Hi everyone, it's good to see
everyone. I please have a seat.
I'm here to announce the shift change.
Oh, it's good to be with everyone.
And Mr. Vice President, Wade, thank
you for that introduction.
But really, truly, wade, thank you.
It's been great to walk around.
Eric. And it. Yeah.
And it's so good to be back. Incredible.
I wanna give a shout out to the governor.
You can't be with us today. He's in.
With a bunch of the governors who are
meeting there for their annual meeting,
but in his absence, I have to talk about him.
He has been a true champion and a partner
to the President and our administration,
and in particular a champion for
our climate and for communities.
In fact, as you all know,
earlier this week he signed a
law that will make minnesotas
electricity 100% carbon free by 2040.
That's a big deal.
A big deal?
So to Governor Waltz,
to the leaders who are here,
the leaders of the state legislature,
the general who is here,
and to all of the activists and organizers
who fought for years to achieve these goals,
congratulations and thank you for all
that you were doing right here in
Minnesota to lead our nation forward.
So on Tuesday,
our President Joe Biden spoke to the nation.
And he declared that the state
of our union is strong.
And he noted that over the past two years,
America has created over 12 million jobs.
Unemployment has fallen to the lowest
level that has been in 50 years.
And since we took office,
more Americans have started small
businesses than in any other
two year period in our history.
Think about that.
Think about what that means for families,
for communities.
For the children of America.
But we all know that we still
have more work to do.
To continue to build a nation where
all people, no matter where they live,
have the opportunity not only
to survive but to thrive.
And so that's why we're here today.
At New Flyer Saint Cloud.
I have to tell anybody here businesses.
That do the kind of work combined with Union.
Leadership and workers.
Are building the future of our nation.
And when I look around.
Here and the work that is happening here,
everyone knows buses.
Our our nation's most popular
form of public transportation.
Most popular form of public transportation.
Every day millions of Americans ride
the bus to go to work. To school.
To church, to the grocery store.
To wherever they need to get.
America's buses get people where they
need to go. They are essential. And.
They are in desperate need of upgrade.
The majority of our nation's
buses run on diesel fuel.
Well, here's the thing.
Diesel exhaust is a poison.
Breathing diesel fumes can
cause headaches and nausea.
It can make asthma and chronic chronic
bronchitis worse. And it can even.
Cause a risk for cancer.
Diesel exhaust is also a greenhouse gas.
Every year, gas powered buses add
millions of tons of pollution.
To our atmosphere.
Which further accelerates the climate crisis.
But there is a solution to all of this.
And that solution is parked right
over there and right over there
and right over there, these buses.
Electric buses.
Because, as everyone here knows,
electric buses do not produce toxic exhaust.
They are healthier for people.
For communities.
And better for our planet.
A few minutes ago as Matt walked me around,
I had the opportunity to take
a look at one of the buses that
is being built in this factory.
It is a model of American innovation.
No exhaust. No diesel smell.
The bus has Wi-Fi.
And even USB outlets
next to every seat.
I mean, come on. Imagine you could
charge your phone on your way
home from work. That's good stuff.
And electric buses are also cheaper to run.
And more reliable than gas powered buses,
cities and towns with electric fleets
spend less on gas and maintenance.
And as some of the leaders here can attest,
that means more money in the local budget.
To add more routes.
More stops and more drivers.
And that means more reliable service.
So, you know,
for anyone who's had to wait too long
in the cold because the bus is late.
You know how much that matters.
All of this to say,
electric buses are key to the future.
Of public transportation in America.
Which is why since taking office.
Together with Democrats and Republicans,
we have invested over 5 1/2 billion dollars.
To put thousands of new electric transit
buses on the streets of our nation.
And we've also done that to create jobs.
So people can
have shift changes. And have decent work
hours and have good paying union jobs.
And it has meant jobs for for
steel workers in Ohio who make
the glass for the bus windshields.
Jobs for electrical workers in
Wisconsin who is install and
repair the charging stations.
Jobs for CWA workers here.
Who assemble hundreds of buses a year.
And jobs for the workers.
At a new Flyer facility just
outside of Louisville, KY.
Who just this week?
Voted to unionize and joined CWA.
And I want to recognize New Flyer management.
For your commitment.
To build a positive and productive
relationship with your workers. So Minnesota.
This is a transformative moment.
The climate crisis has presented an historic
challenge to our nation and to the world.
It also presents.
An historic opportunity?
To create good jobs.
To drive innovation.
To generate prosperity in all communities.
You know, last August our administration
made the single largest investment.
To fight the climate crisis in history.
In just the last six months.
That investment has already
created more than 100,000.
Clean energy jobs.
Many.
That includes many jobs.
That do not require a
four year college degree.
But do require the kind of skills building.
That the folks here. Train people to do.
Jobs that offer salaries and benefits
that allow folks to raise a family.
To buy a home.
To take a vacation from time to time.
To retire with dignity.
That's critically important.
As we build America's future.
As we strengthen.
America's economy?
Let us also strengthen the
working people of America.
We can do it all.
So I'll close with this as some
of you may remember in 2009.
Just a few months after he was elected,
then Vice President Joe
Biden stood in this plant.
At the time, who was there?
OK, so you remember and I'm mayor.
I know you were there.
We talked about that at the time.
Here at this plant, you were producing
cutting edge hybrid transit buses.
And then Vice President Biden said,
and I'll quote. This company.
Is an example of the future. Well.
A lot has changed in the past 14 years.
But one thing has not.
You are still an example.
Of America's future?
So I am here to say
we are still counting on you.
Because here in Saint Cloud.
You are not just building better buses.
You are building.
A better America.
God bless you and God Bless America.
Thank you all.