the substance but i hope you would agree with me that an incredible process is very, very important particularly when working through controversy over rulemakings. Would you agree we need to get this right . Yes . Representative yes i agree. This is what concerns me that in late september included a specified or specific speed limit the unified agenda this was quickly rescinded the same week your keynote speaker at they dubbed it as a soiree all of these stakeholders have been pressuring our agency said at 6. It was prepared to select for these occurrences connected in any way quick separation of the opportunity to make clarifications here. Weve not yet which ill be suggestive. You believe hurts the rulemaking process by keynoting for advocates on one side of the issue. Representative we take very seriously with the fidelity of the process of rulemaking. We dont discuss the contents of the rule x ill trust you on this. The 15000 comments from americas truckers who provided input on this rulemaking you fill me with landline magazine . Yes i am. Its a very good magazine g reader or get it or is on your desk to your reader . Texas in october 2023 issue page 12. Very dangerous it says here talking about the speed at limis on this thing. Read this article because i will tell you the people who travel around you mentioned earlier truckers are moving a lot goods and services around. Listen to the truckers they would know better than the bureaucrats in congress on this. For vehicles and technologies are not practical. Vocational emergency vehicles but rule was written it is not implementable but i dont believe it is vocational vehicles are not completed on a factory line chassis sent a Third Party Customization for heavy equipment is added. Which leads to a misleading understanding of aeb for the operator. I you feeling with this magazine . I dont. But i will. Very dangerous and emergency mandate would jeopardize safety. Its either a shadow or guard rail. Lets scared her. I got a little lexus. In all the sudden that slammed the brakes scared me, what is happening. If you read this the brakes and how dangerous is going to be. Lets get into whats really important as a trucker access for. Would you mind if i responded . Wescott of the 22nd tier are you familiar with like access cards represented by m. s administrative supported from the principle behind my bill . We believe in dignified working conditions. I love that all the truckers running around which to write access to bathrooms what about a lady for ways to accumulate data for Truck Drivers. That were denied a bathroom access or anything like that . Representative your offices reach out to mine. We look forward to continuing quirks im glad youre supportive i also pray on this injured thing we can to make sure truckers to relieve themselves the right way legally thank you. I project the opportunity i want to say some are reflected in the article you referred too. We will issue a final rule that takes into account. Thank you. Think it much but successful bipartisan infrastructure law is our shared priority. Every corner of my state of arizona is benefiting from these investments and my district is no exception for it more than 228 million as an allocated to reconstruct and expand the eye 10 broadway curve at one of the most heavily trafficked of the freeway in the region. Resign the cities of flagstaff and globe received safe streets and roads for all funding at a competitive Grant Program authorized by bil with the goal of getting us to zero roadway deaths. This is our bipartisan work in action to keep our community safe. Even with these are still so much more to do and projects that desperately need federal support to become a reality. One of the most important is the expansion of i10 in arizona. Arizona has invested widely in whitening i10 its a major artery for passenger freight traffic in the Southern United States but while the majority of i10 between phoenix and tucson has been widened. There is one significant gap that remains only two lanes and it lies within the boundaries of the river Indian Community. I doubt it would surprise any of us the improved portions of the eye 10 and in the boundary pick up on the other side of the Indian Community boundary because for decades, centuries even tribal governments have not been treated equitably as partners in federal transportation projects. Widening i10 adding an interchange is vital to improve safety, provide direct access to the Government Services and hospital accelerate Response Time for Emergency Services and it will prevent traffic from detouring onto the reservation when a bottlenecks or accidents close or otherwise restrict traffic. All priorities for administrators like yourself i am hopeful i10 to receive the federal Grant Funding to move ahead with this muchneeded expansion. On that theme of pending success in implementation i want to turn to you. Included in the bil was the rocks acted bipartisan effort that i lead to establish a working group at dot to examine and draft policies to ensure we have sustainable access to construction materials. My home state of arizona has led the way in enacting policies that keep prices low and ensure more sustainable options are available as to work to build the infrastructure. Its my understanding fha is working to implement the provision and establish the federal working group but it still is not move can you provide context on this weight investigate this important issue work with your team to implement the working group on resources . Think you representative. I was actually in arizona last week for wildlife crossing announcement at the broadway curve office. An absolutely on the act director also mentioned the eye 10 project to me. I will absolutely work with you on this and getting that stood up too. The act is important it is been slow to move we need to get it done but thank you for investing that in getting back to my office im short on time. Going to end on another success the build out light Rail Infrastructure in the belly especially the northwest expansion phase two project is to be mayor phoenix we put on the ballot support for a light rail and other Public Transportation improvements back in 2015 it passed overwhelmingly. My own reelection happening on the same belt and we one as well so was a good day in phoenix and thats coming to for ration. This project will extend light rail west on 19th avenue north on 25th avenue across i 17th Mountain View road ending on the west side of the freeway near the former at Metro Center Mall this project was the first project to receive a full Funding Grant agreement under the by demonstration. The ribboncutting is next month. Went to extend a personal info or invitation to you to join us in arizona for this important Celebration Party hope you can make it. Thank you very much represent a stance and i hope i can make it to will work with your schedule thank you so much i yield back pics the gentleman yields back. Select thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you panelist for joining us here today bring us information and testimony that will help. Now we know in my home state of california as well as here at the federal level theres a lot of conversation about reducing emissions and Greenhouse Gas most specifically it seems to boil down to Carbon Dioxide there are goals being set for that, targets et cetera. I know each of you are looking at different aspects of those goals. I would say thats pretty fair. So let me ask each of you. In order to set goals what is the basis we are starting at . I would like to ask each of you to go down the line a of our atmosphere currently is Carbon Dioxide will start with you right to left. Hugs im not one 100 sure i imagine three ish percent. Okay thank you. I think its. 04 . Okay. Ms. Fernandez . I would with. 04. Ms. Hutchinson . Beyond her Safety Mission i do not have a number for you. And ms. Carlson . Quickly do not as will i will say the percentage is increased. That percentage is increasing as we emit more Greenhouse Gases into the atmosphere. Is important to know we are starting on that. Two of you i commend undoing the number. 04 . And it is creeping up. 41 hundredths of 1 is where we are starting as her atmosphere is made up 70 nitrogen, 20 oxygen, a little under 1 argon and Carbon Dioxide is mixed in with methane, nitrous oxide, krypton and water vapor in the trace gases that is in there. So indeed i dont personally believe Carbon Dioxide is the enemy its very essential for plant life if were going to have the production of oxygen when he plants around. Even listed on your website under climate and sustainability dot is committed to substantially reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions and transportation related pollution. I am glad at least a couple of you know what the percentages or at least are guessing at that. So administered hutchinson the administration has really launched strong effort on the Trucking Industry to reduce vehicle emissions. A very burdensome and expensive rules on the Greenhouse Gas portion. I get it on diesel emissions and such that we have made tremendous gains on having the cleanest truck engines we have ever had apparently. But they want to push climate goals over the Truck Drivers needs but the consumers needs if you got it, a truck brought it. At the same time you were working on a speed limiter mandate on heavy vehicles that could work against the efforts to reduce emissions. The focus is on how emissions ms. Vehicles could be lowered by a speed limiter. Though what the effects could likely be as instead of trucks going as traffic weve seen arbitrarily slowing them down in my home state a 55 Miles Per Hour thereby creating ache and accordion effect of cars and trucks not being able to go the same speed and slowing down the ability of trucks to deliver and gettheir jobs done. So with the difficulty sometimes with hours of Service Available to drivers is crating a bottleneck for a lot of folks. Is your agency really assessed how the overall admissions would be affected in truck traffic and the general slowing down of traffic . Representative, i wont speak outside of our authorities that the federal motor carrier administration. But it can repeat again some of the information the rulemaking process we have not yet determined we have not published a notice pickwick since i give incomplete information about how the effects are going to be on traffic on trucks being able to deliver hours of service at all that but youre moving ahead with the mandate is that correct . Representative the analysis will be published in the Impact Analysis we look forward to sharing that with you and it is available for. Thank you amount of time i yield back. Mr. Garcia pickwick thank you chairman and Ranking Member and to all the witnesses to date. Accessible transit is a matter of equity and justice. For years of franchise commands have been left out of the transit planning and have suffered as a result. One such group historically has been an afterthought in decisionmaking is the community with disability. That is why i am thrilled the ii ja help fund the actions Ability Program pate would seek to modernize rail stations to make them fully ada accessible. It is about time we prioritize safe and convenient travel for all of our users rather than centered around ablebodied people into a wealthy neighborhood. The Accessibility Program awarded one heard 18 million to the Chicago Transit Authority to remodel stations across the city. And it will be modernized when elevators ramped and improved signage. The eye iga has historic week make sure they promote safety for our most vulnerable users such as pedestrians and bikers as well but chicago has a network of over 280 miles of bike lanes only 40 of them are protected with physical barriers. Archer avenue is identified to increase ridership in the cycling program. However at the southwest side has many barriers to wagging, biking and Public Transportation these barriers are the result of conditions of industry in truck traffic along with related environmental concerns. We need to make sure districts like mine get equitable funding to make streets safer all users. Under secretary, dot national roadway Safety Strategy includes recommendations for bike lane safety such as impulse installing which attract the did drastically reduce bike crashes with vehicles but however many roads still do not have physical barriers separating bike lanes. As bike ridership continues to increase can we incentivize physical barriers and improve crash reporting to keep bikers safe . Yes, sir, thank you so much for your leadership. As you know we were also able to get a safe Street Project for safe travel for all roadmap the chicago metropolitan agency. You are right in 2022 with pedestrians killed in traffic crashes part of an ongoing epidemic of traffic crashes that we are addressing. Safe streets and roads for all program is really a wonderful gift that Congress Gave to us. Because these bike lanes are very easy to put in place for they do not require a lot of construction and adjust to nay announced another round of them so thank you for your support of the program. And thank you. Autonomous vehicles zoom in and one sub area. Shut down in the Thomas School bus project in florida on a technicality the equipment have been improperly imported from outside of the u. S. This driver of the bus was taking kids back and forth to School Without human operator but i do not believe that it is possible today to ensure the safety of schoolchildren on board vehicles absent a human driver. Does nhtsa have the authority to have the safety of school kids if an American Company to produce an Autonomous School vehicle and a brief answer please . Thanks i appreciate your interest in Autonomous Vehicles. This is an area that we are we d on safety of the operation of Automated Vehicles in a way that can promote innovation. Those two things are not in conflict with each other i do not believe we can innovate unless Automated Vehicles are safe. I will start with just a basic foundational notion and that is if a vehicle is compliant it is up to the states to determine the rules of the road and whether a vehicle can actually operate. We have extensive safety authority. We have recalled a number of vehicles under that authority. And we continue to monitor very closely for. Thank you and someone who hails from chicago, three decades of wonderful transportation infrastructure experience, it is great to see you here. Do you believe you have the Necessary Authority to oversee the safety of autonomous travel transit vehicle somewhat additional clarity can congress provide to prevent the unsafe operation of such vehicles . Quick answer. Thank you for your question representative. I want to restate what my colleagues have shared and that is u. S. Dot as well as a federal Transit Administration safety is front and center. We always put safety of the passengers and operators about anything else including technology. We have been investing in research around technology for Public Transportation for a technology that is centered on the buses at a level but also automating facilities to increase the opportunities for throughput of maintaining those vehicles. We are still gathering data and information we have not received a full complete set of information that would allow us to then make a determination. We do know automation is one of several advancements. However, through the federal government as well as our colleagues here those decisions around safety will be determined by other agencies within the department. Thank you so much mr. Termini percheron voltage and i yield back. Correct thank you, mr. Chairman thank you tour witnesses for being here today. Ms. Carlson, on the morning of october 30, 2018 a driver in rochester, indiana and my district made a deadly decision to illegally go around a stopped school bus whose stop arm was up and the lights flashing were activated. She killed three siblings and is seriously injured a fourth child. The incident took place in Northern Indiana community in our state until he shut that community. The wake of this tragedy my predecessor offered the stop for school buses ask for this legislation which was included in the infrastructure and jobs act to evaluate state laws and best practices. Mitigation technologies and look at driver education materials relating to Illegal Passing school buses. As i understand it still working on the deliverables. Could you please provide an update on where you stand in your projected timeline for completion . First let me acknowledge the incredible tragedy when your district. It is really hard to fathom three siblings being killed by experience something similar in los angeles with a young girl who was killed as she got off of the school bus. We are committed to School Bus Safety in a number of ways to thestudy she referred to are underway for they have been contracted for. We expect them to be completed by sometime in 2024 we will keep you updated as soon as they are ready. Were doing everything we can print all 50 states have laws that prevent people from passing school buses that have their arms up. People dont always abide by the law so as you correctly point out one of things we are trying to do is educate Young Drivers to drivers education materials we have a Safety Campaign on school buses that we funded. One of things it is heartening although it does not take with the tragedy you describe his school bus of some of the safety of its forms of transportation for children. Thank you as you know there are millions of illegal schoolbus passings every year end i appreciate your partnership and the hard work to prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred in rochester. E law. 7. 5 on the navy program. Took us about 35 years to build the interstate system. Two years in, i think we are ready to really hit the gas, not analogy, move quickly. 7 and a half billion may not sound a lot to federal government but to my constituents its real money. How many charters do you believe will be funded by this program up and running in service by the end of next year, by the end of 2024, whats your agencys projection . Thank you, chairman, i wasnt minimizing the 7. 7 billion. The president has set a goal of 500,000 publicly funded charters, 166,000 in total out there now. We anticipate hitting the president s goal of 500,000. 7 and a half billion dollars allocated, we have one charger up to day, how many chargers as part of this program will be installed for the 7 and a half billion allocation . I will be happy to follow up with a specific number. We anticipate all of the states coming online in the coming months. I would like to see the followup with the number of chargers going next year, with one charger over the course of 7 and a half billion in two years. One of my democratic colleagues mentioned this intel, theres bipartisan concern over this program. To me when i hear from a lot of industry is that theres a lot of red tape, its, quote, new contract and performance requirements all types of things that hold up these projects with a company like tesla that deployed 17,000 chargers without government interference or regulations. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the time, i yield back. Gentleman yield, mr. Carvajal. Thank you, the bipartisan law that this committee helped draft and signed into law two years ago. And more funding continues to come forward. It has been a winwin to help modernize our infrastructure, create goodpaying jobs and also begin to tackle the current climate crisis. Under secretary monjei attended cop 28 where i heard the positive impact of American Leadership in beginning to reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions, inflation reduction and chips and science act. The Carbon Reduction Program and the protect program combined these programs will help reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions and hardened our infrastructure against extreme weather. Can you provide an update to us on these two programs specifically how are you working with states to make sure that we are fully taking advantage of them . Thank you so much, congressman. As you said, the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act represent the greatest opportunity to address the fact that our Transportation Network is the largest source of Climate Emissions in our country and in doing so, create thousands of american jobs and and ensure americas leadership around the globe. We do have 2. 8 billion for the protect program and another 3. 7 billion for the Carbon Reduction Program and if its okay with you i would like to defer to administrator bob to the give up dates on his program. Great. Thank you, representative. I would i would just say up to 27 and a half billion dollars that are climate related funding within the bipartisan infrastructure law specifically around protect formula dollars that are working with the states to get those fundings and we are also, we put out a new notice of funding opportunity for discretionary protect dollars that is both for the formula and the different communities to deal with climaterelated issues with the infrastructure. Thank you. Administrator bat, the office of management and budget issued final guidance implementing the build america, buy america act in august will continue to work with waivers for states when they come in. So we will try to balance getting the projects built quickly with the idea that we want these jobs for American Workers. Thank you. A sense of reallyism is extremely important. Administrator bob the bipartisan infrastructure law requires Highway Administration to establish Advisory Board to inform development of Pilot Program to test mileagebase user fees as replacement to the current gas tax, where are we with that process . When will that body be constituted . Yeah, i think thank you, representative. Very important that we get that feedback to inform our reauthorization. General next year, beginning . I would be happy to follow up with your office on a more specific time. Thanks very much, mr. Yield, mr. Chairman. I yield back. My colleague walked us down the questioning that i was going to ask. I do want to acknowledge, of course, having spent the last 12 years serving in local government the historic significance of investment in states like new york we continue to see delay and ultimately for the work that we would like to see advance in the state of new york. I do want to return to the question of ai which i think came up a little bit earlier but obviously we acknowledge ais potential been Infrastructure Development as noted earlier this year President Biden announced through executive order and ai directing monitor and explore responsible use of ai obviously increasingly deployed in a variety of industries. Can you speak to the the fhwas response to the executive order and discuss, if you would, the administrations plan to foster ai in planning. Thank you, representative. I will also ask the other secretary for the more Broad Administration approach. I spent a lot of my career at the intersection of technology and transportation. Ai is something that we want to be very careful with as we develop solutions particularly around the transportation side, traffic operations, ai is being deployed right now by privetsector companies and by states to better operate, you know, Traffic Management systems on the Construction Side we are looking at things like par metric design to use technology to help us design some of our projects, so we are just in the stages but certainly im not please. Thank you, sir. Just this week the president convened the ai council which secretary buttigieg is a member. There are many use cases in transportation as you neglect including in Automated Vehicles, asset management, traffic demand management at the department we are a regulator, we are user, including at the highway center, William Hughes technical center, administrator bott used to run it america and he has has know aboutit. Infrastructure and Construction Projects critically important to drive down cost and enhancing efficiency at the local level to administrator hutchison, if you would, i also want today ask about ai in the trucking space and how ultimately your collaborating with stakeholders in this space to ensure the future of the industry and obviously recognize the commitment to safety. Thank you, representative, for your highlight on ai. We are hearing from our stakeholders growing interest in how ai is going to affect jobs in the Trucking Industry. I wont claim to an expert in ai and i help to rely to help us guide on work that we do together, commercial vehicle operators in ai so i look forward to working with you and your office further. I think for us certainly from my perspective critically important we balance use of technology and ensuring the protection of those jobs so not only working with the ai expert but working with the trucking expert with folks men and women who are driving on our highways. I have no further questions but i do want to say, i want to offer in particular the fta and observation having spent much of my adult life in local elected service, Public Transportation critically important, access to Public Transportation from those living with intellectual physical and Developmental Disabilities even more important and while we as a society have made significant advances to address ada compliance, physical disabilities, we have made slow progress when it comes to providing access not only physical access to the americas Public Transit system buses, train, et cetera, not only access, physical access but connection to employment opportunities, ensuring that local Regional Administration its are focused with those with intellectual and Developmental Disabilities have accessed and population that experiences 80 unemployment and we have great opportunity if only the administration would put as much evens of intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as we have physical. Not a criticism just to further incentivizing. With that, i yield back. Gentleman yields. Thank you, chair. This week the Washington Bridge on interstate 195 in providence has been closed due to critical failure of bridge component. Administrator, are you aware of this closure . Yes, representative, secretary buttigieg spoke with the governor yesterday, the Division Administrator there and very aware of the project itself. As you know the closure has been hugely inconvenient to tens of thousands of my constituents and rhode island residents as well time away from family, miss work and long hours in congestion. You noted in your testimony the role that the Highway Administration has played in supporting los angeles and philadelphia and repairing sections of their interstate. What can rhode island expect in collaboration with you to the address issue as expeditiously as possible. Thank you, representative. Our Division Administrator and staff are currently assessing what the options are. This is more of a failure of a 1960s bridge so its not an emergency in the same way as tanker fire, or fire taken down but large federal eligibility to use funds to help repair the bridge. Theres large federal eligibility for the through the Bridge Program that has provided for federal funds so we are working to figure out exactly how we can best support them. Thats promising and we can certainly want the funding to support it. What about Technical Support to reduce the timeline to get it up and running . Thank you, representative. Its my understanding that they are going to use one of the spans to take half the traffic in a couple of weeks in each direction 96,000 vehicles a day on that road and then looking at a few months but we are actively engaged with the state, privatesector contractors who are mobilized, we will get that the bridge open and repaired as quickly as possible. Do you think there are things that the state could be doing to reduce the timeline for repair . We are looking in philadelphia Governor Shapiro got it open in a week . 8 days for california. The timeline that we are looking for. For Rhode Islanders and everyone on the east coast its a critical artery and we will do everything to open as quick as quickly. Thank you. Earlier this week i sent a letter to the Department Regarding massachusetts right to repair law so overwhelmingly supported by my constituents. In august they sent a letter to massachusetts to clarify right to repair law does not conflict with the safety act, welcome revision of earlier physician but the letter still described a compliant system Vehicle Manufacturers over repair shops particularly where shops access vehicle data. This is still disjunctive with the right to repair law, mechanics as well as automakers to repair the vehicles and empower consumers to shop around for the best service and the best price. Can you describe the differences between Remote Data Access for Vehicle Manufacturers and independent repair shops and the safety concern cans that its purporting exist with Remote Access . I can. Thank you for your letter and also i do want to stress that we support right to repair the secretary right to repair extremely important. Yes, but your letter you support the proposition of right to repair but unfortunately still putting in technical impediments to realization. So the right to repair as i said is extremely important. Its also extremely important that it be implemented in a way that reduces or minimizes cyberSecurity Risk and the letter that we sent to massachusetts in august in very close collaboration with the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office and our department of justice and our white house sets forth a way in which the statute can be implemented that minimizes exposed risk. Automobile dealer networks, we work carefully to minimize Security Risk but poses a different problem. The thing that we are really concerned is open access where a terrorist, for example, could take over a fleet of vehicles, aye actually seen this happen with a white hacker and weponize those vehicles. I understand the concerns. The Biden Administration looking to break up cartellike behavior and go after junk fees for consumers but then we have administrative actions that are preferencing closed system that are preferencing the big oems over independent repair shops which in turn are raising prices and theres a tension here, concern about cybersecurity. I worked in the industry a couple of years, i get it. Im not yet convenienced that this Remote Data Access has big disparity between two actions. Had this work with interested stakeholders, this could have been resolved easily and i would encourage that the true spirit is in massachusetts. We will continue to work with the state of massachusetts. You will have to make a quick response. I apologize, im out of time. Sorry. Gentlemans time expired. Mr. Williams. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Administrator bhott, thank you for your comments regarding id1 bill happening in my its happening in my district in syracuse new york and in particular in your comments you said that the purpose of this project and many others is to reconnect communities. You may know that the 15th ward in syracuse was particularly harmed in the Minority Community there historically black community there was actually cut in half and really never recovered, you know, from the original construction of i81 and, of course, this project goes along way towards restoring that community in particular. I wouldnt expect you to know exactly the details but im looking for your advice and counsel. Where this runs Martin Luther elementary school, the highway is going to shift slightly to the east creating a green zone and green space that has never existed before. Now, my hope is that because it exists on currently on federal property that there will be a a lot of transparency and inclusion in the communities and the discussion of how that created space so to speak gets used. Its, i guess my suspicion that there are a lot of book room deals that happened that dont include necessarily all the stakeholders. In this the case, this neighborhood add joining and surrounding the Martin Luther king school. The you give me incite or advice, the federal government, the department of transportations role in the adjudicating how this green space, this new space so to speak gets used and how we can be a participant, my office, your office for what happened in that community . Thank you, ive been to syracuse and understand the impact that this roadway construction had on the neighborhood. I will follow up with you afterwards on the specific i would say right now one of the projects that secretary buttigieg announced i375 in detroitmichigan to highway to a boulevard that will free up public land. In michigan theyve stood up local and state group to allow for Community Involvement so i will follow up with you to see if its the same process that would apply here but we always want to ensure transparency in any of the transactions. Is there is the federal government syracuse get a 500,000dollar Planning Grant to address the issue. 1958 the plan displaced 1300 families. We would love to continue working with your office to make sure that the Planning Grant works well and the communitys voice is heard. Thank you, i sat down with the engineers and the Public Housing authorities that are adjacent to that area and its their number one, you know, concern and this goes way beyond politics. Its just simply Good Governance and the right thing to do. I just want to make sure that the federal authorities have, are providing the oversight and using frankly our office, collectively yours, mine, to provide that kind of transparency in this particular case. So i look forward to that advice and particularly the detroit example. Under secretary monje, monje sorry, one of the concern that is we have in new york state is something called the scaffold law. Theres 49 other state that is dont have the similar law but in new york state we have a law that has absolute liability that comes from gravityrelated incidences. This wall added 300 million of expense to the construction of that bridge and thats true for every Infrastructure Project in new york. Do you have any advice on how we can perhaps address this so that new york state can be more efficient without using federal dollars . Thank you, sir. Im not familiar with that law. Worker safety is critically important aspect of our work and i would love to continue to work with your team to address that. Following the example of 49 states would be helpful. Thank you. Representative. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you to the witnesses for your testimonies. The Infrastructure Investment and jobs act is historic piece of education that is rebuilding the infrastructure we use every day to get where we need to go. I am especially grateful for the recently announced 1 billiondollar grant, the department of transportation has given to develop a passenger route and i was proud to join secretary buttigieg in North Carolina earlier this week for announcement of this historic grant. These investments made possible by the Biden Administration will develop this the intercity Passenger Rail route that will ease the burden on highways and boost Economic Development in North Carolinas fourth district. Reconnecting communities pilot and the neighborhood access and Equity Program under the Inflation Reduction Act. Each program has foe has a focus on redressing the harms of the past such as removing highways that divide or cut off communities but these programs are also about building the future in communities that have been left behind. Im hopeful we will see investments in projects like providing better Transit Service for lowincome communities. Can you give us an update on when these awards will go out under these programs and can you speak to how their department will balance the funding between removing harmful or outdated infrastructure with building new infrastructure to improve access and safety. Thank you, representative, one of the projects im most proud of in my career was i70 project in denver that reconnected a community, put a l for many projects that are trying to reconnect communities that were torn apart by highway construction. We work very closely with the office of the secretary on reconnecting program so i want to let the undersecretary address the issue. Thank you very much, maam. I lived for 18 months in North Carolina and traveled 30,000 miles on the highways from murphy and we are hoping to get that money out early next year and there really is a backlog of projects and the wonderful thing about the two projects is it gives us many tools in order to the stitch back communities that were torn apart not just by big highways by rail lines, Port Infrastructure and its not always about bringing down a highway. Sometimes its capping and sometimes reconfiguring different, different interchanges but theres an enormous backlog of the projects. Making sure people have access to decisionmaking process and making sure as we put these projects in the ground that those jobs which dont require College Degree and pathway that more people have access to those jobs. It means making sure people with disabilities have access as well and making sure that we are being cognizant of the impacts of both benefits and the cost of the projects and building and building better than we knew how to do in 1960s. Thank you, mr. Chair. I yield back the balance of my time. The gentle lady yields back, we will recognize representative chavez. Thank you, chairman. Good afternoon. And thank you to the all the witnesses for being here today. Of course, we are here to discuss the oversight of the iigs 1. 2 trillion that was authorized and operated over a fiveyear plan and seems counterintuitive that states would toll roads for infrastructure revenue. As reminder to all thats exactly what the Oregon Department of transportation proposes to do to specific areas of 5205 and opposition from state legislators, local mayors, county commissioners, citizens from all backgrounds and me. Would you explain that odot was reducing the scope of project and odot tapped the federal Highway Administration both agree that most extensive nipa environmental was not necessary, do you still standby that assessment yes or no . Thank you, representative, thank you for the previous conversation. We always follow the law and what we are doing yes or no, do you standby that . Yes, we follow the law. We are following nipa and steps of nipa and ensuring it is my understanding that odot has respond today many cities in my district with dubious assumptions weak and unrealistic analysis or even with pertinent information for various locations as to how towing is going to impact those communities. Odot itself last summer even admitted that they missed the the mark on the public admission. Again, mr. Bhott, secretary buttigieg sad before the committee that if the a project sponsor fails to do the appropriate outreach, then it can lead to nipa failure or title 6 concerns and if those scenarios were not getting cleared by the department. Would the Highway Administration determine that the revised project without additional Environmental Assessments and new Public Comment period, that really can constitutes nipa failure, correct . Representative i understand your concerns about the 3 projects that involve tolling in oregon and we will continue to follow nipa, we will ensure that the public receives the necessary information but that hasnt been done to this point. Theres been no answer down the road, no new testimony has been taken by the public, to me thats the a nipa failure, correct . Representative, im aware that the governor has paused tolling and we will work with communities therefore this entire proposal from odot seems it keeps moving the goal post, thats a somebody for somebody like myself who represents a constituency that doesnt want tolling any longer. So lets not burden our commuters or create havoc for Small Businesses and communities who struggle with impact of tolling. Administrator, based on what we discussed thus far here today and in prior months, do you believe this process is seriously flawed and can you commit to me and to my constituents to redress of grievances from the communities in the Fifth District finding review process for tolling implementation, creating new transparent lines of communication with the public or better yet, please work to rescind this unpopular proposal altogether . Representative, i hear you, i heard you in press conversation. I commit to working with your office, odot and all the communities impacted to ensure that we follow nipa to the letter of the law and make sure that the Public Engagement process follows. So i still see we are no better than we were when i talked to you the first time. With that, mr. Chairman, i yield back the rest of my time. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Included 11. 4 million for carbon reduction and i would like to ask you about that because my understanding that since last february nevadas department of transportation and Nevada Department division of Environmental Protection has been working to get some feedback on whether and some guidance on whether the funding that we receive that 11. 4 million can be used for a new program that was created by the legislature. We are trying to find out if the funding thats under the Carbon Reduction Program can be used to help get that program started and get it up and running used to take help finance the Incentive Program and we havent been able to program and caused delays and it was just yesterday that we got and so i just need to hear you kind of address that, figure out if that funding can, indeed, be used for that new program created by the legislature. Thank you, representative, i actually have worked very closely with director lakin, thompson and the approach that nevada is taking is a new approach we are excited for the approach provided by thein minnovation following so happy and the legislature sometimes we need to answer to that. I do think it is a good program and thehe intention was rated wh this and would appreciate it if you work with us to see what we can do. You have a record about a month ago have the opportunity to join rtc in our county and they welcomed their first battery elected to the police day is made possible by edison infrastructure law we found a challengef because of buses, thy have higher upfront fueling costs. It serves all Southern Nevada and they welcomed their first battery electric bus to the fleet. Very exciting and fun day transit sister. Weve been working very closely with Bus Manufacturers and if its okay with you, invite administrator fernandez to weigh in here if thats okay with you. That would be great, thank you. Thank you very much, representative titus, for raising the actions that rtc is taking. They have been working with the federal Transit Administration in our office looking transitioning their buses and the one of the great things about the bipartisan infrastructure law is that the it provided additional fundings for low and no emission. We have a thousand electric buss that are operating in roads throughout the country and with the funding thats available we will be able to provide additional opportunities for transit agencies to apply for discretionary program, 2900 more buses will be on the streets of america. Its creating the manufacturing jobs that are necessary for us to continue to grow a healthy industry and with the state of nevada and in particular the rtc now looking at that transition we have been working very closely on the funding that they currently have in addition to the emphasizing that in the no admission there is a 5 available for training existing operators to give them the skills necessary so that they can work under new technology. Well, great. You know, ms. Manor, head of rtc has great leadership, a lot of vision, thats an agency that i enjoy working with and theyve been very good at incorporating equity and serving all parts of Southern Nevada and thats been a priority of theirs and i know its a priority of the administration and very much appreciate that but let me know if theres any way we can be helpful to push this along with their transition. Thank you for that the offer. I would be happy to work with you and your office. Thank you, i yield back. All right. Gentle lady yields back, we will go to representative for five minutes. Thank you very much, mr. Chair. You commented 7. 5 billion in the ija was put forth towards charging stations and you stated since the legislation became law over two years ago theres been one charging station constructed in ohio, is that correct . One has come online, yes. Can you reassure this committee that that charging station was constructed following the bill america, buy america, Critical Minerals referenced charging stations referenced the building or charging stations . I believe it would have been, yes, i can confirm that . Do you neglect if theres in the ija if the build america buy america provision even exists involving Critical Minerals in building out charging stations . Thank you, representative. The answer is no. Critical minerals are Critical Minerals, the answer is no. There is no provision in the iija to build charging stations using domestically sourced minerals mined in the United States. Ms. Fernandez, a sub component in the iija, a sub component becomes a component once a manufacturing process takes place, is that correct . Yes, sir, thats correct. I represent the iron range that mines that makes approximately 80 of domestic steel. Under b the iija you could have a 25foot piece of steel shipped in from china and another 25foot piece of steel chinese made and you can put them together and the weld that it takes place in the United States is legal under the iija saying its domestically sourced. Is that right . Do you agree, do you agree that chinese steel, pieces of steel that are shipped nonunion labor, no project labor agreements, do you agree that they should be brought here in the United States and u. S. Worker puts a weld on it and now becomes domestically source under the iija, is that fair to my constituents . Thank you very much, representative stauber for your question, transit operators that are procuring this is the question i ask, do you agree that chinese imported steel comes to the United States and because its welded in the United States, do you believe that should be considered manufactured domestically manufactured . The answer is no, it should not be because i want the steel domestically sourced by the minors that i represent, maam . Congressman, if i could jump in here which is congress sent a very clear message to the administration and one that President Biden supports, the future is made in america. This the part of the iija allows it to happen and we are getting complaints in our office and ms. Fernandez, your regional offices arent responding to them. Strongest standards of buy america and more expertise to the point where other agents are coming to us. Mr. Monje, youre supporting electric vehicles . Yes. You would like using America Technology or mines in china that use child slave labor, do you want them mined in the United States or foreign adversarial countries . Thats the question i ask. Do you want them mined domestically, the United States or using foreign slave labor, yes or no . Congress and the president supports youre not answering my question. Its an easy question. Wouldnt you want be sourced in the United States using American Technology and come on, come on. Thats an easy question. Dont you want American Workers to produce the Critical Minerals . Yes. We use in our everyday lives. Its not a trick question mr. Monje. I yield back. Representative sykes for 5 minutes. Thank you for chair and Ranking Member for having this meeting. It has been a fantastic part of the inclusion of 13th Congressional District of ohio and the entire state and just the last month we were in akron in my district for metro for Operations Facility which was made possible only because of the bipartisan infrastructure law that was 37 Million Investment into transit and we had a similar investment in the district with 4 million going to starter for the zero emissions buses which again is very exciting. Administrator fernandez, i would like to direct my attention to you if i could and let you know how much we are appreciating the work that your agency is doing and what it means to move people back and forth to work to school, to be part of a community and we know these vehicles like electric cars and buses are the future but we also know that they are going to require a different kind of infrastructure both physical, like charging stations and human capital, workforce, if you can talk to the us a little about fta is ensuring we have aspects of the supply chain supporting infrastructure and a workforce . Yes, thank you very much for your question representative and thank you for the invitation and joining us at that event together with senator brown. As we as we see the bipartisan infrastructure law and the recordlevel of investment that it brought to the Public Transportation, one of the critical areas was on workforce. Wanting to make sure that the workforce was available and trained to not only arrive at the services but also to maintain that investment. The federal Transit Administration implemented a Transit Workforce Center to work with transit agencies as we are looking at new technologies and zero emission buses. We also with the investment and creation of a rail vehicle program, Rail Vehicle Replacement Program and the opportunities there as well to now look at the 22,000 rail vehicles across the nation and we see this as an opportunity that is a whole of transit focusing on Workforce Development for recruiting, retraining and retaining employees in this the industry to make it stronger. Thank you so much, administrator. I want to talk a little bit about the ev infrastructure and tout some great work that we have going on in ohio. We this last friday brought ev charger funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program Online but for those of us in northeast ohio particularly where i currently live and drive an electric vehicle we still have a lot of ways to go with Public Infrastructure to make it more accessible to people and it means that we certainly need to be working closer with you and let me go ahead extend myself as partner to the allow that to happen. I have two questions to whoever wants to the answer that one here. Well, specifically the administrator, can you talk about what the federal Highway Administration is doing to help localities navigating the permitting process and just the infrastructure building of that infrastructure in a timely manner so people can be ready when people are ready to purchase those vehicles and mr. Undersecretary, i heard you going on about the tax credits. We yesterday had a town hall, telephone town hall with my district about how the Inflation Reduction Act has been lowering costs and i know that you were about to Start Talking about the tax credits. So mr. Bhott and mr. Undersecretary if you can please answer those questions. Thank you representative sykes. Of the 7. 5 billion, 2 and a half for Community Funded chargers, so we want there to be a broad network, happy to work with you and any localities with our Division Offices and just on the charger piece, i know folks have said is this taking so long. Two years ago there was zero manufacturers of chargers in this country. Today theres 43. Its about 500 million in private investment and all of the chargers that are going to be going in are in america and thats what the president s decision is about. The cost of electric vehicles has dropped 22 . Thats 15,000 in the last year and thanks to the tax credits that are in the ira which are going to be now available at the point of sale, you with walk into a chevy dealer and walk out with a 2023 cha bolt for less than 20,000. Theres money in our legislation 7 billion to promote domestic sourcing of minerals, there are a lot of incentives to make sure that the future of the Automotive Industry is going to be built in america. Thank you, mr. Chair, i yield back. Gentle lady yields back, we will recognize representative massey for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Ms. Carlson, first of all, i want to thank you for what your department does. Its hard to find where 90 of people agree or appreciate. The fiverstar car rating that nitsa performs, theres nothing political about it. When steel and aluminum meets concrete barrier at 35 miles an hour all the fiction and politics go out the window and i think its a good model where you provide consumers with the information they need to make a good decision and then you lever it up to the the free markets involved there. A fourstar car crash rating. I appreciate you doing that program and administrating it. I want to focus on one program that congress has proposed that i have questions about and you may too the, section 24220 of the Infrastructure Investment jobs act requires nitsa, your department to issue a regulation that by 2026 all newly manufactured Passenger Vehicles can and i will read from the statute, passively monitor the performance of the driver of a Motor Vehicle whether the driver may be impaired or prevent or limit Motor Vehicle operation if an impairment is detected and we are two years past the passage of the law and two years away from the deadline, not just for the rule but for the auto manufacturers to the comply. How does the Technology Work and does it exist presently . First, thank you so much for the shoutout about ncap and we have issued updates to ncap to provide opportunity and to incentivize the private sector to improve safety so, thank you. You may have seen it yesterday we released an amprm, advanced notice of proposed rule making about the very question they were asking about the particular bill provision that asks a series of questions and spells out what we know about the state of technology that could at some point meet the provisions of the bipartisan infrastructure law along with the Vehicle Safety act which impose fors additional requirements on us. We spelled out some possible technologies in the arpm, Driver Monitoring thats currently used typically for advanced driver systems but could do things like track whether somebody is looking at the road, whether their pup ills are dilated, et cetera, we also spelled out technology that has received funding from the federal government called dads technology, that is actually technology at this point, its not passive as the bill requires. So we think there are promising technologies on the market but i think its safe to say that we do not think they are available yet in a way that actually will achieve the goals both of the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Vehicle Safety act and mpr actually asks a bunch of questions about how we might get there if we do get there, what problems might arise as a result and we dont want to have false positives where somebody is detect today have blood in their alcohol alcohol in their blood, sorry, and cant start their vehicle if we had 99. 9 effective system, we estimate Something Like a billion trips a day. That would leave a Million People not disabling a vehicle possibly in transit. Thats very concerning to me if you have a false positive for that. Yeah. We do ask questions about that in the amprm as well. Let me just say we had mentor that said hope is not a Business Plan and i think that applies here, you know, before seat belts were mandated they were an option in cars, before air bags were mandated they were option in cars. I think this is one area where congress is way ahead of its in front of its skis and they mandated technology, youre being nice about it but lets just admit to it, it does not exist. If it did somebody would be offering it in a car, so my constituents have a lot of concerns about this. Its no secret i try to defund the mandate recently in the funding bill and thats because its just not feasible as you mentioned the false positives would far outweigh the advantages. You have a mother who swerves to miss wildlife and goes around the pothole and pulls over for balance and the dash board is the juror and the executioner and says get over to the side of the road with your kids and wait there. How do you appeal such a conviction when your car like have you guys thought about that the at all . We do want to get it right but it is the case about third of Motor Vehicles we need to do everything we can to drive the numbers down. We will do so with technology that fair and boxer and does not create false positives and addresses the kinds of questions that youre raising. Let me make a prediction here, right before i yield back, this the wont be ready by 2026. Congress has asked the impossible. Its a wish. Its not a plan and i think its wrong to put you in a position to try and mandate this and i yield back . The gentleman yields back. We will now recognize mr. Moltin, representative moltin for five minutes. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. I was delighted to see that just last week the administration announced 6 billion in funding for the highspeed rail for the federal state partnership grants. We also heard a lot about some of the highspeed rail projects are overbudget. Have you heard anything about has anyone heard anything about california high speed rail being overbudget, costing a lot of money . I think we hear about that all of the time, all of the time. What we never hear about is how much it costs to drive what costs do we entail as a society when we give people the option in most of the country of driving, frankly for many people who ride in high speed rail some day but current i will have to take a car, what is that cost . Well, we commissioned the Harvard Kennedy school to look at this just for massachusetts. The just do fair cost analysis and their study showed that cost Ownership Cost the state of massachusetts 64 billion, every year they spend 64 billion a year to subsidize the Transportation System. That translates to 14,000 per household in massachusetts whether or not you own a car. All the noncar owners, people who do take transit in the city are paying 14,000 a year to the subsidize everybody else that the drives on our highways across the street, cost the state. So my understanding is that we are finally going to start looking at this at a National Level for the first time in a century, section 11530 of iija require federal Highway Administration to undertake and complete a Cost Allocation study, the first time that such a study has been done since since, well, since turn of the century. Its supposed to be completed within four years, a full year before Congress Reauthorizes the Service Transportation programs. Mr. Bhott, can you provide me with an update of the highway allocation study and what if any Additional Resources will be need today ensure that you complete the study in time . Thank you, representative moulton for that question. The i believe our hiring contractors to assist with delivering that report on time and i will follow up with your office with an exact date. Mr. Bhoutt, how is fhwa seeking about personal vehicles that are placed on the general public . I dont think we think about the fact, for example, that a huge amount of our Public Safety budget which again we all support as taxpayers goes to just Emergency Services on the highways, we wouldnt need nearly as many balances, we wouldnt need as many as state Police Cruisers if we didnt have so many people in cars and so many people tens of thousands annually getting in accidents and killing themselves. We dont ever think about those as cost to driving but they are cost to driving. I think the word you used extranalities is the right one. Our highway is the envy of the world. My family is from argentina and what they wish to have to get our goods to the market but it has a cost including the crashes and the deaths that you heard about including the air quality and the fact is that these these burdens are just proportionately impacting underserved communities. Within my team we are working with transportation cost burden that includes exactly those issues. Getting around freight rais is a wonderful example of that. It doesnt sound like we are thinking about this at all. Its making the cost analysis and we are trying to get a better information so the department of transportation can pose better projects. Thank you mr. Chairman. Next up the chair will recognize the gentleman from missouri for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman. Missus hutchison, when i talked to the truckers back home they already feel the federal government imposes strict regulations on them this includes the hours of Service Regulations of how far they can drive. They have long days and usually end with hours searching for a parking spot, which is exhausting to them and now you tell them they have to reach the destination at a slower pace. With the hours of Service Regulation already imposed is it smart to mandate the installation of trucks, speed limits when truckers are already heavily regulated . In their mind, when is enough enough . Many are afraid if these mandates are implemented, they will not only be subject to our service but forced to get to their destination. They feel like the need to make up many of those charters may end up in a situation they have to make up time and because they have a speed limit are the only place for them to make up time is probably on city streets, suburbs. They have to make up time probably going through construction zones. Are you concerned about the motivation that you are creating to reduce safety in these important areas . We share your commitment to drivers and certainly to the safety of everybody who travels. I spent a lot of time traveling around and sitting around the table hearing about their concerns firsthand and i understand sometimes they feel squeezed and we are doing everything we can through the resources to study the structure but i understand you are asking specifically and i will say again we are underway in the process of rulemaking however we have not yet issued any notice of rulemaking. You would have an outcry from that community. With all of these regulations it seems there is a lack of trust. I trust the Truck Drivers in my community and i am extremely thankful for them. They kept the country alive during covid. But it seems like the Administration Policy is a lack of trust so do you trust Truck Drivers to be safe on the road . They are at the heart of what we do and safety is our mission. Ive met so many drivers with millions of driving. Ive spoken with the groups of drivers as they were about to compete in the championship in indianapolis and i know that there are so many safe drivers committed to safety. You believe you trust them in their commitment to safety. Then i read hypothetically ask why do we need to implement another rule of them to take away the decisions . Before you joined you were a law professor at Ucla Law School where you focused on air pollution and Climate Change law policy. On the side youve also consulted for a law firm. Is it a forprofit law firm . Yes or no . To the best of my knowledge, yes. The firm brought forward a wave of Climate Change cases against Traditional Energy companies that everyone has to purchase from. If the lawsuits are successful, will it get an enormous contingency fee . I have no idea but the Compensation Structure is. Will you get a contingency fee . At ucla you directed to the environmental Wall Institute that houses the clinic and the students in that clinic were provided Legal Assistance and provided the forprofit law firm that you also helped out. In fact you bragged about this but the clinic was working with the lawsuits to a major ucla donor. Did your client, where they are not able to pay for these Legal Expenses themselves . I did not. As part of the nomination process, no further comment about it. The consumer is going to suffer. Thank you. The gentleman from california. Thank you mr. Chairman. I want to thank the witnesses for being here and the opportunity but also the size and scope of what you have to do. Just the size of this investment, and did you include the 380 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act on the infrastructure and Energy Transition is unbelievably historic and complicated and then technology as i love ucla even though my district is nextdoor to the mothership of the University California and any employees at berkeley. I want to talk about technology, Autonomous Vehicles and how we get this right. Of course we have had some problems in San Francisco in the rest of my district. Its important. In california when i was the legislature we had a lot of pressure from the companies in the area. When he was chair of the committee and we were going across the bridge and he got a phone call. All of this investment to make sure they are safe. I have a facility the secretary has come to on an old military base. To talk about how you can coordinate with those like San Francisco, the state of california as a former member of the Transportation Commission to provide best practices with Research Facilities so that we get this grade. In california we didnt allow. One of the operators decided to take it to another state and within a few months there were fatalities because they were not ready for it so talk about how we can get this technology right and make sure the public is safe. I share your concerns. We want technology. I started my career on the legislature, so away back. Theres a number of things to coordinate and also to work on these goals always of course prioritizing the safety. So we are in constant communication as im sure you know Automated Vehicles can be on the road if they are certified if the local or state jurisdiction allows them to do so. However we issued a standing genital order in 2021 that requires Automated Vehicles to report every single crash in which they are engaged and that is how we learn about the kind and at the focus of so much attention recently. And we investigate the crashes. We have recalled more than one Automated Vehicle when we found problems. Also to the degree we can to the confidential Business Information we share that information with our state and local partners and try to be as transparent as possible. We are also interested in setting up the Demonstration Program that would try to marry safety with allowing for limited deployment of some Automated Vehicles that might need exemptions from the Safety Standards. The idea here is to get them involved as a cop on the bead bt making certain the companies have Safety Cultures in place and they built redundancies into the systems. One of the things you worry about if something fails you want to back it up in the event it fails and really again to promote transparency and information sharing with state and local governments. We need to get this right given the background it clearly felt like they wanted to be the home of this and they had to resend it into the Police Department was critical of it. Your position is important. I am proud of the fact my bill allows for the infrastructure and went into the larger bill. Getting this right with of the marketplace, the japanese were much closer than we do with the manufacturers. What are you doing to work with the manufacturers making sure the infrastructure comes together in a smart efficient way . This is for everything. We have a deep partnership across industry including in the construction realms for Road Builders and they try to build out their supply chains. Its a critical piece of our success. I will followup with you. I yield back. The gentleman from utah for five minutes. Thanks for this hearing today. My question and the federal Transit Administration. In my district the authority reconnect Program Provides realtime responses to give stranded passengers a way to get home. The Program Makes the passengers with Rideshare Companies to complete their journey with unplanned Service Disruptions occurring. Unfortunately we work with the taxicab exception rule which exempts the testing for the contracted companies with the passenger to complete their transit because we connect the programs proactively it does it for them. So missus fernandez, is the fda working to update the taxicab exemption rule that will help the innovation expansion to better serve the needs of the passengers . Thank you, representative, thank you for that question. And its good to see you. Regarding the request from the utah Transit Authority to request of the exemption for the taxicab, i would say at the federal Transit Administration we are following the law as it relates to drug and Alcohol Testing and in order for both the agency to provide taxicab service, the Agency Directly cannot identify the operator. The agency can provide vouchers, but they shouldnt identify the operator. In fact that is one of the guidance as we provided to them when they acquired about first month last. Its a way to connect to Public Transportation. However, the law has to be followed and we have provided guidance to that. We are talking about not the law but basically understanding that because of this opportunity to provide the service, they are taking on this opportunity to that the customer only takes. Is there anything to be done to understand that there is a new way of trying to Service Customers and that they shouldnt be held responsible to have testing done just as an aside to take that over. To add to the response provided, we have been working very closely with the transit agencies to identify opportunities for micro transit. We understand in this instance when this was shared with us by the agency we provided our guidance how they could achieve that first without going against. Can you share with us what that was because they its already out there for other companies. But its providing the service. Cant you work with them because this isnt an innovative way of providing service . I will commit to reaching out to your office connecting with of the Transit Agency to have further discussions on this matter. Can you provide insight on how the federal funds and products will benefit both urban which is what we are trying to push infrastructure to and also the urban and of the rural is there anything you can provide . Salt lake city has been a Major National leader. We developed something codified in the law that focused on helping the Rural Communities deploy the funding available to them. Weve done over 200 debriefs to make sure that if they didnt get the grants that are very competitive they didnt get one they have a better shot next time. Very first product that we put out to support the charging revolution is about, was focused on the rural deployments, so what do they need to do and how do they need to work with utilities. So its a major priority for us and other examples are the Freight Rail Program a very large percentage of those. Okay thank you. I will yield back. Thank you so much. The gentleman yields back. We now go to the representativee garamendi for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman. Well, are you tired yet . Thank you so very much for being here. You have undertaken extraordinary responsibilities. The legislation that has passed this house has been less than a year and a half just short of two years now that youve had the responsibility of carrying it out. And my assessment is youve done a very fine job. A lot of new legislation and new programs, new requirements and rules and procedures and its gone well. In my district thank you big projects, highspeed rail, a lot of major efforts to develop highspeed rail systems. Ive personally been at it since 1988. But youve come forward and i think you for providing that extraordinary amount of money to move the system along and eventually it will get built. A lot of Little Things along the way. Ms. Hernandez, thank you. I appreciate the work youve provided in my district for electrification. Not easy. There was no Electrification Program two years ago, but there is now. My district is benefiting from it and i suspect my colleagues here have also done so. A pile of money has been put out there. A lot of it going to the states. A load of delays if in fact there are delays are the result of the state trying to figure out how to handle an extraordinary amount of new money projects that were put off the books because they didnt have the money they now have because the Biden Administration together with the democrats in the house and the senate put forward the large Infrastructure Program ever in the nation. And all of us, democrats and republicans are benefiting from it. More importantly, so our our citizens. I think you for the work you are doing. Its not easy. Of course there are going to be problems. I have a slew of questions. I think i just want to thank you. And, yes, i will submit the questions to you. Overarching on my mind for many, many years now has been rebuilding the American Industrial system. And built into the legislation is by america requirements all the way through. And i know that all of you and inyour work are faced with conflicting ideas, conflicting plans where we cant go all 100 by america because. But however the law is clear and that is we are in tend upon building and industrial policy for the United States. And each of you whether its transit, highways within overarching responsibility of the secretary, you have an opportunity to carry out the goal of the legislation which is to by america. There is a problem however i urge you to terminate that provision. In 1983. Waived almost all of the by america requirements and it is in conflict with of the new law and regulations that you put forth. Youve been wrestling with it. I dont understand with the wrestling match is about. Terminate it. Then we can get on with the requirements we now have in place. Even though i didnt vote for the bill im going to take credit for it it. To say that again to my republican colleagues. We recognize the representative for five minutes. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you all for being here today. I represent the district of kansas as a center of the United States kansas offers an excellent transportation advantage for several industries. In order to maintain these advantages is imperative of the state infrastructure uptodate and safe for the multimodal uses and they have been adequately staffed workers. Congress implemented several initiatives. However, thereve been concerns about how so programs have been implemented. A question for you, ms. Hutchison. As you know, Congress Mandated the credit Pilot Program through iai ja to train individuals between the ages of 18 and 22b professional Truck Drivers. The dot has been slow to implement the participation numbers that are so far certainly concerning. Can you tell us what steps you are taking to build out this Pilot Program to increase participation and prevent the Pilot Program from failing . We are working hard to build up this program. The purpose is to determine whether younger drivers can operate as safe as or more safely than the general commercial operator population to reach out to vocational high schools with direct mail and we have numerous events planned for the quarter starting in january. We need to use the resources. To address the concerns and the other concerns that have caused the low stakeholder . Representative, we need to get the word out and we need to do it quickly. A starting in january we are stepping it up. We received questions about the requirements that were quickly to answer them on a oneonone basis and help anyone that is interested in the program to stop them through the process. The truck Driver Shortage is a huge issue in my view allowing folks to become Truck Drivers at the age of 18 after high school before they do Something Else in the hopes they might come back to the industry is important. So this program, this Pilot Program i think there is a lot at stake potentially done well and could start to move the needle for the industrial companies. Appreciate those questions. Of the gentleman yields back and we will recognize the representative for five minutes. Thank you, chairman from the great state of california. I am going to pick up where my colleague from minnesota left off and where i left off talking about your boss a little bit ago. Do you understand that cobalt is a critical mineral used in the electric vehicle batteries . Do you understand 4. 3 of these batteries are comprised of global . That sounds right. Do you understand a 70 is in the democratic republic of the congo . Yes sir. 15 to 30 of the minds for the democratic republic of the congo are called artesian minus . Yes sir . Do you understand that they have thousands of children working in the condition of slavery mining cobalt in the democratic republic of the congo . Does the Biden Administration still insist on having 50 of all of the vehicles manufactured in the United States by 2030 . Congress send a signal in the Inflation Reduction Act that we needed to move much more of the materials i asked you a specific question. The administration owns 50 of the vehicles produced by 2030 yes or no . What year is it now . 2023. Almost 2024 so that gives six years. 75, up to 7,500 per electric vehicle. The de facto this is not a political statement. The United States government is subsidizing child slavery in the democratic republic of the congo because i dont care what you say. Weve got to get this back on shore and whatnot. Thats not the case today. As we speak today, there are children and the democratic republic of the congo mining cobalt with their hands so the Democratic Administration can meet this goal of 2030. That is a fact. So do you think it is a moral imperative that the United States government try to prevent a child slavery . Yes sir. Even at the expense of your artificially created to 2030 goal to have 50 of all of the vehicles produced to be electric vehicles . Every Mining Industry has the record. Including oil and gas industries. We are talking about a child slavery. I have three kids. Im having my 11th grandchild. Would you want your children mining cobalt in the democratic republic of congo so that you can have 50 of electric vehicles produced in the United States . This isnt a political thing. You are subsidizing child slavery. Do you understand that . That is not a democratic issue, its not a republican issue, that is a human rights issue. We need, the United States government, the executive branch of the United States government de facto right now as we speak are subsidizing child slavery and i will have absolutely no part of that. And no one with a conscience should. I yield back. We now recognize representative andrew for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chair. It before i asked questions, i just had a some thoughts on my colleague, the gentleman from massachusetts when he spoke of the Mass Transportation and if i understood him correctly, how we spend too much money on roads, streets, highways. People in america in the United States of america do like to have their independence. They like to have their autonomy. They like to have their freedom. And part of that is being able to go where we want to go, when we want to go individually with our families, without the interference of government. I believe in Mass Transportation. I think all of almost all of us do. I support the rail very strongly, but there is no question that the investment that we make in roads, streets and highways is very, very important. We need good roads and highways. We need to have faith in good streets and to suggested that europe does it differently doesnt mean anything to me. I dont know when we started in the United States of america to worry more about what other Foreign Countries do. We are the leader. I believe we are the best nation on the face of the earth in every way. This is one of those ways. I think we all remember when we were young folks and we got our license to drive. And what a big deal it was that independence. Its the american way. I just wanted to make that comment. No we are not a globalist country. We are american exceptionalism us. Earlier this year the federal government Safety Administration proposed a federal speed limit on the heavy trucks. The federal speed limit would restrict over 26,000 pounds, whatever the speed the federal government decides. The same federal government out of very often in many ways no reflection on any of you but cannot get out of its own way. It would be an enforced by the digital devices attached to trucks. To talk about big brother. I am here to say the policy in my opinion is arbitrary, dangerous, overreaching. The proposed federal truck speed limit takes an arbitrary onesizefitsall reality on the driving. The truckers need a range of speed in order to safely drive on the highway. I wish all those folks made of the regulations it might be good for them. And over 100,000 comments on the issues submitted to the draft, the drivers give many examples of situations in which they needed to mix of a grade for safety. Whether its merging into highway traffic, the momentum to go up a hill or simply keeping up with the flow of traffic. It is a hard and difficult job and they do it well. The policy would take those options away from them. We are tired of this, Big Government. One gentleman his comment was not mine, his, quote, this is a stupid idea. The policy is overreach. We are tired of overreach. Its a classic example of the government coming to save us against for ourselves. They would be harmed by this policy. So i have a question for you. Have you estimated how many employee drivers would be impacted by the proposal and how it would affect their earnings . I have three additional questions, but im going to submit them for the record because i would like a thorough answer. Administrator hutchison, can you comment on this issue and how it is going to affect individual drivers to have a digital device on their trucks . Nobodys asked for this. Its another creation of the Big Government in my opinion. Thank you for raising this issue and the opportunity to respond. You are correct. We have received many, many comments over 14,000 comments submitted for the record when we issued the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking. We havent yet issue of the rulemaking when we do so it will include much of the analysis that you and your colleagues have been asking for. When that is publicly viewable i would be happy to share it. I hope you do not rule for this because it is a bad idea. Its bad for truckers and the supply chain and for the United States of america. Mr. Chairman i have two additional questions and i would want to submit them for the record to be put into the record and i will yield back. Without objection on the request. The gentleman yields back and we recognize representative collins. I want to direct my questions to you, administrator hutchison. I want to talk about the joined notice proposal for the automatic braking system. Im sorry ive been running around here like crazy i dont know if you addressed that this morning. Only a little bit. Do you have an update on when the rule might be finalized . For the automatic emergency braking system. We have two proposals right now. The lighted duty comes after the heavy duty. We are working to finalize the rule in 2024. The spring of the plan . 2024. I cant hear a lot. I dont know if it is your microphones. We just completed the comment period. So i guess my question do you think since after the finalization of the rules and then you have a period after that, do you think the Safety Standards are going to be there to meet the technological requirements to make the system ineffective . If you dont mind i would be happy to yield to you in a moment but i do want to say we take the comment very seriously. That is the purpose. Do you think the technology is going to be there . Our best sentence is with of the appropriate lead to time that we consider and finalize in the rule that the technology will save hundreds of lives into prevent thousands of injuries. I just dont think hope is a very good Business Plan. This is based on a very extensive analysis. If you dont mind, do you think you are trying to meet a congressional deadline . I ask that at the expense of satisfying the requirements making sure the technology is there. Representative, i appreciate the questions and the firsthand knowledge you have in the industry. They are very pointed questions automatic emergency braking as you know is congressionally mandated. The Vehicle Technology itself is analyzed by our colleagues. About do you have any examples of where you are addressing the faults of activations . Have you all got any examples of consulting with Truck Drivers . Representative, i am going to divide my comments from the rulemaking to preserve the progress and say ive written along with many Truck Drivers and talked about this very issue. You are talking to a trucker. Im in the trucking business. Is a matter of fact i probably own about 80 trucks with the Collision Avoidance device is what we call it and i will tell you they are not bulletproof. They are nowhere near it. Are you aware of what happens when this device goes off at 50, 60 Miles Per Hour . If youre not wearing a seatbelt it will put you through the windshield almost. Its not there. The technology is not there. And i dont understand why the federal agency, to either one of you, push programs. We all want to be safe. But they dont work perfectly yet and if they are expensive. As a matter of fact you cant disable them so you cant get the parts for them right now. So you know what you do, you want a parking vehicle. So you are pushing the standards that the technology is not available. And i really want to understand that. Im not trying to be ugly or anything. From someone in the industry that is my outlook on it. The other thing i want to tell you, and i want to follow about speed limiters. We have speed limiters out there right now. They are called the speed limit signs. They are enforced by law enforcement. Do you know what the csa scores are . We get them monthly. They show when we get tickets for speeding. You know who also looks at that, our insurance companies. The free marketplace works. When a truck driver isnt insurable due to speeding, then he or she is let go. So we dont need the federal government and forcing Something Like this on truckers and the other thing i just want to finish up on is this. The aaa has come out with over 75 of accidents out there when a heavy truck and a car is involved, its the cars pulled its not even the trucks fault yet you want to punish the heavy trucks. Im sorry i went over and i will yield back. The chair will recognize himself for five minutes. Thank you all for being here. I represent the Central Valley district 13 from modesto down to fresno most of the highspeed rail project. It never pays for itself. It will never offset itself in Carbon Emissions its made of concrete. These are elevated platforms. There might be great highspeed rail or projects that you folks fund in california or florida and other places around the nation. I just want to testify to you today that this is not one of them. This is a hoax. As the freeways in the Central Valley on highway 99 and highway five the potholes, traffic jammed up we see the elevated platforms high above us disconnected from other elevated platforms. They are the highspeed rail projects. It is tanking and we had 3. 1 billion. Why are you doing this . Let me ask why are you continuing to fund the project in california versus freeways, intersections, versus other traffic needs . I will remind you before you answer, the mission is to, quote, deliver the worlds leading Transportation System serving the American People and the economy with equitable movements of people and goods. This is one of the lowest income districts in the country. The 18th highest Poverty Level in the country. You are not meeting the transportation needs. You may be meeting some vanity means in la that you are not meeting our needs for freeways and conventional transportation. What motivates you to continue funding at the exclusion of the transportation infrastructure we need . Thank you, sir. We have been building a lot of roads. 175,000 based on the bipartisan infrastructure law. But ive been stuck in that. Not in my district, thank you. When it seems the jobs act money it sees elevated isolated platforms up in the sky of the investments that would be ten to 20 years from now. Thats not, im sure the data doesnt bear that out, but the project that you are talking about is one that we watch carefully. It will be the key to future mobility. Ive been stuck for a long time myself. Any can tell you you cant build enough freeways to get out. That is part of what the highspeed rail system is about. The project right now has 12,000 good jobs on the ground. So would at the intersection and of the assets that we actually need. We are going to oversee the project very carefully. We did give a grant to the project. It is part of the future of the Transportation System. Theres no history of effective oversight on this project so far. There is none. Its one of the largest boondoggles in history and you are continuing to fund it. How are you going to oversee it Going Forward in a way that hasnt been overseeing in the past . We absolutely have learned from the history of managing projects like this its not a math. Highspeed rail exists and President Biden believes that they deserve a world class rail. Over freeways and river canyons and over cities the highspeed rail engineered to soar over the top of all other infrastructure and cities a very low populated and city area to connect to remote areas you have no engineering to get the last mile on. You dont know how you are going to get to the bay area. This is simply moving people to bakersfield on elevated platforms. They will cost over 100 billion by the time you are done connecting to the mid sized committees in the rural areas. Then you can figure out how to get over the mountains. Please. This is ridiculous. Why are you not building Water Infrastructure i realize that is in the department of transportation. I drive from modesto to San Francisco to come here to do this and i can tell you im glad it is only one day a week. My constituents cant get the best job market in the world because the infrastructure dollars are going towards a bullet train in the middle of the valley instead of connecting them to the places they actually want to go. Please quit funding this boondoggle. The highspeed Rail Authority they are making good progress. Let them pay for it themselves. I will yield back to myself i guess. Are there any further questions for members of the committee that recognized . The committee stands adjourned. [background noises] [inaudible conversations] is on the field by the Television Companies and for local. Sin or campaign trail, a week we found the campaign trail providing a onestop shop to discover where the candidate, the country. American History Committee people and events. Developer for more than two centuries p. M. History, university of kentucky preserved hochul for machine literature some african, asian caribbean on the presidency, conversation. Current president of your current photographer correspondent documented history based on a full schedule on your post a lot online anytime. Org history. Next senate for harassment. Testimonies from prison, posters and cadets stance is a recent report operation, history of Sexual Harassment he academy is currently postcards leadership