MY?
>> KEVIN QUIRK WILL BRING FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE, MANY THANKS.
JOINING US NOW TRANSPORTATION
SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING.
>> LET’S START WITH TRAVEL
HASSLES DURING THE BUSY SUMMER
TRAVEL SEASON WE’VE HAD WEEKS OF
CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS AMONG
THE PILOT SHORTAGE.
THIS COMES AS THERE ARE
COMPLAINT FROM PASSENGERS THAT
THEY ARE NOT BEING TREATED WELL
BY THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINES.
AFTER AMERICAN TAXPAYERS GAVE
THE COMMERCIAL AVIATION INDUSTRY
$54 BILLION DURING THE PANDEMIC,
CAN YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SOME
TAXPAYERS FEEL LIKE THEY AREN’T
GETTING THEIR MONEY’S WORTH FROM
THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY?
>> THAT’S RIGHT, A LOT OF
PASSENGERS HAVE EXPERIENCED
FRUSTRATION, INCLUDING ME AND
MILLIONS OF OTHER AMERICANS.
NOW, WE HAVE SEEN SOME
IMPROVEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF
THE SUMMER, BUT STILL NOT AN
ACCEPTABLE LEVEL IN TERMS OF
PERFORMANCE, CANCELLATION, AND
DELAYS.
HERE’S WHAT WE’RE DOING ABOUT
APPEAR WILL COLLABORATE WITH
AIRLINES WHEN THEY’RE READY TO
TAKE STEPS THAT ARE POSITIVE AND
PROACTIVE, WHETHER THAT IS
IMPROVEMENT IN PAY THAT ARE
HELPING WITH HIRING OR
FLEXIBILITY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO ENFORCE
PASSENGER AND CONSUMER RIGHTS.
THIS IS NOT NEW FOR US, AS HER
MATTER-OF-FACT WAS LAST YEAR WE
ANNOUNCED THE STIFFEST FINES
EVER IMPOSED UNDER OUR CONSUMER
PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR AIRLINES
FAILING TO PROVIDE REFUNDS TO
PASSENGERS AFTER THEY GOT STUCK
WITH CANCELLATIONS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHICH
CONCLUDED OTHER TEN
INVESTIGATIONS ON AIRLINES ON
THESE ISSUES, AND HAVE LAUNCHED
ANOTHER TEN OR SO WE ARE GOING
TO PURSUE TO MAKE SURE THE
CONSUMERS AND PASSENGERS ARE
PROTECTED.
AT THE SAME TIME, I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE AGAIN WE HAVE SEEN
MOVEMENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I GATHERED AIRLINE LEADERS AFTER
THE MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL WEEKEND.
WE SAW A REALLY HIGH LEVEL OF
CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS THERE.
THE JULY 4TH TRAVEL WE CAN WE
JUST CAME THROUGH IT AT SOME OF
THE BUSIEST TRAVEL DAYS OF THE
YEAR.
DEFINITELY FEWER CANCELLATIONS
AND DELAYS, THE NUMBERS I JUST
SAW FROM LAST FEW DAYS ARE
AROUND TWO, 2.5%, STILL HIGHER
THAN THEY SHOULD BE.
IT WILL NEVER BE ZERO, BUT WE
REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM PUSH
TOWARD 1% OR SO.
REALISTIC SCHEDULING,
RESPONSIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE,
AND ALL THE THINGS AIRLINES NEED
TO DO TO PROPERLY SERVICE THE
TICKETS THAT THEY ARE SELLING TO
PASSENGERS.
>> U.S. COMMERCIAL PILOTS MUST
RETIRE AT AGE 65 BY LAW.
NBC DID A STUDY FINDING "BY 2029
NOT A SINGLE BABY BOOMER WILL BE
ABLE TO LEGALLY FLY COMMERCIAL
AIRCRAFT’S.
AS THEY LEAVE THEY TAKE NOT JUST
A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE LABOR
FORCE WITH THEM, BUT ALSO
DECADES OF EXPERTISE AND
EXPERIENCE IN THE AIR."
I AM TOLD LINDSEY GRAHAM IS
TALKING TO POTENTIAL COLLEAGUES
ABOUT RAISING THE RETIREMENT AGE
FOR COMMERCIAL PILOTS TO 67 PEER
WOULD YOU SUPPORT THAT?
>> LOOK, THESE RETIREMENT AGES
ARE THERE FOR A REASON.
THE REASON IS SAFETY.
I’M NOT GOING TO BE ON BOARD
WITH ANYTHING THAT COULD
COMPROMISE SAFETY.
NOW, WHAT IS CLEARLY THE CASES
WE NEED TO CULTIVATE, TRAIN, AND
SUPPORT A NEW GENERATION OF
QUALIFIED PILOTS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT JUST LAST
WEEK I WAS OUT WITH SOME
PROGRAMS CAN HELPING TO
CULTIVATE THAT INTEREST IN
STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEM AS
THEY GET THEIR HOURS AND GET
THOSE QUALIFICATIONS.
THE ANSWER IS NOT TO KEEP THE
BABY BOOMER GENERATION IN THE
COCKPIT INDEFINITELY.
THE ANSWER IS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE AS MANY IN AS GOOD PILOTS
READY TO TAKE THEIR PLACE, TO
HAVE A STRONGER PIPELINE.
WE ARE BACKING THAT UP WITH FAA
PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT HIGH SCHOOL
AND COLLEGE CURRICULUMS TO GET
INTO AVIATION.
AND OF COURSE, ULTIMATELY, IT
WILL BE FOR THE AIRLINES AND
THOSE EMPLOYERS TO HIRE AND
RETAIN EXCELLENT TALENT.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WE ARE SEEING
ACROSS THE AVIATION SECTOR COME
ACROSS A TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
AT LARGE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING
COMPETITIVE PAY, GREAT JOB
QUALITY, SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN
AND KEEP THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
GOING TO BE NEEDED TO POWER
AMERICA’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
>> THE WHITE HOUSE HAD A MAJOR
VICTORY LAST YEAR PASSING A
MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PRACTICES
THAT MY PACKAGED SUPPLY CHAIN
ISSUES AND INFLATION ARE DRIVING
AT THE PRICE TAG, HE SAID
BASICALLY THE FUNDING ALSO OVER
FIVE YEARS, WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS
INTO THAT PROCESS.
WHAT ARE YOU AND YOUR TEAM DOING
TO TRY TO MOVE THINGS ALONG?
>> WE HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCING A NEW
PROGRAM EVERY FEW DAYS PURSUING
TO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.
RIGHT NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE
IN THE MIDDLE OF ROLLING OUT UP
TO A BILLION DOLLARS IN AIR FOR
IMPROVEMENT SPIRIT IS A WAY OUT
TO AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FROM ORLANDO FOR ABOUT
50 MILLION TO HELP EXPAND GATES
AND ALLOW THEM TO HAVE MORE
CAPACITY AND ACCOMMODATE MORE
PASSENGERS.
CHATTANOOGA WILL SEE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT HELP
PASSENGERS MOVE MORE SMOOTHLY
THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
WE ARE NOT FOR GETTING SMALLER,
MORE RURAL FACILITIES, THAT MAY
NOT BE HOUSEHOLD NAMES, BUT
COULD MEAN A HUGE AMOUNT
ECONOMICALLY TO THOSE REGIONS.
THE CHAMBERLAIN SOUTH DAKOTA,
FOR EXAMPLE.
THEIR GENERAL AVIATION TERMINAL
RIGHT NOW IS A MOBILE HOME.
WE WILL FUND THEM TO HAVE THE
KIND OF TERMINAL THEY REALLY
NEED IN ORDER TO HAVE FLIGHT
OPERATIONS GROW AND SUCCEED
THERE.
WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE’RE DOING
WHETHER IT’S THE AIRPORT
TERMINAL PROGRAM GOING TO 85
AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE
ARE WORKING ON THAT THIS WEEK,
OR INITIATIVES TO ELIMINATE
RAILROAD CROSSINGS THAT CAN BE
BOTH A HEADACHE AND A SAFETY
HAZARD IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
U.S.
OF COURSE, SO MUCH FUNDING GOING
TO FIXING ROADS, BRIDGES, AND
OTHER FACILITIES PEOPLE NEED IN
ORDER TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO
GO SAFELY AND CONVENIENTLY.
>> QUICK FOLLOW-UP, HOW QUICKLY
PEOPLE SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE
AIRPORT?
>> SUCK ON THE FUNDING IS
FLOWING NOW, AND OBVIOUSLY
DEPENDS ON PRODUCT A LITTLE BIT.
CONSTRUCTING A WHOLE NEW GATE OR
TERMINAL TAKES LONGER THAN SOME
OF THE MORE MODEST IMPROVEMENTS.
ARE REALLY VARIES FROM AIRPORT
TO AIRPORT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO
POINT OUT.
WE ARE NOT CREATING ALL OF THE
DESIGNS ON WASHINGTON.
WE NOTICED LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND
INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS OR
FACILITIES THAT WILL KNOW WHAT
THEIR NEEDS ARE.
WE ARE TRYING TO TRYING TO WRITE
MORE OF THE FUNDING, BUT THEY’LL
BE MOVING QUICKLY.
EVEN BEFORE YOU SEE THE
IMPROVEMENTS FINISHED YOU WILL
SEE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION JOBS
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
>>>> WILL WE SEE ANY PROJECTS TH
RESEMBLE SOME OF THE HISTORIC
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT YEARS
AGO SUCH AS WHEN THE NATION
BUILT THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM?
>> SURE.
WE ARE FUNDING A LOT OF
IMPROVEMENTS FOR ROADS AND
BRIDGES TOO BUT IN A BETTER WAY
I WOULD SAY THAN WHAT HAS BEEN
ON THE PAST.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LESSONS FROM
CHOICE OF THE 50s, 60s, AND
70s.
A LOT OF COMMUNITIES CAN POINT
TO WHERE HIGHWAY THAT WAS PUT IN
THE PERIOD THAT THEY DIDN’T PAY
ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY OR
LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
IT REALLY CUT UP AND SEPARATED A
LOT OF OUR ACCOUNTS.
WE ARE ALSO FUNDING WAYS TO
RECONNECT THOSE COMMUNITIES WHEN
A RAIL LINE OR HIGHWAY
OVERPASSES DOING AS MUCH HARM AS
GOOD.
WE WILL DO IT BETTER THIS TIME.
THE 2020s I THINK WILL BE
REMEMBERED AS A PERIOD WHERE WE
SET UP INFRASTRUCTURE WE ARE
GOING TO BE PROUD OF FOR AN
ENTIRE CENTURY.
I’M THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE
PROCESS OF WORKING WITH STATES,
CITIES, COMMUNITIES, AIRPORTS
AND TRANSIT AUTHORITIES, TO GET
THAT WORK DONE.
>> LET’S GO TO A RED-HOT ISSUE
IN WASHINGTON, YOUR HUSBAND
TWEETED AFTER JUSTICE BRETT
CAVANAUGH LEFT A WASHINGTON
RESTAURANT DUE TO PROTESTERS,
THE TWEET READS FELT LIKE HE
JUST WANTED SOME PRIVACY TO MAKE
HIS OWN DINING DECISIONS.
IS THAT APPROPRIATE, SIR?
>> LOOK.
WHEN PUBLIC OFFICIALS GO INTO
PUBLIC LIFE, WE SHOULD EXPECT TO
GROW THINGS.
ONE, THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE FREE
FROM VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, AND
INTIMATION.
TO GO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FREE
FROM CRITICISM OR PEACEFUL
PROTEST.
PEOPLE EXERCISING THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS
CASE.
REMEMBER, THE JUSTICE NEVER EVEN
CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THESE
PROTESTERS.
REPORTEDLY DIDN’T SEE OR HEAR
THEM.
THESE PROCESSES ARE UPSET
BECAUSE AN IMPORTANT RITE THAT
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS
SUPPORT WAS TAKEN AWAY.
NOT ONLY THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE, BY
THE WAY, BUT THIS JUSTICE WAS
PART OF THE PROCESS OF STRIPPING
AWAY THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
AS LONG AS I’VE BEEN ALIVE, THE
LAW IN THE UNITED STATES HAS
BEEN THAT THE CONSTITUTION
PROTECTED THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
THAT HAS NOW BEEN THROWN OUT THE
WINDOW BY JUSTICES, INCLUDING
JUSTICE CAVANAUGH WHO I RECALL
SWORE UP AND DOWN IN FRONT OF
GOD AND EVERYONE INCLUDING
UNITED STATES CONGRESS THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO LEAVE SETTLED
CASE LAW ALONE.
YES, PEOPLE ARE UPSET.
THEY’RE GOING TO EXERCISE THEIR
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS LONG AS
IT’S PEACEFUL THAT IS PROTECTED.
COMPARE THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO
THE REALITY THAT AS A COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW WE ARE RECKONING WITH
THE FACT THAT A MOB, SOMEONE BY
THE FORMER PRESIDENT --
>> ME FOLLOW-UP >> FOR THE
PURPOSE OF OVERTHROWING THE
ELECTION.
VERY NEARLY SUCCEEDED IN THE
PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.
I THINK COMMON SENSE TO TELL THE
DIFFERENCE.
>> IS A HIGH-PROFILE PUBLIC
FIGURE, SIR, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE
WITH PROTESTERS PROTESTING WHEN
YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND GO TO
DINNER AT A RESTAURANT?
>> PROTESTING PEACEFULLY OUTSIDE
IN A PUBLIC SPACE, SURE.
LOOK, I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU THE
NUMBER OF SPACES, VENUES, AND
SCENARIOS WHERE I HAVEN’T
PROTESTED.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.
AND A PUBLIC FIGURE SHOULD
ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE FREE FROM
VIOLENCE, INTIMIDATION, AND
HARASSMENT.
BUT SHOULD NEVER BE FREE FROM
CRITICISM OR PEOPLE EXERCISING
THEIR FIRST MEMBER WRITES.
>> LET ME ASK YOU A CAMPING
QUESTION, SIR.
DO YOU EXPECT PRESIDENT BIDEN TO
RUN FOR REELECTION IN 2024?
IF NOT, WILL YOU RUN?
>> YES, I DO EXPECT THEM TO RUN,
II WILL SUPPORT HIM.
LET ME TELL YOU WHY HE WILL HAVE
A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
COUCHES HER WORDS CAREFULLY
BECAUSE I’M APPEARING AS AN
OFFICIAL AND THIS IS NOT A
CAMPAIGN RELATED APPEARANCE.
I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS DONE SO
MUCH WORK TO BRING AMERICA BACK
FROM THE BRINK OF A RECESSION.
TO CREATE RECORD JOB GROWTH.
TO BUILD ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WERE
NOT OF BEEN THOUGHT POSSIBLE
JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
LIKE THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW THAT I HAVE
THE HONOR OF WORKING ON, PEOPLE
SCOTT OF THE IDEA THAT YOU COULD
EAT ANYTHING DONE ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS IN WASHINGTON.
AND YET, THE PRESIDENT DELIVERED
IT.
ET CETERA YEARS AND YEARS,
MULTIPLE PRESIDENTS, MULTIPLE
CONGRESSES COMING AND GOING
PROMISING INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS
WITHOUT ANY RESULTS.
THIS PRESIDENT, THIS
ADMINISTRATION, GOT IT DONE AND
I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT.