English subtitles for clip: File:President Biden Delivers Remarks on the Build Back Better Agenda & Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.webm
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
1 00:00:00,540 --> 00:00:01,750 >> Mr. Williams: Good afternoon. 2 00:00:01,750 --> 00:00:04,298 And it's an honor and a privilege to be here today. 3 00:00:05,050 --> 00:00:06,949 My name is Joseph J. Williams. 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:09,580 I am a fourth generation railroad, 5 00:00:09,580 --> 00:00:13,650 our proud union member of the Transportation Division 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:15,760 of the Sheet, Metal, 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,370 Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local No. 800. 8 00:00:22,140 --> 00:00:24,680 I serve on a New Jersey State Legislative Board 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,530 as the vice chairperson representing our brothers 10 00:00:27,530 --> 00:00:30,020 and sisters and the transportation industry. 11 00:00:31,810 --> 00:00:34,379 I was born here and live here in New Jersey 12 00:00:34,380 --> 00:00:36,230 with my wife of 25 years, Christa, 13 00:00:36,890 --> 00:00:41,260 who is a certified school nurse, and our three children Matthew, 14 00:00:41,260 --> 00:00:46,099 22, Amanda, age 20, and Jason, age 14. 15 00:00:47,610 --> 00:00:51,930 I started my railroad career over 25 years ago in 1996, 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,120 right here at the M.S. 17 00:00:55,010 --> 00:00:57,430 under a locomotive here in the diesel shop. 18 00:00:58,890 --> 00:01:01,900 In 1998, the opportunity came up for me 19 00:01:02,420 --> 00:01:04,629 to leave the tools as we railroads say 20 00:01:05,220 --> 00:01:06,869 and become a locomotive engineer. 21 00:01:07,970 --> 00:01:10,860 I entered the locomotive engineer training program 22 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:13,540 and was promoted to the rank of locomotive engineer 23 00:01:13,540 --> 00:01:15,140 in June of nineteen ninety nine 24 00:01:15,690 --> 00:01:18,590 and still work as a locomotive engineer every day. 25 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:21,580 If I could steal a little bit of your thunder. 26 00:01:21,580 --> 00:01:24,280 Mr. President, I would like to thank our governor, 27 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,730 Phil Murphy and New Jersey Transit 28 00:01:26,730 --> 00:01:29,540 Rail Operations Executive Director Kevin Corbett 29 00:01:30,570 --> 00:01:33,309 for helping to ensure that New Jersey Transit 30 00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:36,870 becomes the number one transportation agency 31 00:01:36,870 --> 00:01:38,470 in the country. 32 00:01:44,910 --> 00:01:48,300 I would also be remiss if I didn't thank my congressman, 33 00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:50,470 Tom Malinowski, for his role 34 00:01:51,140 --> 00:01:53,039 in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. 35 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,530 I personally believe that the current infrastructure bill 36 00:02:01,530 --> 00:02:04,490 is important to New Jersey transit rail operations. 37 00:02:05,170 --> 00:02:07,970 The residents of New Jersey and our neighboring states. 38 00:02:08,830 --> 00:02:11,280 The funding would rebuild and modernize 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:12,960 our aging transportation network. 40 00:02:13,690 --> 00:02:17,170 The rehabilitation of our system will help to preserve 41 00:02:17,170 --> 00:02:21,030 and create new railroad jobs. Thank you, President Biden. 42 00:02:27,450 --> 00:02:30,720 This bill will also help make accessibility upgrades 43 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,180 to our stations, 44 00:02:32,180 --> 00:02:35,130 providing better public transit access 45 00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:37,870 to our residents who are mobility impaired 46 00:02:37,870 --> 00:02:42,180 and require special assistance and will also help to continue. 47 00:02:42,180 --> 00:02:45,430 New Jersey's goal of creating more transit villages. 48 00:02:48,670 --> 00:02:50,820 The expanding of the great deep, sorry, 49 00:02:50,820 --> 00:02:52,850 the expanding of the Gateway project 50 00:02:52,850 --> 00:02:54,730 is something that the entire region 51 00:02:54,730 --> 00:02:57,810 is in desperate need of our bridge and tunnel system 52 00:02:57,810 --> 00:03:01,270 into and out of New York is antiquated and unreliable. 53 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,230 Our general riding public that depends on this system 54 00:03:05,230 --> 00:03:07,489 to get to and from work deserves better. 55 00:03:08,870 --> 00:03:12,110 Other projects that will be funded by President Joe Biden's 56 00:03:12,110 --> 00:03:15,430 build back better plan our service from Scranton 57 00:03:15,430 --> 00:03:17,690 to New York on the old Lackawanna cut off, 58 00:03:18,540 --> 00:03:21,339 as well as the desperately needed Hunter fly over track. 59 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,270 Offering pre-K and the reconciliation bill 60 00:03:28,270 --> 00:03:29,980 is now more important than ever, 61 00:03:29,980 --> 00:03:33,019 as hardworking parents need to get to work earlier 62 00:03:33,020 --> 00:03:36,120 than most in order to help keep our economy moving forward. 63 00:03:37,470 --> 00:03:41,910 The child tax credit also offers parents the opportunity to help 64 00:03:41,910 --> 00:03:44,829 get ahead slightly in these times of economic need. 65 00:03:45,620 --> 00:03:47,910 Mr. President, the residents of New Jersey 66 00:03:47,910 --> 00:03:51,930 can really use the SALT deduction to be reinstated. 67 00:03:59,290 --> 00:04:00,850 Lastly, Mr. President, 68 00:04:00,850 --> 00:04:04,910 we feel that the Paid Family Medical Leave Act 69 00:04:04,910 --> 00:04:08,020 is vital to help working families secure a place 70 00:04:08,020 --> 00:04:11,190 in the workforce in their time of need to care 71 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:15,079 for a sick child, spouse or family member 72 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,570 without having to worry about losing pay 73 00:04:17,570 --> 00:04:19,640 or if their job will still be there 74 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,050 because of having to render bona fide assistance 75 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,010 to a family member, 76 00:04:24,010 --> 00:04:26,860 or if the unfortunate circumstance arrives 77 00:04:26,860 --> 00:04:29,250 that they themselves need medical assistance. 78 00:04:31,370 --> 00:04:34,900 It is now my time, my time to introduce to you 79 00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:38,390 the president of the United States of America. 80 00:04:38,970 --> 00:04:40,570 Joe Biden. 81 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:03,500 >> The President: Thank you. Hello, New Jersey! 82 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:09,750 (Applause.) 83 00:05:09,750 --> 00:05:15,120 Thank you, Lieutenant Commander Mikie Sherrill. 84 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:23,270 Well, Governor Murphy, so many of the national challenges 85 00:05:23,270 --> 00:05:27,020 we're confronting are areas where you're already leading -- 86 00:05:28,070 --> 00:05:30,159 and that's not hyperbole -- 87 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,570 whether it's making healthcare or preschool 88 00:05:32,570 --> 00:05:36,680 or college more affordable; providing paid family leave; 89 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,720 replacing lead in pipes; and protecting public health. 90 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,830 So, thanks for showing the way, pal. 91 00:05:42,830 --> 00:05:45,190 Thanks for showing the way. (Applause.) 92 00:05:45,190 --> 00:05:47,950 It's also good to meet my old friends -- 93 00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:50,179 a lot of my friends in Congress. 94 00:05:50,180 --> 00:05:53,130 But, Bill, you and I have been doing this a long time, pal. 95 00:05:53,740 --> 00:05:57,000 Thanks for the passport back into Jersey and your district. 96 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,350 And Josh Gottheimer has been the best go-between 97 00:05:59,350 --> 00:06:01,640 I've had trying to get all of this done, 98 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,870 whether it's the Build Back Better portion 99 00:06:04,870 --> 00:06:07,190 or the infrastructure portion. 100 00:06:07,900 --> 00:06:10,090 And Tom Malinowski has done a hell of a job -- 101 00:06:10,090 --> 00:06:12,299 and Don Payne and Frank Pallone. 102 00:06:12,300 --> 00:06:14,100 I keep telling Frank, I remind him -- 103 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:16,350 we've been doing things together a long time: 104 00:06:17,010 --> 00:06:20,390 I know Delaware is small, I know how important New Jersey is, 105 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:22,800 but Delaware owns the Delaware River 106 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,300 up to the highwater mark in New Jersey. 107 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:27,710 (Laughter.) So, you know what I mean? 108 00:06:28,260 --> 00:06:30,980 (Laughs.) 109 00:06:30,980 --> 00:06:32,720 And one of my favorite members of Congress, 110 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,960 who I campaigned for and she won in spite of it: 111 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:37,210 Mikie Sherrill -- 112 00:06:37,210 --> 00:06:39,070 Lieutenant Commander of the United States Navy, 113 00:06:39,070 --> 00:06:41,909 a naval graduate of Georgetown Law. 114 00:06:41,910 --> 00:06:43,630 Incredible person. 115 00:06:43,630 --> 00:06:46,390 And I want to acknowledge both Senators Booker and Menendez, 116 00:06:46,390 --> 00:06:48,390 who represent you so well in Washington. 117 00:06:48,930 --> 00:06:51,380 They're down there trying to get this all moving. 118 00:06:52,150 --> 00:06:55,250 I'm here today to talk about what's fundamentally at stake 119 00:06:55,250 --> 00:06:58,670 for families of New Jersey, the whole region here, 120 00:06:58,670 --> 00:07:00,350 and for our country. 121 00:07:00,350 --> 00:07:01,700 For most of the 20th century, 122 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:05,250 we led the world by a significant margin -- 123 00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:07,930 not just led the world by a significant margin -- 124 00:07:07,930 --> 00:07:10,140 because we invested in ourselves, 125 00:07:10,140 --> 00:07:11,740 we invested in our people. 126 00:07:12,380 --> 00:07:16,230 Not only in our roads and our highways and our bridges, 127 00:07:16,230 --> 00:07:18,690 but in our people, in our families. 128 00:07:18,690 --> 00:07:21,700 We were among the first to provide access 129 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:23,510 to free education -- 130 00:07:23,510 --> 00:07:26,300 12 years of free education for all -- 131 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:28,060 anyone who is an American -- 132 00:07:28,060 --> 00:07:31,750 beginning back in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. 133 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,320 And that decision to invest in our children 134 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,119 and our families was a major part -- 135 00:07:37,650 --> 00:07:40,150 a major part of why we were able to lead the world 136 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:42,280 for so much of the 20th century. 137 00:07:42,910 --> 00:07:46,580 But somewhere along the way, we took our eyes off the ball. 138 00:07:47,350 --> 00:07:49,470 Our infrastructure used to be the best in the world. 139 00:07:49,470 --> 00:07:51,840 Not hyperbole -- the best in the world. 140 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,560 Today, according to the World Economic Forum, 141 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,470 we rank 13th in the world. 142 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:01,250 Twelve other nations have superior infrastructure to us, 143 00:08:01,970 --> 00:08:04,950 and China has trains that go 230 miles an hour 144 00:08:04,950 --> 00:08:08,180 for long distances. And we got money to do that back 145 00:08:08,180 --> 00:08:12,000 in the administration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, 146 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,760 and you had a Republican governor who didn't want it -- 147 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:16,370 didn't want any parts of it. 148 00:08:16,370 --> 00:08:19,470 And we used to lead the world in educational achievement. 149 00:08:20,260 --> 00:08:22,460 Now, the Organization for Economic Cooperation 150 00:08:22,460 --> 00:08:28,150 and Development ranks America 35 out of 37 major countries 151 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,500 when it comes to investing in early childhood education 152 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:34,669 and care. Thirty-five out of thirty-seven. 153 00:08:35,929 --> 00:08:39,229 We cannot be competitive in the 21st century global economy 154 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:42,130 if we continue to slide. 155 00:08:42,130 --> 00:08:44,850 My wife, who's a community college professor, says, 156 00:08:44,850 --> 00:08:47,960 "Any nation that out-educates us will outcompete us." 157 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,180 I'll say it again: 158 00:08:49,180 --> 00:08:52,370 "Any nation that out-educates us will outcompete us." 159 00:08:52,370 --> 00:08:53,910 And that's a fact. 160 00:08:53,910 --> 00:08:55,480 That's why I resolved that we have to, 161 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,390 once again, build America from the bottom up 162 00:08:57,390 --> 00:08:59,050 and the middle out. 163 00:08:59,050 --> 00:09:01,359 I've never seen a time in American history 164 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:02,750 when the middle class did well 165 00:09:02,750 --> 00:09:04,549 and the wealthy didn't do very well. 166 00:09:05,430 --> 00:09:08,930 But I'm tired of trickle-down. Trickle-down doesn't -- 167 00:09:08,930 --> 00:09:11,930 hasn't worked so much for the last 15 years 168 00:09:11,930 --> 00:09:13,978 for working-class and middle-class folks. 169 00:09:14,530 --> 00:09:17,329 That's why I proposed two critical pieces of legislation 170 00:09:18,030 --> 00:09:20,180 being debated back in Washington right now. 171 00:09:21,030 --> 00:09:23,260 These bills are not about left versus right, 172 00:09:23,260 --> 00:09:25,550 or moderate versus progressive, 173 00:09:25,550 --> 00:09:27,349 or anything else that pits an Amer- -- 174 00:09:27,350 --> 00:09:29,250 one American against one another. 175 00:09:29,250 --> 00:09:31,760 These bills are about competitiveness 176 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:33,660 versus complacency -- 177 00:09:33,660 --> 00:09:35,640 competitiveness versus complacency. 178 00:09:36,290 --> 00:09:38,089 They're about expanding opportunity, 179 00:09:38,620 --> 00:09:41,950 not opportunity denied. They're about leading the world 180 00:09:41,950 --> 00:09:44,049 or continuing to let the world pass us by. 181 00:09:44,980 --> 00:09:46,850 First, the infrastructure bill. 182 00:09:47,850 --> 00:09:50,390 It's about rebuilding the arteries of America. 183 00:09:51,260 --> 00:09:52,660 And the Portal Bridge project 184 00:09:52,660 --> 00:09:56,500 is showing why investments like this are so important. 185 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,500 When the Portal Bridge was built, 186 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:01,200 it was state of the art -- 187 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,420 and it really was, but 110 years ago. 188 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:08,620 Today, it's been called something different: 189 00:10:09,410 --> 00:10:11,569 a "chokepoint," a "bottleneck," 190 00:10:12,330 --> 00:10:14,580 an "Achilles heel" of the Northeast Corridor. 191 00:10:15,230 --> 00:10:16,470 Since the Portal Bridge was built, 192 00:10:16,470 --> 00:10:19,180 it has become the busiest rail span 193 00:10:19,180 --> 00:10:21,199 in the entire Western Hemisphere. 194 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,360 Let me say that again: It's the busiest -- 195 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:27,030 busiest rail span in the entire Western Hemisphere. 196 00:10:28,110 --> 00:10:32,480 At peak usage, 450 trains pass over it every day; 197 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:37,600 200,000 Amtrak and New Jersey Transit passengers. 198 00:10:38,380 --> 00:10:40,870 But ships and barges also need to get under it, 199 00:10:41,910 --> 00:10:43,939 and many can't fit. 200 00:10:43,940 --> 00:10:47,290 That means the bridges need to swing open and closed again -- 201 00:10:47,290 --> 00:10:49,099 a process that stops rail traffic 202 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:51,240 and causes other problems. 203 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,329 The bridge opens over 100 times a year. 204 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,060 And 15 percent of the time, something goes wrong. 205 00:10:59,990 --> 00:11:01,590 Fifteen percent of the time. 206 00:11:02,220 --> 00:11:06,400 For example, if the rails don't lock back in place 207 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,430 exactly right, the bridge closes. 208 00:11:09,030 --> 00:11:12,449 And sometimes, you know what fixes it in the 21st century? 209 00:11:12,450 --> 00:11:14,310 A sledgehammer. 210 00:11:14,310 --> 00:11:17,829 Come out with a sledgehammer and align the tracks. 211 00:11:18,450 --> 00:11:20,990 Literally a sledgehammer to knock it back into place 212 00:11:20,990 --> 00:11:22,790 in the year 2021. 213 00:11:24,110 --> 00:11:28,010 One report a couple years ago found that the Portal Bridge 214 00:11:28,010 --> 00:11:31,780 was particularly responsible for 2,000 hours 215 00:11:31,780 --> 00:11:38,839 of delays between 2014 and 2018. You know that old expression: 216 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,010 "Time is money." As one commuter said, 217 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,530 "If you're on the train and they say 'Portal Bridge,' 218 00:11:45,530 --> 00:11:47,650 you know you better make other plans." 219 00:11:49,090 --> 00:11:51,000 Aging infrastructure like this is more than 220 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,650 an inconvenience or a nuisance; it's an impediment -- 221 00:11:54,230 --> 00:11:57,190 impediment to America's global competitiveness. 222 00:11:57,190 --> 00:11:59,310 We're in a worldwide race. 223 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:04,090 Things have changed. Take a look. 224 00:12:05,110 --> 00:12:07,810 That's why what's happening right now is so important. 225 00:12:08,380 --> 00:12:11,300 Today, we're moving forward on a new bridge 226 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:13,670 that will be higher over the water 227 00:12:13,670 --> 00:12:15,420 so it won't need to open and close. 228 00:12:15,980 --> 00:12:17,900 It'll allow us to increase speed, safety, 229 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,500 and efficiency, and capacity. 230 00:12:20,610 --> 00:12:21,930 It's going to make life a lot better 231 00:12:21,930 --> 00:12:23,530 for New Jersey's commuters. 232 00:12:24,380 --> 00:12:27,880 It's also going to create nearly 8,000 construction jobs 233 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,370 in this area alone -- this area's workers -- 234 00:12:31,370 --> 00:12:35,150 8,000 union jobs. 235 00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:36,750 (Applause.) Union. 236 00:12:38,010 --> 00:12:39,810 It was pointed out to me not long ago 237 00:12:39,810 --> 00:12:41,949 that I said I'm a "union President," 238 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:44,180 that I apparently use -- 239 00:12:44,180 --> 00:12:46,670 someone calculated I use the word "union" 240 00:12:47,420 --> 00:12:50,099 more than the last seven Presidents combined. 241 00:12:50,650 --> 00:12:52,569 (Applause.) 242 00:12:52,570 --> 00:12:55,840 Because guess what? It's a decent wage. 243 00:12:58,730 --> 00:13:00,900 It's about to make rail transportation -- 244 00:13:00,900 --> 00:13:03,209 which is a cleaner, greener way to travel -- 245 00:13:03,210 --> 00:13:05,900 the better choice for a lot of New Jersey residents, 246 00:13:05,900 --> 00:13:07,370 but not just New Jersey resi- -- 247 00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:09,220 everybody up and down the East Coast. 248 00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:12,510 If I can pause for a second -- 249 00:13:12,510 --> 00:13:14,559 I apologize because some have heard this: 250 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:22,780 I commuted every single day, 263 miles a day, 251 00:13:22,780 --> 00:13:26,490 on Amtrak from the time I got elected United States senator. 252 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,070 As matter of fact, when I was Vice President, 253 00:13:29,070 --> 00:13:30,610 I used to like to take the train home 254 00:13:30,610 --> 00:13:32,880 because my mom was very sick and dying, 255 00:13:33,460 --> 00:13:35,360 and I'd come home every weekend to make sure 256 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,450 I'd take the train home. 257 00:13:37,450 --> 00:13:39,810 And Secret Service -- and I'm not criticizing them -- 258 00:13:39,810 --> 00:13:43,050 legitimately would rather me fly because it's safer, 259 00:13:43,050 --> 00:13:45,300 because too many people can get on and off, et cetera. 260 00:13:45,300 --> 00:13:47,760 And I'm getting on one Friday, 261 00:13:48,660 --> 00:13:52,350 and then one of the senior guys on Amtrak, Angelo Negri -- 262 00:13:52,350 --> 00:13:54,300 I got to know all the conductors really well; 263 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:55,540 they became my friends. 264 00:13:55,540 --> 00:13:57,339 I mean, really, my genuine friends. 265 00:13:57,340 --> 00:14:00,240 I have them in my home at Christmas and during the summer. 266 00:14:01,370 --> 00:14:05,120 And Ang walks up to me and goes, "Joey, baby!" Grabs my cheek. 267 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,650 And I thought the Secret Service was going to blow his head off. 268 00:14:07,650 --> 00:14:09,740 (Laughter.) I swear to God. True story. 269 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,840 I said, "No, no, he's a friend." I said, "What's up, Ang?" 270 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,770 He said, "Joey, I read in the paper -- 271 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,260 I read in the paper you traveled 1,000 -- 272 00:14:20,260 --> 00:14:23,620 1,200,000 miles on Air Force planes" -- 273 00:14:23,620 --> 00:14:25,620 because they keep meticulous tabs of it. 274 00:14:26,260 --> 00:14:28,260 I said, "Yeah." He said, "Big…" -- 275 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,730 I won't say the whole thing -- "Big deal." (Laughter.) 276 00:14:30,730 --> 00:14:32,830 He said, "You know how many miles 277 00:14:32,830 --> 00:14:35,870 you traveled on Amtrak, Joey?" And I said, "No." He said, 278 00:14:35,870 --> 00:14:38,719 "The boys and I figured it out at the retirement dinner." 279 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,670 He says, "You travel 2 million…" 280 00:14:41,670 --> 00:14:45,140 -- I think it was 180, but -- "2,200,000 miles." 281 00:14:45,140 --> 00:14:46,470 I said, "How did you get that answer?" 282 00:14:46,470 --> 00:14:49,820 He said, "Well, 267 miles a day. 283 00:14:50,970 --> 00:14:54,550 We figured you traveled 119 days a year for 36 years, 284 00:14:54,550 --> 00:14:56,089 and then you traveled was Vice President." 285 00:14:56,090 --> 00:14:58,150 And then he goes, "So, Joey, I don't hear this 286 00:14:58,150 --> 00:15:03,630 about the Air Force anymore." (Laughter.) 287 00:15:03,630 --> 00:15:07,170 I'm a train guy, because it also is 288 00:15:07,170 --> 00:15:10,319 the single-most significant way we can deal with air pollution, 289 00:15:10,940 --> 00:15:14,450 the single-most significant way we can deal with global warming. 290 00:15:14,450 --> 00:15:16,920 It's going to help the region's vital maritime industry as well, 291 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,510 by making -- making the movement of ships and bridges safer 292 00:15:20,510 --> 00:15:22,140 and more efficient. 293 00:15:22,140 --> 00:15:24,470 Look, with my infrastructure bill, 294 00:15:24,470 --> 00:15:26,610 we're going to make sure projects like this 295 00:15:26,610 --> 00:15:28,670 are just the beginning. 296 00:15:28,670 --> 00:15:33,229 Across the country, there are 45,000 bridges in disrepair, 297 00:15:33,230 --> 00:15:35,130 some of them dangerously so; 298 00:15:36,390 --> 00:15:39,949 173,000 miles of roads are in poor condition. 299 00:15:41,050 --> 00:15:44,449 We're going to create them totally new. 300 00:15:45,340 --> 00:15:46,880 We're going to fix them. 301 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:48,470 This is going to be good union jobs, 302 00:15:48,470 --> 00:15:51,390 a prevailing wage you can raise a family on, 303 00:15:51,390 --> 00:15:52,990 jobs that can't be outsourced. 304 00:15:53,510 --> 00:15:55,090 We're going to make the largest investment 305 00:15:55,090 --> 00:15:57,380 in public transportation in the history of America, 306 00:15:57,380 --> 00:16:01,230 replacing transit vehicles that are past their useful life 307 00:16:02,090 --> 00:16:04,030 and make the most significant investment in rail 308 00:16:04,030 --> 00:16:06,129 since the creation of Amtrak 50 years ago. 309 00:16:07,330 --> 00:16:09,550 During peak periods when railroads are congested 310 00:16:09,550 --> 00:16:12,630 and rail carriers are more -- have more passengers, 311 00:16:12,630 --> 00:16:16,270 rail is up to 10 times more energy efficient 312 00:16:16,270 --> 00:16:18,560 than a person driving. Ten times. 313 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,240 We have a huge opportunity here to provide fast, 314 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,089 safe, reliable, and clean transportation in this country. 315 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,860 All -- every study shows -- I won't bore you with them all 316 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:29,720 because I've been working them my whole life -- 317 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,450 every study shows if you can get from point 318 00:16:31,450 --> 00:16:33,910 A to point B faster on rail 319 00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:36,560 and you can drive your automobile, you take the rail. 320 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,430 The Northeast Corridor -- we're talking about a $30 321 00:16:40,430 --> 00:16:42,780 billion investments in major projects 322 00:16:42,780 --> 00:16:44,630 like the Hudson River Gateway tunnels 323 00:16:45,220 --> 00:16:47,940 and the Portal Bridge, which it feeds into. 324 00:16:48,930 --> 00:16:52,400 Look, we're going to create jobs replacing lead water pipes 325 00:16:53,050 --> 00:16:55,020 so families can drink clean water -- 326 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,290 something New Jersey and Governor Murphy 327 00:16:57,290 --> 00:16:58,880 have been leading on. 328 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:00,470 We're going to make sure high-speed Internet 329 00:17:00,470 --> 00:17:02,360 is affordable and available everywhere in America, 330 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,960 including the nearly one in three New Jersey families 331 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,500 that don't have the Internet subscription. 332 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:10,960 How many times did you see people pulling up to McDonald's, 333 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,400 sitting outside during the pandemic 334 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,870 so they could do their homework because they couldn't get -- 335 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:19,629 get it off of their -- their line? 336 00:17:20,630 --> 00:17:21,920 We're going to create jobs 337 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,020 laying thousands of miles of transmission lines 338 00:17:24,020 --> 00:17:26,270 to build modern, resilient -- an energy grid. 339 00:17:27,089 --> 00:17:29,189 And we're going to invest in strengthening our infrastructure 340 00:17:29,190 --> 00:17:31,580 against the impacts of climate change. 341 00:17:32,230 --> 00:17:34,810 The Governor and I were talking a little bit earlier. 342 00:17:34,810 --> 00:17:36,970 You know, just this year, we've -- 343 00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:41,510 global warming has caused over $1 trillion -- 344 00:17:43,090 --> 00:17:48,730 excuse me, $100 billion -- $100 billion in damage. 345 00:17:49,910 --> 00:17:52,230 I visited New Jersey, as the Gov mentioned, 346 00:17:52,230 --> 00:17:54,080 after the Hurricane Ida came through. 347 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:57,760 The Governor and several of you were with me. 348 00:17:58,330 --> 00:17:59,939 In Manville, we met people 349 00:17:59,940 --> 00:18:02,260 who had been put out of their homes by flooding. 350 00:18:02,260 --> 00:18:06,820 It was devastating. Water marks over people's heads. 351 00:18:06,820 --> 00:18:09,070 They'd show me where the water had gotten to. 352 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,169 I told them that help was on the way. 353 00:18:13,270 --> 00:18:16,360 Since then, FEMA processed assistance applications 354 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:18,340 for nearly 30,000 New Jerseyans 355 00:18:19,010 --> 00:18:21,879 and approved $150 million in repairs, replacement, 356 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,779 and rental assistance and other needs. 357 00:18:24,290 --> 00:18:26,590 Between 2010 and 2020, 358 00:18:26,590 --> 00:18:30,949 this state has had 24 extreme weather events -- 24. 359 00:18:31,940 --> 00:18:33,980 Nationally, extreme weather, as I said, 360 00:18:33,980 --> 00:18:37,370 cost the taxpayers $100 billion a year 361 00:18:37,370 --> 00:18:40,129 Our plan is going to build our roads higher, 362 00:18:40,130 --> 00:18:42,850 our levees stronger, our power grids more durable, 363 00:18:43,510 --> 00:18:46,010 all to withstand the ever-increasing ferocity 364 00:18:46,010 --> 00:18:47,658 and intensity of extreme weather. 365 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:50,070 And with my Build Back Better plans, 366 00:18:50,070 --> 00:18:53,120 we're going to address the root cause of ever-increasing extreme 367 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:54,399 weather and destruction. 368 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,230 The climate crisis -- we have a climate crisis. 369 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:03,840 I've flown all over this nation this year, in helicopters, 370 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,500 going from Lake Mead -- you know, more land, 371 00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:10,670 Gov, has been burned to the ground in the West -- 372 00:19:10,670 --> 00:19:13,200 to the ground -- forest homes -- 373 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,830 than the entire state of New Jersey, 374 00:19:18,460 --> 00:19:20,440 from all the way down to Cape May, 375 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:22,040 all the way up to the Hudson. 376 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:24,849 That's how much has burned to the ground. 377 00:19:25,910 --> 00:19:28,090 My infrastructure bill will also put Americans to work 378 00:19:28,090 --> 00:19:30,540 for long-overdue national environmental cleanups, 379 00:19:31,500 --> 00:19:33,540 like cleaning up the Passaic River -- 380 00:19:33,540 --> 00:19:36,470 the nation's most expensive superfund site. 381 00:19:37,810 --> 00:19:41,679 We're going to invest $42 billion in modernizing 382 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,530 and electrifying our ports and airports -- 383 00:19:43,530 --> 00:19:45,579 like the Port of New York and New Jersey, 384 00:19:46,540 --> 00:19:49,200 Newark Liberty International Airport -- 385 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:50,720 reducing congestion and emissions 386 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,310 and creating thousands more good-paying union jobs. 387 00:19:54,130 --> 00:19:57,000 This is going to help us meet the moment of the climate crisis 388 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:58,350 in a way that creates good jobs, 389 00:19:58,350 --> 00:20:01,429 makes us more economically competitive, and we can breathe. 390 00:20:02,630 --> 00:20:05,550 Look, we haven't passed the transformation -- 391 00:20:05,550 --> 00:20:07,060 the transformative infrastructure bill 392 00:20:07,060 --> 00:20:08,710 for a decade. Think about this: 393 00:20:09,350 --> 00:20:11,449 How many times, under the former guy, 394 00:20:11,450 --> 00:20:13,940 did we have -- we had "Infrastructure Week"? 395 00:20:15,420 --> 00:20:18,920 Not a single thing happened. We need to get this done. 396 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:21,629 And it isn't enough just to invest 397 00:20:21,630 --> 00:20:23,230 in our physical infrastructure. 398 00:20:23,740 --> 00:20:25,800 We also have to invest in our people. 399 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,159 That's what my second bill -- 400 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,910 the Build Back Better plan -- does. 401 00:20:30,350 --> 00:20:32,340 I just had the opportunity to visit a preschool 402 00:20:32,340 --> 00:20:34,490 in East End Elementary in North Plainfield. 403 00:20:35,230 --> 00:20:37,080 North Plain[field] provides access to preschool 404 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:38,790 for all kids four years and above. 405 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:41,820 My plan is going to make it possible for the district 406 00:20:41,820 --> 00:20:43,050 to expand that program 407 00:20:43,050 --> 00:20:45,540 to three-year-olds all across America. 408 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:49,060 The earlier our children begin to learn, 409 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:51,429 the better for themselves, their families, 410 00:20:51,430 --> 00:20:52,850 and for the nation. 411 00:20:52,850 --> 00:20:55,179 Studies show that children 412 00:20:55,180 --> 00:20:57,480 who have attended high-quality preschool 413 00:20:58,140 --> 00:21:00,730 are 50 percent more likely to finish high school 414 00:21:00,730 --> 00:21:02,030 and get a two- 415 00:21:02,030 --> 00:21:04,889 or four-year degree after high school. 416 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,870 But right now, we're lagging behind. 417 00:21:08,660 --> 00:21:10,120 Today, only about half of three- 418 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:13,218 and four-year-olds in America are enrolled in early education. 419 00:21:13,910 --> 00:21:17,380 In Germany, France, the UK, and even Latvia, 420 00:21:18,260 --> 00:21:22,379 that number is over 90 percent. Over 90 percent of three- 421 00:21:22,380 --> 00:21:24,029 and four-year-olds are in school. 422 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:27,320 My Build Back Better plan gets us back on track. 423 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,770 And we'll make two years of high-quality preschool 424 00:21:30,770 --> 00:21:32,650 available to every child in America. 425 00:21:34,090 --> 00:21:36,510 An average two-parent household in this state 426 00:21:36,510 --> 00:21:41,300 spends $15,000 to care for just one young child every year. 427 00:21:42,420 --> 00:21:43,740 Everybody says, "How do you know?" 428 00:21:43,740 --> 00:21:44,970 I -- I know about this. 429 00:21:44,970 --> 00:21:46,730 When I got elected to the United States Senate, 430 00:21:46,730 --> 00:21:47,980 my wife and daughter were killed. 431 00:21:47,980 --> 00:21:49,610 I had two little boys. 432 00:21:49,610 --> 00:21:51,840 I was making a lot of money as a U.S. senator -- 433 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,270 $42,000 a year -- and I could not afford. 434 00:21:54,910 --> 00:21:57,460 That's why I started commuting every single day. 435 00:21:57,460 --> 00:22:00,550 Couldn't afford to have two houses and to have daycare. 436 00:22:00,550 --> 00:22:02,570 Thank God I have a sister, who's my best friend; 437 00:22:02,570 --> 00:22:05,520 a brother; my mother; and my father who helped out. 438 00:22:06,530 --> 00:22:09,350 My Build Back Better plan is going to cut childcare 439 00:22:09,350 --> 00:22:12,030 costs more than in half for low- 440 00:22:12,030 --> 00:22:14,350 and middle-income New Jersey residents. 441 00:22:14,350 --> 00:22:16,530 Under my plan, no middle-class family 442 00:22:16,530 --> 00:22:19,810 will spend more than 7 percent of their income on childcare. 443 00:22:20,810 --> 00:22:23,000 We'll also extend historic middle-class tax cuts 444 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,800 for parents by expanding the Child Care Tax Credit. 445 00:22:27,630 --> 00:22:31,060 Everybody talks about children. And Josh has heard me say it: 446 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,430 I view it as a tax cut for middle-class families -- 447 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:38,159 a tax cut. 448 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,240 We never have an argument when we talk about the wealthy. 449 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:43,399 This is a tax cut. 450 00:22:44,010 --> 00:22:47,780 It changes the lives of the American people. 451 00:22:47,780 --> 00:22:49,149 (Applause.) 452 00:22:49,150 --> 00:22:51,210 Because many people here in New Jersey understand 453 00:22:51,210 --> 00:22:54,370 it means you get $300 a month for every child under the age 454 00:22:54,370 --> 00:22:57,639 six and $250 for a child between 6 and 17. 455 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,360 That money is already a life-changer 456 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:01,959 for so many working families. 457 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,320 It's projected to cut child poverty in New Jersey 458 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,060 by 36 percent. 459 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,660 These bills are going to change the lives of millions of people 460 00:23:10,660 --> 00:23:12,200 in the area and hundreds of millions of people 461 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,470 across the country for better and for years to come. 462 00:23:16,150 --> 00:23:18,450 So, to everyone here today, especially Governor Murphy 463 00:23:18,450 --> 00:23:20,070 and other dedicated officials here 464 00:23:20,070 --> 00:23:22,760 today, thank you for showing us what's possible. 465 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,600 Because when we make these investments, 466 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,090 there's going to be no stopping America. 467 00:23:28,090 --> 00:23:29,689 We will own the future. 468 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,600 This initiative is about betting on America, 469 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,230 about believing in America, 470 00:23:35,230 --> 00:23:37,180 about believing in the American people. 471 00:23:38,180 --> 00:23:41,240 If you look at the history of the journey of this nation, 472 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,630 what becomes clear is this: Given half a chance, 473 00:23:45,270 --> 00:23:47,280 the American people have never, ever, 474 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,260 ever let their country down. 475 00:23:50,270 --> 00:23:52,770 So let's get this done. Let's move. 476 00:23:53,490 --> 00:23:56,310 Folks, we have the most -- 477 00:23:56,310 --> 00:23:58,760 we have the most talented workforce in the world. 478 00:23:59,810 --> 00:24:03,720 What are we doing? What in God's name are we doing? 479 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,360 And, by the way, you hear these numbers -- 480 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:12,560 $3.5 trillion or $1.75 trillion. We pay for it all. 481 00:24:13,290 --> 00:24:16,420 It doesn't increase the deficit one single cent. 482 00:24:16,420 --> 00:24:17,810 (Applause.) 483 00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:20,710 So, let's get to work. Let's put people to work. 484 00:24:22,310 --> 00:24:24,610 And let's once again reestablish America 485 00:24:24,610 --> 00:24:26,100 as the most advanced country in the world. 486 00:24:26,100 --> 00:24:27,300 (Applause.) 487 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:30,680 God bless our -- America. And God bless our troops. 488 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,830 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.