- So sorry.
Secretary Buttigieg, thank you so much.
I apologize for being late.
I took Amtrak.
Okay.
Secretary Buttigieg, we are here
at the Department of Transportation,
which is the hub, the central nervous system
of America's infrastructure.
Yet America is a divided nation.
So how do you bring us all together
with projects that literally bring us together?
- Well, I think everybody loves
a good transportation project,
you know, even though not everyone
voted for the infrastructure law,
I have yet to meet anybody who is upset
when we are fixing an airport terminal,
upgrading a bridge, so that we can have a better,
safer, more convenient experience
getting around this country.
- What have been the biggest accomplishments at the DOT
since you took over?
- So, when we got here, you know, first of all,
the biggest question back in 2021 about our airlines was
whether they were going to go out of business.
But then as the demand returned,
we started finding new tools to hold those airlines
accountable for how they treat passengers.
- What are some of the areas that you think
that the DOT could improve upon?
Like, have you hit any roadblocks?
- See what you did there? - Thank you.
- You know, we're doing a lot right now
to hold freight railroad companies accountable
for their safety practices,
but right now, the fines are capped.
Now, for example, if we catch a railroad company
in an egregious violation involving hazardous material
to get somebody killed, the highest, toughest fine
under the law that we can assess, it's about $250,000.
That is not enough, in my view, to get the attention
of a multi-billion dollar railroad company,
like in Norfolk Southern.
Right now, there's a bipartisan proposal in the Senate,
it's called the Railway Safety Act,
and it would do a number of things
that I've been calling for
that I think would make a big difference.
You know, right now we're dealing with some, not all,
but some Republicans on Capitol Hill who are saying,
"Well, we don't wanna do too much too fast
when it comes to getting tough on the railroad companies."
In my view, we need to act now.
- Why do you think some Republicans are stalling on this?
Is it because they're too busy
focused on starting culture wars?
- Well, I do think that the culture wars
are getting in the way sometimes.
I mean, just the other day, I was testifying
in the Appropriation Subcommittee,
explaining how our budget was gonna help with things
like railroad safety, air traffic control,
and other transportation needs.
And we had to take a break
so that they could all go and vote
on a bill to kick transgender teenagers off of sports teams.
That was the priority for the House GOP that day.
So these things really are getting in the way
of our ability to get work done.
We're literally building bridges,
and they're literally banning books.
- Is the Department of Transportation going woke?
- I don't think it's woke to build good infrastructure.
I just saw Fox News taking a run of me
for the work that we're doing on safety,
including the use of crash test dummies
that simulate men, women, and children.
And somehow this is considered a woke priority
to have female crash test dummies,
even though that's something that's been around
for a very long time.
- Fox News has made loads of false statements
about you over the years.
What do you think, do you think it's lawsuit time,
you know, cash in on some of that 787 million coin?
- It does sound like there's a lot of money in it,
but I think that'd probably be a bit of a distraction
in my case. - Possibly.
But, you know, I mean,
it could help fund some of these projects.
- Yeah, I think I'd prefer to go through
the appropriations process,
but the amount of money in that lawsuit is
as much as some of our nationwide
transportation infrastructure programs.
- Oh, yeah, I mean, that could repair
at least hundreds of feet a tunnel.
- Depending on the tunnel.
- Yeah.
Secretary Buttigieg, thank you for chatting with us.
- Thanks for joining us.
- Real quick, before I go,
can I just get a quick reimbursement
for the train that I took out here?
I was literally on the train for about 12 hours straight.
- Sorry to hear that.
- And this was the Acela.
This was like the best train that America has to offer.
So if I could just get a little refund.
- You're gonna have to take that up with Amtrak.
- Okay.
So you'll turn it in?
- You know, sure.
Happy to send it along for you.
- Yeah, thank you.
I think it could use your stamp of approval.
- We don't actually use stamps anymore here,
but ... - Oh, hey.
Thanks for looking up.
Thank you, Secretary. - Thank you.
- It really was an honor.
Thank you so much. - Pleasure.
Appreciated it, it really ... - Yeah, same here.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
- Oh, this is incredible.
Do you mind if I just take a spin around?
- You're welcome to look around a little bit.
- Okay, great.
- Or I could just describe things
- to you. - No, that's okay.
No, I'll just sneak into some of these desks.
What does this do?
- Oh, please don't touch that. - This?
Don't touch this? - Yeah, or really
any of that.
Yeah, just, could just, yeah,
just -- - Hello, Operator.
- Just use your eyes, yeah. - How do I turn this on?
- Again, please don't touch that.
- What you doing over here? - Oh, working, m'am.
- Ooh, can I borrow your badge?
- No. (Secretary Buttigieg laughing)
- Just quick. - Sorry.
- I'll give it back. - Yeah.
- It's fun. (upbeat music)