Every member on this committee knows the importance of stable bridges, efficient airports, and safe cars.

Buy American has been the law of the land since 1933, but for far too long, past Administrations have found a way to get around it. Not anymore.

When you get into these rural communities, just think about how many reservations and tribal lands we have that have no running water, no plumbing. That should not happen in this America.

When you get into these rural communities, just think about how many reservations and tribal lands we have that have no running water, no plumbing. That should not happen in this America.

I think you have the wisdom of having come from the Legislative Branch and also just understanding that whatever thicket of processes and procedures and rules and laws that you inherited is not your fault.

I look forward to getting a top line agreement in the next month allowing us to develop a balanced bipartisan bill that recognizes our country's serious housing challenges.

We just want your agency to work better and I know you do, too.

It'd be one thing if we're having a conversation about fiscal discipline or whatever it is, but the way to exert fiscal discipline is to have a program, have accountability not just to spend the money after a bunch of suffering.

But we face a reversal of that commitment--we do face a reversal of that commitment if we entertain the House majority proposal to return to 2022 funding levels.

Now we need that same bipartisan strength to sustain those ongoing infrastructure investments--and to make progress on safety regulations that protect Americans driving, flying, walking, riding--and counting--on that infrastructure.

I know you appreciate the importance of infrastructure and housing in your home State, and we have already talked about some of these priorities.

On a bipartisan basis, we made the right decision to fix our aging infrastructure and begin taking steps to adapt to climate change.

This is a safety question and there should be standards across the industry.

I think the rest of us, you know, living in the real world, when you have a disaster in your home state or your hometown, you understand we're going to spend this money anyway to provide disaster relief.

the model here is the DOD, right. The DOD doesn't get to have an opinion necessarily about climate action

But this progress will end if we enact the House Majority proposal to return to 2022 funding levels.

We just want your agency to work better and I know you do, too.

I welcome the budget's focus on democracy and human rights, and particularly robust funding for promoting press freedom.