It is a pleasure to join you today at the North American International Auto Show.  This is an amazing event!  The vehicles on display are a wonderful combination of technological excellence, innovation and artistic design.  Many say that America has a love affair with the automobile.  It is a symbol of personal freedom – the...

Good morning, everyone. Let me thank the Western Governors Association 2017 Chair, Governor Bullock and incoming chairs Governor Daugaard and Governor Ige for welcoming me here. I am so pleased to join you and the other governors today to discuss innovation and the future of our country’s infrastructure. We also have a few members of...

Good afternoon and welcome! It is a pleasure to have Congressman Graves with us today, to announce this exciting demonstration program to help veterans become pilots.  Senator Thune was going to join us, as well.  But he can’t be here because his Senate Finance Committee is meeting on tax reform, which is very important for...

Thank you, Jill [Nishi, Chief of Staff for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation], for that very nice introduction.  What a wonderful opportunity it is for me to see all of you.  I am so delighted to be here; I am here because of your president, Irene Hirano, a dear, dear friend.   I’m so...

Thank you, Chris, for that kind introduction.  Chris is an old friend and colleague from the Department of Labor.  It is not a coincidence that the very first stakeholder organization meeting I had after being sworn in was in February with members of the American Trucking Associations!  You have a great representative in Chris, to...

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for that introduction, Nat [Ford, Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO and APTA incoming chair]. It’s great to see you and the board again after our meeting in February.   I’m so pleased to be here.   Let me recognize some of the Department’s senior leaders who are also here today: Jane...

Thank you.   I am so pleased to be here for the launch of the Department’s new automated vehicle policy guidance: A Vision for Safety 2.0.   Let me thank University of Michigan President Dr. Mark Schlissel, and Professor Hui Peng, MCity Director, for offering this venue for the Department’s AV Summit.  And let me also...

Thank you, Superintendent Helis. Midshipmen, faculty, families, friends, alumni and guests. I am so pleased to be here today, and to be with our very special guest: Senator Roger Wicker, and his lovely wife, Gayle.  Senator Wicker is one of the most distinguished supporters of the Merchant Marine Academy.  Thank you, Senator, for your strong...

Thank you, Kim [Strassel, WSJ], for that introduction.  We are great fans of yours.  Thanks for championing conservative ideals and informing and inspiring us. Let me also recognize CEI President Kent Lassman, and Pierre Descrochers [De-cro-shay], the Julian Simon Memorial Award winner. You couldn’t have chosen a better metaphor for this year’s event than “Alice...

Thank you, Governor Deal and Commissioner McMurry. I am so pleased to be here with you today, to celebrate the ceremonial opening of this new bridge and the men and women who made it possible. This is a historic day for Atlanta!  It is not easy to build a bridge, let alone one this important....