John D. Porcari

To be clear, Mr. Nadler, for both the Portal Bridge and the tunnel, those projects cannot go forward without a Federal commitment.

It is shovel-worthy. I like to describe it as the single point of failure for 10 percent of America's GDP

As important as the discussion is today about reengineering the process, greater efficiencies, more concurrent process, all of which we support, that only helps if the money is there to actually build the project at the end of it.

The Gateway Project is eliminating a single point of failure for 10 percent of America's gross domestic product

But how, on the other hand, can you justify additional public money without constantly looking at the demand-supply equation that exists out there?

We wouldn't have an Interstate Highway System, we wouldn't have the aviation system that is the envy of the world if we didn't have trust funds with dedicated revenue sources.

We don't have any portion of the transportation system that stands totally on its own legs financially.

Any major infrastructure investments... has required core public funding on a multiyear basis to be effective.

Why aren't we creating more U.S.-flag ships in this country? And what can we do to ensure that more of these ships are built and operated, owned and operated here?

I would point out the easy stuff has been done. Since 2008, within the Federal Aviation Administration, we have cut $510 million out of the cost basis by reducing travel by 30 percent, IT savings of $36 million, $100 million from…

Again, what the sequester is in a part of a fiscal year, because three-quarters of our Department is exempt from it, is the equivalent of a 90 percent cut.