>>> ALL RIGHT.
IT IS 47 PAST THE HOUR.
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS
ARE RAMPING UP AS PRESIDENT
BIDEN STEPS INTO THE FRAY.
SENATORS KYRSTEN SINEMA AND JOE
MANCHIN MET SEPARATELY WITH
BIDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON
MONDAY TO DISCUSS THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.
HERE ARE THE 21 REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WORKING
TOGETHER ON A YET-TO-BE-RELEASED
PLAN.
SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THE
SENATORS ARE EXPECK TO REGROUP
AGAIN TODAY BEFORE MEETING WITH
SEVERAL WHITE HOUSE ADVISERS AT
THE CAPITOL.
JOINING US ONE OF THE
REPUBLICANS WORKING ON THAT
PLAN.
SENATOR TODD YOUNG OF INDIANA.
>> SENATOR THANKS FOR BEING WITH
US.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT FEAR AND
LOATHING AND NO BIPARTISANSHIP
ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO?
BUT YOU’VE ALREADY -- AND CHUCK
SCHUMER, YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE
GIVEN US A PRETTY GOOD BLUEPRINT
ABOUT HOW TO PASS SIGNIFICANT
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.
YOU DID IT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
AND, OF COURSE, THERE WEREN’T
THE BIG HEADLINES ABOUT THAT.
SO LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.
I WANTED YOU TO COME ON AND TALK
ABOUT THAT.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE
TOO.
BUT WHAT YOU DID REGARDING CHINA
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
>> I DO THINK IT PROVIDES A
MODEL FOR A LOT OF LEGISLATION.
WHETHER IT’S OUR BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE TALKS WHICH
CONTINUE OR ADDITIONAL NATIONAL
SECURITY LEGISLATION, WHICH IS
WHAT THE ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT
WAS WORKING WITH SENATOR SCHUMER
AND OTHER DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
LOOK IF THERE’S ONE ISSUE THAT
CLEARLY UNIFIES REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS AND EVERYONE IN
BETWEEN, IT’SES THE NEED TO
CRACK DOWN ON CHINA’S PREDATORY
ECONOMIC PRACTICES.
THEY’VE BEEN STEALING OUR
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
DUMPING GOODS INTO THIS COUNTRY
AND THAT HURTS RANK AND FILE
AMERICANS.
SO WE DECIDED TO CHOOSE ONE OF
THOSE ISSUES, CRACKING DOWN ON
THOSE SORTS OF PRACTICES,
INVESTING IN 21ST CENTURY
TECHNOLOGIES IN A REALLY BOLD
FASHION AND PREPARING OUR
WORKERS TO LAND THOSE 21ST
CENTURY JOBS THAT PAY REALLY
WELL INTO THE FUTURE.
IT REQUIRED A YEAR AND A HALF OF
STAFF WORK, OF CONSULTATION, OF
TRUST BUILDING BUT WE GOT IT
DONE, 68-32 IT PASSED OUT OF THE
SENATE.
>> WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS,
YOU BROUGHT UP AND IT MADE A LOT
OF SENSE TO ME, YOU BROUGHT UP
THE COMPARISON WITH HOW THE
UNITED STATES RESPONDED TO
SPUTNIK.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
THAT’S RIGHT.
POST COLD WAR, IT WAS PRETTY
CLEAR THAT WE FACED AN
EXISTENTIAL MOMENT WITH THE
CHALLENGE THAT THE SOVIET UNION
PRESENTED.
SO WE DECIDED TO USE THAT MOMENT
NOT JUST TO DEFEAT THE SOVIET
UNION THAT WASN’T OUR PARADIGM,
INSTEAD OUR PARADIGM WAS LET’S
USE THIS TO BECOME A BETTER
VERSION OF OURSELVES, LET’S
STAND UP NASA AND OUTGROW,
OUTINNOVATE AND COMPETE THE SOVI
UNION.
THAT’S HOW WE FEEL ABOUT CHINA.
>> IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT GETTING
TO THE MOON.
IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT BEATING THE
SOVIETS.
IT WAS LIKE YOU SAID -- I’LL SAY
I’M A CONSERVATIVE, SMALL
GOVERNMENT CONSERVATIVE.
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN RELUCTANT TO
GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
INVOLVED IN PRIVATE ENTERPRISE,
BUT YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT
HAPPENED POST SPUTNIK, AND OUR
GOVERNMENT HELPED INSPIRE,
HELPED CREATE A GENERATION OF
SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, PEOPLE
WHO NOT ONLY HELPED NASA, BUT
HELPED EVERYTHING.
THE WORLD CHANGED RADICALLY
AFTER THAT.
>> WE STOOD UP NASA, AS YOU
INDICATED.
WE ESTABLISHED AND INVESTED IN A
HIGHWAY SYSTEM, INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM THROUGH PRESIDENT
EISENHOWER AND BIPARTISAN
LEADERSHIP.
ALL OF THESE SORTS OF
INITIATIVES WERE DESIGNED TO
ENSURE THAT WE GREW AT A MORE
RAPID RATE.
WE USED THOSE RESOURCES TO BUILD
THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY IN
THE WORLD, AND THEN ULTIMATELY,
OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS OF
STRATEGIC PATIENCE AND
BIPARTISAN COOPERATION, WE GOT
THINGS DONE, ULTIMATELY
DEFEATING THE SOVIET UNION.
SO I THINK THAT’S A MODEL WE CAN
HARNESS.
WE SHOULD NOT LET OUR MANY
PRINCIPLE DISAGREEMENTS -- AND
THEY EXIST -- OBSCURE OUR MANY
AREAS OF AGREEMENT.
AND THAT’S WHAT BOTH SENATOR
SCHUMER AND I DID AS WE
NEGOTIATED THIS LEGISLATION, AND
I THINK THAT’S A MODEL FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER ISSUES.
>> THE SOVIETS HAVE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS AN EXCITING MOVE,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
WORKING -- I KNOW THIS WILL
SHOCK YOU, I WASN’T LIKE A TEAM
PLAYER WHEN IT CAME TO
LEADERSHIP.
I ALWAYS LOVE WHEN THINGS
HAPPEN.
>> I WAS AWARE.
>> I LOVE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN
ORGANICALLY AND MEMBERS JUST
SAY, MEMBER TO MEMBER, IF THE
LEADERSHIP CAN’T GET IT DONE,
LET’S GET IT DONE OURSELVES.
>> LISTEN, JOE -- I’M SORRY,
MIKA.
>> NO, GO AHEAD.
>> I’M A MARINE AND I’VE GOT
SOME SCARS TO SHOW IT.
THERE ARE TIMES FOR THAT.
BUT YOU LOSE CREDIBILITY IF ALL
YOU DO IS BRAWL.
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES, AND THERE ARE
MANY, TO HELP ONE ANOTHER GET A
BILL DONE THAT SERVES ALL OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A GREAT ISSUE.
THERE HAVE BEEN TEN REPUBLICANS
WORKING WITH TEN DEMOCRATS.
I THINK YOU JUST SHOWED THEIR
FACES ON YOUR SCREEN.
WE I AM MODMMODESTLY CALL OURSEL
G-20.
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, RIGHT?
>> SO A $10 TRILLION BILL AND HOW DO YOU INTEND TO PAY FOR IT?
HOW DO YOU INTEND TO PAY FOR IT?
>> WE LIKE TO SAY IT’S ONLY 10$1
TRILLION.
WE’VE COME TOGETHER AND
IDENTIFIED PAY-FORS, AREAS OF
COMMON AGREEMENT.
REPURPOSING SOME UNNEEDED COVID
FUNDS, REVOLVING FUNDS, WHICH IS
THE KIND OF STUFF WE’VE ALWAYS
USED TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
SOME PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.
ALL THIS STUFF HAS PROVEN TO
WORK, AND WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO
ADD IT ALL UP TO A TRILLION
DOLLARS AND PAY FOR THIS THING
WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES.
WE CAN HAVE THE TAX CONVERSATION
LATER IF OTHERS WANT TO.
BUT WE DON’T BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO
PAY FOR OUR CENTRAL CORE
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH RAISING
TAXES.
>> MIKE BARNACLE IS NEXT.
MIKE?
>> SENATOR, IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR
YOU RECITE SOME OF OUR HISTORY
OF BIPARTISANSHIP.
ON THIS DAY IN 1944, PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT SIGNED THE G.I. BILL
WHICH PASSED CONGRESS WITH BIG
BIPARTISAN MAJORITIES, AND THEN
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY ACT YOU
JUST MENTIONED, AND WHEN YOU
WORKED AT GUERIN, THE FIRST
RUSSIAN ASTRONAUT APPEARED IN
SPACE.
WE GOT OVER THAT QUICKLY AND WE
WERE THE FIRST ON THE MOON.
SO IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE
TODAY AND BIPARTISANSHIP, I GET
THE SENSE THAT YOUR NUMBER IS
JUST A LITTLE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN
$1 TRILLION, SO MY QUESTION TO
YOU IS, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT
OF WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GO MORE
THAN A TRILLION, SOME
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT
ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN’T
AFFORD NOT TO REALLY GO OVER A
TRILLION AND REALLY REPAIR.
I MEAN, POTHOLES HAVE NO
PARTISANSHIP.
>> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO I DO THINK WE HAVE TO INVEST
WHAT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO
GROW OUR ECONOMY AT A MORE RAPID
RATE.
THE WAY I THINK ABOUT OUR
NATIONAL DEBT IS IF SOMEONE BUYS
A $10 MILLION HOUSE, AND THEY
TELL YOU THAT, IN THE ABSTRACT
IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO DECIDE IF
THAT’S A RESPONSIBLE OR
IRRESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT UNTIL
YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR ASSETS ARE
AND THEIR ANNUAL INCOME IS AND
SO FORTH.
IF WE CAN GROW OUR ECONOMY AT A
MORE RAPID RATE BY MAKING
TARGETED INVESTMENTS LIKE A WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH
INCIDENTALLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE
FRONTIER ACT DOES IN TALENT
APPRECIATION.
THEN WE GROW THE ECONOMY AT A
MORE RAPID RATE.
I THINK, AS WE MAKE THAT CALL,
AND I’M NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE
HERE ON TELEVISION, YOU’LL
UNDERSTAND, BUT AS WE MAKE THAT
CALL, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
WHETHER ANY ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS WILL CAUSE OUR
ECONOMY TO GROW AT A MORE RAPID
RATE AND BRING IN MORE REVENUE
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> MICHAEL.
>> WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION
TALKING ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN
WORK THAT YOU DID AND YOU LED ON
WITH THE CHINA BILL AND GETTING
68 SENATORS ON BOARD.
WHAT’S THE SECRET SAUCE HERE ON
INFRASTRUCTURE?
WHAT IS IT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
INSIDE THAT CHAMBER TO GET
REPUBLICANS -- YOU’VE GOT 20 OF
YOU.
HOW DO YOU GET EVERYBODY TO
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THIS
MOMENT NEEDS?
>> HERE’S WHAT IT TAKES.
WE’RE FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE WAY
THERE.
IT TAKES DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
WE’VE DONE THAT WITH THE
SO-CALLED G-20 GROUP.
IT TAKES A WILLINGNESS TO
COMPROMISE.
WE’VE DONE THAT.
NONE OF US THINK THIS IS A
PERFECT FRAMEWORK BUT WE LIKE
WHERE WE’VE ENDED UP.
THE LAST THING IT TAKES IS
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP.
IN THE CASE OF THE ENDLESS
FRONTIER ACT, THE PRESIDENT
DECIDED TO STAY SILENT, WHICH
WAS HELPFUL, AS WE WORKED ON
THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE
FRANKLY WE HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH
A $1.9 TRILLION ISSUE THAT
CREATED SOME CONSTERNATION AND
UPSET ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, SO
IT WAS HELPFUL THAT HE WAS
SILENT.
HE NEEDS TO LEAN INTO THIS
PACKAGE, THIS BIPARTISAN
FRAMEWORK THAT WE’VE GOT.
HE NEEDS TO BLESS IT AND HE
NEEDS TO ENCOURAGE FELLOW
DEMOCRATS TO SUPPORT IT.
IF HE DOES THAT, I BELIEVE IT’S
GOING TO PASS IN BOTH THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE
THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT AN
INCREASE IN TAXES.