Luncheon Keynote: US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood spoke to the lunchtime crowd. Here is a summary of his remarks:

Transportation accounts for about a third of US greenhouse gas emissions and almost three-fourths of US petroleum consumption. Changing that isn't the work of a day, and we can't do it alone.

We need to create policy that lessens carbon emissions and our dependence on oil.

Cash for Clunkers: 700,000 cars were sold in less than 30 days. There was a 60% improvement in fuel economy. I announced with Lisa Jackson (head of EPA) that there will be new emission standards for cars and light trucks.The standards for 2012-2016: conserve 1.8 billion gallons oil, save the consumer money, and increase fuel economy by 5 % a year.

Does the auto industry have any heartburn on standards in place? On the day President Obama announced this, every American manufacturer who was present knew they could achieve that standard.

We need to increase mobility and efficiency. Give Americans transportation options and housing near transit. This reduces sprawl and makes it easier for Americans to get around on things like high-speed passenger rail. For the first time in Dept. of Transportation history, they're looking for creative, innovative ideas on urban planning.

We have transportation tech that's currently underutilized. We need to make changes and investments that will put us in control of our destiny. We're transforming this country in ways that we have not considered in a long time.

Questions from Eleanor Clift:

Question: Report on the Dept. of Transportation stimulus?

Dept. got $48 billion -- $28 billion for roads, $1 billion for airports, $8 billion for high-speed rail, etc. We've met or exceeded every deadline. Resurfacing and building roads and bridges, new clean buses . If you're irritated by orange cones on the roads near you, it means that people are working. These projects will continue next year.

Question: Eisenhower created highway system in America. When we look back at this administration, what transformational policies would you like to have occurred?

FAA -- next-generation technology should be implemented. This will save fuel, make it easier for pilots and airports. DOT is focusing on light, passenger and high-speed rail, walking and biking paths. Give people other options than cars. Making cars more efficient through fuel standards and creating and highlighting other forms of transportation will reduce emissions.

Partnering with HUD to create affordable housing near transportation so that people don't have to use cars.

Questions: China doesn't have to have the political debates that we do in America.

We're not going to move as quickly as China because we give more people voices. It's a different system and fewer people make decisions.

We will compete with China because nobody has been more successful than America at meeting these challenges, and we will do it again.

Question: should we have a higher gas tax?

Having come through a rough economic patch, now is not the time to make that move. We need to see more robust gains, and we have other proposals to make money.

Question: when you were in Congress, you led on bipartisanship and bringing people together. As a Republican in a Democratic administration, how do you evaluate bipartisanship?

This is part of the president's DNA. I'm proof of that. We met in Peoria just after he was elected to the Senate. The president wants to work with anyone who is willing to solve our countries problems.

 

— Sarah Spooner

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